Going Back to School
A mother's success story: Education is the difference
"Habitat for Humanity changed my life," said Sylvia, as she celebrated 10 years as a homeowner in 2005. Sylvia loves being a homeowner, especially the fun stuff like painting, decorating and choosing colors for her home. And she really likes the small town atmosphere surrounding her home.
Sylvia's affordable mortgage payments allowed her to focus on education for her children. Two of Sylvia's daughters now hold master's degrees, and one daughter holds a bachelor's degree. Her daughters successes and the opportunities that Habitat has helped her achieve allowed her to return to school where she earned her A.A. in Business Management.
"Without my Habitat home, I would still be struggling", said Sylvia. "Because of this home, I was able to go back to school. It's like winning the lottery."
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Changing the Future
The Next Generation of Habitat Humanitarians
Wendy's mom, Angela, a single mother of three, worked hard to keep her family afloat. While working three jobs to support her family, Angela had little time to spend with her children.
On September 1, 1991, Angela received the keys to the home she had helped build for her family.
“Being selected by Habitat for Humanity of Orange County changed my life,” said Angela. "I could support my family with one job instead of three. I was able to be more involved in my children’s lives.”
Angela says that the stable home Habitat helped her build and purchase gave her the opportunity to send all three of her children to college. Wendy, the middle child, graduated from Suffolk University in Boston and is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Business Communications.
Wendy volunteers regularly with Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the nation. She is part of the next generation of Habitat humanitarians and a shining example of the success that can be achieved when donors, volunteers and community members work together to offer a hand up, not a handout, to local families.
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Big Goals = Big Success
How Azucena realized that dreams can never be too big!
From a Santa Ana apartment to a home in Irvine, Azucena says their lives have changed 180 degrees. Daughter of Rosa and Ruben and sister/role model to a younger brother, Azucena has credited her academic success to Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and the community of Irvine.
Before moving she didn’t think much about going to college. But while attending high school in Irvine her new friends encouraged her to set higher goals and showed her how to apply to colleges.
Azucena received a full scholarship from Mount Holyoke College in Boston, Massachusetts, and earned her bachelor’s degree before returning to Southern California to pursue her career.
Azucena says that the move to a Habitat home also broadened her younger brother’s horizons, and she hopes that through her example, he too will set higher goals for college and beyond.
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