My current study is Medical Office Administration. As a young adult, I tried to do the "traditional" path of college. When I graduated high school, I enrolled and attended the local community college. But I really did not know which direction I wanted to go with my education. I continued about two semester and was introduced to the world of Emergency Medical Services by a close friend. This was a huge step because I always thought the medical field was out of the question with having to wear a hearing aid. How would I use a stethoscope? What if I misheard someone? Would I be treated as a lesser provider since I had a hearing aid? I started wearing a hearing aid at 14, and I always felt like it stuck out. I began volunteering with the local rescue squad, but it only took a quick month for me to realize that helping others and being able to assist them in their time of need was exactly the type of career I was looking for. I have been in the career of emergency medical services in some capacity for almost 20 years. I never was defined by my disability. I never once felt left out or disregarded because I wore a hearing aid. As an adult, and looking back at my high school education, I really did struggle. Even wearing a hearing aid I always found myself asking people to repeat themselves, and that takes a toll on you. Taking online classes during college has allowed me to learn and retain information at my own pace. I find reading to be an easier task for me. Even though I can hear out of my right ear, and have a hearing aid in my left, there are times I always feel like I am missing something. My current job allows me the ability to continue my higher education. Working full time as a clinic manager for an occupational health clinic has allowed me to be more active and present in my children’s lives, which is the most important thing. I want my children to know that it does not matter what age, or where you are in your current life, there is always the chance to continue to improve and do whatever you want. I am a firm believer that a college education is not necessary, but I want my children to know there is always an opportunity to continue their education if they decide to. My husband and I both work full time jobs. It is quite hard this day and age to have a family with only one source of income. Our children are active participants in activities such as marching band and football. Being awarded this scholarship would help our family tremendously as I am very eager to complete my associates degree in Medical Office Administration. Being able to not have to worry about where the money for each semester is going to come from, or if we are going to have to sacrifice one thing for another would be a huge burden off our shoulders. Completing this degree will allow advancement in my current job and a huge accomplishment for myself and for also my children to see how hard their mother worked at finishing college, working full time and keeping up with the children and their activities and the daily responsibilities of a wife and maintaining a happy household. My children and family are priority, and they understand how important this degree is to me. No disability should prevent you from achieving your goals.

Being a parent has been the hardest job I have ever had. I know people always tell you that you never truly realize how difficult something is until you are seeing it first hand, but with parenting that is 100% true. My son, KC, is ten years old. My husband also has a son, CJ, who is about to turn fifteen and starting high school. As a parent we want the best for our children. We want to provide them with everything that we did not have growing up. My husband and I both grew up with parents that did not have college educations and went directly into the work field. As a young adult, I tried to do the "traditional" path of college. When I graduated high school, I enrolled and attended the local community college. But I really did not know which direction I wanted to go with my education. I continued about two semester and was introduced to the world of Emergency Medical Services by a close friend. I began volunteering with the local rescue squad, but it only took a quick month for me to realize that helping others and being able to assist them in their time of need was exactly the type of career I was looking for. I have been in the career of emergency medical services in some capacity for almost 20 years. My current job allows me the ability to continue my higher education. Working full time as a clinic manager for an occupational health clinic has allowed me to be more active and present in my children’s lives, which is the most important thing. My job also has given me the ability to continue college. I have attended two semester full time so far and have maintained a 3.8 GPA. My semester I maintained a 4.0 with eighteen credits. It has not been easy. I want my children to know that it does not matter what age, or where you are in your current life, there is always the chance to continue to improve and do whatever you want. I am a firm believer that a college education is not necessary, but I want my children to know there is always an opportunity to continue their education if they decide to. My husband and I both work full time jobs. It is quite hard this day and age to have a family with only one source of income. Our children are active participants in activities such as marching band and football. Being awarded this scholarship would help our family tremendously as I am very eager to complete my associates degree in Medical Office Administration. Being able to not have to worry about where the money for each semester is going to come from, or if we are going to have to sacrifice one thing for another would be a huge burden off our shoulders. Completing this degree will allow advancement in my current job and a huge accomplishment for myself and for also my children to see how hard their mother worked at finishing college, working full time and keeping up with the children and their activities and the daily responsibilities of a wife and maintaining a happy household. My children and family are priority, and they understand how important this degree is to me.

