The Woman with the Empty Stroller: How One Student Started Fresh
Rochelle pushes an empty stroller as she walks to the HUB in Central Phoenix. She is a thirty-year-old student carrying her backpack along the way. She has been attending Smart Schools since August 2021 and is credits away from graduating. It has been a long journey to this place in her life and there have been many battles.
In early 2021, Rochelle was stuck in addiction. Her son was born in January and she was assaulted two months after that. In April, her son was put into foster care due to substance exposure. The removal of her son sparked something different in Rochelle. At that point, she knew she had to make a change for the better. “I just had to get back on my feet so I could provide for my son,” she says. “I just kept praying. I knew I needed to do something.”
Transformation
Rochelle decided to check herself in rehab. There she came to faith and learned about a life rooted in a higher authority, God. When she got out, she had a fresh perspective on life. She was accepted by a non-profit organization, Bridge to Hope, where she continues to deepen her faith and stay away from controlling substances.
Whether or not you believe in a higher power, the courage and resolve in Rochelle is unmistakable. She is set on being there for her son and getting her diploma. “I just keep pushing. Even if I get some self-defeating thoughts, I just keep going,” she says. “My son is my ultimate motivation.”
A New Way of Life
She stayed in the program and after eight months of sobriety and being away from her son, she finally got him back. Together, they live in a two-bedroom apartment near the Phoenix HUB.
She continues to work diligently on her studies. “Smart Schools and GS are helping to eliminate barriers to gainful employment. It’s been great,” says Rochelle. Smart Schools is helping her make steady progress toward a diploma and she is currently taking two courses per month.
“No matter where you came from, you can get your diploma.”
Motivation
Rochelle’s mind is set on finishing school and building a future for her son. After graduation, she will look for work in an administrative role. Thanks to the love and support of her mother Lucia, she has gained the motivation to turn her life around. The influences that have come into her life have also helped her grow and now she is flourishing in a new way. Rochelle would like others, who may be experiencing the same as what she experienced, to know that no matter where you came from, you can make a change and get your diploma.
