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Community Building
Posted by baumanrdmbc on 2012-05-23 15:58:56
--Thank You
Angels that help
Posted by Johan on 2012-05-23 03:58:55
Family Help
Posted by mama1971 on 2012-05-21 10:58:17
Last semester of college
Posted by maryka on 2012-05-20 23:58:45
I have been hesitant to write this post but I am really desperate. I am a psychology pre-med student with a 3.9 GPA in my final year of college. I also volunteer at a local hospital 20 hrs a week and at a counselling center. I work as a tutor and have been able to raise money for one semester, however I simply cant afford my last semester which is 2500. I would love to work more hours but i am an international student, therefore I can only work 20 hours a week.
I am begging anyone willing to help me, to help in anyway. I ahve come so close and worked so hard, I cant imagine quiting at this point.
My Little Ones and I could Use an Angel
Posted by Jhaynes1133 on 2012-05-20 18:58:08
help with vet bill
Posted by drivindaisy on 2012-05-20 10:58:40
LIFE
Posted by sweetpsalms on 2012-05-19 09:58:33
I am a 39 year old with 3 children and a disabled husband. I have a lot of issues right now that I am trying to deal with and keep my family off the streets. I don't mind sharing my story if need be because honesty is the best policy. My husbands SSI is very low, as if he has not really worked and he is over 50. I have been trying to keep my head up and keep my bills paid. I work but my job is a PRN position because it was all I could get. I was making a fairly good pay until they decided our department needed cut backs and cut our hourly pay almost three dollars. I am trying so hard to finish school to be a LPN and then a RN. I have been trying to finish school since 1992. I know that if I can get my degree, I can provide for my family. So, I have bills up my butt and school is hard. Now, I am dealing with losing my financial aid because though I have a high enough GPA, my other cumulative average is below standard. I knew nothing about that. I was focusing on making sure my grades were good enough. My 14 year old daughter is pregnant and I can't even afford to begin buying baby things or think of how to save for it. My husband is so content with his little check until nothing else matters. My oldest daughter is in college with me trying to get her LPN but her hearts desire is to be an OB/GYN but they changed the required score level for the SAT and ACT and she registered one quarter to late to get in. Had she registered earlier, she could have gotten in the school she wants to attend but now she has to go to a local college and earn credits and then transfer, IF her grades are good enough. ON top of all that, my husband was just hit in the rear by another driver and our car was totaled and he was hurt. So, my only car, of which I was paying on still, is gone and I owe to much on it for the insurance to pay it off.
I feel overwhelmed, depressed and like I will never make it. I am working, attending school, and trying to write a book and do a gospel CD. Anything to try and bring in money to support my family. I really don't know what else to do.
I don't know if this works or not, but I am willing to try. I have felt so bad until at times I wanted to just end it all but I know that is not the example I want for my children. I want to see my grand daughter born and I want my children to finish school and do better than me, but also see me come out of my struggle. I keep telling them I am going to buy the house we live in, they keep laughing and even with that, the land lord is talking about putting it on the market because I can't come up with what I need to even start buying. I pray that God blesses my household and family. If someone does decide that my issues are worth helping, then I pray God bless you with an overflow for your blessing me. I don't know what else to say but thank you in advance. As embarrassed as I am, I can only pray this is real. If not, at least I got to vent and get it all of my chest. I had no one else to tell anyway.
Thank You!
help with family of special needs kid
Posted by specialneedsmom on 2012-05-16 16:58:00
A Twist in the Road, One Step Toward Hopelessness
Posted by birdlegs on 2012-05-15 18:58:46
HELP US PLEASE - HOME IN DANGER OF REPOSSESSION
Posted by FallenFromGrace on 2012-05-15 05:58:23
We are an average family who have fallen upon very hard times. My wife was let go from her work about 18 months ago with no severance pay and has been unable to find any payable employment since... she has been volunteering at the local school as a classroom assistant but really could do with finding some new work soon.
As you can imagine with my wifes income lost to us things have been tight for a while now so it was an awful second blow when my employers went into administration and the factory was finally closed with all employees laid off, again with no severance pay just over 6 months ago now by the Administrators... we had been hopeful of a buyout but it didn't happen and the whole lot of us were placed onto the scrapheap. As it was we had no payrise for the previous four years...
