I love math because it gives me the ability to take something complicated, break it down, and find an answer. To me, math is much more than numbers, formulas, and equations. It is a way of thinking, solving problems, recognizing patterns, and understanding how the world works. As someone with more than 16 years of experience in accounting, math has played an important role throughout my professional and educational journey. Every day, numbers tell a story. They help businesses understand where they are financially, identify problems, plan for the future, and make informed decisions. I enjoy being able to look at financial information, analyze the details, and use mathematical reasoning to help turn information into solutions. What I find especially interesting about math is that there is often more than one way to approach a problem, but the goal is to find the most accurate and effective solution. I enjoy the challenge of working through a difficult equation or financial problem and experiencing that moment when everything finally makes sense. That feeling of accomplishment is one of the reasons I continue to enjoy learning. As I pursue my MBA and consider continuing my education even further, I recognize how important mathematics is to business, economics, technology, and research. Statistics, financial modeling, forecasting, and analytical reasoning all depend on mathematical principles. Without math, many of the tools businesses use to measure performance and plan for growth would not exist. I also believe math teaches lessons that extend beyond the classroom. It teaches patience, persistence, discipline, and the importance of not giving up when the answer is not immediately clear. I love math because it challenges me to think differently and continuously improve. After many years in accounting and throughout my educational journey, I still enjoy learning something new. To me, that is what makes mathematics so valuable: there is always another problem to solve, another concept to understand, and another opportunity to grow.

Mental health is important to me because I understand that the challenges people face internally are not always visible to the people around them. As a student, a mother, and a working professional, I have learned that pursuing an education is about much more than completing assignments, earning grades, or obtaining a degree. It is also about perseverance, personal growth, and learning how to keep moving forward when life becomes difficult. My mental health journey has taught me that success does not mean living a life without struggles. It means recognizing those struggles, seeking support when necessary, and refusing to allow difficult circumstances to define my future. Living with mental health challenges has given me a deeper understanding of how important compassion, patience, and encouragement can be. There have been times when balancing education, family responsibilities, work, and personal challenges has felt overwhelming. However, I have continued working toward my educational goals because I believe my future is worth fighting for. As an adult student returning to higher education, I recognize that my journey looks different from that of many traditional college students. I have responsibilities as a mother, professional obligations, and the desire to build something meaningful for my family and myself. Working toward my MBA has required discipline, determination, and the ability to manage competing demands. My education has become more than a professional achievement; it represents the belief that personal challenges do not have to determine how far someone can go in life. I believe one of the most important ways to advocate for mental health is to create an environment where people feel comfortable speaking honestly without fear of judgment. Mental health conditions should not carry shame or make someone feel less capable, intelligent, or deserving of opportunities. I advocate for mental health awareness by encouraging understanding, listening without judgment, and recognizing that people may be fighting battles that others cannot see. At home and within my community, I believe in the importance of reminding others that asking for help is a sign of strength rather than weakness. I also believe that education is an important part of changing the conversation surrounding mental health. By continuing my education and being willing to discuss the importance of mental well-being, I hope to demonstrate that individuals facing these challenges can still pursue ambitious goals, build successful careers, raise families, and contribute positively to their communities. My experiences have made me more compassionate toward others and have strengthened my determination to succeed. I do not believe that anyone should have to choose between caring for their mental health and pursuing their dreams. Both deserve attention and support. Ultimately, I want my journey to remind others that their circumstances do not define their potential. Mental health challenges may make the road more difficult, but they do not eliminate the possibility of achievement. I will continue pursuing my education, advocating for understanding, and encouraging others to recognize their own worth. Sometimes, the greatest accomplishment is simply refusing to give up on the person you are still becoming.

Pursuing a PhD in Operations Management: Turning Experience Into Knowledge and Impact My interest in pursuing a PhD in Operations Management comes from a combination of education, professional experience, and a desire to make a lasting contribution to the business world. Throughout my career, I have developed a strong appreciation for how organizations operate, how decisions affect performance, and how improvements in processes can create opportunities for long-term success. After more than 16 years of accounting experience and my continued graduate business education, I see pursuing a doctorate as the next opportunity to expand my knowledge and share it with others through research and teaching. My MBA education has strengthened my understanding of strategic management, operational excellence, process improvement, financial decision-making, and organizational performance. Through coursework and projects involving process mapping, business models, SWOT analysis, and operational strategies, I have learned to examine businesses beyond their financial statements. My professional accounting background has also allowed me to see firsthand how financial information, internal controls, technology, and operational decisions influence organizational success. Helping maintain my family's florist business and developing my own bookkeeping business have further strengthened my interest in improving the way small businesses manage their resources and processes. My primary research interests involve the relationship between financial management, technology, and operational efficiency in small and medium-sized businesses. For example, how can automation and accounting technology reduce errors, improve decision-making, and increase operational efficiency? How can small businesses use financial information to allocate resources more effectively while maintaining customer satisfaction? I am also interested in how process improvement strategies can help family-owned businesses remain competitive and sustainable. I believe these questions have practical importance and provide opportunities for meaningful academic research. I understand that a PhD in Operations Management requires much more than completing additional coursework. A typical doctoral program involves advanced research methodology, statistics, economics, analytical modeling, teaching responsibilities, research collaboration, qualifying examinations, and the development and defense of an original dissertation. I recognize that this commitment generally requires four to six years of intensive, full-time study. I am prepared to pursue an in-person campus residency and dedicate the time, discipline, and effort necessary to succeed. My preliminary list of programs includes Northwestern University, the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of Florida, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Connecticut. These programs offer opportunities to explore operations management, service operations, process improvement, information systems, and technology-driven business transformation. I am currently exploring program requirements and researching faculty interests to identify the strongest academic fit as I prepare for the application process. My long-term goal is to build an academic career as a researcher and professor in Operations Management. I understand that this career involves publishing scholarly research, teaching university students, mentoring future professionals, collaborating with other researchers, and contributing to the advancement of business knowledge. I want to bring my real-world accounting and business experience into the classroom while helping develop research that organizations can apply to solve meaningful problems. I believe education should never stop at personal achievement. It should create opportunities to help others grow. Pursuing a PhD would allow me to transform years of professional experience and academic development into research, teaching, and contributions that extend beyond my own career. I am motivated by the opportunity to learn, discover, and make a meaningful difference in the future of Operations Management.

