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.