Things are now hitting crisis point for me and my family, I have only been able to find 4 weeks of paying work in the last six months... we have sold the family car to try and keep my daughter in college and have the house up for sale in the hope we can pay off the capital and start renting but if we don't make this next mortgage payment the bank are going to start foreclosure on us... as for my slightly younger son and his college future that is currently looking very unlikely...
The family pets (2 Cats and 1 Staffie Dog) are as much a part of this family as any of us yet we are now with great reluctance and heartfelt pain considering having to give them up to a the local rescue centre... I think I will cry a thousand tears if I have to let them go but I need to be pratical and focus on my wife and children and putting them first... For I will cry a million tears if I let them down any further than I already have...
Any HELP you can give us will be most gratefully received and a prayer of thanks will be said for every penny.
God Bless you and God Bless America.
Many thanks for reading this.
Charlie x
Fire took everything, but our family.
Posted by FamilyOnFire on 2012-05-14 22:58:19
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing Iâve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you donât have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and itâs a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family canât do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help youâre willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.
Fire took everything, but our family.
Posted by FamilyOnFire on 2012-05-14 22:58:19
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing Iâve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you donât have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and itâs a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family canât do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help youâre willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.
Fire took everything, but our family.
Posted by FamilyOnFire on 2012-05-14 22:58:19
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing Iâve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you donât have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and itâs a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family canât do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help youâre willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.
Fire took everything, but our family.
Posted by FamilyOnFire on 2012-05-14 22:58:18
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing Iâve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you donât have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and itâs a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family canât do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help youâre willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.
Fire took everything, but our family.
Posted by FamilyOnFire on 2012-05-14 22:58:18
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing Iâve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you donât have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and itâs a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family canât do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help youâre willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.
Fire took everything, but our family.
Posted by FamilyOnFire on 2012-05-14 22:58:18
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing Iâve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you donât have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and itâs a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family canât do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help youâre willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.
Fire took everything, but our family.
Posted by FamilyOnFire on 2012-05-14 22:58:18
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing Iâve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you donât have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and itâs a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family canât do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help youâre willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.
Fire took everything, but our family.
Posted by FamilyOnFire on 2012-05-14 22:58:18
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing Iâve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you donât have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and itâs a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family canât do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help youâre willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.
Fire took everything, but our family.
Posted by FamilyOnFire on 2012-05-14 22:58:18
We have our family, but we lost everything else. Nothing was salvageable after the fire. Trying to explain that to my two little girls was the hardest thing Iâve ever had to do. You never realize how much clothing, food, beds, or a teddy bear, mean until you donât have any of the above. With the blessing of a few local charities, we have been given some clothing and access to food pantries. With the loss of our vehicle, though, I was no longer able to work for my employer. I found another full time job, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I am making far less income now. We now live in a motel. It is close to public transit, and itâs a place to lay our heads.
Local housing agencies have long waiting lists, and cannot help us at this time. We want, so badly, to have a place to call home. My two wonderful little girls have taken this whole situation in such stride. They are thankful and excited for the most basic things, and it makes me so proud. They are what get me through these hard times. We are struggling to keep afloat, and dream of rebuilding our lives. To sleep in your own bed, have the ability to cook dinner on a stove, or write an address on a form, seem like such trivial things, but these are things our family canât do. I want more than anything to make a new home for my girls.
Our family is asking for the help and kindness of others. We are asking for any help youâre willing to give, so that we can start to get our life back on track. It would be more than a blessing to our family. It would be a home.
Help a cancer patient pay for her last semester of college
Posted by PMoyer on 2012-05-14 15:58:27
My friend started having a panic attack after doing some calculations and realizing that she can't afford her final semester of college this August after paying for Chemotherapy and some unexpected car repairs. Her family refuses to give her the information she needs to fill out her FAFSA, so she can't even get student loans.
I couldn't stand seeing her like that -- She's been struggling with issues for years due to a traumatic childhood, and to see her dreams of graduating fall apart due to money issues was too much to bear.
