Like many of those who go through this program, I grew up in poverty. Addiction- alcoholism and drug abuse- was all around me. Homelessness wasn’t a one-time event; it was a recurring theme in my childhood and teen years.

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As a teenager, I was naïve, immature, and already turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms just to make it through the day.

Life was chaos. But somewhere deep down, I still had hope. I worked hard in school- not because I loved learning, but because I knew education could be my way out. I was trying to build something that didn’t yet exist in my world: a future.

 

That’s when Stay 4 found me. I was just 15 years old- unsure, and quietly desperate for someone to say, you matter. I didn’t fully grasp it at the time, but I didn’t realize how much I needed people. I needed to be seen. I needed someone to believe in me when I wasn’t sure I could believe in myself.

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That’s what I want you to understand. Stay 4 isn’t just a scholarship program. It’s not just a financial boost for at-risk students. It’s a long-term, life-changing investment- emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually.

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Because of Stay 4, I live today in one of the safest towns in Illinois. I own a beautiful home. I have a career I love. I’m married to an amazing partner. Have a beautiful, loyal dog. And just a few months ago, I became a mom.

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When I look at my baby, I see a future that was once uncertain- but is now filled with safety, stability, and love. And that is due in part to this program.​