The Kids’ Chance scholarship allowed me to focus on my studies and enjoy my college years without having to stress about money. This scholarship also minimized the amount of student loans required for me to achieve my dreams.

My father lost his life in a tragic work place accident when I was 16 years old. My mother is a public school teacher and worked extremely hard to provide for my brother and me after my father’s death. I applied for this scholarship to help pay for my education and ease the financial burden on my mother.

Because of this scholarship and financial aid, I was able to graduate from the LSU College of Business in three and a half years with a degree in Accounting, and a year later, obtain my Master’s degree in Accounting.

I participated in the LSU Center of Internal Auditing and was president of my class. I also was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority and became a graduate assistant while studying for my Master’s degree.

I passed the CPA exam in 2010 and earned the top ten scores for the CPA exam in Texas. I also became a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). After college, I moved to Dallas, Texas and worked for Ernst & Young. I then moved back to New Orleans and currently work for Entergy Services as a Senior Project Manager.

One of the best experiences I had in college was studying abroad in Florence, Italy. It was my first time to experience another country and culture. I studied Architecture and Italian culture. I never traveled much before studying abroad, so needless to say, it was an incredible and eye-opening experience that I will never forget.

Losing a parent unexpectedly is never easy, but having family, friends, and the community rally to support you helps ease the pain and shows you that there is so much good in this world. The Kids’ Chance community supported me throughout my college education, and for that, I am extremely grateful.