So I told her I'd pay for her last semester, in full. And looking at my finances, I will be able to pay for most of it if I penny-pinch, don't eat out, avoid driving anywhere I don't need to, and donate some blood to the local blood bank. But it looks like even with doing that, I'll come up about $500 or $600 short.
If you can donate and help out, I'd be forever grateful for you helping her dreams come true. If you can't donate, have any ideas on how someone living in the Clark County, Nevada area could make some money over the weekends, let me know in the comments.
medical bills have wiped out my $, dog and i will soon be homeless
Posted by mugwump64 on 2012-05-14 12:58:45
once i was off the anti-rejection meds and feeling well enough to work, i began searching for a job seeing as my hope of starting a business drained away with the money in my bank account. but unfortunately, with the economy the way it is, i have been unsuccessful in my search. i am now virtually penniless and am being evicted from my apartment. i am have sold off what few possessions i have in order to have some cash to buy the things i need for living on the streets, but the accumulated amount came to less than $100.
monetary donations via paypal are more than welcome,
i have also created a wish list at amazon.com for certain things that will be very helpful for me to have while i am homeless, but which i can not in anyway afford.
http://amzn.com/w/298Q89SP8GLCZ
i have left comments next to each item to explain why i feel the need for it. e-giftcards from amazon would also be helpful.
Help me...
Posted by rinu on 2012-05-14 10:58:27
I have completed my graduation in Commerce and Masters in MBA finance.CPA from USA is my next professional aim. Now i have an opportunity to achieve CPA. Instead of going to USA for doing CPA, i want to join an Indian institute that can help me with CPA preparation. Total cost of doing CPA in USA is 900000 INR = 17281 USD. The cost of doing CPA from india is 300000 INR = 5760 USD..
Please help me by providing 5760 USD .
Total Cost of doing CPA from india covers
1)Study Material & Tuition Fees
2)Foreign Academic Credential Evaluation of my certificates
3)CPA Exam Fees
4)Ticket to US for attending exam
5)Visa Application & Formalities
6)Stay, food, local travel in US
Please help....(master_rinu20(AT)rediffmail.com)
I am the 2%, or My Life as a Teen Mom
Posted by educatedsinglemama on 2012-05-14 02:58:09
I was raised by a single parent and grew up in a town where most families were on some sort of government assistance and could barely make ends meet. I was always taught to value what I had and that hard work will always bear its fruits. My high school was filled with kids who didnât care about getting an education. I was a introverted ânerdâ who took Honors and AP classes and saw education as a way to get out of a town that didnât have much opportunity for growth. While I valued my education, I was also bored to death, even in my âaccelerated classes,â so I stupidly acted out and started to party as high school kids do. I ditched class to drink and dabbled a bit in drugs because there was nothing else to do. Even as I partied, I still managed to remain on the honor roll for all 4 years. Fast forward to the beginning of my senior year, our class had 250 kids and throughout the year approximately half of the student body dropped out at one point or another, giving up on their 14 year investment in their education. I made it to the end, but while everyone was excitedly responding to college acceptance letters, I had to throw all of mine out. Why? I was pregnant. I fully accept responsibility for my actions, but sex was not talked about in my household. I had no idea I had access to birth control or condoms and foolishly made a mistake that would change my life. I went to my prom and graduation 3 months pregnant without anyone knowing aside from my family.
The summer after graduation was spent brainstorming options and finding a job to help support my unborn child. I decided to keep the baby, thinking I would give it up for adoption. I was too immature to take care of myself, and now a baby? No way. As the months progressed, I fell in love with the baby and decided to keep her and raise her with the help of my family. I was excited but deep inside I was depressed. I really wanted to go off to college and live the life of a student living on campus, making new friends, staying up late to cram for midterms and possibly travel a bit. I couldnât do that anymore and the thought of experiencing college in any other way didnât entice me. I also knew if I didnât get an education, Iâd be stuck in a cycle of dead end jobs all my life. I knew I didnât want to struggle like Iâve seen my family fight just to put a decent meal on the table and keep the lights from getting shut down.
