My name is Karinsa Morgan, and I am a 40-year-old African American woman, mother of three, and a Sociology student committed to creating meaningful change in my community. My journey has been shaped by resilience, loss, growth, and the unwavering influence of the woman who raised me, my grandmother. On August 7, 2013, I lost my grandmother to ovarian cancer. She was my foundation, my guidance, and my constant source of love. She stood by me through every stage of my life, even during the times when I lost my way and made decisions that led me down the wrong path, including a period that resulted in incarceration. Even then, she never gave up on me. She believed in who I could become, even when I struggled to see it for myself. Losing her was one of the most painful moments of my life, but it also became a turning point. After my incarceration, I made a decision to change my life, not only for myself, but to honor her legacy and make her proud. I wanted to become the woman she always believed I could be. I also wanted to show my children that no matter your past, you have the power to grow, rebuild, and choose a different path. Today, I am back in college pursuing my degree in Sociology, determined to use my education to make a difference. My experiences have given me a deep understanding of how life circumstances, lack of resources, and poor decision-making can impact individuals and families. Instead of allowing my past to define me, I am using it as fuel to create something meaningful. After I graduate, I plan to develop a transition program that supports individuals returning to society after incarceration. My goal is to create a structured environment that provides guidance, life skills, mentorship, and resources to help people become productive, stable members of society. I want to help others avoid the mistakes I made by giving them the support and direction I once lacked. In addition to my academic goals, I am also building a platform that empowers individuals, especially women, to develop confidence through self-care, personal presentation, and intentional growth. I believe that how you see yourself plays a major role in how you show up in the world, and I am passionate about helping others build that confidence from within. This scholarship would allow me to continue my education with less financial strain, giving me more time and focus to fully invest in my studies and future goals. As a Black woman, I understand the challenges that come with pursuing higher education, especially while balancing family responsibilities. Support like this creates opportunities not just for me, but for the generations that come after me. My story is one of transformation, but more importantly, it is one of purpose. I am committed to creating a legacy that reflects resilience, growth, and second chances. Everything I am working toward is rooted in love, for my children, my community, and the grandmother who never stopped believing in me. Through my education and future work, I will continue to uplift others and create pathways for change in the world around me.

What makes me different is not just my story, it’s how I choose to use it. I am an unapologetic African American woman, a first-generation college student, a mother of three, and an entrepreneur who has turned life challenges into purpose. I have learned that being fully yourself, without apology, is one of the most powerful ways to create change, not just for yourself, but for others who are watching, even when you don’t realize it. My uniqueness shows up in how I blend personal transformation with creativity through beauty, presentation, and intentional self-care. As the founder of Diadem of Beauty and creator of the Confident Canvas Initiative, I use makeup and skincare as tools for building confidence, discipline, and self-worth. For many people, how they see themselves on the outside is deeply connected to how they feel on the inside. I use that connection to help others develop a stronger sense of identity and belief in themselves. What sets me apart is that I don’t just focus on appearance, I focus on transformation. I teach people how to use daily routines, self-presentation, and intentional care as a foundation for confidence. Through hands-on workshops, conversations, and mentorship, I create spaces where individuals feel seen, valued, and empowered to show up boldly in their lives. I understand what it feels like to struggle with confidence and direction, which is why I am intentional about being visible in my growth. I show up authentically, sharing my journey in a way that allows others to see what is possible. Whether I am working with students, engaging with my community, or simply living my life, I recognize that someone is always watching. Not for perfection, but for proof that change, growth, and confidence are attainable. I shine my light through service, creativity, and consistency. I pour into others by helping them recognize their value and teaching them how to carry themselves with confidence. I use beauty as a language that connects people to something deeper, self-respect, discipline, and personal pride. Through my work, I help others step into their uniqueness without fear. Being different, to me, means embracing every part of who I am and using it to uplift others. It means leading with purpose and allowing my life to be an example. I may not always know who is watching, but I know my impact reaches beyond what I can see. My mission is to help others embrace who they are, walk confidently in their truth, and realize that their uniqueness is their power.

