Official Project Working Mom Blog : American InterContinental University

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Amy Winter

Victoria — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:09:00 GMT

Amy Winter

Master of Business Administration (MBA) — Management
American InterContinental University (AIU)

He left three days after our second child was born to visit his mother in Brazil. He never came back. That was twelve years ago.

My whole life changed — drastically. But it was not over. I always had the dream of meeting "Mr. Right," getting married, having two wonderful children and making lots of money. I found out fast that dreams don't always happen like we think they will. There are many obstacles, challenges, and choices in the path towards fulfilling our dreams. After I came to the realization that my husband was not returning from Brazil, I changed my course in life. This was where my life began anew.

In my care and keep were my beautiful children, Michel and Aaron. Michel, at the time was four years old. An extremely active, developmentally and mentally challenged little girl with a beautiful smile and zest for life, she needed so much loving care and truly required 100 percent of my time. Aaron was a demanding infant; he wanted 100 percent also. After all, I was now the mother and father of the family. I had to do everything that a mother does as well as a father to make sure that my children had the best life possible.

Then there was the matter of working to support these babies; that was another 100 percent. So, I had to formulate a plan to include all 100 percent(s) into my life!

The most urgent concern was a job and day care. Although I was a graduate from Michigan State University, this wasn't the time for me to be selective. I needed a job. My "new career" began with a position as a photo manager with the Auto Trader magazine. The hours were decent; the pay was mediocre; but it was enough to pay the basic bills and a nice neighbor who cared for my children. Weekends and evenings were spent with special care, doctor's appointments and therapies for my special needs daughter, while giving my son the attention he demanded. What was it my dad taught me? Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Things were beginning to stabilize, but I realized I needed more family support. My immediate family members were all a thousand miles away. I searched for job openings in all the markets close to my sisters and parents. An entry-level position became available in the hometown of my parents and I jumped at the chance to move on and increase my salary. So, we packed up the van and headed to West Virginia driving twenty-two hours with two small children. Now I had great appreciation for the college degree that made it possible to reach higher and higher. The new company (a newspaper) paid my moving expenses and I was on the road to recovery.

After staying with parents for a month, I moved into a little apartment in the same town. Once again, I knew that I needed to push myself further because my children deserve the best life that I can give them. Besides, I am the type of person that always has to push further and further to persevere in life.

In time, I was offered a management job with another newspaper company and a chance to further myself in my career, while still being able to be there for my children. Being involved in every aspect of my children's lives, which includes school, therapies, activities, emotional support and my community are important. This job has been very demanding and has required several transfers and uprooting of my family. We have moved four times in the past nine years and each move has allowed me to advance one step more within the challenging corporate world of newspapers. It has been difficult on my children to move so much. But alas, as the world of newspapers gets more complicated and technologically savvy, I find that I must push that button once again and challenge myself or be left behind.

In today's world, one can't rely on their employer for job security. I have to put myself in the driver's seat and go forward. It is a challenging industry. It is not just print anymore. The newspaper business involves online, digital, podcasts, streaming, and every other technology imaginable. Newspapers are more efficient and technologically savvy and I must be efficient and learn the "new" ways. I must add to my skills or my job could disappear. New and better training and knowledge is a necessity, not just a quest for self fulfillment.

My other driving force is that my children are getting older and require even more time and resources. So after spending the past fifteen years devoting my entire life to my children and my job, it is evident that I must now set the goals much higher to include an advanced degree. Furthering my education would be an in-your-face lesson to my children that if you persevere through the hard times it will make a stronger person of you. I would be a role model of how additional education pays great dividends. I must take the time to make this happen.

I am the sole financial and physical care provider for my children, so the best possible solution to advancing my education would be to earn an online degree. Between the parenting and work commitments, the only time I have available to learn is at odd times of the day, and online would be perfect to allow me to still tend to my children, fulfill my work duties and learn, all at the same time.

People often ask me how I can be everything to everyone and I reply that it is what I do and I would not trade any experience, good or bad, that I have had on this wonderful journey of my life because it has made me the strong, independent single mother you see today.

It would be a blessing and a fantastic gift to have the financial support of Project Working Mom behind me. I have the drive to do it. (Remember, nothing is impossible).

Benjamin Franklin once said, "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." I'm ready to take that next step.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Rosalba Zesati

Victoria — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:08:00 GMT

Rosalba Zesati

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) — Healthcare Management
American InterContinental University (AIU)

My name is Rosalba Zesati and I am 33-years-old. I am a single working mother of a four-year-old little boy. It was never my dream or goal to be a single mother but unfortunate circumstances have put me in this situation which makes it so much harder to get ahead in life.

My son is the best thing that has ever happened to me but being a single mother means that I have to work double hard to set a good example and also to provide for my son. Education has always been important to me and now even more so because of this little piece of me that I so much adore.

I earned my Associate's Degree in Health Information Management in 2006 and I passed the Certified Coding Associate exam in August 2007. Still, it has been tough and I am not in the position that I would like to be. I work for Children's Hospital Los Angeles and my goal is to advance into a management position but a Bachelor's Degree is required regardless of your value, work ethics or experience.