I started college two months after my daughter was born. She was perfection and an incredible motivator. Iâve always thought that she deserves something better, beyond what I can give her but I decided to try my best to give her an amazing life. Since I just had a baby, I wanted to explore the opportunities I had outside of a traditional classroom in college. Luckily, the local community college offered online courses which only required me to be in class on the first day, at midterms and during finals week. I did this for a year and a half until I took every online course possible. Then it was time for full immersion into college. Here came daycare and having to balance college life with working and a small child.
My average day in college looked like this: weâd have to wake up at the crack of dawn so my daughter and I could ride a 45-minute bus to school. Unlike most of my classmates, I had to dash straight from work to class or go to work right after class so that I could pick up my daughter from school at a proper hour. I was very fortunate to land a job in a small office as an office assistant during college that would later prove invaluable. The pay was ok, but I was allowed to tailor my schedule to be compatible with my changing class load every semester. After our day was done came another bus ride. Once we got home, Iâd have to make dinner, pack us lunch for the next day, prepare her backpack with extra clothes plus wash and prepare a dayâs worth of bottles for my daughter. After I put my daughter to bed was the only time I had for homework. Iâd stay up until about 2am every night doing my reading assignments or writing papers only to have to get up 3 ½ hours later to start my day again.
I did this every day for 5 ½ years.
Was it worth it? Heck yeah. I got my bachelorâs degree on my wall as proof. I am the first person in my family to ever get a degree. I have multiple relatives my age who ended up dropping out for various reasons yet I managed to graduate (with honors!) while juggling a small child and a demanding job. Aside from raising my daughter, this is what Iâm most proud of thus far. I read online that less than 2% of teen moms attain a college degree before age 30. Iâm stoked beyond words to be a part of that 2% (Source) I hope that this struggle and success will set an example to my daughter and show her that hard work does pay off.
After college, I worked a few jobs that I wasnât too keen on. Too corporate, too stuffy, too bureaucratic to evoke any change and make an impact. I wanted to wake up every morning and feel inspired to go to work. I didnât just want a paycheck, I wanted to engulf myself within organization so that I could kick ass and take names. I also wanted a 401(k), health benefits and life insurance so that my bases could be covered in old age. But mainly I wanted to wake up invigorated every morning and be able to pay my bills. After college, my daughter and I moved into our first home. I loved waking her up in her room filled with the girliest of things. I was a proud mamaâon my own, college educated and living life as an independent woman.
Independent but unfulfilled. That is, until I was introduced to the CEO of my most recent employer. We hit it off immediately and within two week was offered the chance of a lifetime. I was invited to join his multimillion dollar company and close-knit team as his right hand. Iâd learn all the inâs and outâs of running a business in a dynamic industry and receive a nice salary. After a bit of contemplation, I decided to resign from my stuffy job to join a company I was proud to be apart of. My job was great. It was flexible, nurturing, educational and insightful. In a few short weeks, I was in the trenches with my boss handling everything from sales to contracts to finance to HR. That is, until the company suddenly went out of business. I wonât get into the details but I was told Iâd have a month before we were all let go. This was the job I wanted to settle in and dedicate years to, not just a job really but a mission to which I was dedicated.
I was laid off in March with no severance pay as the company had nothing. I had a small savings which I tapped into as I began searching for a job. I had to file for unemployment for the first time, which was hard as Iâve prided myself on not having to use government resources to pay my bills. I have almost a decade of solid work history and yet Iâm struggling to find a job. Places are hiring but theyâre scarce and donât always offer pay that can support a family.
My bills are piling up and I have family and friends that are in no position to help me out. Unemployment can only pay so much and it isnât enough to put a home-cooked meal on the table or keep everything paid. Iâm in the process of starting up two businessesâone that peddles vintage finds and another that provides folks with stellar resumes to land their dream job so that I can increase my cash flow, but in the meantime, Iâm asking for any donations to my cause. Iâm willing to offer any services in return for a donation over $30 via paypal. Thereâs a button below where your transaction will be processed safely and gratefully!
Please pass this on and +1 it, favorite it, retweet it and share in any way possible! No action is too small or unappreciated.
