Creation Date: 09/07/2026

Location of Service: 62801-5935

Program Details

I was blessed to be a stay-at-home mom and raise my 3 children. Then one day I found myself facing a divorce I never wanted and the need to start my working life and career over. I sought employment not knowing what the future would look like. 
I started working as a paraprofessional in a high school special education classroom. What started as a job quickly became more than that. I fell in love with special education and the students I worked with. I was then allowed to go back to school.
Going back to college as a single mom, while working full time and raising my children and trying to get through a difficult divorce, was a lot. The cost of college was another obstacle. I knew earning my bachelor's degree could help me advance my career and provide a better financial future for my family, but I wasn't sure how I would manage the cost while going through everything we were going through. 
The grant program gave me an opportunity that I may not have otherwise been able to pursue. The program has paid for my classes. That assistance has made it possible for me to work full time, attend school full time, and continue providing for my children while working toward a degree.
This program has meant much more than paying for college. It gave me the chance to turn a difficult time in my life into an opportunity to build something better. Instead of simply finding a job after my divorce, I have been able to start building a career that I genuinely care about.
I will graduate in May 2027 with my bachelor's degree in Special Education, and I plan to pursue a career as a special education teacher. I want to use what I have learned, along with the experience I have gained as a paraprofessional, to make a difference in the lives of students and their families.
This program has helped me create a future that I wasn't sure was possible when I was starting over. It has allowed me to provide for my children while investing in my education and my career. What began as a difficult new chapter in my life has become an opportunity to build a better future for my family and, hopefully, for the students I will one day have the privilege of teaching.