Growing up in a single-parent household has impacted me in many positive ways, more than it has negatively. Yes, growing up in a single-parent household had its challenges and hardships, but it only pushed me more to work hard and persevere anything I set my mind to. When making decisions on my college education, my dream was to attend a University outside of where I lived. Although, this dream seemed far-fetched and nearly impossible, I worked hard to do anything I could to make it happen. I struggled with navigating applications, scholarships, but eventually getting where I needed to. With my mom always being my greatest cheerleader, she did everything she could to support me in this process. During my last semester of my Junior year, I too found out that I would be a single mom. My whole world flipped in a matter of seconds, yet it only pushed me more to receive a college degree. My career path changed, I changed schools in order to move back home, and everything I had once planned went out the window. At first, I was extremely upset, and I didn't know where my life was headed, but now I am confident I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. After seeing the way that my mom struggled to make ends meet, and living paycheck to paycheck, I knew I didn't want my daughter to experience the same financial burdens. Now, my daughter is almost two years old, and I will be graduating with a Public Health degree, in a year. None of these accomplishments would've been possible without the support from my mom. She helped me in every step of my education, and now with helping me in providing a roof over our heads. I wouldn't have been able to pursue my education full-time if it wasn't for her. This scholarship will truly help me get where I need to be by taking off financial burdens that I carry on a daily basis. Being a full-time parent, full-time student, and having a part-time job gets heavy sometimes when providing for our daily needs, including daycare costs, gas, food, etc. Although our financial burdens carry the heaviest load in our lives, I know that the end reward will be worth it. After receiving my Bachelor's degree in Public Health, I hope to continue my education and receive a Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology to become a Speech Language Pathologist. I currently work in the Pediatric ICU, and it has grown my passion to be able to work with kids. My hope is to work in the school systems, and help children with their Speech and Language challenges. All of the obstacles I have encountered while being raised in a single-parent household, and being a single mom myself, has shaped me and will impact my daughter as well. I hope she sees how hard her grandma and her mom worked to be able to provide a bright future for her too. This degree isn't only for me, but for my mom and my daughter. I know it's paving the way for my daughter to pursue something she is passionate about, and setting an example of what true determination is.

After being raised by a single mom, and becoming a single mom at the age of 22, I learned the true meaning of hard-work, determination, and motivation. I grew up knowing of the financial burden my mom carried, and I knew that going to college would change the path for my family and I. When I found out I was pregnant during my Junior year of college, I was devastated knowing that my daughter may grow up feeling the financial burden I felt in my childhood years. My greatest priority besides providing for my daughter was to finish school, but I quickly realized how challenging that would be. Providing for all of her needs on top of paying for daycare made going to school feel so out of reach. I took one semester off, which was the semester that I had my daughter. I was consumed in the newborn bubble, and navigating my new journey of motherhood. It was the most beautiful time of my life, but I always knew in the back of my head that I wanted to continue my education and go back to school. I had already made it so far, but I was discouraged after having to move back home and leave my dream university. I soon gained the courage to enroll in the university in my hometown, and after lots of reflection I changed career paths too. As I started school again, the struggle between paying for books, gas, daycare, food, and unexpected expenses all started piling up. Through my career path navigation, I got a job at the hospital while going to school full time. Essentially, I was in school all week focusing on my studies, and then working twelve-hour, night shifts on the weekends. I can easily say this was the hardest time of my life because I always felt like I was running on empty. I would work night shifts, so that I could be able to spend weekends with my daughter, and so that she wouldn't notice my absence. As time has passed and school schedules have changed, I have been able to coordinate better schedules, but maintaining a job and doing well in school is a constant struggle I encounter on a daily basis. It's a constant battle between prioritizing parenting, school, and work. If I were to receive this scholarship, I would be able to commit more time to my studies and spend more time with my daughter. Not only that, but this scholarship will help me do well in my classes and graduate, so that I can begin my career and provide for my daughter. As my daughter grows, I know that she will be able to observe my hard-work and determination, and hopefully look up to me, as I do to my mom. She will see that all I do is for her, and to provide a beautiful life for us. I hope to inspire her and pave the way for her to go to school one day, and pursue something she is passionate about. Receiving a college degree is more than a title, or something written on a piece of paper. To me, receiving my degree means breaking generational chains of not receiving a college degree, and providing a bright future for my family. It means that I'm paving the path for my daughter. When I walk across that stage, it isn't only for my daughter and I, but also for my mom. She put her life and her education on hold to be able to provide for my brother and I. As a single mom, she pursued a full-time job to be able to put a roof over our heads, and provide for all of our needs. For that, I am eternally grateful. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't be where I am today. I wouldn't have a place to call home for my daughter and I, and I definitely wouldn't have been able to commit to both school and a job. She helps me in any way she can while working a full-time job, and is always there for us. This degree is for her, my daughter, my family, and everyone else who has helped me make it happen.