It took me ten years to finish my Associate's Degree because I could only afford one class per semester and I have always had to work full-time, even when I didn't have my son. I intend to achieve my Bachelor's Degree no matter how long it takes me but my main setback lies in my financial status. Life is so expensive especially when you have kids. If it were up to me I would go to school full-time but I really cannot afford it.

I am currently enrolled in Business Law 1 at East Los Angeles College and my class is from 6:50 pm to 10:00 pm. It is hard because I have to leave my son with my mother while I'm in school and then by the time I pick him up and get him to bed it's about between 10:30 and 11:00 at night. Then I have to wake him at 6:30 in the morning to get him ready for day care and school. It is really hard on him too. I think the online education will not only ease this burden but will allow me to take more classes and achieve my goal quicker.

One of my counselors once said to me, "It doesn't matter where you start, but where you end up!" I know where I want to end up and this scholarship will help me get there sooner than later. No matter what, I'll get there.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Paula Pierce

Victoria — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:07:00 GMT

Paula Pierce

A Degree in Business Administration
Fulfilling the Dream of a Working Mom

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) — Management
American InterContinental University (AIU)

My interest in earning a college degree comes from my desire to broaden my knowledge base while providing more income for my family. A recent study from the U.S. Census Bureau reinforces the value of a college education: workers eighteen and over with a bachelor's degree earn an average of thirty-eight percent more than those with a high school. Getting a college degree is a career necessity in today's business world.

I grew up in a small, lower income neighborhood in Arkansas with my mother and brother. When I was five years old my parents divorced, leaving my mother to raise me and my older brother on her salary alone, which was not much at the time. My mother received her high school degree through the GED program when I was seven years old. I can remember being so proud of her and her accomplishment. She wanted only the very best for me and my brother and did everything she could to always take exceptionally great care of us.

I watched my mother struggle over the years with financial issues and saw how not having a college degree kept her from excelling in the work place. She would talk about being passed over for promotions because she did not have a college degree. Instead, a newly hired employee, with a degree, would receive the job as her supervisor and she would train them to do their job.

There have been many personal challenges and obstacles along the way. While attending high school it was always my dream to attend college and earn my degree in Business Administration with a minor in music education. I knew that I did not want to follow in the footsteps of my parents, without college degrees, and face the struggles they both faced in their careers. However, after graduation in 1982, I fell in love and chose another path to follow in my life. I married my high school sweetheart and worked diligently to help him obtain his goal of a college degree. After eighteen years of marriage and two children, my husband and I divorced and started our lives over again.

Due to financial constraints and taking care of my children, attending college became a mere dream that lingered in the back of my mind. I have never lost that burning desire to do everything possible to further my career and making my dreams come true. However, I had to face reality and put my dreams temporarily aside for the good of my family.

I am a very proud single mother of two amazing teenage children. Both of them aspire to attend college after high school graduation. The importance of a college degree is something I have emphasized to both of them since their first day of kindergarten. Without the proper education I know how difficult it is to maintain financial stability and prominence in our world. My prayer and hope for them is that they will obtain college degrees and never be passed over for a promotion just because they do not have a degree from an accredited college, something that has happened to me time and time again during my career.

After moving to Alabama four years ago, I was very fortunate to find employment as an Executive Administrative Assistant with a manufacturing plant that works primarily for the United States Military. Through the knowledge I have gained while employed in this industry I have excelled and have been promoted to my current position as a Business Analyst. Serving our country through the products my company produces, gives me a sense of well-being and accomplishment that I can make a difference and help to make our country as great as possible.

Obtaining a degree in Business Administration Management is important to me as an employee of a very prominent, successful and growing company. The advantage of having a degree, in my area of expertise, is a requirement for continued growth in my career path of choice. A degree in Business Management will help me to be a valuable asset to any team in which I aspire to work as a Project Manager. It will benefit me greatly in realizing my full potential in serving our country through facilitating the planning, scheduling and controlling of all activities that must be done to achieve project objectives, thus allowing a quality product to be delivered to the end user, our Armed Forces.

I am dedicated to put my energies into learning as much as possible and earning my degree in Business Administration Management through online training as well as continuing my hands-on training at work. After completing both the college educational requirements as well as the hands-on training, I will be equipped to pursue my goal and my career path as a Program Manager.

Online training will enable me to continue to work full-time and have the financial stability required for my family to survive. Online training also affords me the flexibility to enjoy my family in a relaxed atmosphere instead of having to rush off to a college campus several nights a week and then come home after everyone has gone to bed for the evening.

The management team I work for is very goal oriented and encourages continued education for all their employees. They encourage participants of online courses to work on their class studies during down time or will work diligently with employees to adjust their schedules and help their employees succeed.

I have shared my career goals and aspirations with my family and my companys management team. They have all pledged to do their part in helping me to fulfill the requirements needed to achieve my dream.

A truly successful company is only as successful as its top employees. I desire to be just that:one of the successful top employees. The best reason to go to college is to learn more about the world we live in and then to use that knowledge to make this a better world for generations to come.

One of the happiest days of my life will be when I can thank my family and friends for their encouragement and their support and present my diploma to show them that dreams really do come true, even for Working Moms.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Beatrice Rodriguez

Victoria — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:06:00 GMT

Beatrice E. Rodriguez

Associate of Arts in Business Administration (AABA)
American InterContinental University (AIU)

When I was told that I had to write an essay about myself, I panicked. I never had to sum myself up before. I wasn't sure were to start.

