Official Project Working Mom Blog : Virginia College Online

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Earla Transue

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:06:00 GMT

Earla Transue

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Virginia College Online

I have always had a great desire for learning despite growing up in a working class family with parents who had no regard for education. That mindset influenced my thinking also. I was told, however subliminally, that I was not college material—that was for people of a different, better class. And I bought into it.

I dropped out of school in my junior year of high school. My grades were good and I liked school but my mother needed care and I was the chosen one to do the caring. I married young and had three children but my desire to learn never left me. To this day I get excited over new discoveries of knowledge from diverse subjects. That is to say "new" to me, not necessarily the world in general.

By the time I was twenty-eight years old I could no longer ignore my need to improve myself. I got my GED in Joliet, Illinois and, to my amazement, my five scores ranged from the 86th to the 97th percentile rank in the U.S. It was at that moment that I began to realize that I did not have much in common with Dorothy's tin man after all. I continued on to college for about one and a half years with a cumulative 3.72 GPA. I recall plunking away on my old manual typewriter doing a term paper while my little energetic son climbed all over my back. I was in college, learning and doing a great job of it! I loved it! However, once again, a family member needed care and so I was the one to do the caregiving. I dropped out of college thinking I would go back within a short period of time. But that was not to be.

One disaster after another plagued my family. My husband nearly died from a misdiagnosed ruptured appendix. He then had a serious lawn mower accident. My oldest son (as a pedestrian) was hit by a car and seriously injured. Shortly after his long recovery he had an accident while driving his truck. His fifteen-year-old passenger was killed and my son was charged with vehicular homicide. That sad day haunted our family for a very long time. In the interim my daughter's bouts with ill health began to escalate. Many visits through the years to numerous doctors during her childhood yielded minimal results. Also, during that time period, my oldest son was diagnosed with schizophrenia; my other son, who was blessed with a sound mind, graduated from high school; I divorced and remarried several years later and gained not only a new husband but a stepdaughter also.

My daughter increasingly reminded me of my mother. Approximately nine years ago, when she was in her twenties, she was finally properly diagnosed with bipolar disorder. A number of things began to fall into place as to why my mother behaved the way she did. After all, little was known about mental illness back when I was a kid. I so wish I could say my son and daughter took their meds, accepted therapy and we all lived happily ever after but that was not to be—at least not up to the present time. Years of turmoil, on and off estrangement, emotional distress and near financial ruin passed and I finally had a revelation. I can't fix it! Now there was a learning experience of a lifetime!

Once I learned "I-can't-fix-it" I started picking up my personal shards to begin my mending. Years ago I awakened to a small poem I literally dreamed up which ultimately became my small spark of fame. The poem never left my heart. Moreover, it has morphed into a gauge for my progression in my life.

SURVIVAL? They say survival is where it's at
But I suspect that's just the beginning
Since surviving with nothing intact
Is the worst form of extinction.

I shared it with a psychologist I met and subsequently signed a release so he could include it in a book he was writing. I also entered it into a poetry contest and won the privilege of having it published. That, however, came down to a money thing. "Have your poem engraved on this plaque for only…" etc. But I am still mindful that it was indeed published and only about a hundred were selected out of what surely was thousands.

I believe that age is a state of mind rather than body and I am reasonably certain that I am years older than most, if not all, of your applicants for this scholarship. I am most definitely a so-called late bloomer probably because of my life's circumstances. But, regardless, I liken myself to a moonflower. A moonflower remains dormant during the day but opens quickly in the evening for all who so choose to see its glorious, fragrant bloom. It grows tall and would be patient and accepting of its lot in creation if flowers were so inclined.

Throughout the years I always had to work to help with the finances. I say "work" because the only employment that came close to a career with good pay, benefits and satisfaction was my eighteen years with the U.S. Post Office. Before that I drove truck, kept books, waited tables, cooked and basically did what I had to do to juggle my finances and still be there for my family. Presently, my husband, Bob, and I operate two very small businesses to supplement our retirement income. This is absolutely necessary because of the debt I incurred trying to help my daughter and now raising our sixteen-year old grandson, Gabriel. Gabriel is my daughter's child. Gaining custody of him was perhaps the hardest decision I have ever made but I know it was the right thing to do. His progress and happiness is evidence of that.

