Paige Benjamin Schooling Fundraiser
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I have "Bolded" the important moments in my story because I understand everyones time is precious. Thank you for taking the time to come to my Go Fund Me, every donation, and kind thought is greatly appreciated.
My name is Paige Benjamin. I am a 32-year-old single mother of two beautiful kids. There names are Terrel,6, and Chynna, 8. They are amazing kids, and are what give me purpose to be kind and to be the best me. On days that are hard, they make me smile. On days when the news is unbearable, they give me faith about the good in the world.
I am the 5th child of ten kids. Four of my siblings and I joined the Army. My mom also spent some time in service before we were all born. So service is important to my family. I joined the military before walking across the graduation stage. I joined the Delayed Entry Program six months before graduation day and left for basic one month after graduation. My two sisters had already joined and been in service for 4 years before I enlisted. My brother joined while I was deployed.
The worst part about Basic Training was that Hurricane Katrina happened while is was in South Carolina, and trainees from Louisiana couldn’t get in touch with family for over a week. I could write a book on my insane experience at BCT alone. But that’s for another conversation.
My first duty station was Mannheim Germany, where I deployed with my unit to Camp Taji, Iraq. We were deployed for a total of 15 months, with the standard Army deployment being one year. Many things happened on that deployment, as does with ALL deployments, that I am not fully ready to share.
After returning from deployment, everything seemed fine; everyone seemed fine. It was at that time the unit announced that we would be disbanded. Everyone was devastated. The family we had been to battle with, had survived with, had shared unique moments with, was separating. We got our orders and the devastation really hit. To share this rare experience with someone and poof they are gone. I don’t think any of us thought it would feel like that. Usually, in the Army, changing stations is part of the job; but when you share a combat tour, it creates a different bond. So, we all left Germany, with that on our spirit. What I didn’t know was that it was the first sign of what was to come. In the years following the disbandment, several of my combat battle buddies passed away under various circumstances. It was questionable and made my duty station change even more difficult.
From that point on, there was a hole inside. At the time I thought it was just sadness. But it turned into full blown anxiety, depression, and what I would later find out was PTSD. I was now stationed at Ft. Drum, NY. 10th Mountain Infantry Division. It was there that I was diagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder with Depressive Mood. I started going to therapy sessions and was prescribed meds to stabilize my mood. Things started to turn around. I was at a fork in the road. Re-enlistment or separation. Was I ready to get out? Being a solider was all I knew and the only job I ever had. I was apprehensive about the transition, as I heard horror stories of the difficulties of the VA. The unit announced a possible deployment, and I was in a state of shock. The thought of losing anybody else was unthinkable to me. My psyche couldn’t take it. I decided to separate and go into the Army Reserves.
My first week back home, I couldn’t sleep. I did not feel like I was home. It took some time, but I decided to get some help. I was diagnosed with PTSD. I felt like I was better and stopped going to appointments and taking the meds. Shortly after, I began attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Two years into my degree, I got pregnant. My pregnancy was not planned, so mentally I was not prepared. The thought of bringing a child into this world bought fear like no other. The thought of all the bad things that could happen. My depression creeped back up. It seemed like my life was filled with transitions that I couldn’t handle. I had flunked that semester. I suffered from postpartum depression and it took me a year to get back into school, but I was determined. I got pregnant two years later, and the same thing happened. My semester ended badly. After having my son, I suffered with more cyst in my breast, and had to have surgery again. So now it’s taken me a little over two years to get back into school. In that time my loans went into default. With two kids and no financial help I couldn’t pay into it. I attempted to consolidate, but I couldn’t adhere to the payment plans and was released from the program. But I still had my GI Bill. My GPA was at 1.9 and I have bought it all the way back up to making the DEAN’s List. I am so proud of myself. It’s now May 2019, and I am 2 semesters away from my degree and my GI Bill is exhausted, and I am drowning in student loan debt. Really, I am just trying to find a way to take care of my kids, myself, and my education, all at the same time.
Race Imboden Testimony:
My name is Race Imboden, I am helping Paige with her campaign.
Paige was kind enough to share all her documents to help me, I can assure you that her story was true and the money will be used to help her finish her education.
Paige provided verification of:
-Service with the US Army, and Deployment in Iraq
- Proof of College Enrollment and Shared her Transcripts
-Receipts and documentations showing she is receiving Therapy for PTSD
I also had multiple conversations with Paige and got to know her personally before helping with this project.
I am happy to stand behind Paige and help her just like I hope many of you are willing too. She is so deserving and excited to be able to finish school, help other veterans, and provide the best life for her children.
Paige asked me to help her raise 11,500$ for schooling, I added 10,000 dollars on-top of that to help her pay off her student loans.
