Hi everyone, yes, I am poor, but I am living my best life. I unfortunately raised with a silver spoon in my life, but I was raised with love by my parents until my father passed when I was 15 of lung cancer. His death is the very reason my sister and I went into nursing. I am an LPN for 17 years and my sister is a RN for over 25 years. I really enjoyed taking care of people in my community and witnessing the outcome with them. I have suffered from anxiety and depression my entire life. A lot is genetics, and some is very important people that I have lost in my life. I am medicated and I also see a therapist weekly and that helps some. My diagnosis has left me with disability. I only receive $698 a month. I do receive HUD, that is a government program that assists with my rent, so I pay $30 monthly for rent. I do receive Medicaid for my medical insurance, and I only pay very small amounts for my medications. I was denied Food stamps because they said I wasn't allowed a work-study. Not real sure what that means, but I manage to get by with going to missions for free groceries and whatever I have that I can delegate to some groceries at the store. I do get my school paid for, but I am drowning in student loans. It to me is very well worth it. I love knowledge and love to be able to apply my knowledge to help others. I hope with my therapy and some tweaking of my medications that maybe someday I can get off disability and be a positive part of my community again. Having to decide how you are going to spend the small amount of money that I receive monthly gets tiresome. I don't know what it is to be able to have extra money to just go buy me a brand-new outfit. I get excited at yard sales finding nice things at a discount. I would never waste my money going out to eat because I could use that to pay a certain bill or get this medication this month. I am from a low-income family, and I am also living low income as well, but I wouldn't change it for all the money in the world. I am rich because I have the blood of Christ forgive my sins. He sees that I get what I need monthly! I am very humble and happy with my life. If I was to ever hit a lottery, I would be living the same way because I would give it away. Pleasing and helping others is where I get my pleasure. I really want to thank you for reading my life story. Please don't ever feel sorry for me, I am doing just fine. My reason for applying for the Scholarship is to try to cut down on my student loans. It has been my pleasure letting you in on a little synopsis of my life. Thank You, Tamara France

HOWDY!!! No, I'm being serious. Im from the same spot as Billy Ray Cyrus grew up, Flatwoods, KY. I am not the best cook, but I am not the worst either. I really want to be more worldly, when it comes to the cuisine. My idea of a great concept is something quick, simple, healthy and affordable that you may somehow one day be able to fix in your car. I'm in my car a lot, I need this! I really hope that you enjoyed my quick essay. It is all truthful, and I would honestly love to be a great cook. I want to be able to fix any type of cuisine. I appreciate you taking your time to read my essay, the money would help this 48-year-old grandmother tremendously. Thank You for Your Time, Tamara France

My favorite scientific discovery would have to be electricity. Yes, I'm strange I know, but it is my favorite discovery because without electricity we would be in the dark, continue to pollute the air with gas fumes. I think it is a positive discovery that is simple but important. Thank you for your time!

Hello! Yes, I am doing college again! What can I say, I'm addicted to knowledge? I am currently an LPN for over 16 years and my favorite floor to work is behavioral health. The mind is a fascinating tool! My ultimate goal is to become a child Psychologist. I pray you choose me; I have no income waiting on a disability claim. Either way, thank you for your time.

I took a computer class last semester and it taught me a lot. It showed me how to save time and documents for future use. I am extremely glad I now know how to do a presentation, excel and powerpoint. I love UMA!!!

I have always been a giver since I was a small child. I have never really been good at receiving, because in my heart to watch others happy makes me happy. I am applying for different Scholarships because I was married to my children's father for over 20 years and one day he decided he no longer wanted me. He was a successful Captain on a boat that carries oil for a company called Marathon, and I was the mom, caregiver to his father that suffered from Alzheimer's disease and I also managed to work 40 hours a week as an LPN to help what I thought was my perfect family out. So you see at this point and time I have NO choice but to accept help because I can't make it by myself. I hope you find it in your hearts to choose me. Thank You, Tamara France

My passion for Art is life! I believe everything in the world has a distinctive form of Art. Art is all around us, nature, crafting, dressing, cooking, I mean literally everything! What drives my passion is I suffer from MDD and Art saved my life. This scholarship would mean a little less financial worry for me. Thanks for your consideration.

I study Reiki, chakra, meditation. I study gems and crystals and universe healing powers. I also meditate to help relieve stress and anxiety.

Adversity should have been my middle name. Born into a poverty stricken family I fought daily to get my grades. I am in a financial hardship situation now. But I pursue grants and loans and pray to God to help me make it through!

Oh man, things on my bucket list, we'll I love adventure so skydiving and bungee jumping from 500 ft would be completed. I would love to travel to a third world country to administer medical help. I would love to travel and see the world. I'm 48, I want to do it all!

