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Award Winner Personal Story
Application Letter from
Nicole Kennedy
Second-place winner of Soroptimist International Valley of the Sun
Seven years ago I became homeless due to domestic violence. I never could have imagined this happening to me or anyone I knew. After years of progressively worsening verbal and at times physical abuse by my former husband I summoned the strength to leave and filed for divorce. This threw him into a violent rage and held us at gunpoint while promising to kill us all. We were rescued by the swat team and he was arrested.
During his imprisonment our business failed and we were left with little financial or emotional resources. Due to a technicality, he was acquitted and released from jail within a year and immediately began menacing us. Fearing for my families' safety, I packed what I could in my car and headed across country.
Reluctantly, I turned to public assistance which led to feelings of depression and hopelessness. A referral to a program called the Fresh Start Women's Foundation helped me get the skills 1 needed to continue my life in the right direction. 1 no longer live in fear of my husband finding us; my children and I have new names and social security numbers, and most importantly we have a new home.
My new life was stabilizing when tragedy struck again. My sister Margaret died suddenly and I became the guardian of her 16-year-old daughter. Giving my niece the support she needs at this tragic time has been challenging. but we have done our best to welcome her into our home and family.
We have survived so much. I realize we need to change gears from survival to growth mode. The biggest hurdle we're facing is my lack of a college education. I found attending school while working full-time makes earning a degree an extremely long process. 1 decided returning to college full time is in my family's best interest. Last fall I enrolled full-time at Arizona State University and left my job. The decision to put my education first will afford me the time and energy to excel at my studies. The next few years will require sacrifice from my family and me. Knowing that the sacrifices will yield great returns not only financially but as a standard of education for my children to inspire to will make it all worth it.
My academic goals are to obtain my bachelor's degree in accounting and ultimately become a Certified Public Accountant. My career goals are to find an accounting position in a company where I can advance and learn. I often imagine myself working in the non-profit sector so I can use my newly learned skills to earn a living doing work that would be meaningful to me.
For most of my adult life I have been an active volunteer. I have helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity, served food to the homeless in soup kitchens, served as the vice president of my children's school PTA and serve on the board of my neighborhood association. It is exciting to think that with a degree in Accounting I can be of even further service to my community. I plan to use my knowledge in volunteering for tax preparation services offered to the elderly through my local library, volunteer my services with the local Small Business Administration and if the opportunity arises work full time in the non- profit sector.
Scholarships have played an integral part in helping me be a successful student and care for my family. If approved for this scholarship 1 will be able to continue making school my primary focus so I can graduate as planned. With my planned graduation a year and a half away I do not want to waiver from my goal and your scholarship will help me stay on track.
