Sarah Pierson
"Sarah, you are going to have to finance your own education." I can still see my father's face. The sadness in his eyes as the disappointment washed over my face. That I had forgotten such a crucial part of the college equation was devastating to me. The topic of paying for college had never come up, and I just assumed that my parents had been putting away some sort of money, as many of my classmates parents had. I do not want to have this conversation with my children. I think about getting my master's degree every day. Because every day I contemplate how I will provide for my two young children.
I am the oldest of five children who grew up in a working class family. I admired my father, who would work 12 hours a day at his father's awards shop, assembling trophies and plaques. I grew up in a poorer, inner city neighborhood where most people had a high school degree, at most. Very few had college degrees. I wanted better for myself. I would be the first in my family to get my college degree. My drive was enhanced by watching my parents struggle to make ends meet. My father dropped out of college when he was a sophomore, to assist his father's business when my grandfather became ill. My father never went back to pursue his dream of becoming a lawyer. He could have, as he is incredibly intelligent. My mother never even thought about college. She met my father after high school, got married, and started her own family. The thought of going to school never crossed her mind, as there were more important things on which to spend money. Although I admired my parents and their hard work, I wanted to have better.
When my classmates began to look at colleges, I eagerly joined them. I dreamed about moving away to Chicago or New York, studying hard, and getting a good job. My dream changed a bit the day that my father told me that there was no money for college. I was on my own.
I struggled to complete my degree from the very beginning. Mostly because I was working so much to pay for college, I didn't have time to devote to studying, and I found myself unprepared. I received my first "D" ever in my first semester, and I was embarrassed. I vowed to work harder. It wasn't that I was disinterested, I was just overextending myself. I loved learning, and would get so excited with each new class, as there was so much to learn. I tried to work jobs where I could study while I was working, so I could do better with my grades. The whole time, I dreamed about what was next, and what I would study for a master's degree. I could recognize, even then, that a bachelor's degree was only a first step.
Meanwhile, I had fallen into an emotionally abusive relationship. As my self-confidence slid, so did my grades. I started working more and pursuing my studies part-time in an effort to balance things out. I started working as a teacher assistant in an early childhood classroom. The pay was meager, but I loved kids, and I found working with kids with special needs incredibly rewarding. I quickly worked my way up the ladder, so to speak. I was a hard worker who was passionate about what I did, and it did not go unrecognized. I was promoted to a home visitor position, where I worked with a program that served children at risk for abuse and neglect. It wasn't long before I was coordinating the program, supervising the home visitors and the teachers that worked with these children. I loved the job and the families I was able to help, but something didn't feel quite right. While my promotions spoke greatly of the confidence that my supervisors had in me, I felt ill prepared. I wanted to do my best, and I often felt like I was swimming in an endless sea.
Although by now I had received my BA in child psychology and sociology of law, I knew that I needed to go back to school to get the tools I needed to make me a stronger supervisor. I had also discovered that the part of my job that I really enjoyed was the public health aspect of what I was doing, promoting healthy lifestyles for parents in order to better their children's lives. I was intrigued by the science and research of my field, and decided I wanted to go back and study public health. But again, the money would prove to be a barrier.
I was making very little money in my salaried position, despite my often 60-70 hours workweeks. I had now left my abusive boyfriend, and was in a healthy relationship with a man that is now my husband. We wanted to buy a house and start our lives, and we wouldn't be able to do it on my pay. I searched for a new job in the same field, only to be told that while impressive, my credentials were not sufficient. When I investigated, I found that the people that were awarded these positions had a master's degree at least, and sometimes even a doctorate. I was disappointed. I then decide to leave my job for a lucrative nanny position. I figured the job would last a year or so, I'd save enough money to buy a house, and then I could go back to school. I am still a nanny. I work part-time so that my husband and I can juggle childcare. We are making ends meet, as long as nothing happens. We have a house that is worth less than what we owe on it, thanks to the economic events of the last few years. Even before the economic downturn, I didn't have the money to go back to school.
With the economy in the state that it is, I can't justify taking on school loans at this time. My husband works in a field that even before the downturn, furlough was something that was always on the horizon. It is a word that is now used almost daily in my house. I know that my time as a nanny is limited, as the children that I work with are getting older. To find another position with equal pay would be difficult, as I have been with this family for four years. If my husband were to be furloughed, we would be left without health benefits, as this is not something that is available to me in my current job.
I want better for myself, my children, and my husband. I want to be able to provide for my children without worrying about what happens next. Above all, I want my children to look up to me and see that I have been successful, and dream of the same for themselves. I want to make a difference in the lives of people, especially parents of young children. I want to have a positive impact on my community. I want to make sure that people have the information that they need to live healthy, productive lives. That is why I am so excited to learn about Project Working Mom. If I am awarded a scholarship, I could go back to school for my master's degree in public health, which would give me not only the chance to broaden my knowledge base, but to also qualify me for a job that would help me to meet my goal of making a difference in my community.
I took multiple classes online and through independent study at the end of my bachelor's degree, and it was such a great fit for me. I was able to continue working, which was a necessity, and could complete my class work when it was convenient for me. I was also able to use precious time to study, instead of commuting. As a mother with two young children, an online degree is even more appealing now. The cost of childcare while I would commute and attend class adds to the financial barrier that already exists. I will also be able to preserve precious time that is spent with my children, helping them grow into amazing individuals. Thank you for the opportunity to further my educational, family, and career goals. What a blessing it would be to me and my family if I am able to obtain my master's degree in public health through a scholarship with Project Working Mom.
Sarah Pierson