2021
 Pacific Life Recipient

Rainna Daharsh

AMOUNT: $15,000
SCHOOL: University of Nebraska - Kearney

My name is Rainna Daharsh I am from Gretna, Nebraska, attending Gretna High School. The most significant and life-changing experience was when I was 13 years old, I never realized how real an addiction could get, alcohol took my father from me. This was a big impact on my life and family considering my mother was a single mom with three kids and left with nothing. After the death of my father, I wasn’t planning on going to college if it weren’t for soccer. This was not only tough on me but it was tough on my family as well. We didn’t have much money, my mother went from paycheck to paycheck paying for our sports fees and food, nothing was spent on herself. I knew that if I wanted to attend college it had to come from my love for the game. Kearney was the best fit for me, I was close to home, and it’s not overly expensive, I chose Kearney not only for soccer but to get a degree, I grew up in an abusive and mentally draining home when my father was alive. I want to help and save kids like me from this. Many kids are growing up in homes that aren’t stable, abusive, and not living the lifestyle they should. I want to stop the abuse that happens in homes. I want to help children have a better life and live in a better community. I would like to see kids go outside and play and not be afraid. Making life better for other people is a big goal, especially for kids. Getting a college degree can help me accomplish this goal.

My father had a life insurance policy and it was canceled a few years before he passed, With that policy, it would’ve helped my mother pay for our fees, school, and all of his debts he had, as well as pay for the funeral. It also would have helped her set up college funds for the three of us, she had struggled with just a single income. Life insurance could have helped us financially because there wasn’t any child support and if he was alive he would have contributed to it. I chose to help out my mom by getting a job and start paying for some of my gas and picking up and driving my siblings around and taking them places to get their minds off certain things. My little brother is just like me we love the sport we play, we are constantly outside playing and learning new skills. My sister is always inside acting or dancing to possibly pursue her dreams of acting. The three of us are always doing something to make our mother proud, she deserves everything after all she’s gone through. I chose to focus on soccer and hope for a scholarship in the future to help out my family and pursue my dreams of being apart of law enforcement and playing soccer in college.

The Life Lessons Scholarship is made possible through individual donations and corporate sponsorships. Your financial support can make a world of difference for a young person struggling to afford a college education due to the loss of a parent or guardian.

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