Thank you so much for letting me share my story with you.
I am the 2%-My Life as a Single Mom
Posted by educatedsinglemama on 2012-05-14 02:58:08
I was raised by a single parent and grew up in a town where most families were on some sort of government assistance and could barely make ends meet. I was always taught to value what I had and that hard work will always bear its fruits. My high school was filled with kids who didnât care about getting an education. I was a introverted ânerdâ who took Honors and AP classes and saw education as a way to get out of a town that didnât have much opportunity for growth. While I valued my education, I was also bored to death, even in my âaccelerated classes,â so I stupidly acted out and started to party as high school kids do. I ditched class to drink and dabbled a bit in drugs because there was nothing else to do. Even as I partied, I still managed to remain on the honor roll for all 4 years. Fast forward to the beginning of my senior year, our class had 250 kids and throughout the year approximately half of the student body dropped out at one point or another, giving up on their 14 year investment in their education. I made it to the end, but while everyone was excitedly responding to college acceptance letters, I had to throw all of mine out. Why? I was pregnant. I fully accept responsibility for my actions, but sex was not talked about in my household. I had no idea I had access to birth control or condoms and foolishly made a mistake that would change my life. I went to my prom and graduation 3 months pregnant without anyone knowing aside from my family.
The summer after graduation was spent brainstorming options and finding a job to help support my unborn child. I decided to keep the baby, thinking I would give it up for adoption. I was too immature to take care of myself, and now a baby? No way. As the months progressed, I fell in love with the baby and decided to keep her and raise her with the help of my family. I was excited but deep inside I was depressed. I really wanted to go off to college and live the life of a student living on campus, making new friends, staying up late to cram for midterms and possibly travel a bit. I couldnât do that anymore and the thought of experiencing college in any other way didnât entice me. I also knew if I didnât get an education, Iâd be stuck in a cycle of dead end jobs all my life. I knew I didnât want to struggle like Iâve seen my family fight just to put a decent meal on the table and keep the lights from getting shut down.
I started college two months after my daughter was born. She was perfection and an incredible motivator. Iâve always thought that she deserves something better, beyond what I can give her but I decided to try my best to give her an amazing life. Since I just had a baby, I wanted to explore the opportunities I had outside of a traditional classroom in college. Luckily, the local community college offered online courses which only required me to be in class on the first day, at midterms and during finals week. I did this for a year and a half until I took every online course possible. Then it was time for full immersion into college. Here came daycare and having to balance college life with working and a small child.
My average day in college looked like this: weâd have to wake up at the crack of dawn so my daughter and I could ride a 45-minute bus to school. Unlike most of my classmates, I had to dash straight from work to class or go to work right after class so that I could pick up my daughter from school at a proper hour. I was very fortunate to land a job in a small office as an office assistant during college that would later prove invaluable. The pay was ok, but I was allowed to tailor my schedule to be compatible with my changing class load every semester. After our day was done came another bus ride. Once we got home, Iâd have to make dinner, pack us lunch for the next day, prepare her backpack with extra clothes plus wash and prepare a dayâs worth of bottles for my daughter. After I put my daughter to bed was the only time I had for homework. Iâd stay up until about 2am every night doing my reading assignments or writing papers only to have to get up 3 ½ hours later to start my day again.
I did this every day for 5 ½ years.
Was it worth it? Heck yeah. I got my bachelorâs degree on my wall as proof. I am the first person in my family to ever get a degree. I have multiple relatives my age who ended up dropping out for various reasons yet I managed to graduate (with honors!) while juggling a small child and a demanding job. Aside from raising my daughter, this is what Iâm most proud of thus far. I read online that less than 2% of teen moms attain a college degree before age 30. Iâm stoked beyond words to be a part of that 2% (Source) I hope that this struggle and success will set an example to my daughter and show her that hard work does pay off.
After college, I worked a few jobs that I wasnât too keen on. Too corporate, too stuffy, too bureaucratic to evoke any change and make an impact. I wanted to wake up every morning and feel inspired to go to work. I didnât just want a paycheck, I wanted to engulf myself within organization so that I could kick ass and take names. I also wanted a 401(k), health benefits and life insurance so that my bases could be covered in old age. But mainly I wanted to wake up invigorated every morning and be able to pay my bills. After college, my daughter and I moved into our first home. I loved waking her up in her room filled with the girliest of things. I was a proud mamaâon my own, college educated and living life as an independent woman.