I would like to continue my education for several reasons:

To be able to have a career that is edifying and pays well.
To finish what I started years ago and
To learn.

An online curriculum is ideal for me because I have discovered that my plans have one common denominator. They are subject to change. I'm okay with that. After all, I have made it this far with all of the life changes I have had to make. I juggle life very well and have self-motivation conjoined with a can-do attitude. I am a night owl in some respects and, just as I am doing writing the original draft of this letter, I do a lot of my work late at night when the house is quiet.

Thank you for this opportunity and the time you have taken to consider me for a scholarship.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Jhonny Serrano

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:05:00 GMT

Jhonny Serrano

Bachelor of Science - Management Information Systems
Virginia College Online

Getting a bachelor degree is one of the most wanted goals for everyone but a highly important effort for those who, by being parents, have to deal with their busy schedule to accomplish it. Since I got married, I have to put off my studies in order to work a second job just to be able to make enough money to meet our budget. I may have to say I wasn't financially ready for that big step.

My wife was an International student and for legal reason she had priority to continue in school no matter what. We were so busy with our schedule that we could barely see each other during the week. I was busy working throughout the day and some evenings/weekends; she was also at school during evenings and study over the weekend. It was too hard during that time. Six months later we found out my wife was expecting a baby… Woo! They were amazing news even though we didn't look for one yet. At this point things got harder!

We were lucky that my wife had our baby while she was doing her OPT (Optional Practical Training), so she didn't have to skip classes. I have always wanted to be able to study and continue my careers goals but I at this point, I was the only one working and taking care of our financial responsibilities. I was just sleeping 4 to 5 hours every day and it last for almost 2 years until I was able to get a new job. Now being a Dad of a beautiful daughter made stronger to continue working hard but it also raises another question: How am I going to be able to accomplish our family goals and the need to get back to school…? New family members always come with blessings.

I'm now a Help Desk administrator for a nonprofit organization that helps build democracy in other countries. I have forced myself to self-study through books, finding free online training for subjects related to my career and has helped me a lot. I can spend more time researching on the internet and it has been amazing all the things that I have learned great tools! I have also received training through my job which has been very helpful but no enough as if I could have been accomplished my desired dream of "Being a professional parent" so when my children find out everything we went through and did for ourselves and for them as well, they can follow our model.

Now I'm here writing these words to you, who can possible make parents like me to accomplish what they have always desired: Get their careers completed. I know one day will come and I will be there, lifting my diploma, just as I dreamed. Saying that everything can be possible if, just believe it.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Connie Keeling

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:04:00 GMT

Connie Keeling

Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Virginia College Online

My name is Connie Keeling, I am 45 years old. I have 9-year-old twin boys and an 18-year-old boy still in high school. I am and have been a single mom for 18 years. It is hard to juggle work, school and motherhood, but it is worth it.

When I was pregnant with the twins I went to a junior college and got my Associate's Degree, I also got $30,000.00 in student loans which I am currently trying to pay back. But I got my Associate's in Criminal Justice and I am now a Deputy Sheriff in Montgomery County, TN. I work third shift in order to take care of my children.

I have been checking into going back to school to get my bachelor's since I am so good with kids and love them so much I want to be a School Resource Officer. I need to have a B.A.S. for that and if I had it I could do a lateral transfer since I am already a commissioned officer for Montgomery Co. Since I have worked for the sheriff department several S.R.O positions have opened. I am very qualified for that position but I don't have enough education to meet the standard.

Since I am already paying student loans and I have three children to take care of, going back to school is not in the budget for us. A scholarship and online classes would be the answer to mine and my children's dreams. And would get me off of third shift witch would create a better quality of life for me and my children.

Thank you for your consideration,

Connie

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Lawanda Watson

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:03:00 GMT

Lawanda Watson

Master of Science - Criminal Justice
Virginia College Online

As a single mother with two children, a 14-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter, I always stress to my children how important getting a good education is. There are many benefits to attaining the highest education possible.