The first thing I would like people to know is that I had a great childhood. My parents overcame so many obstacles to raise us children the right way. My father came to Chelsea from Puerto Rico at the age of sixteen; he never attended a day of school in his life. He met my mother when she was twelve and they were married and had my brother by the time she turned thirteen.

I am the youngest of five children. I have three older brothers and one sister. My parents always worked very hard to make sure we always had what we needed; the things we wanted came if it was possible after the bills were paid. It's funny how people say that girls are attracted to men just like there father but I met the total opposite. The only thing I mimicked in my parents' lives was to become a young mother.

I found out I was pregnant at fifteen, I gave birth to my first daughter, Migdalia at sixteen. I thought I had the world everything was great in my life, I had a man that I thought was in love with me and I thought I was in love with him. I had my own apartment by seventeen, so I thought things were happening the way it was supposed to be. I was in the same relationship as my parents. I was in it forever. I had my family and nothing else mattered. Then I gave birth to my second daughter, Marissa at eighteen. I loved my baby girls so much; being a mother to them was the only thing that mattered to me.

I will never forget the first time I was struck by him. I was on my way out the door with my babies to visit my dad next door. He came home, he was always out and he never really came home till early morning. He told me I wasn't going to see my dad I was staying home with him. I told him I was going and he pulled his arm back and struck me right in my face. In complete shock, I picked up my kids and went to my dad's. When we got to my dad's house my daughter at the age of two told my father exactly what she saw, and I was taken to the police station to file my first of many restraining orders.

I know it might sound crazy to say first of many but that's what happens when your mind is completely taken over by someone else. Every time I promised my family and myself that I wasn't going back but for some reason I kept going back.

Back to a man that beat me on a regular basis, when I got the courage to leave him something pulled me back in. For the life of me I can't pinpoint exactly what it was. I could say fear had a lot to do with it or it could have been all those times he told me that I would never be anything in life but his girl and the mother of his kids. The one thing that I will never forget him telling me was that I was the mother of his kids and no man in his right mind would be with a woman that had four kids and a baby daddy like him.

I remember one time I tried to leave him and I went on a dinner date, he found out who the guy was and he fought him. I panicked and went back. I put up with his abuse for seven long years till one day I woke up saying to myself that I was taking care of the kids all by myself, paying all the bills and just realizing that he had nothing to do with my daily routine so if he was gone I wouldnt miss anything. That was the proudest day of my life.

I went through a little rough times after we broke up, I even got beat one more time but this time I didn't back down. I pressed charges and he had to take anger management classes. From that day on he took me serious and never put a hand on me again. Shortly after that he was convicted of dealing drugs and was sentenced to seven years and a day. Funny how he took seven years of my life away and then he does something that he loses seven years of his life.

During the time that he was on trial for his case, I was dealing with my mother being diagnosed with lung cancer, six weeks after her diagnosis she passed away. Not only did my kids lose their father to prison, they lost their other mother. My parents were a very strong influence in my children's lives. When he decided that he was no longer going to be there for his children my parents stepped up to help me.

Once again my parents were doing for me. My children took the loss of my mother very hard, she was the glue that held our family together and she was gone. My father got even closer to us after my mom passed, which helped out a great deal. I always worked and took care of my kids but it always made things easier to know that someone is there to hold me up if I start to fall.

With the kids growing up fast, my oldest daughter began going out and hanging with the wrong crowd, she was running away, messing up in school and then came the drinking and drugs. I was called into the hospital one night because the police found her down passed out drunk. I work at Boston Medical Center and when we are told a patient is down that is very bad. The call I got told me that she was found down.

At 2:00 in the morning I remember running to the hospital, I had my car but I couldn't picture myself driving in the condition I was in. When I got to the hospital she was so drunk she urinated on herself. I think that was her wake up call, she straightened her life out a lot. She is still making progress.

My daughters Marissa and Mirah are pretty good girls, typical teenage stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary. They both enjoy cheerleading and hanging out with friends. The cheerleading for them is a big commitment that they both saw to the end, Miriah's team made it to the nationals in Florida, her team took third place. They are pretty good students in school. My son, George is a good boy, he has some struggles in school but he has progress as long as I stay on him. He loves to play football and hang out with his friends.

My main concern in life is that I become a strong influence in life for my children. I want them to see me as a survivor and that no matter what life brings you, you deal with it and move on and grow from it. I have a saying, God only gives you what he thinks you can handle. God must see me with broad shoulders and a strong back, in October 2003, my father was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, he had surgery, which added a year to his life, but he lost the battle in December 2004.

There I was a single mother of four kids and no back up support. Nothing left in life but my children so I decided that in order for me to care for them I will have to further my education so that I can be their back up support the way my parents were for me. I have my siblings but they are involved with their family and their lives so I have to count on myself.

