Meet Alex

I was born in Spokane Washington and was predominately raised by my single father. My parents divorced when I was young due to my mother struggling with substance abuse, which always had its way of complicating things. I became the first member on my father's side of the family to ever seek a continued education. He was my greatest support and would get so excited about my school experience that he would share my academic achievements with his friends. Receiving tertiary education in a low-income household sometimes seemed like more a dream than a possibility - but I chased it anyway. The cost of school quickly motivated me to get my first job at a local fast-food chain, and shortly after adding on a second job to keep up with the increasing expenses. School alongside work quickly became something that I enjoyed as it refined my newfound independence. This revolutionary time was short lived as one day when I was eighteen, my father passed away unexpectedly. This was by far the most challenging and devastating experience I had endured thus far, and it changed everything as I knew it. Two jobs became three, and I was convinced there truly was not enough hours in the day to focus on everything that my life now entailed. With time I managed to get back on my own two feet and find understanding for what I had been through but concluded that I needed to make a change for the better. I decided to move to Seattle in attempt to find opportunities and build connections with likeminded individuals. This is when things began looking up. Step by step, I was able to establish myself by finding new work and registering into a local college to finish what I started and live up to what made my father so proud. I went on to complete my associate degree, which has brought me to where I am now in the final leg of my Psychology degree. Although life still comes with its challenges, I can confidently say that I am pioneering my best life, partly in thanks to organizations like WWIN who are willing to take my hand in this journey and become my new supporter.

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