Then and Now

I became a foster child after my mom went to prison. She struggled with addiction. I was a good student, but I dropped out of high school. I got a job as a receptionist where 5 strong women took me under their wing. They encouraged me to earn my GED and to pursue a career.

At 35, while working fulltime, raising my daughter, and ending an unhealthy relationship, I decided I needed to change the trajectory of my life. I went back to school at SLCC knowing I wanted to earn an Economics degree.

I was scared out of my mind going back to school; I thought, I'm going to be the old lady. At SLCC, I opened up to several professors who really supported me. With Pell grant money and financial aid, I graduated with honors from SLCC, and all my credits transferred to the U of U where I am earning a double major in Econ and Writing and Rhetoric. Currently, I'm the director of operations at a financial firm and love what I do.

"I was scared out of my mind going back to school; I thought, I'm going to be the old lady."

Advice

Your past does not define you. Find a professor who you can trust when things get hard, even if it is just one. Speak up, ask questions, and challenge any obstacles you encounter. Also, don't limit yourself by thinking it's too late to go back to college or too late to dream big.