At the age of 22 my life changed forever in the greatest way possible. I was blessed with a beautiful baby girl, and with the gift of being her mom. I was in the last semester of my Junior year in college when I found out I was pregnant. Many things quickly changed, and didn’t go as I had planned. For instance, graduating from my dream university came to an end, and even my plan to go to medical school was out the window. I soon realized changes were coming that I was not quite yet prepared for. After moving back in the home I grew up in, to changing schools and starting again at a sophomore level, I continued to persevere. Deep down I felt as though I wasn’t sure where my life was headed, but I knew I wanted to finish school. Not only was this a personal goal for myself, but also because I knew I needed to do it for my daughter. After starting at a new university, and continuing a Biology degree, I realized that a Biology degree is not what I wanted for myself after all. I later changed to Nursing and was accepted into the Nursing program. As a single mom, I struggled with balancing my mom life and student life, along with a part time job working nights at the hospital working as a Nurse Extern. I would go days without sleep due to schoolwork, studying, attending to my 10-month old at the time, and working 12 hour night shifts. Through all of the juggling, I reached a point that I was completely burned out. After completing my first semester in Nursing school, I had unfortunately missed the next part of the Nursing program by one point. It was almost as if it threw me back what felt like 1,000 steps. At this point in my life, I was completely lost and didn’t know which direction to go next. Looking back, I am so blessed to have had that moment in my life because it brought me to where I am now. I switched majors for the last time, and I am now pursuing a degree in Public Health. Additionally, after my exposure in the hospital, I grew passionate for Speech and Language Pathology. Therefore, I am hoping to pursue a Master’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology. With all of that being said, I truly feel so happy and content with where I am in my life, and I know this is where I’m meant to be. I know that if I hadn’t gone through all of the those trials and tribulations, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Not only that, but I know it has made me a stronger person, and has set a great example for my daughter to look up to. She is my motivation, my drive to work hard every day, and my push to keep going.