My education plan is to go to school part-time, two classes a semester and one in the summer. How long will it take me, I'm not sure but I plan to commit myself to it as much as I can. I want to own a home in the future, maybe buy a three family so I can have an investment. I don't want to struggle if I can help it. I know I can help it if I go to school and further my education so I can have a career that will help me support my family.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Laura Witten

Victoria — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:06:00 GMT

Laura Witten

Master of Business Administration (MBA) — Marketing
American InterContinental University (AIU)

It is important to me to continue my education by getting a MBA for several reasons to increase the success of our current business, to be a good example to my children, to stay a viable option in the job market in these troubled times, and to learn more about an area of business with which I have long been fascinated but have not had the opportunity to proceed forward. I cannot say that any one of these reasons alone is more important than the others, but together they are powerful motivators. The only thing holding me back right now is the costs of a quality online education. To travel an hour or more to get to a school that offers an MBA simply isn't practical with a full-time job and small children in the home.

The first reason it is important to me to get an additional degree is that my husband and I, along with his brother, own a small business with only six total employees. We are running our local and online businesses, and each of us have to fill many roles within the companies.

My husband, Aaron, is CEO, CFO, sales analyst and personnel manager for GameStation, as well as being a financial planner in the evenings to bring in additional income. I am errand-runner, bookeeper, and retail & marketing supervisor for GameStation, and would like to help plan more marketing for my husband's financial business. This is where more education would be extremely helpful—I have no prior experience in marketing other than what I have searched out and learned on my own, through reading and through trial and error.

We have a good business model, good products and excellent customer service, but have yet to have a truly successful long-running marketing plan. I believe if just one of the six of us can truly excel in marketing, there will be no stopping our small business. If we can succeed and expand, we will be able to offer more jobs to our small, rural Kentucky town.

Not only do I have a great desire to continue learning to help our own businesses, but to learn for its own sake and to set a good example for our children. I work full-time, but part of that work is done from home so I can spend time with the children in order to teach them the values and lessons that are important to me.

I am currently expecting our second child, and our first son, Luke, is now three years old. He attends preschool at a local Christian school for half a day, for which I am thankful. Luke is the highlight of my life making me laugh and cry, asking me to slow down and just enjoy living. He makes me want to make this world, this country, and my own little corner of the globe a better place. I believe the key to making positive changes is to keep learning, get involved in some capacity in all the areas that interest you, and just do it!

Aaron and I are both involved heavily in Lions Club International, with our local church, and with the non-profit organizations in our industry. I am involved in coordinating two Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) locally, one of which is for teens. We are also becoming more involved in the local political process in order to make more changes in the future. As you can see, we do more than complain about the problems our society is facing.

I did graduate (with honors) with an B.S. in Agriculture from Western Kentucky University after graduating in the top 5 percent of my high school class. While my formal education ended there, I have never stopped learning and don't intend to, even though I cannot currently afford a master's degree. I go to local classes when available, and am on several marketing newsletters from reputable Web sites. I go to trade shows within our industry and talk to others facing problems such as ours, and attend relevant seminars.

I believe with the knowledge that comes with earning a MBA in marketing under my belt, I will be able to make great strides in promoting our businesses and seriously benefit the company, and therefore our community, through creating new jobs. If we should ever sell our business, with this advanced degree I will more easily be able to get a job that will help support the family. I appreciate the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to make these things possible.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Denise Browning

Victoria — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:05:00 GMT

Denise Browning

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) — Management
American InterContinental University (AIU)

My name is Denise Browning. I am a working mother of two. My oldest is a senior in high school and my youngest is a freshman in high school. I went to an inner-city public high school where there was not a whole lot of family participation or encouragement.

I vowed that my husband and I would give our children the best possible education we could provide. We have struggled over the years to send them both to private schools. Tuition was hard to meet, but we vowed to do it no matter what. My son will begin college in the fall. He has been accepted to Thomas More College in Northern Kentucky. My daughter is an honors student who plans to attend Ohio State. In our home, there was never talk about if you go to college; the talk was WHEN you go to college. There is no option as far as I'm concerned.

In today's world, you have to have a degree if you want to succeed. I'm living proof of that. It doesn't matter, at least in my career, how great of a job you do, or how great of a job you could do. What matters is the degree you have earned.

I am proud to say that I was the first in my family to graduate high school. None of my grandparents, neither of my parents, nor any of my older brothers or sister graduated high school.

Life at home was not easy. I struggled daily to study my school work. My parents were both alcoholics. I believe they drank to relieve the stress of raising six children and the trials of having two sons in to drugs, alcohol and even crime. There were many arguments, fights, and battles in my home so some days my only escape was school. I was very proud the day I put on my white cap and gown and received my high school diploma.

During my junior and senior year in high school, my school offered several vocational programs. I chose Office Management Technology. This two-year program taught business math and English, shorthand, office machines, accounting, filing, etc. Towards the end of my senior year, my high school partnered with various businesses that offered co-op jobs for the students in these programs. I went on several interviews and was offered a position at the Greater Cincinnati Water Works. I was not very happy because some of the juniors were being offered positions at various places and the pay range was $5.50-$7.00/hour and the Water Works was only offering minimum wage, which in 1986 was $3.35/hour. I accepted the position, at the urging of my teacher, even though I was feeling a little put out by the small pay.

It's said, everything happens for a reason. Things just began to fall in to place. I believe my strong work ethic and my desire to do a job to the best of my ability has allowed me to get where I am today. Where I work is a Civil Service environment and in order to promote, you must meet the qualifications of the position you want. You then must take an exam. You are placed on a list, ranked by your score. Since 1986, I have promoted six times. I am now as far up the ladder as I can go due to my lack of a college education. This has truly been devastating.

