From a young age, I felt the void left by my dad's absence keenly. His laughter, his guidance, his unwavering support, these were all aspects of life that I yearned for but could never fully grasp. When my father passed away from cancer shortly after my twelfth birthday, my family was thrown into a whirlwind of emotional and financial turmoil. As a child, I struggled to comprehend why our home lacked the small luxuries others seemed to take for granted. It wasn’t until I grew older that I understood our financial reality: a single mother with four children, including an older brother with disabilities, and no substantial income to fall back on. The absence of my father was more than an emotional loss; it had setbacks that reshaped my post-secondary journey.
My dream of attending Dalhousie University was one I fought for, despite knowing that financial constraints would be a major barrier. Without my father's financial support, and with my mother struggling to provide for our family, affording post-secondary education became an uphill battle. While scholarships and financial aid helped lighten the load, they were not enough to completely bridge the gap. I worked tirelessly in my first year, maintaining a 3.7 GPA while juggling part-time jobs to contribute to tuition and living expenses. The reality, however, remains stark: no matter how hard I work, financial obstacles still loom large, threatening to pull my dream further from reach.
The financial instability my family faced was further exacerbated by the lack of life insurance coverage. My father’s insurance was just enough to cover funeral expenses and outstanding bills, leaving us with little to sustain our future. Had my father been covered by a more substantial policy, my mother could have focused on guiding us through our grief instead of immediately seeking employment to keep our household afloat. The additional financial support could have provided stability—ensuring basic needs were met, allowing my mother to spend more time with us, and giving me and my siblings the opportunity to focus on education. The stress of financing my post-secondary education would not be as overwhelming, and my family would not have had to make so many difficult sacrifices.
Despite these hardships, I have refused to let financial adversity dictate my future. I took on responsibilities beyond my years. I cared for my siblings while my mother worked, ensured my older brother’s needs were met, and found ways to earn money to help with expenses. Determined to pursue higher education, I applied for every scholarship possible, worked part-time jobs, and embraced a lifestyle of financial discipline. Each setback only fueled my resolve to push forward, proving that perseverance can triumph over circumstance.
The absence of financial security has made my journey more challenging, but it has also instilled in me an unyielding drive to succeed. While my family’s struggles might have been avoided with better life insurance coverage, I embrace them as part of my story—one of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of a brighter future.
