Hi, my name is Vita Smith. I became a single mom at the young age of 18. So my life turned to the needs of my daughter. Cause me to put my dreams on hold. Turning to childcare because it was the only thing that allowed me to take my daughter with me to work and be able to still pay bills and provide for my daughter. While in childcare I became a single mom of 2 struggling to make ends meet. This caused my mental health to take a huge turn. Living paycheck to paycheck. I knew going to school wouldn’t be an option. I found myself dreaming of it looking up schools and taking tours. While struggling with my mental health and pushing for my daughter's mental health. To be anything other than how mine was growing up. I turned to the help of my Best Friend and Brother. For help and support something hard for me to do. I found a new job that allowed me the option to go back to school. I found a school that allowed me to still work my full-time job. And go to school after. I moved out of my duplex into a Camper with my sister in laws and brothers. To help me save on bills. So I could follow my dream. While having help with my children and saving on bills and everyday expenses. It has always been my dream to be a cosmetologist. I would practice on my Barbies as a kid. I would set up everything from a water bowl to wash the hair to markers to color the hair. Seeing how it makes guests feel when they get out of the chair. The confidence it gives the Guests. Being a Single mom has had a huge effect on my ability to follow my dreams. The cost of everyday living and the cost of the children’s needs. This scholarship benefits me by helping me pay off school to be able to graduate early. It has always been my dream to be a cosmetologist. I would practice on my Barbies as a kid. I would set up everything from a water bowl to wash the hair to markers to color the hair. Seeing how it makes guests feel when they get out of the chair. The confidence it gives the guests. Being a Single mom has had a huge effect on my ability to follow my dreams. The cost of everyday living and the cost of the children’s needs. This scholarship benefits me by helping me pay off school to be able to graduate early.

* I became a single mom at the young age of 18. So my life turned to the needs of my daughter. Cause me to put my dreams on hold. Turning to childcare because it was the only thing that allowed me to take my daughter with me to work and able to still pay bills and provide for my daughter. While in childcare I became a single mom of 2 struggling to make ends meet. This caused my mental health to take a huge turn. Living paycheck to paycheck. I knew going to school wouldn’t be an option. I found myself dreaming of it looking up schools and taking tours. While struggling with my mental health and pushing for my daughter's mental health. To be anything other than how mine was growing up. I turned to the help of my Best Friend and Brother. For help and support something hard for me to do. I found a new job that allowed me the option to go back to school. I found a school that allowed me to still work my full-time job. And go to school after. I moved out of my duplex into a Camper with my sister in laws and brothers. To help me save on bills. So I could follow my dream. While having help with my children and saving on bills and everyday expenses. It has always been my dream to be a cosmetologist. I would practice on my Barbies as a kid. I would set up everything from a water bowl to wash the hair to markers to color the hair. Seeing how it makes guests feel when they get out of the chair. The confidence it gives the Guests. Being a Single mom has had a huge effect on my ability to follow my dreams. The cost of everyday living and the cost of the children’s needs. This scholarship benefits me by helping me pay off school to be able to graduate early. It has always been my dream to be a cosmetologist. I would practice on my Barbies as a kid. I would set up everything from a water bowl to wash the hair to markers to color the hair. Seeing how it makes guests feel when they get out of the chair. The confidence it gives the guests. Being a Single mom has had a huge effect on my ability to follow my dreams. The cost of everyday living and the cost of the children’s needs. This scholarship benefits me by helping me pay off school to be able to graduate early. Putting me home more with my babies.

I am looking to pursue cosmetology. It has always been a dream of mine. As a little girl, I would play salon with my Barbie Dolls. I would set up little water bowls to wash the hair. I would use markers to give them any new fun color they wanted. I would pretend to be so happy with each Barbie Dolls' hair that I did. As I got older I moved to my friend's hair. Seeing the way it made them feel is what drives me to pursue my dream as a cosmetologist. To see the confidence boost it has on people has always been a goal of mine. To make people happy and feel amazing about themselves. I want to see the smile on their face when they get up from my chair. I dreamed I would go to school fresh out of high school. To begin my dream. Little did I know god had other plans for me. I became a single mom to my beautiful daughter at the young age of 18. I became the mom living paycheck to paycheck. Sometimes working two jobs just to make ends meet for her. I begin to struggle with my mental health. I knew that I would never be able to make my dream come true. At the young age of 26 became a single mom of two. This took an even bigger turn on my mental health. Struggling paycheck to paycheck barely making ends meet. My mental health took a huge hit. At the young of 28, I attempted to end my life. Thinking that I could never amount to anything in life and that my kids would be better off without me. I spent two weeks in the mental health hospital where I learned my story wasn't over! I learned that life is so much more than I was allowing it to be. I am currently fighting my daughter's mental health with her. I had to show her we can not let it win! The battle with my mental health, my children and my best friend inspired me to go after my dream. Aside from being my dream to open my salon after school. My dream goal would be to show my kids that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I want to show them that life can be hard at times but do not let it win. I want them to know that no matter how hard something is that it can be done all that has to be done is set your mind to it.