In my previous position, my boss was being promoted to the next higher level. Each of us assistants were asked to confirm what our level of education was. I had to say "No College." Now understand, that I have been employed here twenty-two years, I have worked myself up through the ranks, so I have a considerable amount of knowledge. I was the training supervisor for our call center and I was a great fit. I was able to help so many employees throughout the day because of my experience.

Why I said earlier that it was devastating that I'm as far as I can go is because of this: The upper managers asked the four other assistants if they would be willing to, at least temporarily, fill in for our boss. They all declined the job is a high stress, fast-paced, position I told them I would do it. The employees, I won't say all, but most, wanted me to manage the section, but because of my lack of education, the answer was "You're not qualified."

I recently transferred out of that job to another division within the department. I honestly could not stand the thought of giving all I was giving to that job and having a manager come in our section that was qualified, but had never worked in our environment. He managed our field operations section.

Before I left that position, I spoke to my top manager. She asked me if I was sure I wanted to change divisions I explained to her that I told my boss I would be willing to take the position; she said she knew that. She thought I would have been able to handle the job; BUT said you're not qualified. WOW, that was devastating twenty-two years with a company, my accumulated years of knowledge, my excellent rapport with the reporting staff, my willingness to do the job (that no one qualified wanted) to be told You're not qualified OUCH.

In summary, I have about eight years to work here before I can retire with full benefits. You can retire after 30 years regardless of your age. I will still be a fairly young retiree I'll be 48, with hopefully lots of years to go. I would love to be able to sit for this job exam the next time; hopefully score as well as I did for my last exam I came out #9 citywide, but I was #1 in my department. There were 74 competitors citywide.

I never want to be told "You're not qualified" again.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Vivian Bradley

Victoria — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:04:00 GMT

Vivian Bradley

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice — Law Enforcement
American InterContinental University (AIU)

My name is Vivian Bradley. I have been a working mom every since I was a teenager.

I grew up in an alcoholic, verbal and a horrendous physical abusive home. Education was not important in my household, nor encouraged. I liked school; I attended everyday and did very well even though no one would have cared if I hadn't. I was fascinated with reading and used books as a temporary escape from the pain inflicted upon me daily.

I became pregnant as a teenager and escaped from the abuse of my family only to enter into an abusive and controlling relationship. Once again I was trapped and had no way out. I studied hard and completed my GED. This accomplishment made me the first female in my family for generations, to acquire a high school education. I am also the only child in my family who has not abused alcohol or drugs, and has not been in trouble with the law.

I am the single mother of six children. Throughout the years and births of my children I attended college off and on while always working full-time. I was originally working towards a BSW. I worked during the day then went to school at night. I had to give up school several times due to having to work, no babysitter and many other reasons beyond my control. I finally accumulated enough credits to receive an Associate's and several student loans of which I am still trying to repay, which is hard on me. I am repaying student loans and did not complete my schooling.

I have worked two and sometimes three jobs at once to take care of my children. I have no support from family. I do not have any friends because I don't do anything except work. I work double shifts most days and the rest of my time is spent with my children.

I try to instill in my children that without an education they will end up like me working their life away on some low paying job. I was married for a few years, living in a wonderful, quiet neighborhood in a beautiful home where my children were growing up. Two years ago my husband died. Five months ago I lost our home to foreclosure and now my children and I are living in a noisy, unsafe, slumlord house. I pay my rent on time (which is very high) but I cannot get a better house due to my credit report having the foreclosure on it. No one cares that I pay my rent, all they see is that I am a bad risk because I failed at keeping my home.

I cannot take the time to sit in a classroom nor do I have the money. I cannot go any further at my place of employment and I cannot get another job which would pay more. My original goal was to work in the criminal justice field. I would like to work as a Probation Officer.

If I am able to complete my degree I would be able to start to climb back up hill. I need to accomplish the goal of getting a Bachelor's degree. It will help to advance my career and to increase my income. It would also help me to think better about my self. Right now I am feeling like I have failed at everything that I have tried.

I feel as though I am going the wrong way on a dark one way street with no lights on. All the cars are headed my way and can't see me. It's just a matter of time before a head on collision occurs.

I have tried to live a decent and respectable life. I know I have made some choices that just did not turn out very well. I am a motivated person and have always prided myself on my strong will and determination. All of this has dwindled away. I cry every day because I am not able to provide for my children like I should be doing.

I see people who do nothing for themselves but they are rewarded with brand new houses, food stamps, free medical care and the list goes on. Something is backwards with society when we help those who don't try to help themselves. No one has ever given me anything and I have not expected them to. But sometimes a little assistance would be nice instead of hearing no all the time. I know if I give up and do nothing then I would get some help. But that is just not the message I want to send to my children.

Each time I think things cant get worse, they do. Last month on New Year's Eve, someone vandalized my car and broke the windshield. Because I didn't have a lot of money I found some repair guys to get me a windshield at a bargain price. I gave them the keys to the car to repair the car, like you would normally do. I also gave them the money. I have not heard anything from them since. No car back, no money. I was told by the police I could not file a stolen car report because I gave the car to them. So if I want to pursue anything further I would have to try to take them to court. That would be more money out of my pocket that I don't have. And they say crime doesn't pay. Of course it does. The law works fine for the criminal.