Independent but unfulfilled. That is, until I was introduced to the CEO of my most recent employer. We hit it off immediately and within two week was offered the chance of a lifetime. I was invited to join his multimillion dollar company and close-knit team as his right hand. Iâd learn all the inâs and outâs of running a business in a dynamic industry and receive a nice salary. After a bit of contemplation, I decided to resign from my stuffy job to join a company I was proud to be apart of. My job was great. It was flexible, nurturing, educational and insightful. In a few short weeks, I was in the trenches with my boss handling everything from sales to contracts to finance to HR. That is, until the company suddenly went out of business. I wonât get into the details but I was told Iâd have a month before we were all let go. This was the job I wanted to settle in and dedicate years to, not just a job really but a mission to which I was dedicated.
I was laid off in March with no severance pay as the company had nothing. I had a small savings which I tapped into as I began searching for a job. I had to file for unemployment for the first time, which was hard as Iâve prided myself on not having to use government resources to pay my bills. I have almost a decade of solid work history and yet Iâm struggling to find a job. Places are hiring but theyâre scarce and donât always offer pay that can support a family.
My bills are piling up and I have family and friends that are in no position to help me out. Unemployment can only pay so much and it isnât enough to put a home-cooked meal on the table or keep everything paid. Iâm in the process of starting up two businessesâone that peddles vintage finds and another that provides folks with stellar resumes to land their dream job so that I can increase my cash flow, but in the meantime, Iâm asking for any donations to my cause. Iâm willing to offer any services in return for a donation over $30 via paypal. Thereâs a button below where your transaction will be processed safely and gratefully!
Please pass this on and +1 it, favorite it, retweet it and share in any way possible! No action is too small or unappreciated.
Thank you so much for letting me share my story with you.
http://educatedsinglemom.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/i-am-the-2-or-my-life-as-a-teen-mom-2/
I am the 2%, or My Life as a Teen Mom
Posted by educatedsinglemama on 2012-05-14 02:58:08
I was raised by a single parent and grew up in a town where most families were on some sort of government assistance and could barely make ends meet. I was always taught to value what I had and that hard work will always bear its fruits. My high school was filled with kids who didnât care about getting an education. I was a introverted ânerdâ who took Honors and AP classes and saw education as a way to get out of a town that didnât have much opportunity for growth. While I valued my education, I was also bored to death, even in my âaccelerated classes,â so I stupidly acted out and started to party as high school kids do. I ditched class to drink and dabbled a bit in drugs because there was nothing else to do. Even as I partied, I still managed to remain on the honor roll for all 4 years. Fast forward to the beginning of my senior year, our class had 250 kids and throughout the year approximately half of the student body dropped out at one point or another, giving up on their 14 year investment in their education. I made it to the end, but while everyone was excitedly responding to college acceptance letters, I had to throw all of mine out. Why? I was pregnant. I fully accept responsibility for my actions, but sex was not talked about in my household. I had no idea I had access to birth control or condoms and foolishly made a mistake that would change my life. I went to my prom and graduation 3 months pregnant without anyone knowing aside from my family.
The summer after graduation was spent brainstorming options and finding a job to help support my unborn child. I decided to keep the baby, thinking I would give it up for adoption. I was too immature to take care of myself, and now a baby? No way. As the months progressed, I fell in love with the baby and decided to keep her and raise her with the help of my family. I was excited but deep inside I was depressed. I really wanted to go off to college and live the life of a student living on campus, making new friends, staying up late to cram for midterms and possibly travel a bit. I couldnât do that anymore and the thought of experiencing college in any other way didnât entice me. I also knew if I didnât get an education, Iâd be stuck in a cycle of dead end jobs all my life. I knew I didnât want to struggle like Iâve seen my family fight just to put a decent meal on the table and keep the lights from getting shut down.
