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Featured story:

Story Archive

Dream First

I already have one featured story on this site, but it is a few years out of date, and I thought an update would be nice. My first thought for you today - Dream first, then follow that dream.

1997 – I could barely carry myself to the UA campus. Scared to death, unsure, insecure.
2001 – Graduated with my bachelor's degree. What pride. I walked across that stage and there at the end stood my reason for it all. My two boys were so proud to see their mom, even though they did not quite understand the magnitude of what I had accomplished.
2003 – Graduated AGAIN – this time with my master's degree. Now, mind you, I am thinking the whole time as I crossed that stage – How many years until I reach this point again?

Let me just tell you. It's March 2004, and I am about to finish the first year of my doctoral program. I can hardly believe I have gotten this far, especially from where I began.
Read Teresa's Story...

Gaining Confidence - and a Degree - Online

I shudder as I remember high school geometry class. It was something I just didn't get. But now as I look back, I have finally grasped one concept that eluded me in the past. Do you remember the diagrams with lines, rays, and angles on them? Our task was to identify each one and label the points involved? I never understood how one point could be in both a line and an angle-one turns, one goes straight.

Now I get it. My 33rd birthday was such a point.
Read Donna's Story...

We've come a long way

In 1997, I abruptly left an extremely violent and abusive 10-year relationship. My children were 14, 11, 8, and 6. Because I had such a large family, there was no room for us at any of the shelters. Therefore, for 6 months, my children and I slept at a different home every night. To insure our safety, I had to quit my job where I worked for 14 years. We were living on my social security income that I was receiving from my late husband, who was the father of my first two children.

Finally, with the grace of God, I was able to get us an apartment. It was then, when I decided to start my life all over again. I enrolled into five classes at a community college. I was blessed to find another job as a part time employee.
Read Paulita's Story...