Online education has played an important role in helping me continue my education while balancing work, family, and professional responsibilities. As an MBA student with more than 16 years of accounting experience, I understand the value of combining practical knowledge with continued learning. Online platforms and digital resources allow me to expand my understanding of business, strengthen my skills, and apply what I learn to real-world situations without putting my other responsibilities aside. One of the most valuable tools in my educational journey is my online learning platform, where I access course materials, submit assignments, participate in discussions, and communicate with instructors and classmates. These resources allow me to organize my education around my responsibilities while remaining actively engaged in my courses. Online discussions also expose me to different professional experiences and perspectives. Learning how other students approach leadership, financial management, entrepreneurship, and organizational challenges helps me recognize that there can be several effective ways to solve a problem. I also rely on digital research resources and tools such as Microsoft Excel to strengthen my understanding of business and accounting concepts. Researching course topics helps me connect academic theories with current business practices, while spreadsheets allow me to organize information, analyze figures, compare alternatives, and evaluate potential outcomes. These tools are especially valuable in accounting because accurate information and thoughtful analysis are essential to making sound financial decisions. My professional experience has helped me understand the importance of applying what I learn rather than simply memorizing information. In accounting, financial decisions can affect a company's profitability, employees, and long-term stability. Through my MBA studies, I am strengthening my ability to look beyond individual transactions and consider the larger business strategy. Lessons about leadership, operations, financial planning, and decision-making help me better understand how departments work together and how managers can use information to improve performance. Online learning has also helped me develop greater independence, discipline, and adaptability. Balancing education with work and family requires careful time management, organization, and commitment. I have learned to plan my assignments, use digital resources efficiently, and take responsibility for my progress. These habits are valuable not only in school but also in a professional environment where deadlines, changing priorities, and continuous learning are part of everyday life. My long-term goal is to establish and grow Blackburn’s Bookkeeping Firm, LLC, where I can use my accounting background and MBA education to help small-business owners manage their finances and make informed decisions. The knowledge I gain through online courses, digital research, and analytical tools will help me develop better processes, evaluate financial information, and provide meaningful guidance to business owners. I want to make financial management more understandable and accessible to entrepreneurs who may not have the resources of larger organizations. Ultimately, online education has given me a flexible way to invest in my future while continuing to meet my responsibilities today. It allows me to connect classroom learning with practical experience and prepare for greater leadership opportunities. With continued education and the effective use of technology, I hope to build a successful business, support my family, and help other businesses strengthen their financial futures.

My experiences with mental health have shaped the way I see myself, my relationships, and the world around me. Living with manic bipolar disorder and struggling with alcoholism have brought challenges that I never imagined I would have to face. There have been times when these struggles affected my professional life, including losing jobs because of alcohol. Those experiences were painful and difficult to process, but they also forced me to reflect on my life, my decisions, and the future I want to create. I have learned that mental health challenges do not make someone less capable, less worthy, or less deserving of opportunities. They are part of a person's experience, not the entirety of who that person is. For a long time, I understood how difficult it could be to carry personal struggles while trying to meet the expectations placed on me. As a mother, I have responsibilities that extend beyond myself. I want to provide my children with love, stability, and opportunities to succeed. At the same time, I have had to recognize that taking care of my own well-being matters, too. I cannot build the future I want for my family without acknowledging the importance of my own mental health. This understanding has helped shape my belief that asking for help, being honest about struggles, and working toward positive change are signs of strength rather than weakness. My experiences have also influenced how I view other people. We often see someone's professional accomplishments, daily responsibilities, or outward appearance without knowing what they may be experiencing privately. A person who appears successful may be struggling internally, while someone who has experienced setbacks may possess tremendous determination and potential. I have learned to be more mindful of the fact that we cannot fully understand another person's circumstances simply by looking at their situation. Compassion, patience, and understanding can make a difference in someone's life, especially when that person feels misunderstood or alone. Mental health stigma is particularly harmful when it causes people to hide their struggles out of fear of judgment. I believe we need more open conversations about mental health and addiction. People should be able to discuss their experiences without feeling that they must hide parts of themselves to be accepted. Although I know that every person's journey is different, I believe that treating people with dignity and encouraging them to seek appropriate support can help create an environment where healing and growth are possible. My experiences have strengthened my determination to pursue my education and professional goals. I am working toward my MBA and building on more than 16 years of accounting experience. My long-term goal is to establish and grow Blackburn's Bookkeeping Firm, LLC, where I can help small businesses manage their finances, understand their financial position, and make informed decisions. I also want to continue supporting my family's florist business and preserving the family legacy. These goals represent more than professional success. They represent my commitment to building stability, creating opportunities for my children, and demonstrating that difficult experiences do not have to end a person's ambitions. Balancing education, family, work, and personal well-being requires persistence. My journey has taught me that progress is not always a straight line and that setbacks do not erase the value of continued effort. I want to keep developing the knowledge, discipline, and leadership skills necessary to succeed in my career while also prioritizing my health and personal growth. Ultimately, my mental health journey has taught me that people deserve compassion, that honesty creates opportunities for understanding, and that a person's past does not determine their potential. I cannot change every challenge I have faced, but I can continue learning from my experiences and use that knowledge to shape my future. I want my children to see that strength includes recognizing when we need support, taking responsibility for our choices, and continuing to work toward meaningful goals. My aspiration is to build a life grounded in growth, purpose, and understanding. By continuing my education, pursuing my business goals, and approaching others with greater compassion, I hope to demonstrate that challenges can become part of a meaningful journey forward. Most importantly, I want to help create a world where people feel less alone in their struggles and more confident that their lives, dreams, and futures still hold value.

Recovery means learning to take back control of my life and believing that my past does not have to determine my future. My journey with alcoholism has not been easy. I have experienced the consequences of my struggles, including losing jobs and facing challenges that affected my confidence and stability. Living with manic bipolar disorder has added another layer of difficulty, but I am learning that acknowledging my challenges is not a weakness. It is an important step toward building a healthier future. To me, recovery is about more than simply staying away from alcohol. It means becoming accountable for my choices, protecting my well-being, and making decisions that support the life I want to create. It means being present for my children and showing them that even when life becomes difficult, it is possible to keep working toward something better. I am pursuing my MBA and working toward my dream of establishing Blackburn’s Bookkeeping Firm, LLC. My education represents hope, opportunity, and a commitment to creating a more stable future for my family. Recovery is an ongoing journey that requires honesty, perseverance, and courage. I want to continue growing, learning, and becoming the best version of myself. My past is part of my story, but it does not define how my story will end.

My journey has not always been easy, and there have been times when my personal struggles affected nearly every part of my life. Living with manic bipolar disorder and battling alcoholism have presented challenges that I have had to confront in deeply personal ways. My experiences have affected my career, my stability, and my confidence in myself. I have lost jobs because of my struggles with alcohol, and those experiences forced me to recognize how important my health, choices, and long-term well-being are to the future I want to build. Although these challenges have been difficult, they do not define my worth or determine what I can accomplish. Living with a mental health condition requires understanding, patience, and a commitment to managing challenges that others may not always see. There have been times when moving forward felt overwhelming, but I have continued working toward a better future. My experiences have taught me that personal growth does not happen overnight. It requires honesty, accountability, perseverance, and the willingness to keep going even when the road ahead is uncertain. One of my greatest motivations is my son. As a mother, I want to provide him with stability, opportunity, and a positive example of what it means to persevere. I want him to understand that people can face serious challenges and still pursue meaningful goals. I do not want my son to believe that setbacks mean the end of a dream. Instead, I want my life to demonstrate that difficult experiences can become motivation to make healthier choices, develop greater self-awareness, and work toward a brighter future. Education is an important part of that future. I am pursuing my MBA and building on more than 16 years of professional accounting experience. Continuing my education while balancing family responsibilities and personal challenges requires determination, discipline, and careful planning. Earning my degree will help me strengthen my leadership, financial management, and business strategy skills while opening doors to new opportunities. My long-term goal is to establish and grow Blackburn’s Bookkeeping Firm, LLC. I want to use my professional experience and education to help small businesses understand their finances, make informed decisions, and build sustainable operations. I also hope to continue supporting my family's florist business and preserving the family legacy. These goals represent more than career advancement to me. They represent the opportunity to build greater stability for my son, contribute to my community, and create a future shaped by my decisions rather than my past difficulties. Moving forward, I understand the importance of taking my mental health seriously and making my well-being a priority. My plan is to continue developing healthy routines, recognize when I need support, and seek appropriate professional guidance for managing my bipolar disorder and maintaining recovery from alcohol misuse. I also recognize the importance of accountability, supportive relationships, and asking for help rather than trying to handle every challenge alone. I want to continue learning about myself and making choices that support my health, family, education, and professional future. Receiving this scholarship would help reduce the financial burden of pursuing my MBA while raising my son and working toward my professional goals. It would allow me to devote more resources to my education and take another meaningful step toward completing my degree. I cannot change the challenges I have experienced, but I can choose how I move forward. I am determined to keep learning, growing, and building a future that reflects my abilities, values, and aspirations. I want my children to see that resilience is not about never struggling; it is about continuing to seek a better path when life becomes difficult. My story is still being written, and I am committed to making the next chapters ones of growth, responsibility, and hope.