I was pregnant with my son who is now a teenager, when I graduated from college with my Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration/Accounting in May 1994. I had so many obstacles that I had to overcome throughout my life and particularly during my college career that almost kept me from succeeding, but I continued to persevere despite the many setbacks. My junior year I almost lost my life to complications from Sickle Cell Disease which led me to a month long hospital stay, of which 11 days where spent in an intensive care unit on a ventilator; however, by the grace of God I survived that ordeal and soon thereafter became pregnant with my son, who I called my lifesaver.

I returned to school however, against my doctor's strict advisement, I was advised that I could only take no more than 2 classes per semester, which would extend my graduation date out another year. Needless to say, I took that route only to be hit with another obstacle in my last year wher I learned my father, and best friend, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given 6 months at the most to live. My dad lost the battle to cancer 3 weeks before I graduated from college which devastated me beyond words; however, because I was 5 months pregnant with my son I continued to press my way on and graduated despite the fact that I could barely walk due to what I later found out was another complication from my Sickle Cell Disease, which ended me up having to walk with a 3 prong cane, while 5 months pregnant in the heat of one of the hottest summers ever.

After I gave birth to my son in August of 1994, I was diagnosed with avascular necrosis of my right hip, which was causing the unbearable pain I began to experience in my last trimester of my pregnancy. Needless to say the deterioration of my hip was so severe that the only option I ws given at the time was a total hip replacement of my right hip. At the age of 23 and 3 months after I had given birth to my first child I had to have a surgery that was very rare for someone my age. After the surgery the long recovery period of atleast 12 weeks was an exteremely hard task to handle with a newborn baby to take care as well. I am thankful that I did have the support of my mother and family to lean on doing the process.

These are just a few of the struggles that I have had to endure and overcome in the 14 years of motherhood and 37 years of living. I did not have the help of a partner to assist me in the role of parenthood, because my son's father was incarcerated for the majority of my son's 14 years on this earth and he is till incarcerated to this day which has devastated my son in ways that I never imagined. I don't regret any of the sacrifices that I made for my children and I am grateful for every day that I wake up and want to be able to give someone else hope if I can. The one thing that I always continued to be hopeful about was that one day I would be able to continue to pursue my higher education by attaining my Masters's Degree. Now that I have a 5 year old daughter as well who looks up to me and thinks that I can do anything, the one thing that I want to do for myself is to go back to school to pursue my Master's so that I can show my children that nothing is impossible as long as you continue to persevere.

I am no stranger to adversity and I can't even begin to tell you everything else that I have endured in life because it's just not enough time. The one thing I am thankful for in life is my children and I want to make a better life for them and myself because I want them to know that giving up is not and option. Having a B.S. in Bus Adm/Accounting is a plus and the fact that I have over 12 years of experience in the Acounting field, I still have a desire to go higher. Over the years I have justified many reasons as to why I couldn't go back to school and attaining that goal such as time, money and my daily responsibilities that go along with being a full time mom, while working full time and coping over the years with the medical challenges that I have also had to face. One of my passions in life is to help hurting people to achieve their dreams. I want our youth to know that there are opportunities out there for them that don't include incarceration or death.

I want that single mother out there to know that she can overcome any obstacle despite the challenges that may come . My desire is to help strengthen families and the community particularly those who may have encountered trouble along the way and ended up on the wrong side of the criminal justice system. I want them to know that there is help out there and to make the right choices so that they don't have to end up on the wrong side of the law. However, if they do end up on the wrong path for whatever reason I want them to know there is hope and help out there for a brighter future if they just reach for it. That is why I have chosen to pursue my Master's in Criminal Justice, so that I can hopefully be that beacon of light to a lost and hurting generation.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Rondeanda Williams

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:02:00 GMT

Rondeanda Williams

Associate of Science - Healthcare Reimbursement
Virginia College Online

I am a 24-year-old single mom with a 7-year-old daughter. I have been working so hard to provide all that I can for my daughter since I was 16. I had my daughter at the age of 16 in the 11^th grade. I did not let having a baby stop me for getting my education.

I finished high school while working full-time at McDonald's with a GPA of 3.0 with Honors.

I was depending on a scholarship in track to help me pay for college, but my bundle of joy came when I wasn't prepared for the responsibility. Even though I didn't get the scholarship, I still tried to further my education.

