I want to build something I didn’t have growing up. A space where kids and families feel supported early on, not like they’re trying to figure everything out on their own. I grew up in a low-income community, and I saw how much access matters. Not just in big ways, but in the small everyday things like having someone guide you, having resources, having people who believe in you early. That’s what pushed me into education. I’ve worked as a teacher, coached other teachers, and now I manage programs that serve communities across New York City. But even with that, I know there’s still a gap, especially for families with young children. What I want to build is a community-based space focused on early literacy and parent support. Somewhere parents don’t feel overwhelmed or judged, just supported. Somewhere kids can learn, explore, and build confidence from the start. I want it to feel real and accessible, not like something that only exists for certain people. My children’s book is actually part of that. It might seem small, but it’s a way I’m already starting. It’s something parents can use at home, something that meets kids where they are. Over time, I want that to grow into more like workshops, programming, and partnerships with schools and community organizations. Going back to school is part of what I’m building too. I want the skills to lead this kind of work the right way, to fund it, to make it sustainable. I’m not just trying to move up in my career. I’m trying to create something that actually lasts and reaches people. If I do this right, it won’t just help one family. It’ll help a lot of families feel more confident, more supported, and more prepared. And that changes things for whole communities over time. For me, building my future isn’t just about me. It’s about creating something that makes things a little easier for the next generation.

Going back to school isn’t just about me. It’s about my daughter, my stability, and the kind of life I’m trying to build for both of us. Because of that, I can’t afford to treat student loans lightly. I have to think about them in real, everyday terms like rent, groceries, and childcare, not just numbers on a statement. I am working to address my current and future student debt by being extremely intentional about every decision I make before I even begin graduate school. As a working adult learner and single mother, I do not have the luxury of taking on debt without thinking through the long-term impact it will have on my family. I have already experienced what financial hardship can look like, and I am trying to make sure higher education opens doors for me rather than creating another burden I will spend years trying to recover from. I have been accepted into NYU Wagner’s Executive MPA program, and while this is a major accomplishment for me, I know that earning the degree will require careful financial planning. I currently work full-time in public service, and I plan to continue working while completing my degree. That decision is part of how I am addressing future debt. Staying employed allows me to maintain income, support my daughter, and reduce how much I may need to borrow. I am also planning to complete the program part-time so I can spread out costs in a way that is more manageable. In addition to continuing to work, I have been actively pursuing every scholarship opportunity I can find. I have already submitted a scholarship reconsideration request through my graduate program and have been applying for outside scholarships that support women, parents, adult learners, and students of color. I know scholarships will not cover everything, but I also know that every dollar I receive is one less dollar I will have to repay later with interest. I am also looking into tuition reimbursement opportunities through my employer and related resources. Even if those funds are limited, I plan to use every available support system to reduce what comes out of pocket or has to be financed through loans. I have learned that addressing student debt is not just about one large solution. Sometimes it is about layering smaller forms of support together and being disciplined enough to follow through. On a personal level, I am making sacrifices now so I can protect my future. I live on a strict budget, weigh every major expense carefully, and think constantly about what is sustainable for me as both a student and a parent. I am not pursuing this degree for status. I am pursuing it because I want to grow into higher-level leadership, increase my earning power, and create more stability for my daughter and myself. My goal is not simply to earn another degree. My goal is to use it as a tool to build a better life without being crushed by debt in the process. For me, addressing student loan debt means planning ahead, working hard, applying for every possible resource, and refusing to treat borrowing as the first or easiest option. I am doing everything I can now so that my education becomes an investment in my future, not a setback.