If I am awarded this scholarship I can complete my education. This will be something that I am in control of and my success will depend solely on me. Completing my degree online will not take anymore time away from my children. I can be at home with them and we could even do our homework together! I need to be able to complete my education and end this downward spiral. I want my children to be proud of me and to be proud of what I am doing.

I love my children more than anyone could ever imagine. But love does not buy food, love does not buy clothes and love does not pay a mortgage. Money does all of that and with no degree my earning potential doesn't do it either. It hurts me to not be able to take care of my children the way they need to be taken care of.

I have failed at completing my education. I have failed at obtaining a career. I have failed at maintaining a proper home. But the biggest and by far the worse failure of all, I have failed at being a mother.

Thank you for reading this essay and I thank you for your consideration.

Vivian Bradley

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Amy Chaney Wood

Victoria — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:02:00 GMT

Amy Chaney Wood

A Single Mothers Plea
An Essay

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) — Healthcare Management
American InterContinental University (AIU)

The mind is a terrible thing to waste! I have wanted to go back to school ever since my daughter was born, but money always stood in the way. Now that I am divorced and working every minute of the day to earn a living for my daughter and myself, it is now far more important to continue my education and find a better job that supports both of us.

It is so important to me to get my degree in Health Administration/Management. I have been working in the field for four years now without a degree. I am now being faced with the challenge of finding a new job since my current employer is retiring and has sold his practice. The new physician that has purchased the practice doesn't have the influx of patients or the type of patients that my previous employer had, therefore he will not be able to pay me at the salary I currently earn. I am essentially being laid off.

This appears to be the greatest opportunity for me to go back to school. Especially since all the job openings that are in my filed require a Bachelor's degree or higher. I have the experience, the knowledge and the skills, but I am lacking the required degree to continue working in my field. If I am to continue in my field it is necessary for me to go back to school.

Learning is a lifestyle for me. I have always enjoyed college. My friends and family keep telling me that I would be a professional student if I could afford it. Perhaps they are right. I am the one in the office that likes to learn all the latest technology and new rules and regulations. I love it! It's more like fun to me than actual work. My boss loved that I have such an enthusiasm for learning new things. It came in handy for his practice. He always brought new ideas to me to find information on. He looked to my opinion on whether or not a new thing was a worthy venture for his practice.

My lust for knowledge has paved many great roads for me, but without a degree my road dead-ends. Having a degree would enable me to continue in my field (Medical/Health Management). It would even open new doors for me in the field.

My father died of cancer when I was only 19-years-old. He wanted so badly to see me go to college. He died shortly after my first semester ended. It brought him a great deal of joy knowing that I was in college. He knew how much it meant to me. I think he would be very proud of how far I've come; that I am working hard to continue my education. After he died, money was very short. My mom already had one daughter away at college, and she had to find a way to keep in college too. She had to see to it that there was money to pay for three kids in college.

Now that I am a mom, I want to succeed so my daughter will learn success through hard work and determination by the example that I make. She thinks its really, really cool that mommy wants to go to school just like her. We share the same enthusiasm. She wants for us to do our homework together. I must admit that I would love that too.

Having my degree would greatly benefit me in continuing in my career path of Health Administration/Management. Achieving my goal of getting that degree via online is the only way to go for being a full-time mom first and foremost and a full-time worker. I cant think of a better way for me to go than with an online degree. Being awarded a scholarship to accomplish my goal of continuing my education would be like climbing the highest peak and taking the deepest breath of relief when I got to the top. It would certainly make achieving my goal much easier since single moms do not make very much money without a degree.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Sheena Payne

Victoria — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:01:00 GMT

Sheena Payne

Master of Information Technology
American InterContinental University (AIU)

When I'm asked to talk about my life — the things I could've done better, the missed opportunities, the wasted time I sometimes dont know where to start. But as they say, everything looks different in hindsight. As time has gone by, maturity has allowed me the chance to put my life and my true priorities into perspective.

To date, after six long years, I am still pursuing my bachelor's degree. In 2002, I entered Florida State University as a perpetual runaway from my life in New York City. Two months before I arrived at FSU, I attempted suicide. In moving away I was (I thought) successfully escaping my past failures, an extremely chaotic family life, and an emotionally-draining relationship with my mother (also a single mom). Moving away seemed to provide some safe-harbor my own little promise of peace. But soon after I started school, I found it appealing to join a sorority. It was not an organization that focused heavily on partying. Rather, it demanded a heavy workload of its members. Ten to twenty girls held an average of two officer positions each semester (in order to efficiently run a chapter, plan events, and stay ahead of the competition).

And so, with my newfound sense of freedom and inclination to be an activity-junkie, I averaged three positions a semester. By my second year at FSU, I was already on academic probation because of my plight to find fulfillment in the positions I'd taken on within (and outside of) my sorority.

I was everybody's secretary, and publicity chair, historian, artist, and event planner. But I was still no one to myself. Everyone needed me for something, and that felt good. But I wasnt in touch with my own needs, with what was important for me.

