Karen Adams
Hello, my name is Karen Adams and I've been a life long resident of the state of Florida, a recent divorcée, and, now, a single mother.
I attended a Catholic grade school and high school in the Daytona Beach area where my father, who is very involved in mine and my sons' lives, has lived in the same area also all of his life. I went to college directly out of high school, but realized it wasnt right for me at the time. I was impatient to get out into the working world and make my own way, so after a semester, I dropped out and jumped right into the job force.
Within a few years I met my, now, ex-husband and we had our son in 1992. We married too young and grew apart as a couple. We separated in 2007 and found it necessary to sell the house we'd purchased only 7 years earlier and now my son and I have a rental house for MORE than my house payment was--explain that one to me! HA!
But all of that aside, I have been interested in returning to school for many years but saw it as an unattainable goal due to financial difficulties as well as time constraints from working full-time. I have many reasons for wanting to further my education but first and foremost would be to make a better life for my son (who is 15) and I right now.
I pride myself on being able to be independent, and, for the first time in my life, I AM independent and living on my own, doing well but barely making ends meet, knowing I CAN better myself through an education. My son has a promising career in baseball having played competitive, traveling baseball (AAU) and now being on the varsity team as a freshman in high school, and over the last 5 years or so, I(we) have(had) invested in all that hes needed to advance his skills as well as keeping him focused on his education; not an easy task with an active teenager!
As a single mother, holding down two jobs, which I have done for the last 6 years, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to help as much as I would like to; as I did being one half of a married, working couple could. The aspect of returning to school IS daunting and I'm apprehensive about it, but I feel that I'm ready now at this point in my life.
I need a better career. I NEED to be able to call myself something. I NEED to get out of the deadend-ness of regular, generic office work that will lead no where fast. I have been looking into a career in the medical field for some time now. It's definitely something that will always be there and need qualified, responsible people in it to keep it running smoothly by organized employees such as myself with an eye for detail and a willingness to do what it takes instead of saying it's not my job.
I love to do volunteer work for my sons school and booster club for the baseball team and contribute when ever possible. Given my work schedule, I am unable to do as much as I'd like and I miss games here and there. It breaks my heart at times to do so, but it's that time where I have to make the choice of paying bills and living or going to the game, so I skip the game and ask for every detail when I'm able to see him later. This is the way life is, and I understand it, I'm sure, now that he's older, he understands also. I mentioned to him about the possibility of me going back to school, he's happy for me. He also realizes that he will need to, and is ready to, help out more around the house.
I'd really like to make him as well as my parents proud of me so I can tell you that getting a degree will change my life for the better, I feel it. I would be able to work a normal schedule, making more money, allowing me to spend more time with my family, making me a very happy productive person indeed.
If I were to be picked to receive one of these scholarships for school, I can assure you that I will put forth my best effort in attaining the degree where, without the funding, it would most definitely not be possible. As it is, I will still be working the 6 days a week to keep all of my bills paid as well as keeping up with my school work.
Now, at 38, embarking on a new life, I have so much motivation to better myself and my way of life for both of us. Getting the scholarship will certainly lighten the mental load that will surely be put on me if I have to get a school loan that will have to be paid back, in some cases, as soon as you graduate. It would weigh heavily on my mind as I go through my classes, graduate, and then try to find a job prior to the payments starting.
I have always been a responsible and hard working person from the day I got my first job when I was about 17 or 18-years old. I am a strong believer in work first play later, I am always saying this to my son and I think he's finally getting the idea. I'd like to be an example to him by going for this. I want to be a person he can respect and look up to and be proud to talk about. I'm sure he is now, he's a great well-rounded, thoughtful child. As he completes his last 3 years of high school and entertains thoughts of college, I'd like to set an example to him, if I can do it, so can you! Quite possibly, this degree could be a stepping stone for me, pushing me to go even farther to attain a higher degree to progress myself in the field I choose.
Thank you, in advance, for your time and consideration and I hope that I have given you enough information about myself.