Caregiving fell into my lap accidentally. I began caregiving for my grandparents in September of 2024 after discovering they were victims of a financial scan and were struggling with health and daily care needs. That September, I got a frantic phone call from my dad asking me to rush to my grandparent’s house to attend to a financial emergency; both my dad and my aunt live hours away and were unavailable to help with the confusion of my grandpa’s situation. I have a history with business management and accounting, so when my dad asked me to assist with their bills, it made the most sense for me to review their accounts. When I arrived at my grandparent’s house and began to uncover what my dad had been trying to piece together over the phone, I made a horrific discovery: my grandparents had been scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars. Their entire savings had been wiped out by an online scammer. Just a few months prior to this event, my grandmother had been diagnosed with both Alzheimer’s and stage two laryngeal cancer and had handed over their finances to my grandpa. At this time, we were unaware of his own cognitive decline. The further I dug into their daily lives and finances, the more concerned I became. There were days of missed medications, bills that had been paid repeatedly as they couldn’t remember if they had been paid or not, and a general lack of nutritious meals in their home. For the past nine months, I have partnered with both my aunt and my dad on our best course of action. I have assumed all financial responsibility over my grandparent’s accounts to ensure they are safe from potential scams. I verify that both of my grandparents are taking their medications daily, and support with all grocery shopping and food preparations for the week. Their neighbor and my aunt take turns driving my grandmother to her radiation and therapy appointments, as I work a full-time job and cannot be there to support during the day. In the evenings, I bring my two-year old daughter to their house as I prepare their dinner and verify their medications have been taken. Before the decline of my grandparent’s health I was working two jobs, attending school full time, and caring for my child. I realized I had to make a sacrifice somewhere to maintain my own well-being and ensure they were being cared for, so I quit my evening part-time job as a swim coach in March of 2025 to support them. This has caused a significant financial burden on my own family, however, the peace of mind and ability to be there for them has been worth the sacrifice. At first, I felt frustrated that my dad and aunt lived so far away, leaving this responsibility to me; however, as the time has passed, I have come to grow with these changes. There are difficult days where my grandma doesn’t remember my daughter’s name, or when her radiation has impacted her throat so significantly that she cannot speak, I am reminded that it is a privilege to be a consistent presence in their lives. Shifting my life, my mindset, and my schedule around to accommodate their health was a stark reality check for me. These two gracious people in my life helped raise me when my mother was absent, they attended soccer games, swim meets, and art shows to express their love for me. This journey has been both enlightening and emotionally challenging, prompting me to shift my goals and prioritizing them and my family more. I am currently enrolled in school to receive my Elementary Education degree and eventually becoming a teacher. This change in schedule would allow me the freedom to have my schedule align with my daughter’s future schooling, as well as grant me more time to care for my grandparents during weekends, holidays, and school breaks. Receiving this scholarship would support me in continuing my educational goals and reduce the financial burden that has weighed on me since quitting my job as a swim coach. It would allow me to breathe a little easier knowing that both of my priorities can happen simultaneously.

Balancing work and caregiving has been one of the most challenging and transformative experiences of my life. After the birth of my daughter, I quickly realized that my previous focus on advancing my management career needed to shift to prioritize my role as a mother. Juggling a demanding job while trying to be present for a newborn created a constant tension between professional responsibilities and personal obligations. There were days when I felt overwhelmed, constantly shifting my focus from one task to the next, unable to give either work or motherhood the full attention it deserved. I was consistently on the phone with employees, vendors, and my peers to keep my business competitive. Although my business was thriving, my employees were happy, and my inventory management was on par, I was desperate for the connection with my baby. I realized that the example I was setting for her wasn’t the one I wanted to be. I was constantly preoccupied with work and unavailable as a mother. The turning point came when I attended a friend’s college graduation ceremony, where I was inspired by her dedication to improving her life. That night, I re-enrolled in college, knowing that in order to provide the life I wanted for my daughter, I needed to change the course of my own future. I re-enrolled in college, quit my management job, and started a new position part-time. For a while, I felt as though I had sacrificed apart of myself, who I was and what I was good at, to achieve this long-term goal of education. I mourned the person I was but found a new sense of purpose and dedication to my role as a mother. I needed to carve out space for myself to create a new version of myself that was born with motherhood. However, this change has provided me with the clarity I needed to find the balance as a working mom. It has taught me the importance of time management and prioritizing mine and my family’s well-being over all else. My mindset has had to shift drastically in a few areas of my life; especially that of short-term financial hard ship will be worth the long-term outcome of a balanced career and caregiving role. I realized that in order to provide the life I wanted for my daughter, I needed a career that not only allowed for more balance but also aligned with my passion for teaching and inspiring others. This balancing act has also solidified my desire to work in education, particularly in secondary education, where I hope to teach subjects like business management, entrepreneurship, or marketing. My experiences have shown me that education is a powerful tool for change, both for myself and for the students I aim to teach. I want to help others navigate the challenges of life while fostering an environment that prioritizes growth, balance, and personal development. Ultimately, balancing work and caregiving has reinforced the idea that professional success is not solely defined by career advancement but by the positive impact you can have on others, especially those who depend on you.