I have wanted to become a nurse for as long as I can remember. Honestly, for the longest time, I felt as if that dream was far out of reach. I came from a very poor family that didn’t value education. I was taken away from my parents at the age of 15 and placed into a situation that was not much better. Through the years, I have become the proud mother of five very beautiful and smart children. I used to own a residential cleaning service, but two years ago I was involved in a horrible car accident that put me into preterm labor with my youngest child, the same day my husband decided to leave us. Having no car, a new baby, and four other children to care for, I needed to do something. The injuries that I suffered left me unable to continue cleaning houses. It was through these circumstances that God opened my eyes, and I knew it was my time to reach my goals. By God’s grace and the help of the people at CCA I am seeing that my dream is within reach. I am so unbelievably grateful, not only for CCA, which has guided me to this point, but for my teacher Jeff Paganini, who took notice and thoughtfully nominated me for this award. Both CCA and Mr. Paganini will always hold a special place in my story.