Success Stories
Samantha's Story
It is the dawning of a new day for one of my clients. Samantha's story begins at a homeless shelter back in 2003 when I first met her. At the time, I was working two jobs, one for Virginia Cooperative Extension full-time and the other the homeless shelter part-time here in the City of Petersburg. One Monday night I went to work and there was a house full of clients. Upon entering the building I noticed that there was a pregnant lady whom I recognized as a young lady that attended school with my youngest son. At the time, she had one son with her at the shelter but later during the week two more of her children came to stay with her. We talked and she told me that the two babies were twins a boy and a girl.
As time progressed, I got the opportunity to sit down and have a long discussion with her and others. During this long talk, Samantha informed me she wanted to get her life back on track. Her baby was due in December and she wanted to have a place of her own by then for her and her children. I told Samantha that this was a short-term goal and she needed to set some long-term goals in life. It was then Samantha told me she wanted to go back to school and major in law. On staff at the shelter, there were two social workers of which one took Samantha under her wing and walked Samantha through the process of getting housing and furniture.
Samantha gave birth to a wonderful baby girl on the 15th of the month. By Christmas time, she was still at the shelter, anticipating moving the first of the month. At the shelter for Christmas, Samantha was given so much for her house and her family that she didn't have room to put it all. Again the social worker stepped in and allowed Samantha to store some of her belongings at her house. Samantha moved in her own place January 2 with a house full of food and furniture.
I enrolled Samantha in my program and worked with her for a year. She was not the best housekeeper or food shopper. But as time went by and because of the lessons I taught, she has picked up some good housekeeping and food purchasing skills.
Today, Samantha is the mother of four children, enrolled at Virginia State University maintaining a 3.4 GPA, and will graduate May 11, 2008. Beginning Monday, May 5, 2008, Samantha will be working full-time with Cassandra Burns, Commonwealth Attorney for the City of Petersburg. She has purchased a car and is on her way. From time to time I stop by or give her a call to help keep her motivated and to say you are doing a good job, keep up the good work. Samantha's life has been an encouragement to others.