Elizabeth Blaylock

Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life, it’s about what you inspire others to do.

-Terry Wildermann

As mothers we teach our children to never stop trying. “Reach for the stars, kiddo!” “You’re stronger than you think!” “You can do anything you put your mind to,” “Never ever give up,” and “Always do whatever you can to be the best YOU you can be.”

We repeat it. Like clockwork.

At age 32, with 4 children, going back to school was a hit-my-knee joke. When I was 18, I’d enrolled in college and began my path to nursing -- but life throws curve balls. Really fast curve balls. It’s easy to encourage children to be everything they want to be -- they aren’t doing it while putting food on the table in a single-income house, raising good and decent humans, maintaining a happy marriage and friendship, managing really serious health problems and the anxiety and depression that comes with them... For 11 years I was

a stay-at-home mom, but I still yearned for something more. When my youngest started elementary school I realized that now was my time.

Thanks to RSVP, I am fulfilling my dreams and showing my children it’s never too late to “Reach for the stars.” A single-income home just can’t afford college. Because of the RSVP grant, I can lead my children by example without the worry of not being able to put food on the table because of student loan debt.

While working toward my goals, I have been exhausted, overwhelmed, and stressed. But just as I would tell them, I’ve told myself: “Just. Keep. Going.” I’m proud of what my kids can learn by watching me push myself to be everything I can be. More than anything I’m proud of the goals that I have been setting and hitting thus far. I am going to take care of them by bettering myself and showing them that Mom is also stronger than she thinks. Because nothing worthwhile is easy. (Daniel Taylor)

-- ELIZABETH BLAYLOCK