Waking up at 3:30am , anxiety written, and stressed because I am trying to figure out how I am going to stretch the last bit of formula I have till tomorrow when I get paid, while also tending to the needs of my son, is a feeling I never want to feel again. When I think about myself a year ago before I had my son, Aiden; my list priorities, and things I felt were important are so different than what, they are now. At first adjusting to the single mom life, was tough, I've realized that the more organized I am, the easier it is for me and him to succeed. I work full time, and I am continuing my path to get my bachelor degree, while also being the primary provider for my son. As I've been adjusting to our new lifestyle, I have noticed that the more organized I am, the easier it is to take care of both of us in an efficient way. I am a concierge at a hotel, so I don't make a lot. My son is 10 months, so he is still on formula, so that is the largest monthly expense for him currently. I also have a car note, tithes I pay to my church, and a small fee my mother charges for me to stay in her home. During my pregnancy I had a lot of complications, and could not work. My family was so supportive and helpful, and assisted me in providing for Aiden until I could recover and get a job. I am extremely determined to provide no matter what, and I feel as though I have more recently found the routine that works best for us. When I get paid I immediately put aside all my "have to" expenses, AKA car note, church tithes, and "rent" fees. After that I put aside money for formula, and Aiden's college fund. The money I have left over is my spending money, usually used on clothes for Aiden, wipes/diapers, and food for both of us. I usually also have some left over to do fun things like go out to eat, or get him toys/books. This works for us, and I enjoy going shopping with him every two weeks, and it feels good knowing that I'm making it work for us. I did have to drop out of school due to a separate problem, but I decided to go back because although our current set up has been working, I don't want us to just be getting by. I want to have money to have our own place, and not just any place, I want to live somewhere nice, with a great school system, and a safe neighborhood. Although Aiden will always be my baby, I know that one day, he will grow up and be a strong, black man, and I know that, it isn't the easiest role to be in. I want him to have advantages, and I want him to have the best start, all the love, and support, and finances he needs to succeed, in life, and although it will be on him to make good decisions in his life, it is on me to set him up with the resources to get him there. This is what motivates me to finish my degree, because I know that if I have a degree It will increase my marketability in my career, and I will be able to move up and start to have the life that I really want to give my son. He will also see his mom staying motivated and reaching her goals, which will show him that he can do it too. The most challenging part about being a single mom is the emotional part. Sometimes I do feel discouraged, or like I am behind because I see a lot of my friends, and people I was in school with on their path to graduate, and I am now behind. Sometimes it makes me feel like I'm failing, but someone told me that just because I had my son young doesn't mean I failed, or that I am behind. It just means that I took a different path, and there's nothing wrong with that. I now try my best to make the best of what I have, and proceed on the path I have been given rather than focusing on what could have happened. My son is the most happy, and energetic little boy, and the best part about being his mom is that I get a front row seat to his development, and growth. I find so much joy in the little things like watching him discover what peas taste like, or how to work a new toy, or hearing his uncontrollable laughter over a new noise. It is the most amazing thing to watch him find so much joy in everything he does. My favorite moments are when we come home on Friday's from a long day of running from store to store, and we just cuddle and watch Disney movies, until he falls asleep, and It just gives me the best feeling to know that he's happy and well taken care of. My goal is to be the manager at a luxury hotel, and to live in a really nice loft style apartment, with my son. I want to be able to pay for private schooling for him, introduce him to different extracurricular activities, and go on family trips. I am currently working in a hotel to gain experience for my career, and saving up to reach my apartment goals. I also would like to have more free time to volunteer, to help victims of sexual assault which is something important to me. If I get this scholarship it would be extremely helpful in paying the tuition, and take some stress off with my tuition payments, which would be an amazing feeling.