Throughout all of the mess I was making of my college career, I suffered from a depression brought on by self-pity and feelings of helplessness to change my situation. I found myself suicidal again and ironically enough, in a relationship with a man who was also suicidal. The pressure to take care of him, and meet the expectations of all the people and organizations that were depending on me was overwhelming.

Day to day, I walked blindly. I still had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I changed my major four times, and neither I nor my parents could understand what I was doing in college, other than investing in fruitless efforts and wasting their hard-earned money.

I had already been given a second chance by FSU's administration to get by without being dismissed from the university. But after two semesters, I again found myself in the hot seat. God saw it fit for me to meet an administrator within FSU's Withdrawal Services department. He listened to me with intent; he shared his own story of life's disappointments, and revealed that he was actually a reformed student kicked out of the same university that he now works for. He offered his guidance and encouragement. And in a year's time, I had gathered enough strength to deactivate from my sorority, resign from all the executive board positions that I had taken on, and focus solely on my schoolwork. I became a straight A student through the spring of 2008.

I met someone along the way that helped me make some hard decisions. He helped me focus on what was important. Settled into a relationship and handling my schoolwork, I was on my way to finally finishing up my degree.

That Valentine's Day, though, I received news that I was pregnant. I felt as if my whole world was literally going to fall apart. My parents were upset at me, my mother's side of the family harassed me constantly, and I struggled with extreme morning sickness for the greater part of that semester. I became engaged at the end of the semester, soon after my fiancé and I made plans to buy a house and get married, he decided that the pressures of having a family were too much for him to handle. We split up. I resigned from my job, and moved to Orlando.

That October, I had my daughter: Laila Kristin Francis. She is the one thing that I am sure of in my life the one thing that I have done right. Despite all the circumstances, I am truly grateful for her.

And so, all that brings me here: a single mom, still seeking her bachelor's degree.

About a year and a half ago, in a profound moment of peace, I decided to change my major to Religious Studies, in hopes that I could go into ministry part-time. But despite all our plans, only God knows where we will find our true purpose.

When I picked a Web Design How-To book in the beginning of this year, I had no idea of what was in store. I began teaching myself how to design Web sites, and it was like finding a love I never knew I had.

Since February, I have completed three sites, and I believe that this which I have stumbled upon is really where I am supposed to be In the long run, I would like to start my own design firm. Art has always been my natural talent; my first love. It has also been my most honest outlet for all that I have been through physically and emotionally in my life. It connects me to the real person inside free of the confusion, heartaches, disappointments, self-doubt, and anger that has overtaken me for so much of my life.

This is a huge step for me career-wise, and personally.

Relative to my career, getting a masters degree in Information Technology will provide a strong foundation for me as a professional Web designer. It will give me invaluable insight into design software, and allow me the opportunity to branch out into other aspects of computer-generated design. I can use this knowledge to become versed in the infrastructure of databases and information systems that many modern Web sites and e-commerce businesses use.

And apart from all the technical stuff, pursuing an Information Technology degree with American Intercontinental University will free me from the worry of pursuing my goals in the face of time poverty. The closest university to me is 45 minutes away. I can't afford to waste that amount of time (or money) commuting back and forth when I have a six-month-old at home who already has to share her time with my employer. And so, this novel idea of getting my master's degree online to help secure my and Lailas future is really a great fit, and a Godsend!

This online degree opens a door for me to:

(1) Be happy with the career path that I have chosen: Web and graphic design is something that is not only exciting to me, but it is an excellent use of the areas that I find myself to be most talented in.

(2) Be happy with the affect my career will have on the world around me: with a long background in non-profit organizations before my jobs in banking, I have become quite conscientious about how my professional efforts will affect the surrounding communities. I need to know that what I am doing is making a positive contribution to the world.

(3) Become self-employed and financially stable: I do not aspire to be a struggling single mom forever. And I also don't intend to depend on a future mate to secure my financial destiny. With that said, I need to make my own way in order to create a better life for my daughter.

(4) Work from home: My short-term goals include working from home, before the business can expand to a physical location. This is perfect for Laila's first couple of years, when spending a lot of time with her is vital to her development and security.

(5) Give my daughter hope: Hopefully, shell see that its possible to overcome lifes setbacks and disappointments, to truly find who you are, and still find the strength to make do something great with your life.

(6) Fulfilling my purpose: When I go to sleep at night, I'd like to know that I have done what I have been put on this earth to do. And with this opportunity taken hold of, I'll be well on my way. Ill be content in knowing that I am creating things of beauty, that I am finally sharing my talents with others, and most of all, that I am proud of what I do, because it will add to others lives in a world that often takes so much away.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Kristina Allen

Victoria — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Kristina Allen

Master of Business Administration (MBA) — Management
American InterContinental University (AIU)

I have faced many challenges during my 29 years of life. I have experienced great joy and great sorrow. My mom has been married many times, so growing up, instability seemed to be our family motto. I am the oldest of four children and a lot of responsibility was placed on me due to that natural endowment of age.

When I was young, between about the ages of two and eleven, the dad that we had at that time was abusive to all of us, including my mom. But that was all that I had known so to me, it was natural and the way of life. Then, when I was about thirteen, my mom married a different man and it seemed that we finally had a true place to call home and a true father figure to call dad. That was a great time in my life and I did a lot of growing up during that time.