I enrolled in a Voc Tech school and received a certificate in Medical Billing and Coding. I attended school in the morning and still worked full-time at McDonald's. I felt once I finish my internship I would be able to start a real career. But, once again something uncontrollable happened. Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Everything I had worked for was destroyed.

I had to pack all that I had left and relocate to Houston. It was hard for me to get on my feet. I was unemployed for about a year and tried to get a job in the field that I went to school for but was turned down because I did not have enough experience. I have to admit that I did get discouraged, but I did not give up. I enrolled into a continuing education program at a local community college and received a certification in Health Information. That was really hard because I really did not have anyone to watch my daughter in Houston. I worked out deals with daycare for my daughter in order to finish the program. Right now I work at a home health agency. I am grateful for my job but I feel like I can do better.

I am still struggling working paycheck to paycheck with no savings. I believe that I am a great candidate for this scholarship because through all my struggles I have not given up. I am determined, focused and dedicated. What I hope that my daughter will see is that I did not let having a child at a early age stop me from following my dreams.

Going back to school is my only option to get where I want to be in life. Going back to school and getting the proper eduction will allow me to save and get a chance to own my first home. This time in school will be different because I will not just have a certification but a degree. And with a degree no one can take that away from me. Kowing what I want out of life and where I want to be in life drives me to keep going. Taking these online class will help me get there the right way.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Shonda Peeples

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:01:00 GMT

Shonda Peeples

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Virginia College Online

Going to college had always been a dream of mine. I am the youngest of 10 children. Being the baby girl after 9 boys was difficult.

My mother and brothers did not allow me any freedom. So when I graduated from high school and went to college, I became "buck wild." I attended parties instead of studying and then I became more interested in boys. Needless to say, I became pregnant with my oldest daughter and had to drop out of college. I married my daughter's father. We were married for 12 years and we had another daughter together. My husband and I separated when we gained custody of my nephew's daughter after his death.

With 3 young girls to raise,my dream of returning to school was very slim. I work full-time and try to attend the sporting events that they are involved in. This is very hard but I want them to participate in sports because I never had the opportunity when I was their age because my mother had to work 2 and 3 jobs to put food on the table for the 10 children that she raised by herself. I never realized what she meant when she would say "Wait until you have kids. You will see that it is not easy," or "Finish school before you start a family because kids are expensive." Thinking back, I wish I would have listen to her.

I preach everyday to my sixteen-year-old daughter and niece about staying in school and boys. I just hope and pray that they finish high school and college before starting a family. I placed my children and my elderly parents before my education. My father made me promise him before he passed away that I would return to school. I am keeping that promise, I will start this month at Virginia College in Huntsville, AL.

I will have to take out a loan or only take a class here and there because I do not have the money. My daughters have placed themselves on a budget and only ask for money when necessary because they want me to go to school.

I do not know how long it will take me to finish but I WILL finish! This scholarship would help me keep my promise and to achieve my goal.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Karissa Lloyd

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Karissa Lloyd

Associate of Science - Human Resource Management
Virginia College Online

My name is Karissa Lloyd, I am a working parent of 4 children. I attended public schools in Richland County and graduated 96^th in my class from Lower Richland High School in 1993 a class of 406. After graduating high school I attended South Carolina State University but only for a short period when I had my children, who arethe joys of my life. I never could follow my dreams of finishing school because I was a single abused parent of 2 children. I hasve lived in a family (SISTERCARE), which changed my life and got me back on track. I finally had a chance to start my life over but only depressed and in a financial rut.

On February 12, 2005, I married my long time friend on my birthday. I was glad to start over with a new husband and new situations ahead of me. I was dealing with a past of domestic violence but needed to continue my goal of going to school. I have attended Baker College On line but was not able to finish because of health issues and needed surgery. At the end of the semester I was bed ridden could not take my exams and lost my financial aid.

My life has been a journey of joy, laughter, disaster and destruction. I believe with hope and opportunity I can accomplish anything. What makes thing so different now is because I finally get a second chance at life.

I love my children and they deserve better from me. I have come so far and my children have been their every step of the way. My career goal is to become a Human Resource Manager because I love to help people experience their goals. I have worked in human resources as a file clerk and a payroll administrator but I could not go any further because I was not qualified educational. I realized my dreams while working in this field.