Hi, my name is Charlie Blackburn and I lost my father to ALS. My father was truly my best friend. Even though he was sick, when we found out I was pregnant, he fought 9 long months to meet his grandson. My son was born on November 2, 2019 and my father passed on December 2, 2019. He was able to meet his grandson and love him unconditionally for a whole month. Growing up me and my father were absolute best friends. I talked to him about boys instead of my mom. To this day I want to find a man that is like my father. He was a wonderful husband, father and god fearing man. We sang in the choir together since the day I was brave enough to join. Every cantata for Easter or Christmas they always gave my father and I the duets. God how I miss that man. I know for a fact he went to heaven. He quit his job as a mechanic in his younger days to make my moms dream come true of opening a florist. To this day because of my father, my mom still has the shop and it is doing great. The florist was a blessing when my dad was diagnosed. We were able to take him to work with us everyday and make sure he was taken care of 24/7, around the clock. Especially there towards the end. I bought every streaming service known to man to keep him occupied since he was bound to a chair quickly and couldn't walk or use his hands. We also made sure to eat whatever he desired for as long as we could, until he received the feeding tube. I ended up selling my home in Concord, North Carolina to move back to Monroe, North Carolina so that I could be closer and help my mom with my father to give her a break. I ended up finding a home that was one neighborhood over from theirs. Three days after signing the paperwork, I found out I was pregnant. My father was already ready to go but his baby girl was giving him a grandson and he said since he wouldn't be able to walk me down the isle to get married, he would be there for me to have my first and only son. To say my father was an amazing, wonderful soul is an understatement. He was a god send. To my mother and myself and we miss him terribly. Not a day goes by we don't still think/talk about him. We say that my son is him reincarnated. He acts JUST LIKE MY dad. :) The love of music, the sweet soul, caring and just an all around wonderful person, my son.

Hi, my name is Charlie Blackburn and I lost my father to ALS. My father was truly my best friend. Even though he was sick, when we found out I was pregnant, he fought 9 long months to meet his grandson. My son was born on November 2, 2019 and my father passed on December 2, 2019. He was able to meet his grandson and love him unconditionally for a whole month. Growing up me and my father were absolute best friends. I talked to him about boys instead of my mom. To this day I want to find a man that is like my father. He was a wonderful husband, father and god fearing man. We sang in the choir together since the day I was brave enough to join. Every cantata for Easter or Christmas they always gave my father and I the duets. God how I miss that man. I know for a fact he went to heaven. He quit his job as a mechanic in his younger days to make my moms dream come true of opening a florist. To this day because of my father, my mom still has the shop and it is doing great. The florist was a blessing when my dad was diagnosed. We were able to take him to work with us everyday and make sure he was taken care of 24/7, around the clock. Especially there towards the end. I bought every streaming service known to man to keep him occupied since he was bound to a chair quickly and couldn't walk or use his hands. We also made sure to eat whatever he desired for as long as we could, until he received the feeding tube. I ended up selling my home in Concord, North Carolina to move back to Monroe, North Carolina so that I could be closer and help my mom with my father to give her a break. I ended up finding a home that was one neighborhood over from theirs. Three days after signing the paperwork, I found out I was pregnant. My father was already ready to go but his baby girl was giving him a grandson and he said since he wouldn't be able to walk me down the isle to get married, he would be there for me to have my first and only son. To say my father was an amazing, wonderful soul is an understatement. He was a god send. To my mother and myself and we miss him terribly. Not a day goes by we don't still think/talk about him. We say that my son is him reincarnated. He acts JUST LIKE MY dad. :) The love of music, the sweet soul, caring and just an all around wonderful person, my son.

My long-term goals center on three interconnected priorities: completing my degree, advancing my career in accounting into a leadership or managerial role, and strengthening and sustaining my family’s florist business for future generations. With over 16 years of accounting experience, I have built a strong foundation in financial operations, reporting, and business management. Returning to school is the next step in formalizing and expanding that expertise so I can reach higher levels of responsibility and create more meaningful long-term opportunities for my family. My primary academic goal is to complete my degree in accounting while continuing to apply what I learn directly to my professional work. I plan to finish my coursework over the next 12–18 months, depending on course availability and workload balance. To achieve this, I will continue taking a structured course load each term while managing work and parenting responsibilities. My experience in the field allows me to integrate real-world application with academic theory, which strengthens my understanding and efficiency in both areas. Professionally, my goal is to advance into a senior accounting, controller, or financial management position. With my years of experience in roles involving financial reporting, supervision, and operational accounting, I am already positioned for this transition. However, completing my degree will allow me to qualify for additional opportunities that require formal education credentials. I plan to pursue leadership roles within the next 2–5 years, ideally within an organization where I can contribute to strategic financial planning, budgeting, and operational efficiency. In addition to my corporate career goals, I am also committed to preserving and growing my mother’s florist business. This business is not only a source of income but a family legacy built on service, community connection, and care. My plan is to modernize its financial operations by implementing structured accounting systems, budgeting processes, and inventory tracking tools. I will apply my accounting expertise to improve profitability while maintaining the personal, customer-focused nature of the business. To achieve these goals, I have developed a structured financial and resource plan. My education is currently funded through a combination of personal income and savings, but continued tuition costs remain a challenge. Estimated annual tuition and fees range between $6,000 and $10,000 depending on course load and institution requirements. Additional costs include textbooks ($500–$1,000 annually), technology updates such as a reliable laptop and software subscriptions ($1,000–$1,500), and transportation or childcare adjustments during peak academic periods. The florist business also requires reinvestment for inventory, supplies, and seasonal staffing support, which averages $2,000–$5,000 annually depending on demand cycles. To manage these financial responsibilities, I plan to continue working full-time while attending school part-time. I will also maintain strict budgeting practices, prioritizing educational expenses and business reinvestment. Any scholarship support would directly reduce financial strain and allow me to allocate more time toward academic performance and business development rather than relying solely on extended work hours. In terms of additional resources, I rely heavily on time management tools, accounting software such as QuickBooks, and professional experience to balance responsibilities. I also intend to seek mentorship from professionals in senior accounting roles and small business management to ensure I am making informed decisions both academically and operationally. Networking within my field will also support my transition into higher-level positions. Ultimately, my goal is to create long-term financial security for my family, preserve my mother’s business legacy, and serve as an example to my son that persistence and education lead to opportunity. With my experience, discipline, and structured plan, I am confident in my ability to achieve these goals and continue building a stable and meaningful future.

