Back To School To Change Kids Lives
Donation protected
My name is Stephanie and I'm seeking some help in getting certified to teach Elementary Education here in Florida.
It was only a few years ago when life for me was moving a million miles an hour and I was truly living a dream. I was successful in a career I loved. I was living in a big city, winning awards for my work and was more than self sufficient.
However, my life and world all changed in an instant. I received a phone call from my Dad - he was sick. Like couldn't even talk to me on the phone sick. I rushed down to be by his side, and it wasn't long before I was told his organs were failing, and he had a terminal cancer called Myloma. Life would never be the same. How could my strong, healthy and young dad be so sick?!
While the doctors seemed to get him back on track for a little while - I knew I was going to have to give up my everything to be with him and care for him (he was single and lived alone).....and that is exactly what I did. I left my job, left my awesomely single NYC apartment and went to FL to be my Dad's sole caretaker. I slept on his couch, took care of all his medications and cared for my father's every need, who was never the same. It was two and a half years of doctors, chemo appointments, devistating news, etc. Watching him suffer and go through that pain is something no child should ever have to witness. However, I wanted to be there for him, he was my everything, my best friend, my mentor and most of all, my Dad.
I knew I had limited time with my dad and giving up my "life" was a small price to pay to spend time with him - time that I knew I would never get back. We were not a wealthy family by any means, but were doing "ok" before this illness. But cancer sucks in every sense of the word. And it financially sucked as well. It is expensive. We blew through all of my dad's savings, all of my savings and other family members had to help. I tried to work as much as I could, but caring for someone with cancer isn't easy and bosses don't really understand. By the time he passed away - we were left with nothing.
When he did pass away two years ago, my life was shattered and it took time to get back on my feet. I had lost everything. It was hard to move through every day. But I did. I put one foot in front of each other and kept moving. I was lucky enough to find an amazing man, who has an amazing daughter. He made me smile and "live" again. He is the love of my life and we recently got married. However, we have struggled immensely financially as I haven't been able to get my career back as it is mostly based out of NYC and LA. Work here is very hard to come by and any interview I do get, I am told that I am way too over qualified (or don't have the right "skills"). My husbands job doesn't pay much and we were living in my dad's home to get, but family forced us out. We have truly been put through the ringer (I won't bore you with the details) and are now REALLY struggling to pay our rent, electric and put food on the table. We've been struggling for a while (ugh if only we could get a mortgage - our expenses would be cut in half!). And it's very VERY scary. We are on the verge of having to ask for public assistance just to eat. A far cry from where I was before my dad got sick.
So, now its time for a change. I refuse to be in this position any longer. I have been thinking about a career change and how I want to positively effect young people's lives. I've thought about everything from Social Work to Nursing, but truly feel as though Teaching is my true calling. Ever since I was little I had wanted to be a teacher, but I never pursued that route as I had larger financial apsirations. Ha. But that hasn't worked out and I believe deep down this is what I am meant to do.
This is where your help comes in. I have a Bachelors degree so I just need to take a few courses in order to get cerfied. ANY donation would be hugely helpful as we desperately need to get back on our feet and I'm ready to get to work and help shape our youth. Yes this may seem like a lofty goal - but I believe in dreaming BIG!
Many thanks for reading my story and hope you can find it in your heart to donate to my account.
PS: Yes, I know many many people say "stay away from teaching" but if we say that to everyone who believes teaching is their calling - who is going to teach and mold our young people in a few short years??
It was only a few years ago when life for me was moving a million miles an hour and I was truly living a dream. I was successful in a career I loved. I was living in a big city, winning awards for my work and was more than self sufficient.
However, my life and world all changed in an instant. I received a phone call from my Dad - he was sick. Like couldn't even talk to me on the phone sick. I rushed down to be by his side, and it wasn't long before I was told his organs were failing, and he had a terminal cancer called Myloma. Life would never be the same. How could my strong, healthy and young dad be so sick?!
While the doctors seemed to get him back on track for a little while - I knew I was going to have to give up my everything to be with him and care for him (he was single and lived alone).....and that is exactly what I did. I left my job, left my awesomely single NYC apartment and went to FL to be my Dad's sole caretaker. I slept on his couch, took care of all his medications and cared for my father's every need, who was never the same. It was two and a half years of doctors, chemo appointments, devistating news, etc. Watching him suffer and go through that pain is something no child should ever have to witness. However, I wanted to be there for him, he was my everything, my best friend, my mentor and most of all, my Dad.
I knew I had limited time with my dad and giving up my "life" was a small price to pay to spend time with him - time that I knew I would never get back. We were not a wealthy family by any means, but were doing "ok" before this illness. But cancer sucks in every sense of the word. And it financially sucked as well. It is expensive. We blew through all of my dad's savings, all of my savings and other family members had to help. I tried to work as much as I could, but caring for someone with cancer isn't easy and bosses don't really understand. By the time he passed away - we were left with nothing.
When he did pass away two years ago, my life was shattered and it took time to get back on my feet. I had lost everything. It was hard to move through every day. But I did. I put one foot in front of each other and kept moving. I was lucky enough to find an amazing man, who has an amazing daughter. He made me smile and "live" again. He is the love of my life and we recently got married. However, we have struggled immensely financially as I haven't been able to get my career back as it is mostly based out of NYC and LA. Work here is very hard to come by and any interview I do get, I am told that I am way too over qualified (or don't have the right "skills"). My husbands job doesn't pay much and we were living in my dad's home to get, but family forced us out. We have truly been put through the ringer (I won't bore you with the details) and are now REALLY struggling to pay our rent, electric and put food on the table. We've been struggling for a while (ugh if only we could get a mortgage - our expenses would be cut in half!). And it's very VERY scary. We are on the verge of having to ask for public assistance just to eat. A far cry from where I was before my dad got sick.
So, now its time for a change. I refuse to be in this position any longer. I have been thinking about a career change and how I want to positively effect young people's lives. I've thought about everything from Social Work to Nursing, but truly feel as though Teaching is my true calling. Ever since I was little I had wanted to be a teacher, but I never pursued that route as I had larger financial apsirations. Ha. But that hasn't worked out and I believe deep down this is what I am meant to do.
This is where your help comes in. I have a Bachelors degree so I just need to take a few courses in order to get cerfied. ANY donation would be hugely helpful as we desperately need to get back on our feet and I'm ready to get to work and help shape our youth. Yes this may seem like a lofty goal - but I believe in dreaming BIG!
Many thanks for reading my story and hope you can find it in your heart to donate to my account.
PS: Yes, I know many many people say "stay away from teaching" but if we say that to everyone who believes teaching is their calling - who is going to teach and mold our young people in a few short years??
Organizer
Stephanie Carle Bearkland
Organizer
Palm Harbor, FL