Sonja Nelson
Project Working Mom Scholarship Essay
Growing up my family had many hopes and dreams for my future. During my junior year in high school, the day after Thanksgiving, I told my mother that I was six months pregnant. Of all the many things that I should have been afraid of, I was frightened most by what I saw in my mother's face. If hope had a color, it disappeared from my mothers eyes at that very moment. To her, I just said that I have thrown away all of the possibilities I had in life to become a single parent. Telling my mother that she was about to become a grandmother should have been one of the most exciting moments in her life, in actuality it turned into one of the most depressive moments in mine.
It wasn't until I started telling others about me being pregnant that I saw the same hopelessness and fear that my mother had. That was when I was hit with the statistics. When everyone, even the ones that tried to be motivational, started sharing with me the statistics of my situation, I was in a state of shock. It was highly unlikely that I graduate from high school, the odds of me getting a college degree was even less, a doctorate for a single parent seemed nothing less that a miracle. All the same I was destined to get that sense of hope back for my mother. I had to get a college degree, any degree.
After working a couple of decent jobs, I realized that as time was passing, I had yet earned a college degree. I was in danger of becoming another statistic! I then signed up to attend DeVry University. My mother always wanted an accounting degree herself, so for her I signed up for the Accounting Information Systems bachelor's degree program. DeVry was the college away experience I never thought I would have, all while still staying close to home. I had moved out of my parents' house into an apartment nearby and on my first day of school (also Jasmine's fourth birthday), I started a great job with Nationwide Insurance.
I loved going to school. Everyday there was a professor telling me what great things I could accomplish, how much money I could make with my degree, the multitude of career choices I would have. I almost wanted to remind them of all the statistics that spoke the opposite, but since it appeared they didn't already know I sure didn't want to be the one to tell them and then get that I'm sorry look. Instead DeVry was the first to show me that there were courses that supported my lifestyle. I wanted to take advantage of working full-time and still attending classes and my academic advisor introduced me to the world of online courses. Courses that I could take at home while cooking dinner, while watching my daughter play, while on vacation, anywhere and anytime. Between having such flexible supportive managers at work and professors at school, I took class after class and eventually earned my bachelor's degree. The degree was easier to obtain than my independence.
I had been on welfare assistance since my daughter was only weeks old. First it was just the health insurance. Then as I got out on my own it was full blown assistance; health insurance, day care, food stamps, and housing. Each time I stepped into the welfare office and began my plea for help I left a little bit of my pride. It was the most humiliating experience of my life. To not appear as the stereotypical welfare recipient, I made sure to arrive on time for all my appointments. I would bring my school materials in an attempt to show others that I was not stupid. I would always dress up as if I had an interview; even though that was the only place I had to go. Eventually I was blessed with being over income for all available assistance. I had no idea how I was going to cover our expenses but I was proud not to fit within the poverty lines. Although I knew I was ineligible for any programs, I still attended my last meeting. The over income paperwork was truly my declaration of independence. Combined with my bachelor's degree, I knocked out two statistics. I was on a role.
To take advantage of DeVry's high graduation rate, they partnered with Keller Graduate School of Management to offer master degree programs and certifications. Many of my classes were transferable which meant that I could obtain my MBA even faster. By now I had received a couple of promotions at work so time was a great concern. As if Keller was reading my mind, they offered online courses and classroom courses that were offered one night a week at 6:00 pm. It all seemed to just work out. I earned my MBA with a human resources concentration while continuing to work full-time. I owe it all to the Lord and my family because they are who kept me sane. While taking one of my last set of classes I feel in love with my now fiancée, Rhashad, and had my second child. Juggling two kids, wife duties, and a full-time job was (and still is) crazy and I would not have been able to even dream of continuing my education without the ability to take my courses online.
Through the challenges that life has presented to me, I recently have been blessed to discover my passion. My next career goal is to start a not-for profit organization that will focus on welfare reform. Upon obtaining my doctorate in Learning Management of the Applied Management and Decision Sciences program at Walden University, I will gain the skill set to create welfare development opportunities that specifically relates to an individuals educational and personal background and provide solutions that address their immediate and future needs. These programs will significantly vary from the one-size-fits-all approach that is currently being utilized, by discovering how the client effectively learns behaviors and matching him or her to a program that operates under that particular method.
I am well on my way to achieving this dream of mine. Last year I joined Project Mentor which unites eighth graders throughout the struggling Columbus school district with a mentor to provide guidance through high school graduation. The ultimate goal for this program is to increase the Columbus school district graduation rate to 90 percent by the year 2012. In March, I was accepted into the 17th cycle of United Way's Project Diversity, a leadership building program designed to prepare minorities for service on not-for-profit board or other types of volunteer leadership positions. With this wonderful opportunity I will gain valuable insight on how not-for-profit organizations are ran and how I can participate in my community as a board member.
With my hopes of soon being able to participate on volunteer boards, being a mentor, working full-time, and let's not forget my daily motherhood adventures as my children are now three and thirteen, Walden University's online doctoral program fits perfectly in my attempt to create work-life balance. I am very excited about beginning my course work with Walden. Continuing my education is essential in me being able to follow through with my passion, to personally continue to be an exception to those dreadful statistics, and hopefully to help change them overall.