My name is Kelcie Olson. I am currently attending an LPN program at the Saline County Career Center, the road to get here was long, but worth the journey! At seventeen, my life took a turn that reshaped every dream I had carefully imagined. I became a mother while I was still learning who I was myself. College plans were set aside, not because I lacked ambition, but because responsibility demanded immediate action. I entered adulthood early, driven by the need to provide stability, safety, and love for my child. Higher education became a distant goal that I carried quietly while focusing on survival. I became a cosmetology apprentice so I could begin earning wages immediately. Becoming a mother so young taught me lessons no classroom could offer. I learned discipline through exhaustion, time management through necessity, and perseverance through moments when quitting felt easier than continuing. Often working more than one job to provide, I attempted to go back to school when my second child was only eighteen months old. I failed miserably. This dream was once again tucked away. While my peers attended lectures and explored career paths, I worked to ensure my child never felt the weight of my sacrifices. Though I postponed my education, I never abandoned the belief that learning would one day be part of my future. Now, at thirty-six, I am a single mother of three with currently one semester completed in my LPN program with graduation set for June of 2026! My journey has not been linear, but it has been intentional. Every challenge of financial hardship, emotional strain, and the balancing act of parenthood have strengthened my resilience. I have learned to adapt, to advocate for myself, and to remain focused even when circumstances are overwhelming. These qualities have prepared me for the academic rigor of higher education far more than a traditional path ever could have. These qualities will also be foundational for my nursing career. Returning to school is more than a personal goal. It is a promise I am making to my children. I want them to see that setbacks do not define a person, but determination does. I want them to understand that dreams may pause, but they do not expire. My grandmother became a nurse at the age of fifty and set an example of determination that I want to pass on. By pursuing higher education now, I am showing my daughters that growth is possible at any stage of life and that perseverance can rewrite any narrative. My experiences as a single mother have given me a unique perspective in the classroom. I bring resilience, maturity, and a deep appreciation for opportunity. Higher education is no longer an expectation for me; it is a privilege I intend to fully honor. I am committed not only to academic success, but to using my education to create long-term stability for my family and to contribute meaningfully to my community. I have goals to be able to provide a monthly meal at our community cafe where my children can serve alongside me. We all share a passion for helping others and being involved in our community. This scholarship represents more than financial assistance, it represents belief. Belief in second chances, in nontraditional students, and in the power of education to transform lives across generations. I am not just pursuing a degree, I am building a legacy of perseverance, purpose, and possibility for my children and for myself.

Addiction is something I feel deeply connected to. With many family members caught in its grasp, I’ve carried both emotional weight and a strong desire to help. As a child, I often felt powerless watching loved ones suffer, determined that my future children would never endure the same pain, yet still worried about my own vulnerability. Seeing someone wrestle with addiction and knowing they’re someone’s child stirs me profoundly. All too often, people complete recovery programs only to be released into isolation, left to rebuild without meaningful support. That’s why, as I pursue my LPN license and later expand my career into nursing, social work, and mental health care, I’m driven to mend this broken link. I’m convinced that integrating individuals in long-term recovery into rehab programs not only gives them renewed purpose, but also offers others true empathy and relatable guidance. People with lived experience, when trained and empowered, can connect with those struggling in ways clinical staff sometimes cannot. They help reduce relapse, increase treatment retention, and guide clients to community resources. At the same time, these peer supporters reinforce their own recovery through what’s called the “helper therapy principle”: in helping others, they strengthen their own healing, identity, and sense of purpose. This belief shapes my vision; recovery should be lifelong and communal. Graduating from rehab shouldn’t mean being sent out alone. Instead, graduates need mentors, people who have walked the path before them, and access to supportive, sober communities that normalize their journey and celebrate progress. Starting my career as an LPN in a rehab facility, I plan to; partner closely with peer support specialists and advocate for their inclusion as essential members of the care team; deliver holistic nursing care that addresses not just physical symptoms, but also emotional and spiritual needs; and design aftercare plans personalized to each individual, incorporating community recovery groups and practices that sustain long-term healing. I imagine recovery cafés, alumni networks, and community-based support groups as vital spaces where clients are seen and affirmed as whole people, not merely patients. These environments help build identity, foster connection, and offer ongoing encouragement. Ultimately, my aim is to blend clinical nursing skills with advocacy and social support, creating a sustainable model for recovery. I want every person leaving rehab to know they’re not alone, that someone who’s been in their shoes is there to guide them. By weaving together earned insight, professional care, and lifelong community, I hope to transform my family’s history of pain into a source of healing, purpose, and hope for others.