My name is Karinsa Morgan, and my journey has shaped a vision that is rooted in transformation, second chances, and creating lasting impact. As a Sociology student, I plan to build a legacy centered on restoring lives and strengthening communities by supporting individuals who are transitioning out of incarceration. My future legacy is grounded in the belief that people are more than their past mistakes. I want to create systems that help individuals rebuild their lives with dignity, structure, and purpose. Too often, people leaving incarceration are released without the resources, guidance, or support needed to successfully reintegrate into society. This gap leads to cycles of recidivism, instability, and lost potential. I plan to change that narrative by building a transition house program that serves both men and women, providing them with the tools they need to succeed. The business I hope to create will focus on reentry support and rehabilitation. It will be a structured program that offers stable housing, job readiness training, mentorship, emotional support, and life skills development. My goal is to create an environment where individuals feel supported, held accountable, and empowered to rebuild their lives. This will not just be a place to stay—it will be a place for growth, healing, and transformation. My passion for this work comes from my own life experiences and understanding how easily people can find themselves in difficult circumstances without the right support systems. Through my studies in Sociology, I am learning how social systems, inequality, and lack of access to resources contribute to these outcomes. I plan to use that knowledge to design programs that are both compassionate and effective, addressing the root causes of recidivism rather than just the symptoms. I shine my light by being open about my journey and using it as a source of encouragement for others. I lead by example, showing that change is possible and that growth can come from even the most challenging situations. As a student and future entrepreneur, I bring resilience, discipline, and purpose into everything I do. I also shine through service by uplifting others, offering guidance, and creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and capable of becoming more. My goal is not just to build a program, but to build a legacy that creates opportunity where there was once limitation. I want my work to reduce recidivism, strengthen families, and contribute to safer, more supportive communities. I want to be part of shifting the narrative around incarceration from punishment alone to restoration and second chances. Entrepreneurship, for me, is about impact. It is about creating something that outlives me and continues to change lives for generations. Through my education and future work, I am committed to building a legacy that restores hope, rebuilds lives, and proves that with the right support, anyone can rise beyond their past.

My name is Karinsa Morgan, and I am a 40-year-old mother of three currently pursuing a degree in Sociology. My journey to higher education has been shaped by resilience, life-changing mistakes, and an ongoing commitment to growth, healing, and transformation. Returning to college at this stage in my life represents not only an academic decision, but a personal promise to myself and my children that it is never too late to rebuild, redirect, and rise. After graduating high school in 2004, I pursued my education in Fashion Design in Florida. However, due to financial hardship and life circumstances, I was unable to complete my degree and eventually returned home. Like many young adults trying to find stability, I took on multiple dead-end jobs just to survive. During that time, I became influenced by the wrong environment and made decisions that led me down a destructive path. In 2006, I became a mother for the first time. While trying to navigate adulthood and provide for my child, I fell into substance abuse and later began selling drugs as a means of survival. In 2012, my life changed drastically when I was arrested and charged with trafficking cannabis, resulting in a class A felony with a million-dollar bond. That moment became a turning point in my life. What initially felt like the end of everything I knew became the beginning of my transformation. While facing the consequences of my actions, I began to reflect deeply on the direction of my life. I made the decision to change—not just for myself, but for my children and my future. Over time, I worked to rebuild my life step by step, taking accountability, completing probation requirements, and reestablishing stability in my community. Through perseverance, I began to grow into a more grounded and purposeful version of myself. As my life progressed, I became a mother to two more children, and my motivation to create a better future grew even stronger. I focused on building structure, stability, and a positive environment for my family. Today, I am proud to say I have overcome my incarcerated past and have returned to college to pursue higher education in Sociology. I became a minister October 2024 and I finished community college with my Associated Degree being the first generation to do so in May 2025. My life experiences have shaped my values in powerful ways. I now deeply value second chances, personal accountability, and the importance of systems that support rehabilitation rather than permanent punishment. These values have led me to develop a strong passion for prison reform and reentry support services. I aspire to create a transition house program for formerly incarcerated individuals, providing housing stability, job readiness training, mentorship, and life skills to help them successfully reintegrate into society. This scholarship honoring Debra S. Jackson resonates deeply with me because it reflects the same belief that education can transform lives at any stage. If awarded this scholarship, it would ease the financial burden of continuing my education as a mother of three and allow me to stay focused on my academic and professional goals. It would also bring me closer to completing my degree so I can build programs that help others rewrite their own stories. I am currently enrolled at Ball State University working towards my Bachelors Degree in Sociology. My journey has taught me that your past does not define your future. Through education, I am building a new legacy for my children, my community, and for those who, like me, are working toward a second chance.