I have obstacle in my past but not in my way. I will and I can do anything because of my passion and my hope of change. Education will help me go above and beyond what I can ever expect. I have dreamed of finishing school which will help me in my path of success. An online education will allow me to be a full-time parent and a full-time student at the same time. It is right for me because it allows me the benefit of continuing to work and take care of my family.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Heather Herrera

Victoria — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:08:00 GMT

Heather Herrera

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Virginia College Online

As a young child, I always knew I wanted to go to college. My parents did not even graduate from high school. My dad was 19 years old and my mom was 16 years old when I was born. Growing up, I saw how hard it was for them to make ends meet. I remember when I first found out what a "bounced check" was and I always thought it was kind of cool when our electricity would go out and we would use candles for light. As a child, I didn't not associate this with my parents' lack of education.

Over the years, I saw my dad go from job to job never being satisfied. Fortunately, my mom got a decent job at a car dealership where she worked for 15 years until she got laid off. Even now, she has trouble getting another job because of her lack in education. Both of my parents will never be able to retire. They have no savings for retirement. Needless to say, they had no savings for my college education when the time was approaching.

My senior year of high school, I started looking into scholarships. I really did not know the process and I didn't have much help. Then in February of my senior year I found out that I was pregnant. To make a long story short, I got married to my high school sweetheart, had a beautiful daughter, and graduated all in the same year (1995). College got put on hold. When my daughter was 1 year old, I enrolled in a local community college and signed up for 2 classes. I figured I would sign up for the classes I had the most trouble in high school, math and history, to get them out of the way. I passed my history class with a B. The math did not go so well. I took a self-paced class thinking it would all come back to me. I did fine until the math started getting in to calculus. I was never even exposed to calculus in high school. I got frustrated and quit college. I wanted to be home with my new husband and my baby.

Fast forward 13 years later. I am still happily married to my high school sweetheart and my daughter is a level-headed 13 year old straight-A student in gifted and talented classes. She already has her sights set on colleges. We now also have another beatiful daughter who just started kindergarten at the top of her class. I am very blessed to have such a wonderful family. I spent 12 years working in chilcare part time so I could be available for my children.

In 2007, an old friend of mine, offered me a job at his telecommunications company. It is a contracting firm that works on contracts from companies like AT&T and T-Mobile. I was hired as a contractor. Every time my contract would end, I would be off work for a couple of months without pay until a new contract would come along. It is hard to pay for daycare and keep things consistant for my children when I have to go a coulple of months without pay. I have searched telecommunications jobs in my area of expertise, and they all require a bachelor degree or at least 5 years of experience.

So now I find myself in the same predicament as my parents. I have been meaning to go back to school all of these years, but I haven't had the money. My husband and I have no savings for retirement or for college for our children. I would like to go back to school to get a business degree. Now that there are so many classes offered online, I have more time to complete classes and spend time with my family. I am so thankful for this opportunity.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Tonya Nixon

Victoria — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:15:00 GMT

Tonya Nixon

Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Virginia College Online

Getting a bachelor's degree means the world to me for so many reasons. With my immediate family struggling financially and mentally, victims of domestic violence, felony cases building, and embraced in the world of welfare, finishing college is not only my goal, my dream. It is an encouragement, a message of hope and reality that "we can."

I have two brothers and three sisters. Three of my siblings never finished high school but one of them received his GED later on. I am the third child out of six contending to be the first in my family, including my parents, to obtain a college degree.

I was raised by my grandmother who took custody of me at around the age of 5. Stretching a monthly social security check to care for me and two of my older sisters, my grandmother was strong and taught me life lessons and values I treasure today. Quite frequently she had to borrow money from the family she used to do housekeeping work for to either put food in the house or pay bills. I can remember days when the kitchen only consist of the block of cheese the government used to issue, the powdered milk, bread, and maybe some eggs. Grill cheeses became frequent. Nevertheless, she kept me clean with a roof over my head until I entered junior high school.

