Rachel Childers gushes gratitude for the help she acquired from Arkansas Single Guardian Scholarship Fund.
Whereas attending Benton Magnificence Academy, the help coated almost all her tuition for the yearlong program. This allowed her to spend extra time together with her 10-year-old son, Gabe, as a result of she didn’t must work full-time whereas attending commerce college.
“As a single father or mother, having assets is so necessary,” she mentioned. “The scholarship allowed me to give attention to college — dedicate all my consideration to being right here, being current. I didn’t have to decide on between my training, being a father or mother, and a full-time job.”
EXAMPLE TO HER SON
After dropping Gabe’s father to his battle with psychological sickness, the mother-son duo turned concerned in suicide prevention outreach, akin to Out of the Darkness Walks. They’re additionally energetic members of Gracepoint Church in Benton.
Rachel mentioned it’s necessary she teaches her son tips on how to be a superb particular person.
“He desires to construct robots and go to MIT, and if he does, that’s nice! But when he doesn’t, I simply need him to be a superb particular person,” she mentioned. “I need him to see that there are other ways to achieve success.”
By attending magnificence college, Rachel is displaying her son that postsecondary training goes past a classroom at a four-year faculty establishment.
Since graduating in December 2021, Rachel discovered a job at RM Pores and skin Bar, and she or he’s lucky that her profession is sustainable in Benton. She plans to earn her instruction license so she will educate the subsequent technology of stylists.
“One of many main issues that I need my child to see is that you are able to do no matter you need — it doesn’t must be conventional,” she mentioned, including that some folks didn’t help her choice to grow to be a hairdresser.
After her first shopper, Rachel knew she had made the correct selection to check cosmetology. The shopper felt snug sufficient to share how she survived home abuse, and Rachel found she beloved serving to folks discover their interior magnificence and shine with confidence.
“I by no means knew being a hairdresser might can help you give again to folks in your neighborhood,” Rachel mentioned. “Service has all the time been part of me, and I wish to instill it in my son.”
In case you’re a single father or mother in commerce college, you’ll be able to apply for a scholarship! Study extra at aspsf.org/scholarships.