Going back to school as a parent is not just about signing up for classes. It is about figuring out how to hold everything together when your life is already full. For me, the hardest part has been time. Not the kind you can manage with a planner, but the kind that always feels like there is not enough of it. I am a single mom, so my day revolves around my daughter first. There were times I had to leave work early just to pick her up, knowing that meant money would be taken out of my check. I remember traveling from Washington Heights to Brooklyn after work, exhausted, just to make sure she was okay. By the time we got home, there was barely anything left of me to give. The idea of adding school on top of that has been overwhelming. Not because I do not want it, but because I already feel stretched thin. I have had nights where all I could do was feed her and read a quick bedtime story before we both fell asleep. Those moments stay with me, because I know she deserves more time, more energy, more of me. There is also a constant guilt that comes with being both a parent and a student. Every hour I spend studying is an hour I am not fully present with my daughter. Even when I am doing something to better our future, it can still feel like I am taking something away from her in the present. Finances have been another real challenge. Living in New York City as the head of my household, my bills do not wait. Rent, childcare, and everyday expenses already push me to my limit. The thought of paying for school on top of that is stressful. There is no extra cushion. Everything I do requires planning, sacrificing, and sometimes choosing what has to wait. But even with all of that, I am still choosing to go back to school. I grew up in an underserved community, and I know what it feels like to not always have access or opportunity. I became an educator because I wanted to change that for other kids. Now I am at a point where I want to grow into leadership and expand my impact, and I know I need to take this step to get there. More than anything, I think about my daughter. She is watching me, even when I do not realize it. She sees me push through tired days, stressful moments, and uncertainty. I want her to grow up knowing that her circumstances do not define her, and that it is okay to take a harder path if it leads to something better. Going back to school is not easy for me. It requires sacrifice in ways most people do not see. But I am doing it anyway, because I believe that what I am building now will create a different life for both of us. And that makes it worth it.

There was a time where I had to take hours off work just to take my daughter to school, knowing it meant money would be taken out of my check. I was working in Washington Heights and still had to get all the way to Brooklyn, trying to make everything line up. By the time I got home, all I really had time to do was feed her and read a quick bedtime story before starting all over again the next day. There wasn’t much room to breathe, and there definitely wasn’t extra time, but I still had to keep going. I didn’t have a straight path. As a single mother, everything falls on me, and I’ve had to figure things out in real time while still trying to move forward. There have been moments where continuing my education felt uncertain, especially during a period when I was unemployed and raising my daughter on my own. I had to focus on surviving while still thinking about what I wanted for my future. That balance is not easy. You’re thinking about bills, childcare, and stability, while also trying not to lose sight of your long-term goals. But even through all of that, I didn’t stop. I’ve always stayed connected to the work that matters to me. One of the experiences that really shaped me was being part of the Youth Ambassador Leadership Program (YALP). Through that work, I supported young people in developing leadership skills and speaking out against hate in their communities. It was powerful to watch young people find their voices and feel confident enough to use them. That work was even featured on television, which showed me that what we were doing had impact beyond just our immediate space. It made me realize that when people are given the right support and platform, they can create real change. That experience carried into my professional life. I’ve spent over a decade working in public service across New York City, supporting youth, families, and underserved communities through education and community-based programs. This work has never just been a job for me, it’s personal. I understand what it feels like to need support and not always have it, and that shapes how I show up in the work that I do. Through consistency and hard work, I’ve grown into leadership and was recently promoted to Deputy Director at the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). That didn’t happen overnight, and it definitely didn’t happen because things were easy. It came from showing up every day, doing the work, and staying committed even when things in my personal life were difficult. Being in that role now allows me to have a greater impact and support programs that directly serve communities like the one I come from. Outside of my career, I’ve also found ways to build on my own. During one of the hardest periods of my life, I wrote and self-published my children’s book, Just One Small Word. I created it with families like mine in mind, especially those who may not always have access to resources or support. That process reminded me that even when life feels uncertain, I still have the ability to create something meaningful and contribute in a different way. I’m continuing my education because I know it’s the next step in building long-term stability and expanding my impact. I want to grow into positions where I can not only support communities, but also influence how programs are designed and how resources are distributed. I’ve seen firsthand how access can change someone’s path, and I want to be part of creating more of those opportunities. Financially, this journey has not been easy. Being responsible for a household while pursuing higher education requires constant sacrifice and planning. There is always something that needs to be paid for, and very little room for error. This scholarship would help relieve some of that pressure and allow me to focus more on my education without constantly worrying about how everything is going to get covered. More importantly, it would directly impact my daughter. Everything I’m working toward is about building a different future for her. I want her to grow up with more options, more stability, and more access than I had. I want her to see what it looks like to keep going, even when things are hard. Everything I’ve done, from my work in YALP to my career growth to writing my book, reflects my commitment to building something bigger than myself. I’m not just working toward a degree. I’m building a future for my daughter, and I’m creating impact in the communities I serve along the way.

