Growing up, poverty and traumatic experiences felt like a natural part of life. It was all I knew, and for a long time, I believed my circumstances were simply the way life was supposed to be. When hardship becomes your normal, it can be difficult to imagine a life beyond it. However, when I became a mother, my perspective changed. I realized my circumstances did not have to determine my future or my children's. Motherhood gave me a new purpose, and I decided to break the cycle of generational poverty through education. Today, I am a first-generation college student pursuing an Associate Degree in Computer Programming and Networking at Piedmont Technical College. This spring, I plan to transfer to a university to complete my bachelor's degree in Computer Science. I am also a single mother raising two children with special needs while maintaining full-time employment. Balancing these responsibilities has been challenging, especially while living with lupus. There are days when my body cannot keep up with everything life demands of me, but I remain committed to completing my education. My interest in computer science comes from my fascination with technology and its ability to solve real-world problems. Through my studies, I have developed an appreciation for programming, networking, and the critical thinking required to understand complex systems. What excites me most is the opportunity to use these skills to improve people's lives. I also have a strong interest in psychology and human behavior. I hope to combine these interests with computer science to develop technology that is accessible and responsive to people's needs. As a mother of children with special needs, I understand how difficult it can be to navigate educational resources, disability services, and support systems. My long-term goal is to help develop applications and digital resources that support families like mine, while also helping older adults become more confident using technology. I connected with Chris Jackson's story because, like him, I understand financial hardship and the importance of making others feel valued. Friends and family often look to me for inspiration, insight, and positivity. What people don't always see is how difficult it can be to remain that source of strength when you're struggling yourself. Sometimes, being the strong one means smiling through your own pain because you want to reassure the people you love. I believe there is something meaningful about showing up for others, even when life is challenging. Chris's compassion and willingness to help others reflect values I strive to live by. Receiving this scholarship would ease the financial pressure of pursuing my education while raising my children. It would allow me to continue working toward financial stability, breaking generational barriers, and building a career where I can use technology to help others. I cannot change the circumstances I was born into, but I am determined to change the legacy I leave behind.

Growing up, poverty and traumatic experiences felt like a natural part of life. It was all I knew, and for a long time, I believed that my circumstances were simply the way life was supposed to be. When hardship becomes your normal, it can be difficult to imagine a life beyond it. However, when I became a mother, my perspective on life began to change. I started to realize that the circumstances I was born into did not have to determine my future or the future of my children. Motherhood gave me a new sense of purpose and motivated me to recognize my own worth and potential. I made a conscious decision to break the cycle of generational poverty and create a different life for my children. Today, I am a first-generation college student, a single mother raising two children with special needs, and a full-time employee pursuing higher education. I have spent countless nights studying after long workdays, caring for my children, and trying to figure out how to make everything work financially, physically, and emotionally. Some days, I feel like I am being pulled in every direction, but I remind myself that I am working toward something greater than my current circumstances. I can either be the cycle or break the cycle! Living with lupus has added another layer of difficulty to my journey. There are days when my body simply cannot keep up with everything life demands of me. Yet, even during periods of illness, financial uncertainty, and exhaustion, I have continued pursuing my education. I don't share these experiences for sympathy, but because they are part of my story. They have taught me resilience, humility, patience, and compassion. Raising children with special needs has also shaped how I view the world. I have learned that everyone experiences life differently and that understanding those differences can make a tremendous impact. My children have inspired my interest in human behavior, psychology, and finding ways to make the world more accessible. Being their mother has taught me how to advocate for people whose needs are sometimes overlooked or misunderstood. I am currently pursuing an Associate Degree in Computer Programming and Networking at Piedmont Technical College, with plans to continue toward a bachelor's degree. My passion for technology goes beyond computers and programming. I am fascinated by the connection between human behavior and technology, and I hope to explore ways to combine computer science and psychology. My personal experiences have shown me how difficult it can be for families to navigate educational resources, disability services, and support systems. Sometimes, finding help feels like another full-time job. I want to use my education to help change that. Whether through developing accessible applications, creating educational resources, or helping individuals become more comfortable with technology, I want my work to have a meaningful purpose. I am especially passionate about supporting families with special needs and older adults who may struggle with technology. Earning my degree represents more than personal achievement. It represents breaking generational barriers, creating financial stability, and giving my children opportunities I did not have growing up. I want them to understand that where we come from does not have to determine where we end up. Most importantly, I want to use my education and experiences to uplift others facing similar challenges. I cannot change the circumstances I was born into, but I am determined to change the legacy I leave behind.

My journey as a single mother pursuing higher education has been filled with challenges, sacrifices, and personal growth. As a first-generation college student and mother of two autistic children, life has required me to balance responsibilities that often feel overwhelming. Between work, school, therapies, appointments, and motherhood, there have been many moments where I questioned whether I had the strength to continue. However, every challenge I have faced has also strengthened my determination to create a better future for my children and myself. I am currently pursuing my Associate’s degree in Computer Programming with a focus in Networking, with plans to continue toward a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Psychology. Although my path has not been traditional, education has become one of the most important goals in my life. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to balance school while raising children alone, especially children with special needs. There are nights I stay awake studying after spending hours caring for my children or attending therapies and appointments. There are also moments of guilt when I cannot always give my children the time and attention they deserve because I am trying to build a better future for all of us. One of the most challenging parts of this journey has been balancing financial responsibilities while continuing my education. As a single mother, there is constant pressure to provide stability while also trying to pursue long-term goals. Many resources and opportunities that could benefit my children or my education are often limited because of financial strain. At times, the exhaustion can feel overwhelming, but I continue pushing forward because I know that giving up would only continue cycles I am determined to break. Despite the challenges, this journey has also been incredibly fulfilling. Watching my children grow while they watch me pursue my education has motivated me in ways I never expected. I want them to see perseverance, resilience, and determination through my actions. I also find fulfillment in knowing that my education will allow me to make a meaningful impact in my community. My experiences raising children with special needs and helping elderly family members navigate technology opened my eyes to how much underserved communities need better accessibility and support systems. In the future, I hope to combine technology and psychology to help create resources and systems that support vulnerable families and individuals. I want to use my education not only to build a successful career, but also to uplift families who may feel overlooked or unsupported. More importantly, I hope to create a stable and empowering future for my children while showing them that difficult circumstances do not define their potential. Receiving this scholarship would help relieve some of the financial pressure that comes with balancing work, motherhood, and higher education. More importantly, it would allow me to continue pursuing my goals while creating a better future for my family and making a positive impact within my community.

