Domestic violence and substance abuse are deeply intertwined issues that disproportionately affect African American women. The weight of these struggles extends beyond individual victims—it impacts families, communities, and future generations. For me, these issues are not just statistics or headlines; they are lived experiences that have shaped my identity and aspirations. Through higher education, I am determined to contribute to improved care, coordination, and communication, ensuring better outcomes for African American women facing these challenges. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of domestic violence and substance abuse. The pain was not just physical—it was emotional, psychological, and deeply ingrained in our family dynamic. Fear and instability became the norm, and the absence of adequate support systems left scars that took years to understand. Despite these challenges, I refused to let them define me. Instead, they became the foundation of my resilience and determination to bring change to others facing similar struggles. Education became my refuge—an escape and, ultimately, a pathway to transformation. Through learning, I found empowerment. I realized that understanding the systemic factors contributing to domestic violence and substance abuse was essential to breaking the cycle. The statistics reflecting the disproportionate impact on African American women were not abstract numbers; they were real lives, real pain, and real struggles. That realization strengthened my resolve to use my academic journey to advocate for those who feel voiceless. My pursuit of higher education is more than personal growth—it is a mission to address the gaps in care and coordination that perpetuate cycles of trauma. I plan to study healthcare management and equipping myself with the knowledge and tools necessary to create sustainable solutions. By understanding policy development, mental health support, and the structural inequities that contribute to domestic violence and substance abuse, I aim to implement programs that provide African American women with access to comprehensive care, legal protections, and resources for rebuilding their lives. My pursuit of higher education is more than personal growth—it is a mission to address the gaps in care and coordination that perpetuate cycles of trauma. I plan to study [insert your chosen field: social work, psychology, public health, law, etc.], equipping myself with the knowledge and tools necessary to create sustainable solutions. By understanding policy development, mental health support, and the structural inequities that contribute to domestic violence and substance abuse, I aim to implement programs that provide African American women with access to comprehensive care, legal protections, and resources for rebuilding their lives.I plan to help others as I needed someone to help me become a survivor of domestic violence.

My name is Carolyn Evelyn 44-year single mother of 5 amazing children and 3 amazing grandsons. I raised well over 14 children throughout my young age. Since I was a teen having and raising my children I always helped and raised my neighbor's children as well. I came up in a time where there was a real village and your neighbors were part of that village. We disciplined each other's children, fed each other's children, and gave shelter if and when it was needed. Besides working a full-time job on the weekends and being a full-time student, I still find the time to volunteer at Hosea to help feed the homeless, and the Atlanta community food bank, and I help my elderly neighbors with tasks around the yard and inside the home. I am in pursuit of becoming a nurse and once I am licensed I plan to donate my time to the local shelters and warming centers and around downtown Atlanta homeless encampments to help combat the failed healthcare system for the homeless. I see a need for healthcare for the homeless every weekend at work. The homeless have needs too and not all are criminals running from capture. Some of these homeless people are our very own family members who have gone off grid, or have had some sort of mental breakdown and do not know where they belong. If we can bring back community clinics and community housing buildings we can help combat this homeless epidemic happening all over the United States and from what I recently learned homelessness is happening in other major countries as well. We as a people must now work together to find a solution to the problem that is not going away. Homelessness percentages across the country are growing at an all-time high.

My name is Carolyn Evelyn, a 44-year-old single mother, student, and teacher of 5 amazing children and 3 grandchildren. I work full-time as a patient care tech on the weekends at a local hospital, all while home-schooling two grandsons and being a full-time student. My drive and ambition to become a nurse started at 11 years old. I witnessed an act of violence and unbeknown to me at the time, this was my calling, I jumped into action to help. I remember making a tunicate out of ripped bell-bottom jeans and applying pressure to a wound that was bleeding. I sat the person up against a wall and eventually, EMS came to do the real work. I laid in bed that night traumatized yet yearning for more adventure in helping someone. A future trauma nurse was born that day. I took the time to have children and raise a family but the desire still burned deep within me. As the children grew up and pursued their dreams, I was left with that passion that burned even more. I decided it was never too late to pursue my dreams. I took my compassion to another level. I enrolled in the technical college, a 47-minute commute from my home. It was financially the best option for me. I know if I run out of financial aid the tuition is affordable. I am enrolled in the nursing interdisciplinary track, three semesters into my prerequisite. With just one class left to take, the teas test for admission scoring, I will be ready to apply to the nursing program that begins in August. I am very active on campus despite having a full-time job and homeschooling grandsons. I am the student vice president of the National Society of Leadership and Success, I am treasurer of the Student Government Association and I assist Dr. Cumberbatch with curriculum for the nursing students already in the program. My drive shows my dedication to this experience and with the help of your scholarship I can spend even more time working diligently towards my nursing degree. I will use the funds to purchase my next set of models to study A&P2. The hands-on models I have purchased off Amazon and returned because I simply can not afford to keep them come in handy when studying. I honestly feel because of them I have been able to obtain and keep my 3.8 GPA. The amount of study materials out there that a student like me can not afford to keep, you make it possible with your kind scholarships. Thank you for your time and dedication to us future nurses. Remember as you have given to us, we must give to others.

I am a single mother of five amazing children. Four young adults and one teenager with an old soul. He has been here before. A few times. I really enjoyed being a full time mom however I couldn’t escape my childhood dreams. I’ve always wanted to be a Brain surgeon since a child. I have been fascinated with sutures, broken bones, healing the sick and helping the elderly. I would spend countless hours pacing the local emergency department looking for anyone who would allow me to watch their work. From CPR, to literally watching a lady get her wrist sutured back together. During my lifetime adventures, my dreams were short lived once I became a mom. Raising 5 beautiful children, their education came first. I’ve sacrificed my life, my time, and my commitments to them. After successfully getting three of the young adults through college, it is my turn. I plan on becoming one of the best neurology nurses in the south. I have enrolled in chattahoochee tech in summer of 2024, maintaining a 3.5 gpa and will be inducted into the NSLS ( National Society Leadership and Success), an honor society through my school December of 2024. I will receive my ASN in 2026 and pass the NCLEX to be an RN. I will continue my educational journey with Kennesaw State or Mercer University. I am excited and extremely focus driven by my goals. The hardships I faced getting them through school was never being home to be a mother, not being able to afford to send my children to the prom or any other school events. It was rent or food, clothes or gas to get to work. I’ve went without to make sure they had. So, after I’ve successfully completed my mission of getting them world ready and educated, it’s my turn. It is time to pursue my dreams and climb up the socialization ladder. Its time for me to ditch parent plus loans and be able to afford to send my last one through college without the past struggles I encountered. With this scholarship I will be able to spend more time in my books and less time on the clock to pursue my goals in becoming part of the solution to this healthcare crisis. I want to be there to support, nourish, educated, learn, grow and succeed with my future health care professionals that are out here getting the education and training we need to combat this crisis side by side together as one. Rest in peace Laken Riley.