When Kelsi decided to return to school, after previously leaving high school in Grade 10, she wasn’t just pursuing an education—she was creating a brighter future for herself and her son. As a single mother, she knew the journey wouldn’t be easy, but she was determined to build a career that would provide stability for her family while making a difference in the lives of children.
Over the next six years, she balanced full-time work, full-time studies, and raising her son on her own. More recently, she also took on the responsibility of helping care for her senior mother as her health declined.
“Like many single mothers, there never seems to be enough time, money, or energy,” she says. “But somehow we keep moving forward.”
Covering tuition, textbooks, school supplies, and everyday living expenses often felt overwhelming. There were moments when continuing her education seemed out of reach. Support from Cause We Care and the Single Mothers’ Support Fund helped ease that financial pressure, allowing Kelsi to stay focused on her studies and the future she was working so hard to build.
“The financial support helped ease some of the stress that comes with tuition, books, and everyday living expenses,” she says. “More importantly, it reminded me that there were people who believed in me and wanted to see me succeed.”
Today, Kelsi has earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and works as a Resource Teacher supporting students with diverse learning needs while continuing her Bachelor of Education at Simon Fraser University. She graduated with Distinction and was named Valedictorian of her graduating class—milestones that reflect years of perseverance and hard work.
“Your generosity has impacted far more than my education,” she says. “You have invested in my son, my family, my future students, and the future I am building for all of us.”
For other single mothers considering going back to school, Kelsi offers this advice: “It is hard—sometimes unbelievably hard—but it is possible. Keep going. One class, one semester, and one day at a time.”
“It is hard—sometimes unbelievably hard—but it is possible. Keep going. One class, one semester, and one day at a time.”