I'm worth it because I was told my whole life that I wasn't. I'm worth it because after all that I have survived I'm still here. I'm worth it because I took my power back and found a way to stand up and the courage to file the divorce papers and step outside of what felt like a damnation of a soul that I never got to experience. My entire way of being on this earth came with abusive parents, abusive foster parents, married at 16 to an abusive husband. Divorced at 23 and remarried at 27 to divorce again at 38. All while being told that I was less, I deserved less, I wasn't good enough, strong enough, smart enough. It took escaping into my carefully concocted word of nature and animals to find an inner peace. Watching foster children foster animals. Working with my autistic child teaching him the coping skills he needed to manage his intense emotions in a large world, that to me felt small but my to my kids, was a world of possibilities I am worth my dreams because I somehow raised 11 kids that didn't need to recover from their childhood while shielding them from the grunt of all that I endured. My youngest born to me child turned 18 yesterday. I survived. They were never taken from me despite the statistics of teen parenting and having 5 children at 21. I overcame more in one 38 years than most will see in an entire generations lifetime. I have survived and beat the odds that said I wouldn't make it. That I would be an addict. That I could be an alcoholic. That I would never graduate . That I could raise kids properly. That I would always be a product of my environment. That I would be abusive toward my children. Or worse, like some that couldn't find the strength to get back up, that I would end my own life. I am still here. I finally paid off my property. I learned how to build on my own. I learned to advocate for myself. Now I will use that to create something bigger than me, available for all that have gone through terrible things and need to find a way to cope. For children that need the closeness and the safe space to be a child and realize that the world is bigger than the corner we have been backed into. For women that are dealing with domestic issues, raising children, being told that THEY CAN'T because they aren't enough. We ARE enough. WE ARE WORTH OUR DREAMS AND STRONG ENOUGH TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THERE.

I chose this career path because I identify and want to create a sanctuary for the lost, abused, the broken, forgotten and those in need of a safe space to thrive and be loved. Whether it is to be rehabilitated and released into their appropriate habitat, be adopted into a loving forever home or to live out the rest of their days cared for and loved in a sanctuary of peace recovering from anything they have endured throughout their life. My B.S. Animal Health and Behavioral Science along with my certificates in Wildlife Management, Wildlife Rehabilitation, Animal Training and Service Animal Training will allow me to create and and federally certify my nonprofit foundation for these animals. So many animals are left to roam the streets or euthanized for lack of space in local shelters. Lack of funds for medical care. There is just no where for them to turn. Many of them have been abandoned or abused and with a broken heart they lack trust and are often misunderstood and just need time and understanding. They need a chance to thrive. I, myself had a very rough upbringing. I was abused, abandoned and then married by 16. I dealt with domestic abuse. I had 5 children by the age of 21, the first of which I had placed for adoption. I had to overcome so much from a very young age. At 22 years old I packed up my children and I left my abusive relationship and I figured out how to manage my life and raise my kids on my own. I managed to raise 4 pretty amazing kids. I often sit back and wonder how on earth I got here. How did I survive? How did I not manage to fall into the cracks of the system and let myself and my kids become just another statistic? My only conclusion is my passion for my children's well being and the passion I have to care for all of the animals that somehow gravitate into my care. Throughout the years, we have cared for so many animals on our little homestead. Now that my children are (almost) grown up, I have found the courage to get the education to take the passion I have that drives me and do something bigger than myself. With the help of my of my kids, the 5 of us have secured a bigger property to start rebuilding greenhouses, pasture fences and enclosures for the multiple breeds of animals we intend to (and already) care for. I want to have my business plans, property layout, permit applications and code inspections ready and available by the time I finish my degree. My ball is already rolling. This degree is the most important aspiration I have. Thank you for your consideration.