*RoadToRN

I am a single mother of two, and a first generation student seeking to better the livelihood and future of myself and my children by becoming a Registered Nurse. This is an opportunity I never thought possible when I was young; but since the passing of both of my parents in the last four years, I have realized that it is up to me to change the trajectory of mine and my boys' lives. I am so excited to fulfill a dream! I am currently attending classes full-time while retaining a 3.5 GPA and working a part time position at a local hospital as a Patient Care Tech and the organization is very flexible with my schedule while I am attending school full-time. There are days that I am unsure if I will have enough fuel to get me to and from a day of classes or a shift at work, but somehow and someway, God has continued to provide small financial "wins" for us through FAFSA, state education grants, and one very successful yard sale this summer. I currently drive a vehicle that is 12 years old and is pushing 187,000 miles. It is not always as trustworthy as I would prefer, but despite it's occasional unpredictability and questionable A/C, "there ain't nothing wrong with the radio" and while I do not have a car payment, I am currently unsure of how I will pay the upcoming cost of insurance, inspection, registration, property taxes, front brakes, and new winter tires in the coming months. My boys are avid athletes and I encourage them to participate in extracurricular sports and activities. The cost of these activities is almost always a financial strain (to put it lightly); but together we are learning and watching our hard work pay off in more ways than one. I have exhausted my savings this year maintaining our 100+ year old farmhouse but I am thankful that we have a place to come together, rest, and call home-especially when I am up all night studying for a Nursing exam the next day. Our cellar flooded this spring with heavy rainfall and damaged our hot water tank, but after two long months of heating water on the stove for dishes and baths-we were finally able to purchase the part, watch DIY videos online, and repair it ourselves. Owning an old home is a lot of maintenance, and the cost of upkeep, insurance, and property taxes constantly looms over me. It's difficult to complain; however, when there is so much to be thankful for. Since leaving an unhealthy relationship seven years ago where I was a stay-at-home mom, I have been self-employed doing housekeeping and providing personal-care services such as cooking, cleaning, pet-sitting, housesitting, etc. While being self-employed allowed me to still fully participate in my children's lives, it did not provide substantial nor reliable income. I made the decision two years ago to go back to school and finally become the very best version of myself for me and the two boys watching my every move. From a home where we are making every dollar count, every dollar counts!