I live with gratitude because I came from poverty. I know the struggle of finances but continue to seek knowledge. One thing my daddy taught me was how important an education is. For fun he use to make me look up big words in the dictionary, learn part of speech, definition and how to use in a sentence. I appreciate the 15 yrs I had with him until he passed but I'm very grateful he taught me the true meaning of success! Being thankful for what you have. So if you find it in your hearts to choose me, I would be forever grateful. Thank You, Tamara France

I am selfless by love. I was chosen by God to be a giver and not a taker and I enjoy that very much. I hope you find it in your hearts to help me continue my journey. Sincerely, Tamara France

LIFE???? Well I can tell you this, it took me about 45 years to finally discover what it really was!!! I am a 48 yr old divorced mom of 2 wonderful adults, whom I had at a young age. I was married to their father for over 20+ yrs and was treated horrible! Ya see, it all started in 1973 when I was born. My parents were married and started a family young, dad 19, mom 16. I was raised by the best humans ever, my father was extremely intelligent and worked for GTE Telephone services just as fiber optics was coming out. GTE would fly dad and his crew all over the US when devastating disasters happened, to repair the Telephone lines. My mom, who was a high school dropout, went to college to receive a degree as an LPN. I was taught from a young age that education was important. I went through 12th grade and because I lacked .5 of a credit I got my GED. I went to college several times and this is #4. I didn't know the meaning of life until I gave it at 19 to my daughter, but never really understood what it was until their father and I divorced. I know now it's not about money or success it's about love, happiness and doing what you love! I love the medical field and have been a nurse for 16 yrs. I want to try social work or therapist. I love living and enjoy learning, making new discoveries! Unfortunately I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth and that is why I am applying for this scholarship. If you could find it in your heart to help me further education I would sincerely appreciate it. Thank you, Tamara France

I lost my father when I was 15 and kept pushing like he wouldv,'e want me to.

I will remember this situation in my life forever because it was one of the proudest moments I've ever had of perseverance. I was just a child, maybe 6 or 7 in the 1st grade. I was walking home from my bus stop and a car pulled up beside me. It was a long white car and a man politely asked, "Tammy, do do you want a ride home?" Wondering how he knew my name and I soon remembered it was cool to have all your personal items with embroidery everywhere. I refused to go with the man! He was very persistent and followed me! I began to run as fast as I could until my perseverance paid off and I finally made it home. I explained to my momma what happened and we made a police report. I never had to worry about that ever again. By me being so persistent and prevailing I showed determination and a will to live, and that's just what I did.

What JOY means to me is basically like the song says.. I got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in m heart, yeah down in my heart! I have joy because God gave me peace in my heart when he saved my soul. To know that you are safe and sound in the arms of Jesus Christ, it's a whole new ballgame! You don't worry about tomorrow or what will happen to you because you know God's got you! I am so thankful for my peace of knowledge allowing me to walk unscathed!!!

This is a tradition that I started with my children when they were old enough to understand. I explained to them that anyone can go buy a card but if you make your mommy a card with construction paper, stickers and your own hands then that makes that card priceless! It's priceless because you used your own imagination and thoughts abouts what you wanted to say to your momma by using your feelings and those things are priceless to me. I love all my home-made cards that I still have to this day! Than You, Tamara France

Easy peasy!!! I am a giver not a taker, that's why I'm an LPN. I am the type of person that it makes me feel fulfilled to give. I feel like I am truly helping when I give and would NEVER want anything in exchange. Giving is a selfless act that makes you feel euphoric when in the act of giving. I NEVER would accept anything in return because that defeats my purpose. I am addicted to seeing true smiles and genuine thankfulness!

Yay, time for fun!!! Well I am a 47 year old G, but my simple pleasure in life that makes me happy is meditation. It just helps clear my my mind, body and soul and makes me feel recharged. I love life and living life and it is the smallest things I enjoy. Thank You, TamaraFrance

EDUCATION, EDUCATION, AND MORE EDUCATION! My best friend of 30 years has a very active daughter that received a scholarship to MU for track. While at one of her first meets she passed out. When we arrived at hospital, test after test we found out she was in fact a brittle diabetic. After a very careful diagnosis the nurse my niece had was trying to teach her a lesson because she was not adhering to a diabetic diet well. She let her eat whatever she want and that's when she finally found out the importance to watching her diet. Now to this day after giving birth to her own baby, she is very strict with her diet and successfully living a wonderful life. Education is key!!!

My long-term goal is to eventually become a Child Psychologist. I really feel that children need an outlet now a days to be able to express their feelings. I feel like this scholarship would help me achieve my goal by being able to support me financially to see that I am financially eligible to go to college. I am an LPN now and have been for 16 yrs but that income is just a little over 30,000/yr. I am going to need all the financial assistance I can possible get.