My core values are perseverance, compassion, integrity, and family. These values have been shaped by my experiences as a mother, a professional, and a student returning to school later in life. I believe success is measured not only by personal achievement but also by the positive impact we have on the people around us and the legacy we leave behind. Family has always been at the center of every decision I make. One of my greatest motivations is raising my six-year-old son and showing him the importance of resilience, responsibility, and lifelong learning. I want him to see that challenges should never stop us from pursuing our goals. Returning to college while balancing work and parenting has not been easy, but it demonstrates that determination and hard work can overcome obstacles. Another value that is especially important to me is honoring family legacy. My mother built a florist business that has served our community with care and compassion. Keeping her florist shop open and continuing the family business is deeply meaningful because it represents more than a business—it represents years of dedication, relationships, and service. I hope to preserve everything she worked so hard to build while using my accounting education and business experience to strengthen and grow the business for future generations. Maintaining her legacy is my way of honoring her sacrifices and ensuring that the business continues bringing comfort and joy to others during both life's happiest celebrations and its most difficult moments. Integrity guides every decision I make, both personally and professionally. Throughout my career in accounting, I have learned that trust is earned through honesty, accountability, and ethical decision-making. Whether managing financial information, supporting business operations, or helping customers, I believe people deserve transparency and respect. My education is strengthening these skills and preparing me to become a more effective leader. Compassion also plays a significant role in how I approach my work. In business, understanding people's needs and treating them with kindness builds lasting relationships and stronger communities. The florist business has taught me that even the smallest gestures can make a meaningful difference in someone's life. Whether celebrating a wedding, welcoming a new baby, or comforting a family during a loss, our work allows us to be present during life's most significant moments. These values will continue to shape my future in business by reminding me that success is about more than financial results. I want to lead with empathy, make ethical decisions, support those around me, and create opportunities that benefit both my family and my community. By completing my education, advancing my career, and preserving my mother's business, I hope to build a future that reflects the values she instilled in me and inspires my son to pursue his own dreams with integrity, compassion, and perseverance.

Returning to school as a single parent has been one of the most meaningful decisions I have ever made. My educational journey has not followed a traditional timeline, but every experience along the way has strengthened my determination to earn my degree. Balancing a full-time career, raising my six-year-old son, and completing college coursework has required perseverance, discipline, and countless sacrifices. While the path has been challenging, it has also reinforced my belief that education is one of the greatest investments I can make in both my future and my son's. I put my education on hold because my priorities shifted toward supporting my family and building a stable career. I entered the workforce and gradually established myself in accounting, taking on positions with increasing responsibility. Through hard work and dedication, I gained valuable professional experience and developed leadership skills that have allowed me to grow in my career. Completing my degree remained an important personal goal that I knew would open additional opportunities while serving as an example of perseverance for my son. Being a parent has completely changed the way I view education. Every decision I make is guided by the future I want to create for my child. I want him to grow up understanding that success is not determined by how quickly you reach your goals but by your willingness to continue pursuing them despite obstacles. Although the schedule can be exhausting, knowing that I am building a better future for both of us makes every sacrifice worthwhile. Returning to school later in life has also given me a different perspective than I had as a younger student. I now approach my education with purpose and appreciation because I understand how valuable every opportunity to learn truly is. My professional experience allows me to connect classroom concepts with real-world situations, making each course immediately relevant to my career. At the same time, my coursework strengthens my ability to contribute more effectively in the workplace and prepares me for future leadership opportunities. Financially, returning to school while raising a child has required careful planning and difficult choices. Tuition, textbooks, childcare, and everyday living expenses all compete for limited resources. Like many student parents, I constantly evaluate how to balance my family's immediate needs with the long-term investment of completing my education. Despite these challenges, I remain committed because I know the benefits will extend far beyond earning a diploma. My degree represents greater career opportunities, increased financial security, and the ability to provide an even stronger future for my son. Receiving the Jerrye Chenes Memorial Scholarship would ease some of the financial burden associated with returning to school while raising a child. More importantly, it would serve as encouragement that the determination and sacrifices of student parents are recognized and supported by others who believe in the value of education. My long-term goal is to continue advancing my career in accounting while expanding into leadership positions where I can mentor others and contribute to organizational success. More importantly, I hope my son remembers watching his mother refuse to give up on her dreams, even when life became difficult. I want him to understand that perseverance, resilience, and education can overcome obstacles and create opportunities that might otherwise seem impossible. Every challenge I have faced has strengthened my resolve and reminded me why I started this journey. I am not simply earning a degree for myself—I am building a legacy of determination, resilience, and lifelong learning for my son. Thank you for considering my application and for supporting parents who work tirelessly to improve their lives through education.

As a person who suffers from ADHD, epilepsy, anxiety, major depression, manic bipolar, and high blood pressure at the ripe age of 31, I have a lot going on to be so young. And to think, most of it started way back in high school. I can't walk into a room without that demon in my head saying I am not welcome, I am not good enough, you don't belong here. It never stops. Thank God for medication, or I would be in an asylum. My brother has almost the same mental health issues, but instead of medication, he chooses to smoke pot. I don't get how that helps, but each one is their own. I am thankful for the psychiatrist that I have now, who has finally figured out the appropriate medication cocktail to help me have somewhat of a normal day. I pray that my problems never fall on my young son. I don't want him ever to have to deal with any of this. I have seen how my mother feels about my brother and me, and I would hate to have it carried through generations. To advocate for mental health, I share a lot of helplines on Facebook and let people know I am here for them as I just lost three friends, all male, to suicide. The first was in February; the other friend was just two days ago. I am still in disbelief. I wish they had talked to someone and gotten help. It is always the ones who are the happiest and never show that they are down are the main ones who commit suicide. I feel that mental health questions should start at a young age so things like this can be prevented. If people had the nurturing and love they need and someone to lean on and sit and listen to, I feel this alone would go a long way. A parent should never have to bury their child, especially because they feel as if death is better than living. I won't lie; I have had those thoughts before, but now that I have a son of my own, I have a purpose: to live every day, get up, and fight. Some people don't have anyone, and it is truly sad what this world has become like. I pray going forward that if a friend feels like this again around me, they can come to me and talk to me. I would rather miss sleep knowing you are ok than wake up to that horrible phone call ever again.

Since I was 13 years old, anxiety has controlled my life. Later in life came depression, manic bipolar, epilepsy, and heart issues. I do not give up easily, so I take my medication like I am supposed to so that I can have somewhat of a normal life daily. Living with all of these problems is a problem in itself. Anxiety can control your emotions, how you feel, how you act, what you say. It is a little demon inside of your head that won't stop talking. Having it for so long, I have learned different ways to cope with it, but there are still those days when it wins full force. Being a single mother with anxiety is even harder. I had bad postpartum depression once I had my son. Thank God in heaven I still have my mother to help me since his "donor" walked out when I was three months pregnant due to heroin. It has been a difficult life for me. When I walk into a room, I never feel comfortable or welcome. That little demon is constantly telling me I am not good enough, that I will never be enough. That I am a terrible mother and daughter. That I should do better. The house is a wreck and needs to be cleaned, but you don't spend enough time with your son now that you are returning to school. It is a never-ending cycle. That is why I am glad to have the psychiatrist I have now. She has me, so far, on the right dosage of medications to help me with all of this. The next thing she wants me to do is take therapy and talk to someone, which I wouldn't mind, but I can't afford it or afford to take the time off of work to do it. Pursuing my master's degree is important because I want to prove to myself that I am worthy. I can accomplish what I put my mind to, even though most of the time, it has negative things to say to me. I am tired of working two jobs and not having enough time for my son, so I dropped a job, picked up school, and will be finished by the fall of next year. Then, I can get a better-paying job and only focus on one job and my son. He is the most important thing to me. Since my father passed away in 2019 from ALS, my mom, and my son are all I have left. They are the rock that keeps me going. They are my purpose. That is why I wanted to higher my education to show my son that, as his role model, it is tough, but it can be done.

