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2016 Family Pathways graduates

Buckner is so proud of the graduates of the class of 2016 of the Family Pathways program. These moms have worked through emotional, physical and spiritual issues, in addition to raising their children and completing a college degree. We thought it would be fun to hear more about the graduates, their dreams and why they never gave up. Check out their stories!

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Name: Jessica Wheeler Number of children: One Dream job: Nurse Degree: Associates Degree of Nursing School: Armarillo College Advice for other moms: No matter what life throws at you, don’t give up on your goals. Reason for never giving up: My daughter is the reason I never gave up. Name: Jessica Wheeler Number of children: One Dream job: Nurse Degree: Associates Degree of Nursing School: Armarillo College Advice for other moms: No matter what life throws at you, don’t give up on your goals. Reason for never giving up: My daughter is the reason I never gave up.
Name: Haleigh Anthony Number of children: One Dream job: School Nurse possibly; I want more experience as a nurse to really decide. Degree: Associates Degree of Science in Nursing (RN) School: Angelina College Advice for other moms: A bad day doesn Name: Haleigh Anthony Number of children: One Dream job: School Nurse possibly; I want more experience as a nurse to really decide. Degree: Associates Degree of Science in Nursing (RN) School: Angelina College Advice for other moms: A bad day doesn't make you a bad parent. Do your best, realize parenting is not a competition, have fun with your child, kiss him/her way too much and everything will be just fine. Reason for never giving up: After the birth of my daughter, I had twice the reason to be successful (for myself and for her). It was never an option for me to give up because I was working hard for both of us.
Name: Tawonna Robinson Number of children: One Dream job: Critical Care Travel Nurse Degree: Associate in Applied Science, (RN) School: Angelina College Advice for other moms: Do not give up on your dreams. Being a single mother doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world and your life has to end. Just believe and work hard and success will be yours. Reason for never giving up: My daughter Avery motivates me to work hard; everything I do is because of her. Name: Tawonna Robinson Number of children: One Dream job: Critical Care Travel Nurse Degree: Associate in Applied Science, (RN) School: Angelina College Advice for other moms: Do not give up on your dreams. Being a single mother doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world and your life has to end. Just believe and work hard and success will be yours. Reason for never giving up: My daughter Avery motivates me to work hard; everything I do is because of her.
Name: Jocelyn Trejo Number of children: Two Dream job: To own my own accounting firm Degree: Associate Degree in Small Business Management School: The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Advice for other moms: The advice I would give other mothers is to never compare yourself to anyone. For such a long time I thought everyone else had it all together and the more I compared, the more I put myself down. It’s like an ice pick and the more you compare yourself to others, the more you chip away at your own success. Strive to build your own path and truly find your place. But all of this advice can only take you so far. The best thing to truly come from Buckner is finding Christ. You find Christ as a person, as a daughter of Christ and as a mother, then nothing can stop you. Reason for never giving up: I have two amazing daughters, ages 5 and 7. They are my world and my reason for not giving up. I knew they were watching me and still are. I am an example for them and hope to provide a stable and secure life for them. My daughters are my life line and my strength. When I thought I could do nothing right, I would look at my daughters and know God wouldn’t bless me with these gifts if he didn’t think I could do right by them. Name: Jocelyn Trejo Number of children: Two Dream job: To own my own accounting firm Degree: Associate Degree in Small Business Management School: The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Advice for other moms: The advice I would give other mothers is to never compare yourself to anyone. For such a long time I thought everyone else had it all together and the more I compared, the more I put myself down. It’s like an ice pick and the more you compare yourself to others, the more you chip away at your own success. Strive to build your own path and truly find your place. But all of this advice can only take you so far. The best thing to truly come from Buckner is finding Christ. You find Christ as a person, as a daughter of Christ and as a mother, then nothing can stop you. Reason for never giving up: I have two amazing daughters, ages 5 and 7. They are my world and my reason for not giving up. I knew they were watching me and still are. I am an example for them and hope to provide a stable and secure life for them. My daughters are my life line and my strength. When I thought I could do nothing right, I would look at my daughters and know God wouldn’t bless me with these gifts if he didn’t think I could do right by them.
Name: Kelsey S. Hernandez Number of children: Two Dream job: Federal Bureau of Investigations Degree: Bachelor of Applied Technology in Organizational Management and Certificate in Latina Leadership (Previously earned an Associate of Science in General Studies and Associate of Applied Science in Small Business Management while at Buckner) School: Midland College/ Baptist University of the Americas Advice for other moms: Discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ. When you just focus on yourself (problems, pain, Name: Kelsey S. Hernandez Number of children: Two Dream job: Federal Bureau of Investigations Degree: Bachelor of Applied Technology in Organizational Management and Certificate in Latina Leadership (Previously earned an Associate of Science in General Studies and Associate of Applied Science in Small Business Management while at Buckner) School: Midland College/ Baptist University of the Americas Advice for other moms: Discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ. When you just focus on yourself (problems, pain,