My dad taught me how to drive, grounded me for wearing too much makeup, but during his lessons let me know that his love was unconditional. I was finally settled — that is until drugs took a hold of my dad. He died from a heroin overdose when I was seventeen.

Our family reeled from that tragedy, but the year prior when we were watching our dad fall prey to this drug and doing everything we could to help him from hiding the spoons that he used to cook his drugs, to admitting him into a rehab hospital twice, to striking out in anger to show him that we cared, hardened us and prepared us for what was to come.

After that, it seemed as though each of us needed to hit rock bottom before we could grow and become who we would become. My brother entered into a gang and lived the hard life. He experimented with drugs, was stabbed during a gang fight, and ultimately ended up doing some time in our state prison. My sister became angered and lashed out at everyone around her. She became promiscuous and also entered into the gang scene. Both my brother and my sister did time in both juvenile detentions as well as rehabs. My youngest brother was left to my care, because my mom had basically given up. I took my youngest brother under my wing and nurtured him the way he needed and deserved.

I graduated from high school, albeit an alternative school, and before I could go on to college, I became pregnant. My daughter's father was abusive, both mentally and physically. During my pregnancy, I endured many thrashings but stayed through all of them. I had decided that I would not do to my daughter what was done to me and my siblings. I would give my daughter a stable home with a mom and a dad that would remain constant.

I was so focused on this goal, I didn't take the time to step back and realize that I was in essence committing us to a life of abuse. When my daughter was born, an emergency C-section was necessary because her heart had stopped beating while still in my stomach.

I will never forget the feeling of having to leave my daughter in the hospital while I was sent home, of being told that I should have her blessed while still in the hospital because her prognosis was not good. Then ten days later she was able to hold her own temperature and re-learned how to eat. She finally got to come home! She was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy although it was never determined what factored into this occurring.

Her father and I lived together for the first couple years of her life. The beatings didn't stop but I still stayed. It took until the first time that my daughter saw me being hit by her father, when she was close to 2-years-old, that I realized what was happening. I was condemning my daughter to a life where she would grow up thinking this was okay.

I finally managed to get away from her father and my daughter and I moved in with my mom. Although the physical abuse was now gone, it took a lot of time to get over all of mental abuse that had occurred. Being told I was nobody, I wasn't smart enough to do anything with my life — I was destined to be nothing. I went through a hard time and bounced from job to job trying to support me and my daughter.

Then, although it took a while, I finally managed to see reality for what it was and realized that I would be nothing unless I became something. I settled down and come to the realization that I am a good person and that I do have a future. During this time, I met a wonderful man who helped me understand this about myself. We have since become a family and have two wonderful daughters. During my early years of settling into this family life, I found a job as a receptionist at a wonderful company. In the six years I have been there, I have since grown and become the vice president of this company.

My nine year old is my oldest and is the one afflicted with cerebral palsy. My youngest is six and is the greatest sister that I could have asked for my daughter. They are best friends. My oldest can now walk although she still uses a walker and she speaks but unless you've been around her a little while, it can be difficult understanding her.

I can remember looking out the window and seeing the kids trying to get onto the trampoline to play. My oldest, although tall for her age, lacks the stability to be able to climb like that. I see them looking around seeing if there is anything that they can use to climb onto and finally my youngest gets down on all fours and has my oldest use her as a stepstool to get up there. What a moment as a mother that was. I had taught my kids the importance of compassion and family.

But still this wasn't enough. When my daughters each started school, I stressed to them the importance of college and education. I want the best for my daughters and in our society it is through education that they will receive the respect and future that they each deserve. Yet, how could I preach college when I had never attended. That was going to change. I enrolled in our local community college and have been taking classes from there each semester trying to show my daughters that it can be done.

I have been taking the online courses that they offer, but I know that once I am finished with the basic generals, I will be required to attend an on-campus class. I need the flexibility to be able to attend online classes through the entire course of obtaining my degree. I work full-time, have two children and a husband (who also works full-time), and I support my mom who also lives with us at this time. She has been diagnosed with clinical depression so the battle is constant on keeping her looking toward a good future.

Between work, being a good wife, a good mother, and a good daughter, helping my kids with their homework, spending quality time with them, attending conferences, talent shows, volunteering in their school, going to therapy with my oldest (physical, speech and sometimes occupational), and being the glue of my family for my brothers and sister, I have limited time left. Also, I will not settle for just any grade. I push myself for the highest grade that I can achieve. I expect high grades from my children and need to set the example. Therefore, a good amount of time is spent on my classes and my homework. Online classes are really my only option if I am going to stick with it and pursue and obtain the degree that I desire.

I have a great career, yet still, although I have the title, I don't feel as though I have the education to support that title. Also, my children are by far the most important component of this equation. I need them to see that their mom did it, so they can too. It is only through education that I believe you can truly fulfill your potential therefore, in order to fulfill my personal potential I need to go to school and do well in school. The future is only as bright as you make it, and I expect a bright future for myself and my family and this will be achieved through striving for goals, reaching those goals, and then setting more goals to be striven towards.

I thank you for this opportunity and for listening to my life story.