The most challenging thing about the combination of being a student and a single parent who is working full-time as well. Providing for a child is a hard job, especially doing it alone. I was working two jobs to provide, but now I am working just one to try and make ends meet so that I would have time for school to further my education in hopes that I will find a higher salary job that is capable of handling my mortgage, truck payment, daycare, tuition, regular everyday bills, groceries, the list goes on and on. I am doing this all for my son and my mother. They are the only two family members I have left since my father died in 2019 from ALS. I have to make sure to do my school work on lunch breaks, or I have to stay up late after he goes to bed to be able to focus. Getting your master's degree is harder than I anticipated. In the end, all of this will be worth it. I will have better financials and less stress of how I am going to pay the bills. Receiving this scholarship will help either pay off the debt that I have accumulated through credit cards from paying tuition with them or go to the school directly to help cover next semester's classes. Either way, it will go towards my education. I was getting FAFSA help, but I made LITERALLY $1.00 too much last year to qualify, which is really disheartening. I take time out of my day during my two-week breaks to fill out as many applications for scholarships as I can in hopes that I might win one or two. I would feel accomplished if I won your award. It would help me to know I am on the right track and making the right sacrifices to make our way to a better future. My goal once I graduate is to become a CFO. I have over 14 years of experience in accounting, and I need to know the business side to qualify for the position. Obviously, I will have to obtain some kind of experience in between. I also hope that my background as treasurer and an accounting supervisor right out of college will help persuade someone to choose me to give me that chance to show them what a great leader I am. Having a child, working full-time, and pursuing a master's degree is all I do now. For the next two years, this will be my life. I will have to keep my head down and focused even when I am exhausted. Even when I don't have the energy, I must still push through to show my son what a great worker I am and what I want us to accomplish, that he is my saving grace and the reason I do all these things. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am hoping in the fall, when he starts school, we might do our schoolwork together so that I won't have to miss out on so much sleep! Thank you for your time and for reading my story. I wish everyone the best! Charlie Blackburn

Hello, My name is Charlie Blackburn and I am a single mother who is going back for her masters in business. I have nine courses left until I graduate. I decided to go back to school to make sure my son and I can afford the life he deserves. He starts school this fall and my mommy heart isn't ready but I am so thrilled for him as he continues to grow in his education. Obviously education is important to me and you should never stop learning. The last class I just recently finished was about leadership skills and how to go about using them. Our motto at school is "learn today, apply tomorrow" and this class helped me be able to do that in my daily job as an accounting manager. The class showed me how to be the best leader I can be. How to be strong in my communication skills, to be present, open door policy, available and willing to listen to personal and work related problems. I rose quickly to this position as I am an easy person to talk to but I also stand my ground when necessary. My goal in my professional life is to work my way up to becoming the CFO of a great company. I prefer a smaller company verses a corporation as I have worked for both and the smaller companies become more of a family whereas I feel in large corporations people become just a number and are always revolving with new people. I like stability when it comes to my jobs as I mentioned I am a single mother and I have a big responsibility that only I am in charge of. Learning effective communication techniques are necessary to succeed in today's business environment. Improving your business communications such as writing, effective emails, explore ways to see your ideas through persuasive writing and learn how to manage a crisis within your organization while you are the leader. You need to be able to recognize and manage unhealthy conflicts among team members. Uncover the steps to holding your most productive meetings, techniques to engage and hold your audiences attention. All of these traits are demonstrating great leadership. As a leader, speaking candidly about your leadership values and communication strengths while being present and authentic will help you to build connections and establish relationships of trust. Also, remember your appearance is also an important part in your leadership. How you carry yourself, the expressions on your face, how you hold your shoulders back are all great leadership traits.

My experience with mental health has been like living on a roller coaster. Over the past year it has unfortunately become worse and worse. I have now been seeing a psychiatrist to help get me on the right medications to help level me out. I am always depressed, anxious to the point my whole body trembles and I feel as if I could sleep 24/7. I am behind on house chores because I have no drive whatsoever to do them. My son is four years old and he even has noticed a change. He told me the other day that our house looks like a trash can, which hurt my feelings but made me realize just how bad it has gotten. The new medications I am on are starting to help a little bit but there will always be those days of feeling worthless and like you don't matter in this world. I have had a horrible past, PTSD stems from it. I refuse to talk about it which isn't helping my mental health but I am just not ready. My psychiatrist keeps pushing for me to go to see a therapist and thinks that it will help, which I am sure it would but I can't afford it, let alone take time off work to do so since I am the only provider for my son. That is why I am going back to school to further my education so that one day we can afford the things we need without having to ask for help. When it comes to relationships, they have been a disaster to say the least. I tend to choose all the wrong men. Even Hayden's "Donor" walked away when I was three months pregnant. He thought that drugs were more important than being a family and sobering up. To this day we haven't seen him but I have heard he has been in and out of jail constantly. It hurts me to know that my son might never have a father because of me and my mental health. Some people just don't understand what it is like to have this to live with every single day. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. My understanding of the world is that you and you alone are in charge of your life and what you make of it. No matter if you are sick, have mental health issues, whatever the case may be, you and you alone are the one who has to push yourself or you will drown. Yes mental health has become more of an open subject to talk about but there isn't a cure for it. It is just "maintained". Even though I don't want to go back to school and get in a ton of debt, I have a son to provide for and he is solely alone my responsibility. I will do everything in my power to make sure he has a good life and one that he deserves. I just hope that my mental health problems don't fall on him one day and I hope he never has to deal with this himself. It is a hard problem to deal with and like I said there is no cure. I have been diagnosed manic bipolar and am on four different medications to make it to where I can somewhat function like a normal person. It is expensive and the mood swings are horrible. I have learned when I feel an episode coming on, my son goes and stays with my mom. I never want him to have to experience seeing me in such a horrible mood and the things that come along with it. It took my mom years to accept that mental health was actually a diagnosis. That I couldn't just "shake off" how I felt and change my way of thinking. It doesn't work for people like me who have this problem. Now that I am on the right track with medications, she says that she is starting to see her daughter in me again. This made me feel so happy. Mental health has made this one difficult life to live but I have a son to live it for. I could care less about a relationship but my son deserves a male figure in his life. The world is going to do nothing but get worse in my opinion, the only thing I can do is make it the best time here that I can, when I mentally can. Thank you for reading my story and I want to wish everyone the best of luck.

Understanding the nature of the universe goes hand in hand with our understanding of who we are and how we fit into nature. Studying the universe means studying the things that exist within it and the universe itself. Determining the universe is harder than you think. The universe isn't a "thing". We can measure physical quantities that define the universe's properties or the cosmic expansion rate. But even these measures are not of the universe but of things in the universe. The universe is big in space and time and, for much of humankind's history, was beyond the reach of our instruments and minds. That has changed recently. Over the past 30 years, the pace of progress has accelerated with the realization that dark matter is not made of ordinary atoms, the discovery of dark energy and the dawning of bold ideas such as cosmic inflation and the multiverse. By looking out into space with telescopes, astronomers peer back in time. The light from distant galaxies reveals an earlier epoch, and the redshifted amount of light indicates how much the universe has grown in the intervening years. When it comes to understanding the fabric of the universe, most of what scientists think exists is consigned to a dark, murky domain. Ordinary matter, the stuff we can see and touch, accounts for just 5% of the cosmos. While there is no evidence yet that the dark dimension exists, the scenario does make testable predictions for both cosmological observations and tabletop physics. That means we may not have to wait long to see whether the hypothesis will bear up under empirical scrutiny or be relegated to the list of tantalizing ideas that never fulfilled their original promise. As gravitons leak into the dark dimension, their waves can have different frequencies, each corresponding to different energy levels. And those massive gravitons, traveling around the extra-dimensional loop, produce a significant gravitational influence at the point where the loop attaches to the sphere. Studying the universe can gather data about celestial bodies and investigate the universe's natural state. Exploring our solar system and beyond it deepens our comprehension of the cosmos and contributes significantly to advancements in astrophysics and cosmology. It is also a chance to answer the question of whether we are alone in the vastness of the universe or if distant civilizations actually exist. It offers greater insights into the origins and existence of life itself.