Being a parent has been the hardest job I have ever had. I know people always tell you that you never truly realize how difficult something is until you are seeing it first hand, but with parenting that is 100% true. My son, KC, is ten years old. My husband also has a son, CJ, who is about to turn fifteen and starting high school. As a parent we want the best for our children. We want to provide them with everything that we did not have growing up. My husband and I both grew up with parents that did not have college educations and went directly into the work field. As a young adult, I tried to do the "traditional" path of college. When I graduated high school, I enrolled and attended the local community college. But I really did not know which direction I wanted to go with my education. I continued about two semester and was introduced to the world of Emergency Medical Services by a close friend. I began volunteering with the local rescue squad, but it only took a quick month for me to realize that helping others and being able to assist them in their time of need was exactly the type of career I was looking for. I have been in the career of emergency medical services in some capacity for almost 20 years. My current job allows me the ability to continue my higher education. Working full time as a clinic manager for an occupational health clinic has allowed me to be more active and present in my children’s lives, which is the most important thing. My job also has given me the ability to continue college. I have attended two semester full time so far and have maintained a 3.8 GPA. My semester I maintained a 4.0 with eighteen credits. It has not been easy. I want my children to know that it does not matter what age, or where you are in your current life, there is always the chance to continue to improve and do whatever you want. I am a firm believer that a college education is not necessary, but I want my children to know there is always an opportunity to continue their education if they decide to. My husband and I both work full time jobs. It is quite hard this day and age to have a family with only one source of income. Our children are active participants in activities such as marching band and football. Being awarded this scholarship would help our family tremendously as I am very eager to complete my associates degree in Medical Office Administration. Being able to not have to worry about where the money for each semester is going to come from, or if we are going to have to sacrifice one thing for another would be a huge burden off our shoulders. Completing this degree will allow advancement in my current job and a huge accomplishment for myself and for also my children to see how hard their mother worked at finishing college, working full time and keeping up with the children and their activities and the daily responsibilities of a wife and maintaining a happy household. My children and family are priority, and they understand how important this degree is to me.

As a wife, mother, and full time employee, I think those three titles would truly define me as a non-traditional student. I can now say and admit to myself and my children that I had every opportunity presented to me to further continue my education after high school graduation and I took it with a grain of salt. After high school, I began volunteering at the local first aid and rescue squad and truly fell in love with the public service work force. For the past 16 years, I was fortunate enough that I was able to obtain the licenses that was required to enter into the career path of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and apply and accept a very sought after job in the field at the time. I worked with the same employer until 2014 when my husband and I had our child and felt that it was in our best interest to move to North Carolina to be closer to family. Upon relocation to North Carolina I became employed with a county EMS agency and was able to continue doing what I love, which was helping others in their time of need. Due to unforeseen circumstance, in 2017, I found myself as a single mother to a 3 year old. I was blessed with an amazing support system of friends that I would call family, as well as my father’s support so I could continue to work and provide for my son. My life became a whirlwind of work, then household duties and raising my son. I did not want my son growing up and not being able to kiss his mother goodnight before bed. I continued the long hours until about 2019 when an opportunity came up. It was a significant pay cut, however it allowed me to work during the hours that my son was in school. Then 2020 came, and COVID-19 came along with it, resulting in me getting furloughed from my job at the time. I had the ability to find a work from home job in medical billing, however it was not something that I could substantiate long term. I am a people person and need daily interactions with others, not behind a computer screen. I started my research and found a job posting for a medical clinic near me. This was something I had never done before but was willing to give it my all and see where it took me. That job posting has led me to where I am today. I am still employed within that company, and in January of 2022 was promoted to clinical manager over the clinic and I have employees that I am responsible for. If you asked me 10 years ago, I never would have placed myself in this career path. However, I am happiest I have ever been. This career has given me the opportunity to see other states such as Oregon and Illinois and allows for more advancement in the future. That brings me to today. I am happily remarried and in a place in my life where I am aiming at obtaining my associates degree not only for myself as a personal accomplishment, but as encouragement to my children that it does not matter what age or where you are in your life, you can do what you set your mind to. Clique, I know, but it is 100% true in my situation. Being awarded this scholarship will help with financial strain on my family as we work towards our next goal as a family and that is buying a house.