I went to live with my mother by the time I was entering junior high. This is where I begin growing up fast. We never had much food in the house and utilities where getting turned off frequently. Eviction notices became a norm. As soon as I was of age to participate in the Upward Bound program, I joined. I went to their tutoring and development programs during the school year and participated in the summer program where you went to class half a day and worked the other half during the summer. We received stipends at the end of the week. I used my money to buy myself clothes and make sure me and my siblings had something to eat. As soon as I turned 15 years of age I begin working at Sonic Drive-In. I was attending high school and working as many hours as I could to make sure we had food and contribute to bills. I remember some nights my siblings didn't get anything to eat until I got off work and brought burgers home. I also paid for my cheerleading supplies my junior and senior year of high school.

My freshmen year of high school I was removed for an altercation with an assistant principal. I was sent to an alternative learning center. I thought this would mark me for life. I would be labeled a bad student. But I wasn't. I came back the next year and started over. I was doing alright until I got pregnant my senior year. My dreams, hopes, and enthusiasm of going to college faded away. I didn't know what was going to happen after I graduated. I graduated with my class but the youthfulness ended there. I left home the week after graduation and moved in with my son's father. We had several physical altercations with one resulting in his arrest. At that time we were living a life that I knew couldn't go on forever. I knew I wanted to be in law enforcement one day and had to get away.

Me and my son moved into a one bedroom apartment because that's all I could afford at the time. I had accepted all the credit cards they offer you fresh out of high school and racked up a massive debt. I had a car accident before I received a drivers' license and the other driver's insurance had filed for subrogation. My driver's license was suspended, I was arrested for DWLI and I end up filing Chapter 13 by the time I was 24 years of age.

By this time I almost gave up on trying to become a peace officer. I knew they did background and credit checks. I had a driving while license suspended charge and I had filed bankruptcy. Getting pregnant early had already delayed my career advances and now I knew I would have to let some more years go by before I could even think of applying for a law enforcement position. I knew I needed more education beyond a high school diploma. I enrolled at Austin Community College to begin working on my Criminal Justice Certificate and the endorsement to sit for the peace officer exam.

Working full-time and raising a child is one of the toughest things you could do. I never had a reliable source for babysitting. I remember some days I needed to go to class and didn't know who was going to watch my son right until the last minute before I was due in class. I hated leaving him two and three nights a week but I knew I had to do this for him, my family, and myself. I needed my siblings to see that there was a positive way to life out there and that we can make it.

Two of my sisters and my brothers have been in and out of jail. One of them has nine kids and the other has seven. I don't want my mother, my siblings, my son, my nieces, or my nephews to believe that is all life has to offer them. You often hear the statistic of children who come from broken, single family, or low income homes are not successful. Yes, we come from all the above but I need them to understand that it's not about where we came from but where we're going. I need them to know that without an education your world is limited.

Well, I finally obtained my peace officer license and I am currently a Deputy Constable. The best thing about my job is I get to interact and help so many different people. I'm from an area where the police and a predominantly African American community often have much tension and the trust between them is eroded. I want my community to know that not all officers are bad. I want to show them there is nothing wrong with being a police and that there are officers, such as myself, that do care about the community and what goes on in it. I'm often sent to schools and camps to talk to kids, teens, and parents about different topics with one of my primary areas being truancy (kids missing school). I always encourage them to finish school and go to college. But I want so much for the day to come where I can say to my audience that I've finished college and I have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

Being a full-time mom and a full-time officer will not allow me to attend classes on campus. An online degree is the only way I can finish school along with much financial help. I often inquire with online schools but I end up turning away because I know I can't afford to attend and the thought increasing an already large student loan is so intimidating. But I don't want to be an entry level officer my entire career. I want to become a Sergeant, a Chief, and the elected official. But without my bachelor's degree, I'm the weakest link.

I've come across law enforcement job announcements that too often read "minorities and women encouraged to apply." I don't want to be the top candidate because of the gender and/or race box I check on my application. I want to be recognized because I have the education, the skills, and the knowledge to perform the job. I need this scholarship more than anything. I've made it this far but I still have a long way to go.

When I saw the Project Working Mom scholarship information the first time, I told myself this doesn't happen to local, ordinary people like me. Something deep down in my heart still tells me I'm wrong and I will continue to apply. Please, please consider me as one who is chosen to receive the working mom scholarship. I will devote my time and submit my hardest effort if I am chosen as a scholarship recipient. I can't express, asked, plead enough to be chosen as one. I need another chance to get it right.