When Rebecca started her journey to a college degree, she did not expect a four-year degree plan to take 12 years. In those 12 years, she experienced barriers and setbacks that would derail most people’s plans. Still, Rebecca never gave up.

“My academic journey was long and filled with challenges,” Rebecca said. When the barrier of expensive child care for her son threatened her ability to focus on her studies, she found the United Way Child Care Scholarship. The signature cause of Women United, the Child Care Scholarship provides parents with free, high-quality child care so they can focus on their education.

Rebecca was forced to step away from her education several times due to unforeseen challenges. With the scholarship, she no longer had to sacrifice her degree in order to pay for the high-cost of child care.

This summer, Rebecca finally achieved her goal by earning her bachelor’s degree from Palo Alto College. During her 12-year journey to this tremendous accomplishment, she faced countless roadblocks along the way. During this time span, she had to stop taking classes several times, experienced the loss of both of her parents, adapted to military life, experienced postpartum depression, survived a rollover car accident and endured a four-month displacement due to an unexpected flood in her home.

Still, she would not give up on herself and her family.

“Finishing my bachelor’s degree means more than just earning a credential; it represents greater opportunities for me and a brighter future for my family,” Rebecca said.

For parents pursuing higher education, finding reliable child care can be essential to staying on track. The United Way Child Care Scholarship helped ease that burden for Rebecca, providing more than financial assistance. If you would like to support parents like Rebecca, please consider joining Women United.

“Receiving the United Way Child Care Scholarship provided far more than financial assistance,” Rebecca said. “It gave me dedicated time to focus on my studies while allowing my son to learn, grow and thrive during such an important stage of development. The program helped create a home environment centered on learning and excellence,” she added.

With the scholarship, Rebecca also received support from United Way that provided guidance, resources and encouragement.

She encourages parents who are thinking about continuing their education to do it without fear.

“Life rarely unfolds according to plan. There will be setbacks, unexpected challenges and moments when giving up feels easier than continuing,” Rebecca said. “Give yourself grace. Progress may not always be fast. What matters most is that you keep moving forward,” she added.

Today, Rebecca’s resolve stands validated. During all those years, all those setbacks, she never quit on herself or her family. “I failed, paused and restarted more times than I can count but every time I chose to continue, I moved one step closer to my goal,” she said.

Her story is an example of how an individual who invests in themselves and has support from their community can achieve their goals, no matter what stands in their way.