The moment my daughter was placed in my arms, my whole world flipped upside down, in the best way possible. I never knew a love like that until the moment I met her. Overflowing love and joy came over me; wanting to give my baby the world because that’s what she deserved. During that time in my life, I was in a place of many questions and uncertainty. I didn’t know what the next chapter of my life would look like, I didn’t know how I was going to finish school. The only thing I did know, was how much I loved my baby girl, and that I needed to provide a great life for her. After many hard decisions regarding changing majors and changing schools, I knew my passion was in healthcare. I was so touched by the way I was treatedw by the amazing nurses while having my daughter, that it truly inspired me to pursue a Nursing degree. I am overjoyed to say that I have been accepted into the Nursing program, and I will begin in the Fall of 2023. The journey to where I am today, has not been easy. Being a single parent, trying to finish school, and making some kind of income is anything but easy. There are lots of factors that make it challenging, but I would have to say the most challenging aspect of it all would be not having enough, financially. I wish I had income that I know would be sufficient, and that I wouldn’t worry about how I would make it through the month. Not only that, but it’s challenging focusing so much on school, grades, work, etc., when I have a child. With that being said, I try to live in the moment as much as possible, and appreciate every minute I get to spend with my daughter. Regardless of a test, or homework assignment, I always spend every moment with my her with a graceful and thankful heart. My days are long, but they are worth it. Being a mom comes with a thousand jobs, but it is the most fulfilling job one could ever have. After being a mom, I finish my job as a student; whether it be studying, doing homework, and more. I start my day very early as a student until my daughter wakes up, then spend the day with her, and after all the chores, bathing, and more is done, I go back to being a student for the remainder of the day. Doing this day in and day out is difficult, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It’s exhausting, tiring, and sometimes overwhelming, but I know I am providing a bright future for not only myself, but also for my daughter. This scholarship would help tremendously with the financial burden of being a single mom in school. Not only that, but it would help in getting to where I need to in my education, and eventually having a Nursing career. Every day that I work hard, I know I am also helping my daughter and guiding her in the right direction. It is going to make it easier for her to go to college as well, and to find her own path of success. I was raised by a single mom, and now as a single mom, I understand the feeling of wanting the best for our kids. The support and love my mom has always shown me, is what I will show my daughter as well. I want her to know the importance of finishing school and working hard, to get where she wants to be. Being the first in my family to graduate from college would change everything for my future and for the ones of future generations. This is the generation of change, success, and college degrees, and hopefully for many generations to come.

My heart dropped, tears began to slide down my face, and my hands shook as the test read "Pregnant." A million thoughts flooded my head..."How am I going to do this on my own?... I know he doesn't want kids... How am I going to tell my mom?" I could barely get through the day talking to my mom as if everything was fine. Finally, I had to tell her. I couldn't keep this from my best friend, my greatest supporter throughout my whole life. The moment I told her her breaths were short from her crying so much. The sadness and disappointment in her voice broke me. All she wanted for me was to finish school and be the amazing Physician she knew I had always dreamt of becoming. After accepting the news I had delivered to her, she reassured me that we were a team and we were going to get through it together. My mom and I have always had an irreplaceable bond that others would praise us about. With my mom's great love and support, she helped me realize that "life only pushed the pause button on school." The moment of finding out I was pregnant, it felt like the end of the world. I felt like I was not going to be able to be the first in my family to graduate from college, but my mom helped me realize otherwise. Her supportive words kept me going and helped me get through each trial I faced as my pregnancy progressed. Every doctor's appointment, and every tough day I had, my mom was there through it all. Getting pregnant during my junior year of college, my life changed completely. From moving schools, and changing my degree and career pathway, to raising my daughter on my own, the support from my mom has been what has gotten me through. I was so sad that I had to leave my dream university, and take a break from school. My daughter's father bribed me into abortion, he told me I'd never graduate to work in the medical field, he made me feel completely on my own and left me with everything to deal with on my own. Being a Latina, single mom, and raised by a single mom from a low-income background, I learned the true meaning of hard work, perseverance, and determination. The trials it has brought have not set me back, but instead, motivated me to grow as an individual, as well as give me strength. It has shaped me into the person I am today and has set a great example for my daughter to look up to one day. The greatest inspiration from my mom is how she has never given up, even through the most difficult situations. As a young child, I remember my mom worried about paying for our home, putting food on the table, and even being able to put gas in our car. My daughter is my greatest motivation, and I want to be able to provide for her while standing on my own two feet. Completing my degree will be the ticket to being able to do that for her. As a single mom, I've learned that life changes in ways we never could've imagined, but that everything happens for a reason. After having my daughter, I have found a passion to be a Labor and Delivery Nurse, and am pursuing a Nursing degree. I hope to support other moms one day and help other moms experience a beautiful and fulfilling delivery to their beautiful babies.