Going to college means more to me than earning a degree—it represents a foundation for purpose, discipline, and long-term impact. As a Sociology major, I see higher education as the space where I can better understand people, systems, and the social structures that shape opportunity and inequality. For me, college is not just preparation for a career, but preparation for responsibility: the responsibility to use knowledge to create change where it is most needed. My goal is to use my education to address one of the most overlooked areas in our society—prison reentry, reform, and rehabilitation. I plan to build a transition house program for both male and female formerly incarcerated individuals who are returning to their communities. Too often, people are released from jail or prison without stable housing, employment support, or guidance on how to rebuild their lives. This lack of structure makes it difficult for them to succeed and contributes to cycles of recidivism. I want to change that reality by creating a program that focuses on restoration, dignity, and long-term reintegration. Through my studies in Sociology, I am learning how social systems, inequality, education gaps, and economic barriers, especially in minorities, influence life outcomes. This knowledge is helping me understand that incarceration is not just an individual issue—it is deeply connected to larger structural challenges. With this perspective, I plan to design a transition house that provides practical support such as job readiness training, mentorship, counseling resources, and life skills development. My vision is to create a space where individuals can rebuild confidence, stability, and direction as they re-enter society. Going to college also means personal growth for me. It is teaching me how to think critically, engage with diverse perspectives, and approach problems with both empathy and strategy. These skills are essential for the work I want to do because supporting reentry populations requires understanding both human experience and systemic change. I am learning how to connect theory with real-world application, and I plan to use that foundation to build programs that are not only compassionate but effective. One of the causes I am most committed to is criminal justice reform and rehabilitation. This issue is important to me because I believe people deserve second chances and the opportunity to rebuild their lives after making mistakes. I am especially drawn to the idea of restoration over punishment. I want to contribute to a future where individuals are not permanently defined by their past, but are instead supported in becoming productive, empowered members of society. Alongside my academic path, I am also developing community-based empowerment work that reflects my broader passion for helping people grow in confidence and identity. However, my long-term focus remains on prison reform and reentry support because I see it as one of the most urgent needs in our communities. What I am trying to accomplish through college is transformation—both personal and societal. Personally, I want to become someone equipped with the knowledge, skills, and leadership ability to build meaningful programs that create real impact. Societally, I want to contribute to breaking cycles of incarceration by building systems that support healing, accountability, and opportunity.

My name is Karinsa Morgan, and I am a Sociology major with a deep commitment to understanding social systems and creating pathways that support healing, growth, and reintegration for individuals impacted by incarceration. My long-term goal is to develop a transition house program for both male and female formerly incarcerated individuals, providing structured support as they re-enter society. This program would offer access to housing stability, job readiness training, mentorship, and life skills development to help reduce recidivism and create real opportunities for long-term success. My goal is to make those who are coming out of the prison system capable to being deemed as outstanding citizens. My passion for prison reform comes from recognizing how many people return to their communities without the tools, resources, or support systems needed to rebuild their lives. I want to help change that cycle by building programs that focus not just on punishment, but on restoration, dignity, and second chances. Every human has the ability to be restored to their original purpose in life before tragedy or something bad happened to them. The cycle breaking helps empty out the prison system instead of filling them. Through my sociology studies, I am learning how systems of inequality, education gaps, and lack of resources impact communities, and I plan to use that knowledge to design more effective reentry support structures. I have seen first hand how my African American communities have been affected by them system dated back for centuries. One cause I am deeply committed to is criminal justice reform and rehabilitation. I believe true safety and community strength come from investing in people’s ability to rebuild their lives, not from excluding them. This is important to me because I have seen how lack of opportunity can limit potential, and I want to be part of creating systems that empower people rather than permanently label them by their past. Many inmates return to prison rather male or female due to the lack of resources, lack or transformation and confidence in humanity, and the patience to walk along side those particular people for reformation. If awarded this scholarship, it would directly support my educational journey by allowing me to focus more fully on my studies in Sociology and gain the knowledge and skills needed to design and implement effective reentry programs. It would also help reduce financial stress so I can continue pursuing internships, research, and community-based learning opportunities that align with my goal of building a transition house for formerly incarcerated individuals.