Balancing being a student and a single parent is honestly hard in a way you don’t fully understand unless you’re living it. I remember sitting in my apartment one night after putting my daughter to sleep, trying to figure out how I was going to make everything work. I was thinking about bills, childcare, and my future all at the same time. I knew I wanted more for us, but in that moment, I didn’t fully know how I was going to get there. Everything falls on me. There’s no one to split responsibilities with or step in when something comes up. My day revolves around my daughter first, making sure she’s good, and then figuring out how to fit everything else in after that. School doesn’t slow down for that. There are still deadlines, assignments, and expectations, even on days when I’m already tired or stretched thin. Time is probably the biggest challenge. There never feels like enough of it. There are nights when I’m exhausted but still have work to finish, and mornings where I wake up already thinking about everything I need to get done. It’s constant. Money has also been a real challenge. There was a time when I was unemployed and raising my daughter on my own, trying to make everything work with very little. That experience changed me. It made me think differently about stability and what I actually need to build for our future. There were moments where continuing my education felt out of reach, not because I didn’t want it, but because I didn’t know how I was going to manage everything at once. But even then, I didn’t stop. What keeps me going is my daughter. Everything I’m doing is for her. I want her to grow up seeing that even when things are hard, you don’t just give up. You figure it out and keep going. I want her to have a life where she has options, where she feels secure, and where she doesn’t have to struggle the way I did just to get to the next step. I’m working toward that by continuing my career in public service while also pursuing further education. I’ve spent years supporting families and underserved communities, and I want to grow into roles where I can have a bigger impact. I’ve seen how access can change someone’s life, and I want to be part of creating that access. I also wrote and self-published my children’s book, Just One Small Word, during one of the hardest times in my life. That wasn’t easy, but it reminded me that I can still build something meaningful even when things aren’t perfect. This scholarship would honestly help take some of the pressure off. It would give me more room to focus on school without constantly worrying about how everything is going to get paid for. It would allow me to show up better, both as a student and as a mom. At the end of the day, I’m not just doing this for me. I’m doing this for my daughter and for the kind of future I’m working hard to build for us. It’s not easy, but I’m committed to seeing it through.

I’m pursuing higher education because I want more than just getting by, I want stability, growth, and real opportunity for my daughter and myself. As a single mother, everything I do has a different weight to it. I don’t just think about today, I think about the long term. There was a time when I was unemployed and raising my daughter on my own, trying to make ends meet while still figuring out my next step. That experience changed how I move. It forced me to be more focused, more intentional, and more serious about building a future that doesn’t rely on survival mode. What makes me uniquely deserving of this award is not just my circumstances, but how I’ve responded to them. Even during difficult moments, I didn’t stop working toward something bigger. I continued to build in ways I could. I wrote and self-published a children’s book, Just One Small Word, because I wanted to create something meaningful for families like mine. I stayed committed to my career in public service, continuing to support communities across New York City while also planning my next steps in education. My “why” is simple, but it’s everything to me. I want my daughter to grow up seeing what’s possible. I want her to see that even when things are hard, you don’t stop, you adjust and keep going. I also want to be in a position where I can provide her with a life that is stable, secure, and full of opportunity. Beyond my own family, I’m pursuing higher education because I want to expand my impact. My work has always centered on supporting underserved communities, and I want to grow into leadership roles where I can create and shape programs that actually reach people who need them most. I’m not just working toward a degree. I’m working toward a different future for my daughter, for myself, and for the communities I will continue to serve.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me early that you have to figure things out, even when you don’t have much to work with. There wasn’t always extra support or resources, so I learned how to be resourceful and keep going no matter what. Now, as a single mother, I’ve had to lean on those same lessons. There was a period where I was unemployed and raising my daughter on my own, and I had to make everything work with very little. It wasn’t easy, but I didn’t stop. I kept thinking about the bigger picture and the kind of life I want for my daughter. I’m actively working toward my goals by continuing to grow in my career and pursuing further education. I also wrote and self-published a children’s book, Just One Small Word, because I wanted to create something that could actually help families like mine. I plan to use my experiences to give back in a real way. I want to create programs and opportunities for people who come from backgrounds like mine, because I know how much access and support can change things.

