My dad was a single father, working hard 7 days a week to provide for our family – never having time to rest. Struggling against poverty, my father was forced to work hard and do whatever he could to make ends meet and provide a better life for my sister and I. My father would always tell me that he wanted me to go to college so that I wouldn’t have to sacrifice my body’s health in the scorching sun as he had all these years. My father wasn’t able to save up much money, neither did he have life insurance. He was only 40-years-old when he passed away, he was still very young and healthy and we never thought that he would pass away so soon.

I spent each of my summer days watching over him struggle to fight off the deadly virus COVID-19 slowly eating at him. Eventually after 2 long months my father passed away. He didn’t have life insurance, nor did he have a will, instead what we were left with was debt. Nearly half a year later, I am living with my sister as we live in a home that we are unsure we will even be able to keep. We are slowly paying off the debt that my father had with help from family and friends, as well as with support from our church and a GoFundMe page. I am also applying to part time jobs to help carry some of the responsibility and paying off the debt while preparing myself for college expenses. My sister and I are currently working on receiving his belongings, and paying off funeral costs.

If my father had life insurance coverage we would have less costs being thrown at us, and we would live more comfortably knowing that we had some sort of money to help us pay for my college education. While I am still pursuing the college that I have dreamed of since I was a child, I have had to rely more on applying to scholarships and choosing whichever college will provide me with the most financial support regardless of distance. I have already been accepted by multiple colleges, including my dream college. I am looking to pursue a degree in computer science and in music. This way, I will fulfill my father’s wishes that I won’t have to endure hard labor like he did, and that I’ll continue developing my everlasting passion for music in the university.

The loss of my father was the loss of my best friend and my normal life, losing him was like losing a part of myself. I have not completely overcome the pain and sadness that comes with loss, but I have still used my recent experiences as a form of encouragement and motivation. Although my family and I are facing financial troubles, I will not be discouraged by the lingering debt, nor will I give up on achieving my dreams. Thank you for your consideration!

My father worked for 45 years, usually more than one job. For 45 years, he paid to carry life insurance in case something would happen to him. He always said he wanted to be able to rest easy, knowing that my mother and my siblings and I were taken care of. He paid for employer sponsored life insurance for all of those years. My father’s health had declined so much in the last two years of his life, that he had to quit working and withdraw his retirement funds. Sadly, he lost any life insurance benefits when he quit. He applied for several life insurance plans in his last years, but was denied due to his failing health, diabetes, congestive heart disease, and his age. It was only late in his life, that he recognized the importance of carrying an independent insurance policy separate from employer sponsored. We were extremely lucky that my mother carried spousal life insurance through her employer and although it wasn’t much, we did not have to worry about the cost of the funeral. We were able to say goodbye to my father without having to ask for donations or hold fundraisers. This was a true blessing. He passed the summer before my senior year of high school. Fortunately, and unfortunately, I was forced to remain at home another year and take classes at the local junior college. I was disappointed at first, however I now see that it was for the best. I wasn’t ready to go to a University yet and my family still needed time to heal. I certainly didn’t want to be another financial burden for my mother. It also gave me the chance to work part-time at the college. I worried about who would be there for my sister if something would happen to my mother. I wanted to make sure I could make it home quickly if I ever needed. I now knew that tragedy could happen when you least expect it. I have debated on becoming a physician for years. After my father passed away, I knew for sure this is what I wanted to pursue. I am committed to pursuing a degree in medicine so that I can help others. I want to be able to be part of the process in deciding the right individualized treatment plan whether it be holistic, traditional, or even experimental. I want people to have options and to know their options. I want people to have the knowledge of wellness programs that are covered by insurance. I want people to recognize that having a healthy body is their greatest asset and they should try to preserve it. Even if I have to apply for loans to make it through medical school, I will finish. I have been accepted to the University of Houston this fall as I complete classes for a Bachelor’s in Mathematical Biology. I am applying for scholarships in hopes of being able to stay in on-campus housing. This would mean I wouldn’t have to make the 1.5 hour commute one way each day. I hope that you find me a worthy candidate.

My dad had life insurance, but being that he had to stop working years before he passed away, he had to pay thousands of dollars to the Social Security office before receiving his disability money, and he has 4 daughters and a wife, it wasn’t enough for my sisters to have everything they needed and pay for me to go to college. I, unfortunately, did not have a college fund, or parents that made enough to pay out of pocket. The life insurance policy was not the best and if it was, maybe I would not have to worry about how I am going to make it through college each semester with this financial burden. If he had better life insurance, I would focus solely on school rather than student debt. Life insurance is very downplayed in the black community, and it is hurting a lot of families financially, including mine. During the summers and breaks, I work full-time at a doctor’s office during the week and another job part-time babysitting on the weekends so I can limit the cost of student loans I take out every semester.

Nursing is a career path that can be very expensive. In the fall of 2022, I will be attending Nursing school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This is an amazing school and I have worked very hard to get to this point. After completing undergrad and obtaining my BSN, I plan to work at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham for 2-3 years. After, I will further my education to receive my MSN to become a Nurse Practitioner. This path will not be easy, but it will only be as difficult as you make it. At the end of the day, you cannot run away from your problems, you have to face them because… life happens.