As a minority woman pursuing a degree in STEM, my journey has been shaped by adversity, resilience, and the desire to create a better future for myself, my children, and my community. I feel it is important to break through stereotypes and stand proudly on the same ground the generations before me fought and sacrificed for. Growing up in the Deep South, I witnessed firsthand how difficult it can be for minorities, especially minority women, to feel encouraged in certain career fields. Women like me are commonly underrepresented in technology and computer science fields, which often made STEM careers feel out of reach for women like me, especially single mothers balancing work, school, and family responsibilities. I can still remember the first computer my mother received as a gift when I was in elementary school. At the time, I thought it was the coolest thing imaginable. My grandparents used to wait for me to visit on weekends so I could help program the old box television when I was only nine or ten years old. Looking back, those moments opened my eyes to how vulnerable many elderly individuals in my community feel when it comes to technology. I am currently pursuing my Associate’s degree in Computer Programming with a focus in Networking, with plans to continue toward a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Psychology. As a first-generation college student and single mother of two autistic children, my path has not been traditional or easy. There have been many moments where I questioned whether I could continue pursuing my education while balancing the emotional, physical, and financial demands of motherhood. One of the biggest challenges I have faced as a minority woman in STEM is feeling underrepresented and underestimated. As a woman entering the technology field, I have often noticed how heavily male-dominated these spaces still are, especially in SC. Although entering these spaces can feel intimidating at times, those experiences have motivated me to push even harder. I am proud to know that one day I will be apart of the conversations involving technology that may impact my culture and other minority communities. I want my children, along with other young girls and minority students, to see that people like us belong in these spaces too. Raising two children with special needs has deeply influenced my passion for STEM. The limited resources showed me how much technology could improve accessibility for vulnerable families. Acting as the “technical support” person for many elders in my family gave me perspective on how intimidating technology can feel for many minority and elderly individuals. These experiences inspired me to combine technology and psychology to create a better future for families facing challenges similar to my own. Balancing work, school, and motherhood has required determination and sacrifice. There are nights I stay awake studying after spending hours attending therapies and caring for my children. There are moments of exhaustion, but I continue pushing forward because I know education is the key to changing my family’s future. In the future, I hope to encourage other underrepresented women in STEM by showing them that their circumstances do not define their potential. My personal experiences and education will help develop technology and support systems for women and families facing similar challenges. This scholarship would give me the opportunity to continue pursuing my education while easing the financial strain that comes with balancing motherhood, work, and school. More importantly, it would bring me closer to creating a future where my community and others like them feel represented, supported, and empowered through technology.

First and foremost, I would like to thank you for this opportunity. I have faced many challenges as a single mother of two children. Although I would never trade my children for the world, I often find myself overwhelmed with day-to-day responsibilities that seem effortless for others. Both of my children have autism and require extra care, patience, and support. Their father decided he did not want to be part of this lifestyle, and for a long time I felt resentful and hurt by that decision. Over time, though, I learned to move forward without letting bitterness hold me back. My children are the reason I refuse to give up on myself, just as I would never give up on them. I truly feel that I was chosen for this journey. Every day I look at my boys and feel even more motivated to accomplish my goals. Balancing school, work, and motherhood is one of the hardest things I have ever done. There are nights I barely sleep because I have exams or assignments due, but I also promised my boys a trip to the park or time together that I do not want to break. I miss work often because I am committed to keeping up with their therapies and appointments. Some days I feel guilty because I cannot always give them the quality time they deserve. It hurts when they want to cuddle or spend time together, and I have to stay up late studying instead. Still, I remind myself that these sacrifices will pay off in the long run for all of us. I currently work full time for a pharmaceutical company, which can be very demanding. I am also a first-generation college student pursuing my Associate’s degree in Computer Programming with a focus in Networking. After graduation, I plan to transfer to a university to pursue a degree in Computer Science with a minor in Psychology. My goal is to use my education and personal experiences to help families like mine, especially those with limited support systems. I would love to combine technology and advocacy to create better resources and systems for vulnerable children and families in my community. With the exceptional needs of my children and the demands of ABA, Speech, OT therapy schedules, it has become difficult to maintain full-time hours at work. My income has decreased because of how much time is needed to support my children and make sure they receive the care they need. At the same time, the cost of living continues to rise. Groceries, gas, supplements, vitamins, and therapies quickly add up, and many things have had to be removed from our budget. This scholarship would help my family tremendously. It would relieve some of the financial pressure that has taken over my life while balancing school, work, and raising two children with special needs. More importantly, it would help me continue building a future that my children can be proud of. I want my boys to grow up seeing perseverance, resilience, and determination through my actions. Just as I watch them learn and grow through every therapy and every challenge, they are watching me do the same. I am determined to break cycles, create stability for my family, and make a meaningful difference not only for my children, but for other single mothers and families facing similar struggles.