Success Stories
Attending college alone is daunting, without having the financial hardships to make this milestone all the more challenging. As a child of former migrant workers, my parents worked hard to provide us with the bare essentials to reach “The American Dream.” I saw them fight every day to give us a better life. Their struggle and sacrifices became my fire to want to do more. I wanted to prove their efforts were not in vain. Financially, my parents could not fully support our DREAMS, but The Indiantown Education Coalition gave us the hope and inspiration to push through any obstacles that may come our way. In 1995, the IEC believed in me and gave us a start in reaching “The American Dream.” For this, I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to be a positive contributor to society. Today, I am an educator, aspiring to touch the lives of our children today as the Indiantown Education Coalition has done for me personally. For thirteen years, I have been teaching Reading/Language Arts in my hometown community. I strongly hope my students continue to have the support and encouragement through IEC scholarships awarded to fulfill any of their future endeavors.
Growing up in Indiantown gave me the best foundation for my future. I firmly believe the rich cultural diversity and the small town community have both contributed to my personal success. The Indiantown Education Coalition granted me a scholarship in 1997 when I graduated from South Fork High School. The scholarship was instrumental in starting my first semester of college. I remember saying to myself, “How am I going to pay for college?” Going to college was a big step for this small town girl, and getting help with my school supplies was critical. The financial support from the Indiantown Education Coalition helped pay for my books the first semester. I felt like their support helped to push me into my future. Indiantown Education Coalition started my path to a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. I am working at the Martin County School District as the Coordinator of Risk and Employee Benefits, and I would not be here today without my education. I would like to extend my gratitude and thanks to you for helping me achieve such great success!