Thank you for your time and your donations lets help Paige!
My name is Paige Benjamin. I am a 32-year-old single mother of two beautiful kids. There names are Terrel,6, and Chynna, 8. They are amazing kids, and are what give me purpose to be kind and to be the best me. On days that are hard, they make me smile. On days when the news is unbearable, they give me faith about the good in the world.
I am the 5th child of ten kids. Four of my siblings and I joined the Army. My mom also spent some time in service before we were all born. So service is important to my family. I joined the military before walking across the graduation stage. I joined the Delayed Entry Program six months before graduation day and left for basic one month after graduation. My two sisters had already joined and been in service for 4 years before I enlisted. My brother joined while I was deployed.
The worst part about Basic Training was that Hurricane Katrina happened while is was in South Carolina, and trainees from Louisiana couldn’t get in touch with family for over a week. I could write a book on my insane experience at BCT alone. But that’s for another conversation.
My first duty station was Mannheim Germany, where I deployed with my unit to Camp Taji, Iraq. We were deployed for a total of 15 months, with the standard Army deployment being one year. Many things happened on that deployment, as does with ALL deployments, that I am not fully ready to share.
After returning from deployment, everything seemed fine; everyone seemed fine. It was at that time the unit announced that we would be disbanded. Everyone was devastated. The family we had been to battle with, had survived with, had shared unique moments with, was separating. We got our orders and the devastation really hit. To share this rare experience with someone and poof they are gone. I don’t think any of us thought it would feel like that. Usually, in the Army, changing stations is part of the job; but when you share a combat tour, it creates a different bond. So, we all left Germany, with that on our spirit. What I didn’t know was that it was the first sign of what was to come. In the years following the disbandment, several of my combat battle buddies passed away under various circumstances. It was questionable and made my duty station change even more difficult.
From that point on, there was a hole inside. At the time I thought it was just sadness. But it turned into full blown anxiety, depression, and what I would later find out was PTSD. I was now stationed at Ft. Drum, NY. 10th Mountain Infantry Division. It was there that I was diagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder with Depressive Mood. I started going to therapy sessions and was prescribed meds to stabilize my mood. Things started to turn around. I was at a fork in the road. Re-enlistment or separation. Was I ready to get out? Being a solider was all I knew and the only job I ever had. I was apprehensive about the transition, as I heard horror stories of the difficulties of the VA. The unit announced a possible deployment, and I was in a state of shock. The thought of losing anybody else was unthinkable to me. My psyche couldn’t take it. I decided to separate and go into the Army Reserves.
My first week back home, I couldn’t sleep. I did not feel like I was home. It took some time, but I decided to get some help. I was diagnosed with PTSD. I felt like I was better and stopped going to appointments and taking the meds. Shortly after, I began attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Two years into my degree, I got pregnant. My pregnancy was not planned, so mentally I was not prepared. The thought of bringing a child into this world bought fear like no other. The thought of all the bad things that could happen. My depression creeped back up. It seemed like my life was filled with transitions that I couldn’t handle. I had flunked that semester. I suffered from postpartum depression and it took me a year to get back into school, but I was determined. I got pregnant two years later, and the same thing happened. My semester ended badly. After having my son, I suffered with more cyst in my breast, and had to have surgery again. So now it’s taken me a little over two years to get back into school. In that time my loans went into default. With two kids and no financial help I couldn’t pay into it. I attempted to consolidate, but I couldn’t adhere to the payment plans and was released from the program. But I still had my GI Bill. My GPA was at 1.9 and I have bought it all the way back up to making the DEAN’s List. I am so proud of myself. It’s now May 2019, and I am 2 semesters away from my degree and my GI Bill is exhausted, and I am drowning in student loan debt. Really, I am just trying to find a way to take care of my kids, myself, and my education, all at the same time.
Race Imboden Testimony:
My name is Race Imboden, I am helping Paige with her campaign.
Paige was kind enough to share all her documents to help me, I can assure you that her story was true and the money will be used to help her finish her education.
Paige provided verification of:
-Service with the US Army, and Deployment in Iraq
- Proof of College Enrollment and Shared her Transcripts
-Receipts and documentations showing she is receiving Therapy for PTSD
I also had multiple conversations with Paige and got to know her personally before helping with this project.
I am happy to stand behind Paige and help her just like I hope many of you are willing too. She is so deserving and excited to be able to finish school, help other veterans, and provide the best life for her children.
Paige asked me to help her raise 11,500$ for schooling, I added 10,000 dollars on-top of that to help her pay off her student loans.
Thank you for your time and your donations lets help Paige!
Organizer
Paige Benjamin
Organizer
Breaux Bridge, LA
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