How I paint a good example for my son by going back to college is showing him that even though it is tough right now, in the long run, it will be worth it. I needed to return because I was working two jobs to make ends meet, and I didn't have much time with him. I want more time, so I am sacrificing time now while he is too young to hopefully remember this. He starts school in the fall so I am hoping maybe we can do our homework together as a bonding experience and show him it is ok never to stop learning. You are never too old to take on college. I want what is best for him and I want him to achieve so much in life, as any mother would for their child. He is my little best friend, my copy-paste. He is my little twin, and I will do anything I can to help him. Getting my master's degree will allow me to find a better-paying job to come home to at night. Thank god for my mom; without her, all this wouldn't be possible. It has just been me and my son since I was three months pregnant. I don't get child support and I don't get government assistance. That is why I go to scholarships to be able to afford to go to college. It is draining my bank account to do this but like I said, once I complete my degree, hopefully by next year, I can find a job higher up in the company I work for and if not I will start job hunting immediately. I have to do what is best for both of us. I love my job, but there are no positions where I can be raised. My goal is to graduate with honors and eventually become the CFO of a company. I know I will have to work hard to get to that position but I am willing to do the work. Education is important to me and I want my son to have the best so he is starting at a Christian academy this fall and I am so proud of him. He is excited to start learning. He said he couldn't wait to read to mommy like I have always done for him. I am a complete book nerd and I think he will be too. Thank you for reading my short story and for having this scholarship available to people like me.

Hello, It is important for businesses to implement sustainable practices because it not only does it have an impact on us as humans but the environment as well. We have future generations to think about. Our kids, grandkids, and so on. Conserving energy and polluting less leads to a better living environment and better health for everyone. When companies reduce their use of air, water and land it also in turn saves the company money. This in turn is leading to the making of greener technology and in turn allows smaller businesses to thrive. Businesses who care about sustainable practices care about leaving natural habitats for animals which in turn helps protect the biodiversity of our plant Earth. One eco-friendly practice my business could do is to go solar. There are grants available for helping pay for this as well. It will not only cut costs but offset our energy usage. A second method my company could do is tire inflation and other tuning of our company trucks. If your tires are properly inflated it improves your gas milage by up to 3%. The third thing we could do is cut down on traveling for meetings and use zoom or another online plat from to cut down on our carbon footprint. Going even further with this, you can set in place sustainability throughout the work place. Conduct a sustainability audit, implement a recycling program to minimize waste and encourage the use of reusable products, reduce water usage, etc. In turn all this will significant cost savings, a positive brand image, employee satisfaction by promoting a sense of purpose and contributing to a positive workplace culture, and much more. Sustainable businesses must meet current needs while also safeguarding the needs of future generations. With me being an accountant for 13 plus years, being sustainable can also improve relations with the government and the local community. It can get the company tax incentives and subsidies. Every company wants to pay less taxes. People, plant, profit is how I see it. Focusing on these three factors will help tremendously. Sustainability requires coordination, collaboration, innovation, invention, and re-imagination. Work with our supplier and educate our customers, to make sure they use and dispose of their products responsibly since we do run an oil company. We need to lead by example and drive other companies to be better and do better. Thank you for reading, Charlie Blackburn

Hello, I am a 31-year-old single mother returning to college to fulfill my dream of getting my master's degree. I am from a little small town south of Charlotte, NC. I am also a first-generation college student. Neither of my parents could afford to attend, so I was driven to want to go further in life. I received my associate's in 2015, and my bachelor's in 2019, and now I am going to Jack Welch Management Institute for my master's, which I will receive in 2025. I do all this while working two full-time jobs and caring for my son. I have been an accountant for over 13 years and love my job. I have a chance to grow within the company, and my goal is to become their controller one day. Right now I am in the process of asking for a promotion from being their bookkeeper to office manager. I have slowly been taking on more responsibilities and finding new software to help update the company as a whole and make things run smoother, and then we can take on more clients and vendors. This has been a long time coming for me as I have always pushed myself to be the best person I can be. I also want to set a great example for my son. He will be starting kindergarten this year, and I am NOT ready! So far in my education, I have been able to keep a 3.5 GPA or higher. I am very hard on myself about presenting the teachers with my best foot forward. This is all a reflection of me and what I want to become. Being a non-traditional college student has made this quite difficult for me as I truly can't afford to be in college right now, but I feel if I further my education, I will have a better chance of growing and advancing within this company and hopefully, in turn, make a higher salary to pay off all of the school debt. That is also why I am filling out scholarships to help give me a little cushion, or wiggle room, if you will. I am passionate about learning and reading. I have more books than I can count. You should never stop taking in as much information as possible. Getting this degree will help me reach my dreams of becoming higher within the company and also give me a chance to give my son a better life. Thank you for reading, Charlie Blackburn

Hello, My name is Charlie Blackburn, and I am a first-generation college student. I am attending Jack Welch Management Institute to gain my MBA. I am a 31-year-old single mother of a wonderful four-year-old boy, and I work two jobs, all while attending college. I work for a large oil company during the day as their bookkeeper, and at night, I work with my mother, who owns a florist, doing her books to keep her business going. I have been an accountant for over 13 years, and I absolutely love my occupation, but I am starting to strive for more. My ideal career would be climbing the oil company's pole. I have already been offered a seat as the office manager once I graduate college, but I would love to become this company's controller one day, eventually. This way, I would only be working one job, giving me more time to be with my son as I am a single mother. Going back to college was and is a very scary thing I decided to do when I realized it might just always be me who is raising my son, and I do not want to miss his games or talent shows for school. I do not want to miss any step of his life at all by working so much. If and when I get this degree, I will be able to make more money, only work one job, and be able to take care of both of us financially and physically. I am a very strong-willed and want to do this to better myself so that we can have a comfortable future ahead. This way, I can show other single mothers and women who are scared or hesitant to go back to school that it is possible. By God, it is hard, but it will be worth it in the end. I am already gaining knowledge from school to help in my day-to-day activities at work and how to handle stressful problems. I made the right choice by going back to college. I would use this scholarship to help pay for tuition and/or books for one of my semesters. It would come in handy when scheduling for next semester. Every little bit helps in so many ways! Thank you for reading my story, and I want to wish the best to everyone who applies for this scholarship. Thank you, Charlie Blackburn