My name is Karinsa Morgan, and I want to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector because I believe my life experiences have given me a unique purpose: to serve people who often feel forgotten by society. The nonprofit sector creates opportunities to address real human needs and offer hope where it is often lacking. My passion is to support individuals impacted by the prison system—both those who are incarcerated and the victims who have been affected by abuse and violence. At one point in my life, I found myself on the wrong side of society. I experienced the consequences of my actions and spent time in jail. That season of my life was painful and humbling, but it also became one of the most transformative experiences I have ever had. It forced me to confront my choices, reflect on the person I wanted to become, and decide whether I would allow my mistakes to define my future. Instead of letting my past hold me back, I chose to grow from it. I committed myself to becoming a better citizen and to building a life focused on purpose, accountability, and service to others. Returning to school and pursuing my degree has been a significant part of that transformation. Education has allowed me to rebuild my path and gain the knowledge needed to serve communities effectively. Through my studies and personal experiences, I have developed a strong desire to create programs that help people successfully transition from incarceration back into society. After I graduate, I plan to open a nonprofit program that supports men and women who are being released from prison. Many individuals leave prison with little guidance, few resources, and limited support systems. Without help, the transition back into society can feel overwhelming, which can lead to discouragement and sometimes a return to the same cycles that led to incarceration. My goal is to create a transition program that provides structure, mentorship, life-skills training, and access to resources such as education, employment opportunities, and emotional support. I also care deeply about the victims who have been affected by abuse, including women and children. My hope is to create a program that not only supports individuals who are reentering society but also encourages accountability, healing, and awareness that helps prevent future harm. I believe that real change happens when we address both the broken systems and the broken lives affected by them. I know that creating a nonprofit organization will require extensive work, research, partnerships, and collaboration with correctional facilities, community leaders, and support services. However, my purpose to serve people impacted by the prison system is stronger than any obstacle that may come with building this program. I hope my work will create a positive impact by helping individuals rebuild their lives and become productive, confident members of their communities. When people are given the tools, guidance, and encouragement to grow, they can become powerful examples of transformation. My goal is to show others that mistakes do not have to define a person's future, and that with the right support, anyone can change their path and contribute positively to society. Through a career in the nonprofit sector, I hope to turn my past experiences into a source of hope and opportunity for others.

Where I grew up did not look like the average neighborhood or even like the 90s sitcom "The Cosby Show". Even though I grew up longing for the opportunity to be apart of a family and community that was filled with love, passion, and was goal-oriented, I didn't really have that. My neighborhood was more on the other side of the tracks. The neighborhood displayed violence, drug use, poverty, theft, and lack. Even though I pushed through those circumstances I was able to graduate from high school while moving to Florida shortly after to pursue my education in Fashion Design. I was not able to finish my degree and had to eventually move back home due to hardship. While back at home, I worked a lot of dead-end jobs to be able to fully take care of myself. I wound up heading in the wrong direction with the wrong people indulging in the wrong things. I got pregnant and had my first child while trying to figure out life and what I was going to do with a child. I got into drugs very badly and I decided to sell drugs to make money to provide for my kid. On Friday the 13th I got pulled over on the highway by a state trooper and I was booked into jail on a class A felon of Trafficking Cannabis with a million-dollar bond. This day was a transformation in my life and the beginning of my learned experiences. It turned out to be the best day of my life as I was more focused on being a better person and learning how to overcome adversities. I began to dream again and move forward in making my life better for me and my child. It took a while for me to overcome the next steps of my life with dealing with my new charges, paying for my probation, and establishing myself in the community. I have recently graduated from my community college in May 2025 with my Associates Degree. I decided to move to Muncie, Indiana and obtain my undergrade. I am enrolled at Ball State University and I plan to graduate with my Bachelors Degree in Sociology, and open a program helping women and men prisoners. I want to create a program that will help those who get released on ways to transition back into the community and go after their goals just like I did. I am the example that even though we may make a bad decision, we can always change. Change to make your community better for the next generation one person at a time.

