Student Spotlight: Jewel

Hi, my name is Jewel. In June, I turned twenty years old. I have a daughter that will be turning 2 in January. I currently work as a waitress, making pretty good money, but I’m looking to further my education to move on to better things. In my free time, I like to draw and paint. My parents can draw well, so I guess I inherited that from them. I also enjoy going up to the lake with my family; we go swimming, tubing, riding in golf carts, and, my favorite – making s’mores!

I came to The Literacy Alliance to get a start on my future. As a senior in high school, I got pregnant, which took a toll on my education. Not graduating is one of my biggest regrets. Getting this will help me feel accomplished and set my future on the right path, not to mention that it will get me started on my career goal. When my daughter grows up, I want to be able to tell her that I did it and to be the role model she deserves. I want her to be as proud of me as I am of her.

The HSE diploma will change my life for the better. After finishing this, I will apply to a beauty college. I want to be a licensed nail technician. This has been my dream for a long time, and I’m happy to say I’m finally starting the process! Hopefully, in 5 years, I’ll be right where I want to be – in my nail studio doing nails from home. I’ll look back and remember this program and be thankful that I pushed myself and that The Literacy Alliance helped me to graduate.