The morning of July 26, 2014, started simple. My Mom was on her way to Cincinnati for a concert and my father and I had plans to spend the day together. After breakfast I headed back to my room to watch tv for a while. All of a sudden, I heard a loud boom in the living room. When I came out of my room to see what it was, I came to find my father on the floor. I was unable to help him up, so he told me to calm down and call 911 for assistance. After the police informed me that they were on their way, my Dad told me to call my Mom and tell her what was going on. While on the phone with my Mom, my Dad stated that he could not feel the right side of his body. My Mom stated that she would now be turning around and coming back to town. When we arrived at the hospital, we learned that he had suffered a massive stroke and they had put him in a medically induced coma. I was picked up from the hospital and when I returned home the next day my Mom took me to her room and explained to me that my father was not able to pull through. He had passed away that morning. My world shattered when I heard the news.

I was 11 years old when my Dad died. He and my Mom had been married for 14 years and thought they had sufficiently planned for this situation, but the life insurance was just enough to pay for funeral expenses and sustain us for a few years. It definitely was not enough to put me through college. Mom had to quit a job that she loved to make more money to support us. At the age of 11, there was not much I could do monetarily to help my Mom, but we helped each other in a different way. We became the center of the Indiana Black Expo Matters of the Heart smoking cessation campaign, see my Dad was a smoker, which contributed to his death. We were given a platform to tell our story which was both therapeutic to us and gave our tragedy purpose.

When I was old enough, I got a job and took on the responsibilities of my upkeep. I wanted to take that burden off of my Mom as much as I could. I now buy food, pay for my haircuts, purchase my clothing, as well as pay a household bill. Although school after my Dad’s death was really tough for me, I have made it through.

I will graduate this June, and I have already received acceptance from five colleges. My Mom and Dad have always insisted that I would go to college, but now that my Dad is gone paying for college is something my Mom just isn’t able to do on her own. This scholarship will help me fulfill my Dad’s wishes and help my Mom tremendously. Thank you for your consideration!

I was broken. I was alone. I was afraid.

As my aunt and I walked through Kohl’s on the chilly winter day, she started to get a phone call, so we decided to head out to the car. She told me to go to the car while she took the call, but I knew something wasn’t right because of the way she said it. Before she made it back to the car, I could hear her crying out “Nooooo” and as she walked towards me I could see the tears run down her face. She hugged me so tight and told me, “Z, I’m so sorry to tell you this but your mom has passed away”. I dropped to my knees and cried so hard like never before in my life. The day was December 24, 2015, and the cause of death was aspiration pneumonia. She was 36; I was 13.

While growing in the inner city of Philadelphia with a single mother, I had a dream of attending college, but I never counted on the dream coming true due to my circumstances. I knew that the only way I could go to college would be to receive tons of scholarships, therefore I always motivated myself to perform well in school.

Although my mother had a small life insurance policy, that was not nearly enough to cover her hospital bills, funeral expenses, and other bills. We had to rely on family members, friends, and co-workers to cover the majority of the expenses. Not only did we suffer tremendously financially, but also emotionally. My younger brother and I were separated and we were taken into the care of different aunts, while my older brother was incarcerated at the age of 17. It was until being separated that I could consider college, due to being in a positive environment that allowed me to thrive in school. If mother had adequate life insurance, it would have been less of a burden on us as far as covering for her hospital and funeral expenses and there could have been a chance of me attending college without having to worry as much.

After being adopted and moving to Georgia, I was able to graduate high school with a 4.0 GPA. Although I received scholarships and financial aid, I still had to work long hours at different jobs to cover the rest of my tuition and other expenses. By being a first-generation student, I take pride in reaching my dream by pursuing a degree in Biology/Pre-Med at Georgia Southern University. By choosing this career, I hope to be able to go to medical school and become a doctor to help better the lives of people. With the help of this scholarship, I will have a weight taken off of my shoulders and I would be able to make my mother proud.

Life waits for no one. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. My mother is the reason why I keep going. Through perseverance, anything is possible.

My Dad was one who threw me into the air and caught me mid-fall. He taught me to swim, and I jumped into the pool without fear, knowing he would catch me. He made me feel safe and loved. Sadly, he died October 2020 after years of battling Vascular Dementia. I originally thought dementia only affected memory. However, it affects every single function the brain controls. My father lost his ability to walk, talk, move, swallow, eat, drink, and breathe. His heart lost its ability to beat. I helped care for him as his health deteriorated.

Dementia is a horrible way to die. My father’s death was completely devastating. I remain heartbroken, and our home feels empty. I have anxiety attacks, realizing Dad will never catch and hold me again. Additionally, we face overwhelming financial losses because he was our sole source of income. Now we struggle to survive on 25% of that amount. Unfortunately, life insurance was inadequate, covering only burial expenses. My mother may sell our home and downsize. She trimmed all expenses. We sold two vehicles, eat less food, stay home, and forego seeing friends. My mother stopped working to care for my father. Unfortunately, lifting him damaged her back and she can no longer work, especially considering added depression and anxiety.

My father’s death also significantly impacted college plans. I originally planned to attend medical school and study dermatology. My 17-year-old brother begins college Fall 2022. Paying for one undergraduate degree presents hardships, but two stretches finances beyond all capabilities. Now downscaled, my goals are to become a Certified Nursing Practitioner. Medical school is not an option. To provide for ourselves, my brother and I work hard in school to obtain merit scholarships. I have been granted Work-Study. Meanwhile, I seek any job to begin work ASAP to support us. I will also work while attending college. It may take longer and be more difficult, but I am determined to obtain my degree and become a CNP, as foundations for a better life, no matter what it takes. Through this, I learned financial planning, including life insurance, is imperative to preserve family goals.

If my father had adequate insurance, I would not be anxious about finances. Medical school would be possible. I would not work but, rather, focus on schoolwork. I would eat well and socialize with friends. I would be a carefree teenager and the little girl thrown into air or jumping into pools. With adequate insurance, my father would have “caught” me in my time of need. I will not make similar mistakes when I have a family. If one dies, lost income must be replaced to provide for family and prevent severe financial hardships.

This scholarship would relieve my financial anxiety. I will pay forward your kindness by giving back to others in need. This scholarship could (and would) change my life. I would be extremely honored and humbled to receive it. I promise to represent you well, in honor of my father.