My name is Karinsa Morgan and incarceration has impacted my life in a major way. I graduated high school in 2004 and shortly after graduating I moved to Florida to pursue my education in Fashion Design. I was not able to finish my degree and had to eventually move back home due to hardship. While back at home, I worked a lot of dead-end jobs to be able to fully take care of myself. I wound up heading in the wrong direction with the wrong people indulging in the wrong things. I got pregnant in 2006 and had my first child while trying to figure out life and what I was going to do with a child. I got into drugs very badly and I decided to sell drugs to make money to provide for my kid. On Friday the 13th of 2012 I got pulled over on the highway by a state trooper and I was booked into jail on a class A felon of Trafficking Cannabis with a million-dollar bond. This day was a transformation in my life and the beginning of my learned experiences. It turned out to be the best day of my life as I was more focused on being a better person and learning how to overcome adversities. I began to dream again and move forward in making my life better for me and my child. It took a while for me to overcome the next steps of my life with dealing with my new charges, paying for my probation, and establishing myself in the community. I applied for this scholarship when at my community college and I won. This scholarship helped me take care of my kids and bills while I focused on graduating with my Associates Degree. After winning this award, I have graduated from my community college in May 2025 with my Associates Degree. I decided to move to Muncie, Indiana and obtain my undergrade. I am enrolled at Ball State University and I plan to graduate with my Bachelors Degree in Sociology, and open a program helping women and men prisoners. I want to create a program that will help those who get released on ways to transition back into the community and go after their goals just like I did. I am the example that even though we may make a bad decision, we can always change.

Earlier in my life I was one of those less fortunate kids who did not have a mom or a dad around to raise me. Even though life was tough and was not like most kids in my day, I was blessed enough to have a village of women around me who taught me the ends and outs of womanhood, integrity, and the importance of education, work ethics, and my career goals. I was raised by my grandmother and I was lucky enough to have 3 elder women who raised and took care of me. These women were old in age but wise in all of their years. They inspired me to work hard and achieve my goals while I was younger and able to achieve these goals. My grandmothers taught me the importance of keeping my word, dressing to make an impression, speaking with integrity, and finishing what I started. They taught me the importance of making lasting relationships in business, personal life, and in school. That respect and honor for others will take me far and help me in keeping a good report with work place and business partners. Having that guidance and lessons taught to me as a youth imparted so much wisdom that remains even in the years of me being in school and obtaining my degree in Sociology. As I venture in obtaining my degree in Sociology I plan on being the change agent and help to other women that are in need of guidance and life journeying just as I needed as a kid. Even as I am obtaining my degree in Sociology, I am an active help in my community helping as an ordained minister helping other women and teenage girls with daily life challenges. I plan on using my degree in Social Services and Prison Reform. I want to help people navigate through their traumas, shortcomings, and experiences helping them in healing and navigating them back to their destiny goals and being outstanding citizens for their communities. It is important for women to help lead other women with support and inspiration in order for them to succeed in their goals and dreams for college and in their careers. If it was not for the guidance and inspiration from my grandmothers I would have not obtained the success in work, relationships, and obtaining my decree. Their inspiration has stayed with me as I go forth in getting my degree I will be able to help other women as well. With limited mentors in the professional and personal relationships and work places, I plan on helping limit discrimination amongst a male-dominated environment by supporting other women throughout their careers in order to bring about gender parity in the workforce.