I started college two months after my daughter was born. She was perfection and an incredible motivator. Iâve always thought that she deserves something better, beyond what I can give her but I decided to try my best to give her an amazing life. Since I just had a baby, I wanted to explore the opportunities I had outside of a traditional classroom in college. Luckily, the local community college offered online courses which only required me to be in class on the first day, at midterms and during finals week. I did this for a year and a half until I took every online course possible. Then it was time for full immersion into college. Here came daycare and having to balance college life with working and a small child.
My average day in college looked like this: weâd have to wake up at the crack of dawn so my daughter and I could ride a 45-minute bus to school. Unlike most of my classmates, I had to dash straight from work to class or go to work right after class so that I could pick up my daughter from school at a proper hour. I was very fortunate to land a job in a small office as an office assistant during college that would later prove invaluable. The pay was ok, but I was allowed to tailor my schedule to be compatible with my changing class load every semester. After our day was done came another bus ride. Once we got home, Iâd have to make dinner, pack us lunch for the next day, prepare her backpack with extra clothes plus wash and prepare a dayâs worth of bottles for my daughter. After I put my daughter to bed was the only time I had for homework. Iâd stay up until about 2am every night doing my reading assignments or writing papers only to have to get up 3 ½ hours later to start my day again.
I did this every day for 5 ½ years.
Was it worth it? Heck yeah. I got my bachelorâs degree on my wall as proof. I am the first person in my family to ever get a degree. I have multiple relatives my age who ended up dropping out for various reasons yet I managed to graduate (with honors!) while juggling a small child and a demanding job. Aside from raising my daughter, this is what Iâm most proud of thus far. I read online that less than 2% of teen moms attain a college degree before age 30. Iâm stoked beyond words to be a part of that 2% (Source) I hope that this struggle and success will set an example to my daughter and show her that hard work does pay off.
After college, I worked a few jobs that I wasnât too keen on. Too corporate, too stuffy, too bureaucratic to evoke any change and make an impact. I wanted to wake up every morning and feel inspired to go to work. I didnât just want a paycheck, I wanted to engulf myself within organization so that I could kick ass and take names. I also wanted a 401(k), health benefits and life insurance so that my bases could be covered in old age. But mainly I wanted to wake up invigorated every morning and be able to pay my bills. After college, my daughter and I moved into our first home. I loved waking her up in her room filled with the girliest of things. I was a proud mamaâon my own, college educated and living life as an independent woman.
Independent but unfulfilled. That is, until I was introduced to the CEO of my most recent employer. We hit it off immediately and within two week was offered the chance of a lifetime. I was invited to join his multimillion dollar company and close-knit team as his right hand. Iâd learn all the inâs and outâs of running a business in a dynamic industry and receive a nice salary. After a bit of contemplation, I decided to resign from my stuffy job to join a company I was proud to be apart of. My job was great. It was flexible, nurturing, educational and insightful. In a few short weeks, I was in the trenches with my boss handling everything from sales to contracts to finance to HR. That is, until the company suddenly went out of business. I wonât get into the details but I was told Iâd have a month before we were all let go. This was the job I wanted to settle in and dedicate years to, not just a job really but a mission to which I was dedicated.
I was laid off in March with no severance pay as the company had nothing. I had a small savings which I tapped into as I began searching for a job. I had to file for unemployment for the first time, which was hard as Iâve prided myself on not having to use government resources to pay my bills. I have almost a decade of solid work history and yet Iâm struggling to find a job. Places are hiring but theyâre scarce and donât always offer pay that can support a family.
My bills are piling up and I have family and friends that are in no position to help me out. Unemployment can only pay so much and it isnât enough to put a home-cooked meal on the table or keep everything paid. Iâm in the process of starting up two businessesâone that peddles vintage finds and another that provides folks with stellar resumes to land their dream job so that I can increase my cash flow, but in the meantime, Iâm asking for any donations to my cause. Iâm willing to offer any services in return for a donation over $30 via paypal. Thereâs a button below where your transaction will be processed safely and gratefully!
Please pass this on and +1 it, favorite it, retweet it and share in any way possible! No action is too small or unappreciated.
Thank you so much for letting me share my story with you.