Hello, My name is Charlie Blackburn and addiction has hit my family pretty hard. In 2019, I discovered I was pregnant with my first child with my high-school sweetheart. Three months into the pregnancy I noticed a change in the child's "donor". I will keep him anonymous. He had been to rehab many times but was clean for over 4 months this time. Come to find out he was using again. I gave him the option to go back to rehab and help raise this child as a family or leave, and you will never be a part of this child's life. I know that sounds harsh but I wanted what was best for my baby and I did not want them growing up in a lifestyle like of addiction and the absences that come along with it. I wanted a steady, everyday life for my child with people he could count on to be there every day. To this day, the "donor" is still on drugs and has never met my wonderful son Hayden. He is four years old and has the most loving personality and is such a blessing to my family. The donor's family has not even met him. They have never reached out to help or even get to know him. For me, as the mother, it is very disappointing and heartbreaking knowing one day I will have to explain all of this to him. It has not been an easy road whatsoever but I would not change a thing about my decision. My son is happy and healthy and goes to a wonderful church for daycare and is loved by so many. I have yet to find a man that I am willing to date yet because as I said before, I want the best for my son. One day I will find someone, but it is just the two of us for now. Thank God for my mom, whom we call Nana. She has been a blessing in helping me raise Hayden as my father died from ALS a month after Hayden was born. Needless to say, 2019 was a very hard year for us. Hayden, Nana, and I have made the best of it, though. He is thriving and has not missed a beat growing up. He has male figures from my family in his life to help teach him "manly" traits. It takes a village to raise a child and I am blessed with an amazing one.

I have been a math lover ever since I was a little girl. As I would put it today as an adult, numbers do not lie. You can always get an answer from working with numbers. That is why I became an accountant. I have been one for over 13 years now. Working with numbers has been a passion of mine, and my career goal down the road will involve numbers as well. I would like to become the company I work for's controller someday. I have already taken the steps to continue my education at Strayer University's Jack Welch Management Institute for my Master's in Business. I love working with numbers; I always have and always will. They are more simple to understand. You can always find where they come from and where they are going. They make their own journey, so to speak. I was an accounting supervisor for over seven years for a large corporation, left there, and now I am a full-charge bookkeeper for one of the largest oil industries around the greater Charlotte area. Numbers will always be something I am good at and passionate about. They can take you to so many places. They are what make my world go round.

I would have everyone read Alice in Wonderland by English Author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under Lewis Carroll's pseudonym. This novel was written in 1865. It is an old book that has been remade multiple times over but the original is the best version of all. There are multiple versions of the book and also different versions of videos and movies written after the book. I am almost positive I have every version of the book ever written. When I am bookshopping if I see a new version or the same but with a new cover it is going home with me. I have been a fan of this book and movie since I was a little girl. It is a fantasy world she "falls asleep" in. She ends up wishing she could go back to her fantasy world when she wakes which she only thinks is a possibility. In all reality, she can make her possibilities her reality. It opened my mind to think that if it is a possibility, you can make it your reality no matter which path you choose. You will always choose the path that leads you to where you are meant to go. The creatures being friends, the bad guys are your life are obstacles in the day-to-day, and waking up is you have finally reached where you are meant to go in life. The path along the way is not what matters, it is that you make it and enjoy it while getting there. It is a peculiar book indeed.

Hi, my name is Charlie Blackburn, and I am from a small town in North Carolina. I am a single mother of a wonderful 4-year-old who is about to start a school of their own. I work full-time as a full-charge bookkeeper during the day and nights and on weekends I work for a small business in our downtown area. I just started my journey into the MBA program at Jack Welch Management Institute a few weeks ago and it is going fantastic so far! Enough about me! Now about my career and the positive impact I want to make on this crazy world. I have always had a love for school and going further in education. Going the extra mile you can never learn enough. I decided it was time to go for my master's when my mother's health started to decline. She is a small business owner and has been for over 45 years. She has shown me what true hard work looks like. I want to make a difference as she did. She has touched so many people's lives through her work and continues to do so every single day. I want her passion and drive for my future. I would like to become the company's controller one day and climb the ladder while getting my MBA. I work with all women and the Vice President (he is a man). Each day they come to me with their problems and I get back with them about how to handle them or go about them and correct them. This program has helped me in such a way that I am able to handle certain situations better and in the future this company will grow even larger with such a great team at hand. I want to prove to my son that with hard work and dedication, mommy succeeded and it will help make his future better as well. My goal is to graduate with honors and get a promotion that way my mom can retire comfortably and I will be able to help take care of her physically and financially. All of this goes hand in hand with what I would like my future to look like. I want it to be comfortable yet challenging and through this process I will have a lot of that. Thank you for taking the time to read about me and my goals and I want to wish everyone the best of luck!

Hi, my name is Charlie Blackburn and I have been affected by this through my mother. A few months ago she had to have a PFO procedure done. She had two strokes back to back that affected the same area of her brain and come to find out she had a hole in her heart between the two chambers. I was the one who took her to the hospital every time she had the strokes, when we thought she might be having another one and the day of surgery as well. My mom and my son who is 4-years-old are all I have left. We lost my dad back in 2019 to ALS due to a cholesterol medication. I am not sure if you all count that heart disease but the cholesterol medication that he was taking caused him to get ALS and spent the next 4 years fighting for his life. He passed away the day my son turned a month old. I also have high blood pressure myself at 31 years old. I take two medications daily to help keep me from having a stroke or heart attack. It is way more common than you would think. That is why I love my Apple watch, it keeps tabs on my heart rate for me and lets me know when I need to calm down or slow down a bit. It also lets me know when I need to be concerned and take my blood pressure and see if I need to take extra medication. My mother is the same except she refuses to wear jewelry besides her wedding band. I am a single mother and like I said all I have left are my mother and my son. That is why I am going back to get my MBA degree so that I can not only take care of them physically but financially as well. Mom's health continues to down spiral. If I can't afford to go to school I won't be able to give her and my son a better future. My plan is to go from a small-time bookkeeper to be this company's controller or into some type of management. I do also work part-time on nights and weekends to help make ends meet so any amount would help tremendously. Thank you for taking the time to read my essay and I want to wish everyone the best of luck!

Hello, my name is Charlie Blackburn and I lost my dad to ALS back in 2019. I am a single mother of a wonderful four-year-old and am going back to college to get my master's in business administration. I decided that it was time to go back because of my son and my mom. My mom lost her husband, my father, to ALS. He lost his four-year battle when my son was only a month old to the day. The reason I am applying for this particular scholarship is that it hits really close to home. I did the ALS walks and raised money for charities aiding families with ALS. I even quit my then job as an accountant to stay home and take care of my father all while getting my bachelor's degree in accounting. All I have left are my son and my mother. My dad was my absolute best friend and when we lost him it was the hardest day of my life so far. He was such an amazing man, dedicated to his family and to church. I chose to go back to school now to help in the future be able to take care of my mom and my son physically and financially. My mom has had such a hard life recently and she deserves every bit of love and support she can get. Ever since we lost my dad my mom has been running her business alone with my help on nights and weekends. She recently had two strokes and had to have a heart operation to put a metal piece between the two chambers of her heart to stop the strokes. It has been a roller coaster to say lately with taking care of her, helping run the business all while raising my son alone. This scholarship would help me so much and make a tremendous impact on my life by not going into further debt by trying to help my family. I am just a small-town bookkeeper at the moment and like I said I work nights and weekends with my mom to help ends meet and to also help her not to have to do it all alone. My goal with the MBA is to work up to becoming a controller one day or at least in some management position so that my family will not have such a financial hardship. Thank you to your family for doing such amazing things and helping families that have been affected by ALS. I want to wish everyone the best of luck!