My name is Karinsa Morgan and I am an African American mother of three children. I decided to pursue my dreams by going to college and obtaining my degree in Sociology and a concentration in Prison Reform. I will be a first-generation college graduate in my family and I plan to make a positive impact in my community through socioeconomic reformation. My passion is to help people of adversity overcome and become outstanding citizens by reforming them from prison back into society. I have personally dealt with socioeconomic adversity by having to juggle work, school, kids, and home which has me in a season of struggle sometimes just to put food on the table. This Scholarship has provided an opportunity for financial assistance to help me attain my educational goals by adding amount of financial stability, helping to assist with books, and paying for shelter. Going back to school at an older age allows me to focus more on the goal of finishing my work and obtaining my degree with an outstanding GPA performance. I am currently excelling in my classes and striving to be an overachiever in my academic endeavors. This scholarship will help assist me in a more clear focus on my academics and less on providing financial support to my children and household. Socioeconomic adversity has influenced my beliefs, relationships, and future plans in many ways. I believe that you can achieve anything you put your mind to without giving up because of adversity. Socioeconomic adversity has influenced my relationships with others because I am not quick to judge others due to their lack of behavior not knowing their struggles. I plan on using my degree to change communities and systems of oppression that have held African-American men and women in captivity and socioeconomic adversity. While obtaining my degree is an additional goal some things may strain from the pull of being the only support for my family. While being determined to finish with my goals I plan on helping others in my career choices. My goals are to finish with an Associate Degree in Sociology and a concentration in Prison Reform and I will transfer on to obtain a BS and MS in social work while using my degree to go around the system of justice and practicing reformation. To help in my community among other people is to offer a way to change the narrative of their circumstances while teaching them to never give up on who God has created them to be.

My name is Karinsa Morgan and I am an African American mother of three children. I decided persue my dreams by going to college and obtaining my degree in Sociology and a concentration in Prison Reform. I will be a first generational college graduate in my family and the Hyacinth Malcolm Memorial Scholarship will help me in attaining my education goals in many ways. Having to juggle work, school, kids, and home has me in a season of struggle sometimes just to put food on the table. Being a full-time single mother of three children while attending school is not easy also while being the first person in my generation to graduate and finish college, the weight of changing my family dynamics is also heavy. The Hyacinth Malcolm Memorial Scholarship has provided an opportunity for financial assistance to help me attain my educational goals by adding an additional amount of financial stability, helping to assist with books, and paying for shelter. The Hyacinth Malcolm Memorial Scholarship will help the stability of emotional stressors as well that may come with doing schoolwork and life circumstances. Going back to school at an older age allows me to focus more on the goal of finishing my work and obtaining my degree with an outstanding GPA performance. I am currently excelling in my classes and striving to be an overachiever in my academic endeavors. This scholarship will help assist me in a more clear focus on my academics and less on providing financial support to my children and household. As a single parent, my first goal is to provide physical, emotional, and monetary support for the children. I relate to Mrs Hyacinth in many ways coming from a difficult background myself and wanting to create a better life for my kids and I. I plan on using my degree to not only make a better life for myself and my children, but also change communities and systems of oppression that has held African American men and women in captivity. While obtaining my degree is an additional goal some things may strain from the pull of being the only support for my family. While being determined to finish with my goals I plan on helping others in my career choices. My goals are to finish with an Associate Degree in Sociology and an concentration in Prison Reform and I will transfer on to obtain a BS and MS in social work while using my degree to go around the system of justice and practicing reformation.

