Emily's College Dream
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Emily's Story
Emily is a special girl, despite the obstacles she has overcome in her 17 years. Her father struggled with addiction beginning when she was 3 and she has had to learn about this dark world at an early age. An exerpt from her college essay:
"When I was seven, I spent a week in the pediatric ICU with bacterial pneumonia. The doctors said I should have died. While I lay there struggling to breathe, I learned an early lesson about choices from the care I received from the people in the room. I learned about good choices from the generosity and love of my mother, the nurses, and the doctors who brought me back to life. I learned about bad choices from my father who was there at my bedside trying to figure out how he could take the medicine that was saving my life to feed his drug addiction.
At thirteen, when my friends were deciding what dress to wear to graduation, I was faced with the life-changing choice of whether to live with the uncertainty of a drug-addicted father or cut him from my life in order to maintain my health. I had lived with his addiction since I was three years old. I have a memory of visiting him in rehab, my colored crayon drawing the only spot of brightness in the room. Flash forward ten years, years filled with periods of brief sobriety that were always followed by his inevitable, but no less crushing, relapse. I remember our last phone conversation with piercing clarity. We had spent every Tuesday together since my parents separated shortly after that first trip to rehab, and he called to say he couldn’t make it (again) because he was busy and didn’t have any money. I had come to learn not to ask why because I already knew: “busy” was code for high and “I don’t have any money” meant that he had spent it all on drugs. My mother raised me to never feel sorry for myself, but I knew in that moment that I could no longer live caught in the crosshairs of his addiction. I would lose the man I loved most, but he had chosen drugs over me, and I needed to choose my health and happiness over him."
Emily has been an honor roll student for her entire ecedemic career. In addition, due to her serious illness as a child, and her volunteer work with children with cancer, her desire is to become a pediatric nurse. She feels she can relate to these special children in ways others cannot and they have helped her realize that she is truly fortunate, despite her struggles. She believes they help her more than she could ever help them.
Present Day
Last week Emily's father passed away due to health issues from his lifelong addiction. As with most addicts, he did not pay child support. There is no college fund for Emily due to lack of child support, and the struggles a single mother faces trying to balance work, school, and being both mother and father for many years. Emily's mom went back to school, became a special education teacher for children with disabilities, and tried to set the best example of how to use circumstances to make you stronger. Emily has a special relationship with every person in her famkily and her life because she, herself, is so special and giving of herself.
Her father passed away owing $17,000. in back child support and she also lost the social security stipend she received monthly. Emily has been accepted to almost every college, but has chosen a state school close to home for many reasons, however, finances play a big part. She received significant financial aid, but still has to come up with close to $7,000. each year to attend.
Emily's mother was forced to declare bankruptcy during the difficult financial years and has incurred significant student loan debt. Due to these circumstances and the loss of income, It will be up to Emily to try to secure the funds necessary to attend Worcester State College.
Can you help?
Emily has big hopes and dreams yet very limited options available to her to finance her college education.
Any contributions to help Emily lead the happy, normal, fulfilling life she so deserves would be so greatly appreciated.
Please share this with anyone you know who is looking to help a very special girl.
Thank you.
Emily is a special girl, despite the obstacles she has overcome in her 17 years. Her father struggled with addiction beginning when she was 3 and she has had to learn about this dark world at an early age. An exerpt from her college essay:
"When I was seven, I spent a week in the pediatric ICU with bacterial pneumonia. The doctors said I should have died. While I lay there struggling to breathe, I learned an early lesson about choices from the care I received from the people in the room. I learned about good choices from the generosity and love of my mother, the nurses, and the doctors who brought me back to life. I learned about bad choices from my father who was there at my bedside trying to figure out how he could take the medicine that was saving my life to feed his drug addiction.
At thirteen, when my friends were deciding what dress to wear to graduation, I was faced with the life-changing choice of whether to live with the uncertainty of a drug-addicted father or cut him from my life in order to maintain my health. I had lived with his addiction since I was three years old. I have a memory of visiting him in rehab, my colored crayon drawing the only spot of brightness in the room. Flash forward ten years, years filled with periods of brief sobriety that were always followed by his inevitable, but no less crushing, relapse. I remember our last phone conversation with piercing clarity. We had spent every Tuesday together since my parents separated shortly after that first trip to rehab, and he called to say he couldn’t make it (again) because he was busy and didn’t have any money. I had come to learn not to ask why because I already knew: “busy” was code for high and “I don’t have any money” meant that he had spent it all on drugs. My mother raised me to never feel sorry for myself, but I knew in that moment that I could no longer live caught in the crosshairs of his addiction. I would lose the man I loved most, but he had chosen drugs over me, and I needed to choose my health and happiness over him."
Emily has been an honor roll student for her entire ecedemic career. In addition, due to her serious illness as a child, and her volunteer work with children with cancer, her desire is to become a pediatric nurse. She feels she can relate to these special children in ways others cannot and they have helped her realize that she is truly fortunate, despite her struggles. She believes they help her more than she could ever help them.
Present Day
Last week Emily's father passed away due to health issues from his lifelong addiction. As with most addicts, he did not pay child support. There is no college fund for Emily due to lack of child support, and the struggles a single mother faces trying to balance work, school, and being both mother and father for many years. Emily's mom went back to school, became a special education teacher for children with disabilities, and tried to set the best example of how to use circumstances to make you stronger. Emily has a special relationship with every person in her famkily and her life because she, herself, is so special and giving of herself.
Her father passed away owing $17,000. in back child support and she also lost the social security stipend she received monthly. Emily has been accepted to almost every college, but has chosen a state school close to home for many reasons, however, finances play a big part. She received significant financial aid, but still has to come up with close to $7,000. each year to attend.
Emily's mother was forced to declare bankruptcy during the difficult financial years and has incurred significant student loan debt. Due to these circumstances and the loss of income, It will be up to Emily to try to secure the funds necessary to attend Worcester State College.
Can you help?
Emily has big hopes and dreams yet very limited options available to her to finance her college education.
Any contributions to help Emily lead the happy, normal, fulfilling life she so deserves would be so greatly appreciated.
Please share this with anyone you know who is looking to help a very special girl.
Thank you.
Organizer
Emily Trombley
Organizer
Paxton, MA