I believe my mental health is important because I have mental health issues of my own that I deal with daily. It not only affects you mentally but physically as well. It affects your quality of life. Mental health can come in many different forms as emotional, and in my case, it is hard on my social life. It is expensive as well to have mental health issues. I am on four different medications to help balance my brain so that I can function in what they call this "normal society". In my opinion, there is nothing normal about it these days. I maintain my mental wellness as I stated in the above paragraph by taking medication to help balance me out. Another way I maintain it is by keeping a daily journal. I also just recently started doing meditation and it has helped tremendously. Talking about it with family members and even letting my young son know who is only four years old. I believe it is important for him to know that just because mommy might feel like "this" one day or for a little while, it won't last forever. I believe that parents should start educating their children at young ages about mental health awareness. It is never too early to start teaching them in this day and age. Teaching them the signs and coping mechanisms. Teaching them that it can affect how we feel, and act, what choices we make at that period of time, and how we interact with others. It can contribute to higher medical costs and loss of jobs in some cases. We need to look at ourselves and reflect internally on what we can do. How can we better ourselves? Realize that it doesn't last forever. That there are so many different options for treatment. You can go to therapy. Like I do, you can take medication if you have insurance and can afford to. If it gets bad enough you can always hospitalize yourself until you feel comfortable and stable enough to come back out into the world. There are a ton of support groups that you can reach out to. Create a self-help plan of some sort. Talk to family or spouses about how they can help you reach the mental goal you are trying to achieve. Reach out to different types of counselors. There are also different organizations you can reach out to. For a few examples, there's Active Minds, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) the largest mental health organization out there, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Anxiety and Depression Association of America. There is even one for OCD, which I have personally realized a lot of people with mental health issues suffer from OCD. Their link is iocdf.org. The International OCD Foundation. Please take a look at some of these if you are truly struggling and reach out for help. It has affected my personal life in so many ways. I am single because I chose to be, but deep down, I feel I am a burden to people because of my mental health issues. I am 31 years old and my mother still to this day checks on me multiple times a day to make sure that I am okay. I have been down the suicide rollercoaster and been locked in my house refusing to come out for weeks sometimes months at a time. Trust me I GET IT! Just don't ever give up on yourself. There are too many options for treatment and help! Thank you for reading.

I believe my mental health is important because I have mental health issues of my own that I deal with daily. It not only affects you mentally but physically as well. It affects your quality of life. Mental health can come in many different forms as emotional, and in my case, it is hard on my social life. It is expensive as well to have mental health issues. I am on four different medications to help balance my brain so that I can function in what they call this "normal society". In my opinion, there is nothing normal about it these days. I maintain my mental wellness as I stated in the above paragraph by taking medication to help balance me out. Another way I maintain it is by keeping a daily journal. I also just recently started doing meditation and it has helped tremendously. Talking about it with family members and even letting my young son know who is only four years old. I believe it is important for him to know that just because mommy might feel like "this" one day or for a little while, it won't last forever. I believe that parents should start educating their children at young ages about mental health awareness. It is never too early to start teaching them in this day and age. Teaching them the signs and coping mechanisms. Teaching them that it can affect how we feel, and act, what choices we make at that period of time, and how we interact with others. It can contribute to higher medical costs and loss of jobs in some cases. We need to look at ourselves and reflect internally on what we can do. How can we better ourselves? Realize that it doesn't last forever. That there are so many different options for treatment. You can go to therapy. Like I do, you can take medication if you have insurance and can afford to. If it gets bad enough you can always hospitalize yourself until you feel comfortable and stable enough to come back out into the world. There are a ton of support groups that you can reach out to. Create a self-help plan of some sort. Talk to family or spouses about how they can help you reach the mental goal you are trying to achieve. Reach out to different types of counselors. There are also different organizations you can reach out to. For a few examples, there's Active Minds, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) the largest mental health organization out there, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Anxiety and Depression Association of America. There is even one for OCD, which I have personally realized a lot of people with mental health issues suffer from OCD. Their link is iocdf.org. The International OCD Foundation. Please take a look at some of these if you are truly struggling and reach out for help. It has affected my personal life in so many ways. I am single because I chose to be but deep down I feel as if I am a burden to people because of my mental health issues. I am 31 years old and my mother still to this day checks on me multiple times a day to make sure that I am ok. I have been down the suicide rollercoaster and been locked in my house refusing to come out for weeks sometimes months at a time. Trust me I GET IT! Just don't ever give up on yourself. There are too many options for treatment and help! Thank you for reading.

I believe my mental health is important becuase I have mental health issues of my own that I deal with daily. It not only affects you mentally but physically as well. It affects your quality of life. Mental health can come in many different forms as in emotional, psycological and in my case it is hard on my social life. It is expensive as well to have mental health issues. I am on four different medications to help balance my brain so that I can function in what they call this "normal society". In my opinion there is nothing normal about it these days. I maintain my mental wellness as I stated in the above paragraph by taking medication to help balance me out. Another way I maintain it is by keeping a daily journal. I also just recently started doing meditation and it has helped tremendously. Talking about it with family members and even letting my young son know who is only four years old. I believe it is important for him to know that just because mommy might feel like "this" one day or for a little while, it won't last forever. I believe that parents should start educating their children at young ages about mental health awareness. Teaching them the signs and coping mechanisms. Teaching them that it can affect how we feel, and act, what choices we make at that period of time, and how we interact with others. It can contribute to higher medical costs and loss of jobs in some cases. We need to look at ourselves and reflect internally on what we can do. How can we better ourselves? Realize that it doesn't last forever. That there are so many different options for treatment. You can go to therapy. Like I do, you can take medication if you have insurance and can afford to. If it gets bad enough you can always hospitalize yourself until you feel comfortable and stable enough to come back out into the world. There are a ton of support groups that you can reach out to. Create a self-help plan of some sort. Talk to family or spouses about how they can help you reach the mental goal you are trying to achieve. Reach out to different types of counselors. Just don't ever give up on yourself. There are too many options for treatment and help! Thank you for reading.

Hello reader, As a single mother of a wonderful 4-year-old, I have been crazy enough to go back to college for my MBA! I chose to do this because I want the absolute best future for my deserving son. He has only known me his entire life and NaNa who graciously helps me when she can. I want to be able to provide for him and not have to struggle so much. I am a first-generation college student out of my entire family. I work a full-time job at an oil company that is in a small town in North Carolina but the headquarters are based out of Atlanta, GA. I also work nights and weekends for a small business in our little town to help make ends meet. My dream is to be able to afford college so that I don't go into further debt because I would like to send my son to a private school. Again, I want the best for my son, not only financially but the best education possible as well. With this scholarship, it will help pay for my degree or books. I already have a laptop from going to Strayer earlier in my life for my Bachelor of Science in Accounting. I was awarded the Golden Key Scholarship back then because of my merit standards. Working full-time, and taking care of my son is not all that I do. My mother is in her 60s and just had two strokes, they found out that a hole in her heart was causing the strokes over and over again. Shortly after finding that they did a heart operation and put a metal piece in between her two chambers to close the hole. Her health is quickly going downhill and with this MBA I hope to financially be able to help her so that she can retire and enjoy life and her grandkids. Her husband, my father, died back in 2019 from ALS so it is just us three that keep each other going. My mother and son are my main priority and I want to become the best version of myself career-wise so that I can make their lives easier. The world that I grew up in, my son will not. Things change so much and I want to be able to be prepared for whatever circumstance comes our way. I want to thank whoever ends up reading my story and taking the time to do such a wonderful thing for a lucky person. I wish everyone who applied the best of luck!