I Was Able To Keep Going

by Darrinnia Hall, Last Mile recipient

When I applied for support from Last Mile, my husband and I were both full-time college students trying to balance school, work, marriage, and raising our children. We are both pursuing degrees in Process Technology, but we are at very different points in our journeys. This fall is my husband’s final semester, while I am only in my second semester of the program. We knew going into school full-time that it would require sacrifices, but we were committed to building a better future for our family.

Then, on July 7, both of us were laid off.

Because my husband and I worked at the same job, we lost both sources of employment income at the same time. It was not something we were prepared for. We still had a household to maintain, children to care for, bills to pay, and school expenses to manage. At the same time, we did not want our circumstances to force either of us to give up on the education we had worked so hard to pursue.

Our children are involved in sports, and being present parents has always been important to us. Before being laid off, we intentionally worked nights and weekends so that we could continue going to school while still being there for our children. We wanted to attend their activities, support them, help with what they needed, and also show them that their parents were working toward something greater.

After the layoff, that balance became much harder.

I was faced with the reality that I might have to put school on hold. If I could not find financial help, my plan was to sit out this semester and return to work full-time so I could help keep our household afloat. I knew I would do whatever was necessary for my family, but I also knew how difficult it would be to step away from school after finally committing myself to this path.

Receiving $3,400 from Last Mile changed that for me.

That assistance gave our household breathing room at a time when we desperately needed it. More importantly, it allowed me to remain a full-time student instead of having to choose between continuing my education and helping support my family. It gave me the opportunity to keep moving forward while my husband completed his final semester.

My educational journey did not begin with Process Technology. Before entering the program, I earned a certificate in General Studies. Continuing my education and challenging myself academically has become very important to me. Today, I maintain a 3.4 GPA, and I am also a member of a national honor society. Those accomplishments mean even more to me because I know what was happening behind the scenes while I was earning them.

During this same period, my maternal grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer. Trying to process what was happening to someone I love while dealing with unemployment, raising children, maintaining a household, and staying focused on school was not easy.

Still, I continued.

A GPA can show the grades I earned, and an honor society can recognize my academic performance, but neither can fully show the nights I worried about finances, the responsibility of being a mother and wife, the uncertainty that came with losing our jobs, or the emotional weight of watching my grandmother face cancer.

That is why I am especially proud of how far I have come.

My education represents more than earning another credential. I am working toward a career that can provide greater stability for my family and create opportunities that I may not have had otherwise. I also want my children to see what persistence looks like. I want them to know that difficult circumstances may change the route you take, but they do not necessarily have to change your destination.

To the donor who made my Last Mile award possible, I want to say thank you.

Your support did more than help pay expenses. You helped create a way forward for someone who does not mind working hard but, like many people, can still come up short when unexpected circumstances arise. You gave me the opportunity to remain in school, continue working toward my goals, support my husband as he approaches graduation, and still be present for our children.

Sometimes hardworking people can do everything they know to do and still need someone to help them across a difficult stretch. Your generosity helped me across mine.

“Sometimes hardworking people can do everything they know to do and still need someone to help them across a difficult stretch. Your generosity helped me across mine.”

— Darrinnia Hall, Last Mile recipient

Because of your support, I did not have to choose between being there for my family and continuing to chase my dream. I was able to keep going, and that is something I will always be grateful for.