My name is Eternity Vargas; I am 24 years old with four children under the age of seven. I am enrolled full-time in college and was working full-time in a nursing home as a CNA/RNA.

I just experienced 9 months of a high-risk pregnancy due to high blood pressureand other complications. Those complications caused me to lose hours; I was laid off from my job and lost my residence.

My children and I are currently homeless, going from hotels to families’ homes. I experienced a domestic violence relationship for 9 years with my three older children’s father. This affected me so much that I became a single parent. I have restraining orders in place for the safety of my children. The father of my three older children is not paying child support. He does not have a job on paper, nor am I able to prove that he has income. The state has his information; I hope it is just a matter of time before I receive any support or assistance.

My grandparents raised me due to the bad decisions my parents made. My grandparents had financial issues, and unfortunately, I was not able to live a normal life as a kid. I had many responsibilities for my siblings and grew up fast. I was young when I moved out to a friend’s home and became a very young mom. I was able to enroll in college in 9th grade and graduated high school a year early with my two first daughters. I experienced Domestic Violence from my ex-partner, and with no credit because
of unpaid bills; I have had a very difficult time applying for housing. I was able to keep my car, but payments were not paid, and I barely paid it off with a settlement offer because I am not financially stable just yet.

I am still paying off credit cards and other accounts under my name to fix my credit to get another home for my children. I have never been in a situation where I have not been able to provide a home for
my kids, but this high-risk pregnancy resulted in me losing income, and we find ourselves homeless. I have a preeclampsia condition I am being treated for; I was hospitalized for weeks after my last child’s birth. I have not been able to fully heal just yet, and I am on State Disability until I fully recover and return to full-time work to support my family. I can barely make it with the income I am receiving, having to pay for hotels and family members to stay at their home. When I fully recover, I will return to work and provide for my little family.

This is a hard situation, which has caused some stress and depression. I am currently attending wellness postpartum groups every week to help me overcome these health challenges. The only people I have to assist me right now with childcare are my grandparents and my mother. My grandparents are not doing so well health-wise, and my mother just got sober a couple of years ago and has reentered my life to assist with my children.

My father’s side of the family is not active in my life so it is difficult to get any other assistance. My three children’s father isn’t active in any type of support due to the trauma and stress he has caused, and the criminal protective order was put in place to prevent him from getting near us. There are a lot of self-help resources and other resources I’m seeking for my health, as well as other conditions I am experiencing, to better myself for my kids and their futures.

I have put myself in a situation to have kids, in which I’ve continued to have them and raise them on my own despite struggles and what I’ve endured, and I haven’t given up. I am grateful for what these children have taught me. I did not want my children to grow up witnessing what I grew up with, so I will continue to pursue this career decision and work continuously to reach. I am struggling with housing and a car for my children, so if awarded, it would go towards a home or vehicle.

My career goal is to become a registered nurse and gain my bachelor’s degree. I am currently a certified nursing assistant/RNA. I am enrolled in four classes: two biology classes, Spanish, and an oral communication class. These are my prerequisites to make my way down the list to get to my career decision of a registered nurse. I should be done by 2027.

I hope to gain more knowledge on how to care for my patients and others as I work in the nursing home. The only way I can gain more education and experience is to continue to work in the field as well as pursue my school education. The education I am now receiving is beneficial. Spanish is good to learn because we have many patients of the Hispanic culture in which I will be able to communicate with them and/ or families more efficiently. My biology classes are part of my science education for me to gain more knowledge on how the body, plants, and animals need energy, proteins, and other nutrients. My class in communications is to assist me in communicating more effectively.

If I stay on this track of completing my classes and working in the medical field, I shall become an RN regardless of the time I need in order to complete all my prerequisites for my career choice. There are always challenges and time to overcome to succeed. I will not give up on my education and workplace environment. I am going to pursue this dream to benefit my children and give them the life I did not have growing up. I love my patients and love to help families due to my grandparents’ health. I care
for them and would want others to take very good care of them, just like me.