Growing up with divorced parents who struggled with alcoholism, emotional and physical abuse, toxic relationships, holding down jobs and taking care of their children, I was forced to learn early on that I would be responsible for making something of myself if I did not want my life to go down the same path. Because of my parents’ lack of attention and care, as a young child, I felt responsible for ensuring that my younger siblings and I completed important daily tasks such as changing our outfits regularly, making it to the bus stop each morning, and filling up on the free meals our school provided (since that was where we got most of our food from).
As educators and teachers realized what was going on at home, they began asking questions about my home life. It would be these educators who would step in on my behalf and help get me and my siblings into a better situation. While I felt responsible for making sure my mother and father didn’t get in trouble, I knew our home life wasn’t healthy. We were placed in the custody of one of my older sisters; she was twenty and in school at USI at the time.
Since sixth grade, my older sister raised the three of us and her own daughter while she earned her nursing degree. I chose to be very involved in sports, extracurriculars, and my education; I knew that education was my ticket out of the toxic cycle my parents left for me, and my school life was a distraction from all that was going on at home.
After freshman year, I had to drop extracurriculars and get a job in order to pay for luxuries like my phone, vehicle, and eventually rent, so I could help my older sister split up the responsibilities. In this season, I was very blessed to have friends whose families invited me into their homes regularly, cooked meals, and loved me in ways I didn’t experience from my parents. Through the help of my siblings and individuals in my community, I was able to turn my life around by working hard in school, applying for jobs I felt were out of reach, and earning those jobs. I stayed diligent as I balanced working these jobs and going to school full-time.
I ended up getting married the summer of 2018, a year before I graduated from the University of Southern Indiana. My husband, Ross, and I were able to buy our first house a year after we were married. While I wouldn’t wish any of the struggles or barriers I had to overcome on anyone, I have learned that we are given the choice to allow these struggles to push us forward or deter us from success. Only I could make the decision to complete my schoolwork and study for tests; no one else could do that for me. I have seen that the mundane moments of life that seem pointless are actually what produces the greatest results. The tests, the studying, and the nights I stayed home instead of hanging out with the wrong crowds all had a purpose in bringing me where I am today. What you are here to accomplish, whether it’s working on math or taking a test over, serves a greater purpose than just passing an exam. You are changing the course of your life and those you’re responsible for.
Raychel became a Career Coach for our VU Adult Basic Education Program in September of 2020. She has already been making an impact in the lives of our students as she has been helping them discover what career path they are interested in, connecting them with various jobs/trainings and assisting them in the college enrollment process. We are grateful to have her on our team! Her story is powerful, and she boldly shares it in hopes of encouraging others to know there is purpose in every step.