Name: Franscheska Dixon Number of children: One Dream job: To work as a paralegal under an attorney within a top law firm. Degree: Degree in Paralegal Studies School: El Centro College Advice for other moms: First, keep God number one in your lives and make prayer a daily routine. Secondly, stay focused on the goal that you set out for yourself, dealing with your educational goals while you’re given the chance. Thanks to Family Pathways the rent is cheap and the environment is safe for your children. Thirdly, if you shall get knocked off your horse get back on it ASAP, and try not to let someone see that you fell. Fourthly, Never take for granted this opportunity given to you, to get your life together because, if God and others see that you’re not trying to succeed this opportunity can be taken from you and given to someone whom needs it more. Reason for never giving up: I knew I only had two years to accomplish everything I needed for myself and my children. Name: Franscheska Dixon Number of children: One Dream job: To work as a paralegal under an attorney within a top law firm. Degree: Degree in Paralegal Studies School: El Centro College Advice for other moms: First, keep God number one in your lives and make prayer a daily routine. Secondly, stay focused on the goal that you set out for yourself, dealing with your educational goals while you’re given the chance. Thanks to Family Pathways the rent is cheap and the environment is safe for your children. Thirdly, if you shall get knocked off your horse get back on it ASAP, and try not to let someone see that you fell. Fourthly, Never take for granted this opportunity given to you, to get your life together because, if God and others see that you’re not trying to succeed this opportunity can be taken from you and given to someone whom needs it more. Reason for never giving up: I knew I only had two years to accomplish everything I needed for myself and my children.
Name: Shanna Bush Number of Children: Two Degree: Human Resource Management, Future Associates Degree from Strayer University Dream job: To be a human resource manager at a major company. Advice for other moms: Make a plan and stick with it. Make your goals specific. Make a contract with yourself, and sign your name. Promise yourself to move ahead with a well thought-out plan. Single moms in college do not have the option to procrastinate. Guaranteed, the first time you put off an important school paper, a child will get the flu, and the paper will not be done on time. The best way to manage the inevitable stresses of juggling multiple responsibilities as a single parent in college is to prioritize and NOT procrastinate. When your assignments are completed, you can enjoy guilt-free the time away from the pressures of school. When returning to school, you must learn to say no to demands that do not help you. Reason for never giving up is: Giving up was never an option for me. I look at my children daily and that was my motivation. I also had a very strong support system behind me. I had my immediate family, my church family, and my Family Pathway Family That I’ve had since June 2013. Now I’m an honor student on the president’s list, dean’s list. If I can do it at the age of 41 then so can each and every one of you ladies. Never give up! Name: Shanna Bush Number of Children: Two Degree: Human Resource Management, Future Associates Degree from Strayer University Dream job: To be a human resource manager at a major company. Advice for other moms: Make a plan and stick with it. Make your goals specific. Make a contract with yourself, and sign your name. Promise yourself to move ahead with a well thought-out plan. Single moms in college do not have the option to procrastinate. Guaranteed, the first time you put off an important school paper, a child will get the flu, and the paper will not be done on time. The best way to manage the inevitable stresses of juggling multiple responsibilities as a single parent in college is to prioritize and NOT procrastinate. When your assignments are completed, you can enjoy guilt-free the time away from the pressures of school. When returning to school, you must learn to say no to demands that do not help you. Reason for never giving up is: Giving up was never an option for me. I look at my children daily and that was my motivation. I also had a very strong support system behind me. I had my immediate family, my church family, and my Family Pathway Family That I’ve had since June 2013. Now I’m an honor student on the president’s list, dean’s list. If I can do it at the age of 41 then so can each and every one of you ladies. Never give up!
Name: Sierra Woodard Number of children: One Dream job: Oral Hygienist Degree: Certified Dental Assistant School: Brookhaven Community College Advice for other moms: Do not mentally defeat yourself; continually remind yourself that success takes hard work. Reason for never giving up: Romans 8:31. My daughter is my inspiration for never giving up. I want to show her how to persevere through adversity. Name: Sierra Woodard Number of children: One Dream job: Oral Hygienist Degree: Certified Dental Assistant School: Brookhaven Community College Advice for other moms: Do not mentally defeat yourself; continually remind yourself that success takes hard work. Reason for never giving up: Romans 8:31. My daughter is my inspiration for never giving up. I want to show her how to persevere through adversity.
Name: Latoya Carter Number of children: Two Dream job: N/A Degree: Graduate of Medical School School: N/A Advice for other moms: Throughout my time spent in the program, I learned how to deal with my emotions and anger. Years of anger I had built up inside of me from different situations in life. Reason for never giving up: Buckner has changed me for the better and Mrs. Cynthia has a huge part in making that happen. Buckner Family Pathways is a beautiful program for single mothers that want to achieve things in life. The program works for those who follow the rules of the program and respects the blessing God has given. Buckner will always hold a special place in my family Name: Latoya Carter Number of children: Two Dream job: N/A Degree: Graduate of Medical School School: N/A Advice for other moms: Throughout my time spent in the program, I learned how to deal with my emotions and anger. Years of anger I had built up inside of me from different situations in life. Reason for never giving up: Buckner has changed me for the better and Mrs. Cynthia has a huge part in making that happen. Buckner Family Pathways is a beautiful program for single mothers that want to achieve things in life. The program works for those who follow the rules of the program and respects the blessing God has given. Buckner will always hold a special place in my family's heart.

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