There was a time when I was sitting in my apartment, looking at my daughter, and trying to figure out how I was going to make everything work. I was unemployed, on public assistance, and responsible for her on my own. In that moment, continuing my education felt almost impossible, not because I didn’t want it, but because I genuinely didn’t know how I was going to make it happen. Being a single mother while pursuing my education has been one of the hardest parts of my journey. From June 2023 to December 2024, I was navigating unemployment while raising my daughter full time. I had to think about childcare, rent, groceries, and still figure out what my next step was going to be. There was no one to fall back on or share the responsibility with. If something came up, it was on me to figure it out. At times, I had to put my own goals on pause to show up fully as a parent. That was hard, especially knowing that the same education I was putting on hold was also the key to building a better future for both of us. It forced me to be more intentional with how I used my time and what I prioritized. What has been most fulfilling is that I didn’t give up on myself. Even during one of the hardest seasons of my life, I still found ways to move forward. I wrote and self-published my first children’s book, Just One Small Word, which focuses on early childhood development and family support. That reminded me that even when things feel uncertain, I can still create something meaningful. Being a mother has changed how I approach everything. My daughter is watching me, and that pushes me to keep going, even on the days when I feel tired or unsure. She is a big part of why I keep pushing myself to grow. Pursuing further education is not just about career advancement for me, it is about stability and creating real options for my family. I want to be able to provide a life for my daughter where she feels supported and doesn’t have to struggle the way I did. I also see education as a way to expand my impact beyond my own family. My work has always centered on supporting underserved communities, and with further education, I will be able to step into leadership roles where I can help shape programs and systems that better serve families like mine. My journey has not been easy, but it has shaped how I move, how I lead, and what I value. I am pursuing education not just for myself, but for my daughter, for our future, and for the communities I will continue to serve.

I want to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector because this work has always been personal for me. I didn’t grow up with access to everything I needed, and I’ve experienced what it feels like to navigate systems that were not built for you. That’s what pushed me into this work in the first place, and it’s what keeps me here. It’s not something I fell into, it’s something I chose because I understand how much it matters. Over the past 10 years, I’ve worked in education, public service, and community programs across New York City. I’ve supported young children, families, and immigrant communities, and I’ve seen firsthand what happens when people are given the right support at the right time. I’ve also seen what happens when they’re not. I’ve worked with families trying to navigate systems that feel overwhelming, and I’ve seen how even small interventions can make a real difference. Those gaps are what drive me. I don’t just want to be part of the work, I want to help change how it’s done. I care deeply about building programs that actually reflect the communities they serve. Not surface level, but real understanding. I’ve learned that impact isn’t just about services, it’s about trust, consistency, and people feeling like they belong in the spaces meant to support them. When people feel seen and respected, they are more likely to engage, and that’s where real change starts. Being a single mother has also shaped how I move in this work. Everything I do is connected to the kind of world I want my daughter to grow up in. I want her to have access, to feel supported, and to not have to work twice as hard just to be seen. That pushes me to think bigger about the systems we’re building and who they’re truly working for. Going forward, I want to grow into leadership where I can scale impact and make more strategic decisions. I’m especially interested in early literacy, family engagement, and immigrant services because I’ve seen how much those areas matter early on. When you get those right, everything else has a stronger chance. I want to be in positions where I can influence not just programs, but the way organizations think about equity and access overall. I’m also building in my own way outside of traditional systems. Through my children’s book, I’m creating something that supports both kids and parents in a simple but meaningful way. It’s another way I want to contribute, by meeting families where they are and creating tools they can actually use in their everyday lives. For me, it always comes back to the next generation, especially my daughter. I want her to grow up with better options, more support, and more access than I had. That’s what drives me, and that’s the impact I’m committed to.