For Gabby, change began with a single step. As a single mother of five, she walked into our office in tears. She had just been released from prison, was days away from losing permanent custody of her children, and had no plan for what came next.
A court hearing loomed in two weeks. The judge planned to sign the order severing her parental rights. We couldn’t change the court’s decision, but we could help her change herself.
“Have you ever considered college?” we asked. “Let’s fill out a FAFSA right now.”
When the form was complete, we challenged her to visit the community college, meet with an advisor, and explore her options.
The next day, Gabby burst through our door, smiling wide.
“I’m a full-time college student! I start Monday.”
That one step shifted everything. It changed the people she spent time with, the way she thought, and the opportunities within her reach.
Weeks later, she returned with news from court.
“I told the judge I was in college full-time. He looked at my schedule and said, ‘I’m not signing this today. Come back in two months and let’s see where you are.’”
Gabby made the most of that time. She earned honors, tutored other students in math, won a full scholarship to a prestigious engineering college, and regained custody of all five of her children.
We can’t always change our circumstances. But like Gabby, we can always choose the next step toward becoming who we’re meant to be.
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