Jennifer has reached her fundraising goal on HandUp!

Why I'm using HandUp for my basic needs.

I have been so blessed to have been helped by HandUp in raising funds to purchase a computer as well as take my GED tests. I have passed all of the tests except Math (UGH!!) which I will take and hope to pass tomorrow. As soon as I have the certificate in hand I am doing a serious employment search. I am setting another HandUp goal for help in getting much needed dental work done. I am terribly self conscious about my front teeth and you will rarely catch me with an open mouth smile. I am vvery self conscious with people I know and far worse with ptoential employers or others I amy interact with. I cover my mouth when I speak due to the condition of my front teeth - not a great way to make a good impression on an employer. I am using HandUp because though I have MediCal, dental work is not covered and I am unable to pay for the work myself.

About me.

I grew up in Fremont California and didn't graduate from High School. That is my biggest regret of all! I clean houses and that is not the kind of career I dreamed about growing up. I am a single mom with two boys and always said I wanted to be a stay at home mom to make sure I was around them as they grew up. Now that they are grown and semi independent I really need to increase my skill level and become more employable. I have finally succeed in attaining my GED! and can't wait to go out there and find employment - now able to say on my resume that I have it! I worked with a tutor for several months and realized that I CAN learn something that is hard for me - now I feel more confident as I move forward - something that was always very foreign to me.

My backstory.

I always struggled when it came to school. Not only was I bullied, but I suffered from undiagnosed learning disabilities that made my school experience excruciating. Back then educators and parents weren't as aware of learning disabilities as they are now and how they affected performance and success in school. Now that I am older, I realize that it is not too late for me to return to school. I know now that in order to have a decent job, I needed to have my GED or High School diploma (at the least) to be competitive in a challenging job market. I struggled with homelessness for several years because of my lack of sustainable income, but have been fortunate to have gotten into affordable housing five years ago and now have permanent stable housing.

My goals, moving forward.

It's time for me to move forward, find stable employment and maybe even apply to be a student at Ohlone College where I want to complete their Court Stenography Program. I really want to have a career instead of miscellaneous jobs strung together to "just get by" - it's time for me to thrive!

Other things I'd like to share about myself.

For every person that has helped me out during times of struggle, I will Pay it Forward when I am a position to do so. Being grateful and appreciative for opportunities given to me (like the HandUp Program) has made me realize how important it is to give back. I would also like to do for my children what my parents were unable to do for me: provide financial support when they are struggling or need extra help. I also would like to model for my children and now grandchild! the importance of education and the opportunities that education can provide them.