Having a mother that deals with mental health shifted my life in a major way as far back as my childhood. I have always had the heart to see the mentally challenged set free from the torment that they have to experience. My mother was diagnosed with Bi-Poler, schizophrenia leaving me and my sister to help figure out what was best for her but also help in raising her in a sense. Growing up at an early age we were able to do trial and error on how to live with and handle those with a mental health issue. Some things go unnoticed concerning mental health simply for the lack of knowledge. In God's word he says, those will perish for the lack of knowledge and in some instances, those who suffer from this disease have parish from the lack of teaching. I think on national, state, school, community, family, and personal levels to address the crisis in America concerning mental health would be, more teachings, classes, and seminars where counselors and advocates will have the heart to spread the knowledge, resources, information, and time that will help those that need these services. Some existing approach that was successful for us while dealing with my mom's mental health was the posture in communication. My grandmother would say you can attract more bees with honey than with vinegar. To convince someone with mental health in getting treatment, effectively communicate their needs and wants, and also express themself effectively some keys are to suggest the help they need while letting them make the steps to receive the help. Talking to them nicely and respectfully while making them feel capable of making those decisions are great examples. To get ahead of a situation or a crisis, you go after it head-on. To get a hold of this crisis we will need all hands on board to spread awareness, along with the knowledge and information on how to help while getting adequate treatment for those who are suffering. Some of the people who deal with mental health issues do not get the appropriate help or medicine because they do not feel like they have an issue or they do not want people to see them differently. Providing a safe space for those dealing with the disease and helping them to see the great benefits of getting help is what's needed to help fight this battle.

My name is Karinsa Morgan and incarceration has impacted my life in a major way. I graduated high school in 2004 and shortly after graduating I moved to Florida to pursue my education in Fashion Design. I was not able to finish my degree and had to eventually move back home due to hardship. While back at home, I worked a lot of dead-end jobs to be able to fully take care of myself. I wound up heading in the wrong direction with the wrong people indulging in the wrong things. I got pregnant in 2006 and had my first child while trying to figure out life and what I was going to do with a child. I got into drugs very badly and I decided to sell drugs to make money to provide for my kid. On Friday the 13th of 2012 I got pulled over on the highway by a state trooper and I was booked into jail on a class A felon of Trafficking Cannabis with a million-dollar bond. This day was a transformation in my life and the beginning of my learned experiences. It turned out to be the best day of my life as I was more focused on being a better person and learning how to overcome adversities. I began to dream again and move forward in making my life better for me and my child. It took a while for me to overcome the next steps of my life with dealing with my new charges, paying for my probation, and establishing myself in the community. As I grew I had two more kids and I became even more stable and structured in life and taking care of them. I am now in a position where I have overcome my incarcerated past and I have enrolled back in college to pursue higher learning. I plan to graduate and show my kids, the community, and my sphere of influence that even though we may make a bad decision, we can always change.

Being a single mother of three full-time student kids as I am returning to school full-time has many challenges. As I embrace my new challenges with time management, being the provider, and governing over the children's lives, my challenges of school management, paying the bills, and putting food on the table have increased. I have a sixteen-year-old son, a nine-year-old, and six-year-old daughters that I love tremendously; they look up to me for almost everything. Returning to school for me is not only beneficial for my family's future, but it is also empowering as I am the first person in my family generation that will have a college degree. It would be unfair for me to express the joy and excitement that I have in returning to college without telling the fear and challenges that I face with being enrolled and finishing school. My children are excited that I am in college and it gives them hope that they can go to college too, but their mother is scared to let them down by not being able to afford food, supplies, or the basic things that they need because of my time that has been split from school and work. I have faced the challenges of paying my rent, getting them the necessary clothing and shoes, and paying my utilities, not to mention gas, car note, and maintenance. Being a full-time single mom is challenging in itself and adding a full-time student to my many hats is a lot to bear. I hate for my children to see me stressed and having to look at expenses and how it affects them. Children shouldn't have to worry about expenses and having their necessities while being kids, for it is the responsibility of the parents to provide for them. I am currently overcoming my obstacles every day, one step at a time as I have officially finished my first semester with a 3.7 GPA and all A's with one B for my first courses. Even though financial hardship is a major distraction, I overcame every obstacle and went towards my goal of having a 4.0 GPA and being an overachiever. The challenges of life are sometimes hard to stay clear from, but with hard work and dedication, I will be able to achieve the goal of my degree. Being awarded this scholarship will help me to overcome some challenges I face with being a full-time mother in college and providing for my children. I am eager to finish my goals strong and to go into the future accomplishing my career goals and being in a better financial state for the lively hood of my family.