Actually taking care of my daughter for the last 13 years, because she was born with a cleft lip, cleft palate. So I've taken care of her for the last 14 years of her life. That's why I pursued going back to school because I got my medical assistant's, and I went to get my diploma as well.

It opened up a lot of doors for me because nowadays you need your diploma. And me becoming certified for medical assistant, it's going to open a lot more doors for me.

At the time I was uncertain that I wasn't smart enough, didn't have the time, but it was always excuse after excuse after excuse.

And finally, just one day I woke up and said enough is enough. I have to do this for me and for my kids to give them a better life. So I got to stop being lazy and focus on me since I focused my last 14 years on my daughter's life and now she don't need me.

Having the support of my kids, always telling me, "Mom, you can do it. Don't give up." Because there were times where I was ready to throw the towel, and my daughter, the one with the trach, she would tell me, "Mom, no, you've gotten so far. Don't give up."

And with those words of encouragement from my kids, I just I couldn't give up on them.

I wish I would have had somebody to push me harder and not given up so early in life.