Yolanda Sears

Bachelor's in Business Administration — Hospitality Management
DeVry University

I am a 36-year-old mother of two with only a high school diploma. My family and I have lived in the projects since I moved out of my mother's house. We struggle to survive through all situations. The situations I am talking about are Christmas, buying school clothes and supplies, paying bills, eating and many more.

My children see how hard and how many long hours I work to take care of us. They realize it is hard for me, but they still don't understand why they have to suffer and do without things.

I talk to my oldest son about going to school so he don't have to work so hard and struggle all his life. He graduate this year and is not for sure about going to college. I pray every night that he makes the right choice. He has a part-time job and works hard. So I feel I contributed that quality in him. Hopefully now seeing me take classes will encourage him to take the next step.

My youngest son has started out doing great and working hard in school. He hates living in the projects and ask why he has to live here. I always say to him we will move when I can afford to.

I want to be a great role model for my family and to be able to give then a better life. If they see me go through school and provide a better life for us, maybe they will continue thier education so they can be better prepared for life.

If I get the education I need I can take better care of them and myself. I can buy us a home, and help them through school. There is a lot of opportunities out thier for us and I would love to have a chance to experience some of those opportunities and open more doors for my nine year old son.

I chose online classes so I could continue to work to support my family. The job I have now will not work around a school schedule so getting an education online allows me to work and take care of my family.

Now that I have made the choice to further my education, I feel better about myself. I feel like I have been set free to live. Hopefully after I receive this degree I can go on a little further in my education. Well my plans is to be all that I can be and get all that I can out of this life. I am still young, willing and able to achieve my goals and more.