I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, but it wasn’t the platform for success that I had hoped for. So here I am, a freshman in college again at 47. I am following my passion, purpose, and responsibility.

I couldn’t make ends meet as a public-school educator and a single mom. I knew something needed to change, and between winning the lottery (which I don’t play) or becoming my own hero, I chose the latter.

I am incredibly grateful to be chosen as a beneficiary of the Gilda E. Nardone Scholarship, which will help to bring my vision closer to fruition.

I’ve been interested in architecture and interior design for as long as I can remember. After finally escaping a 12-year abusive relationship and marriage, I vowed to create the life my two sons and I deserve, one that will ensure a safe and stable environment for us. I’ve never been more sure, motivated, challenged, or in my element. Nor have I ever experienced such financial fragility.

The architecture program at UMA is intense; the workload is staggering. I’m still trying to establish a balance between being a single mom, my work-study job and my course work and I genuinely believe that my boys watching me struggle and work hard for something I really want has value.

The abuse I endured in my marriage was an unseen, almost silent, coercive, controlling manipulation that systematically devalued me and had us constantly walking on eggshells. There are many reasons that victims may not leave their situations, but I don’t want one of them to be because they couldn’t take their pets.

As a freshman in a five-year program, it will be a long time before my goals can be realized, or even really set in motion, but I do know what community I want to serve, advocate and design for: I would love for my residential architecture firm to be a platform for creating a magnificent web of safe and beautiful spaces for victims of domestic violence, their children, and pets.

It sounds cliche, but the advice I would give to others is that it’s never too late to do the “thing.” Do it. No one’s coming to save you. Be who you were meant to be and light up the dark.