Good Vibes Only: Single mother, DACC nursing student awarded scholarship

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— El Pasoan Maria Arellano was recently awarded a $5,500 scholarship to further her education. The single mother of two was one of only two El Pasoans selected.

The scholarship, made possible through the Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers, helps students who live in affordable housing communities pursue higher education.

At 40 years old, she is getting ready to graduate from Doña Ana Community College.

“Being a nurse is my passion. I love helping others,” she said.

Arellano wants to become a registered nurse to help others. As a child, she was constantly in and out of the hospital because she was asthmatic. She said her amazing nurses inspired her to become one herself.

"They need love, you know? They need somebody who comes in with an empathetic heart, who's caring towards them, you know? And just wants to help them go back home, you know, heal from their disease process."

Arellano stays busy juggling motherhood, school, two jobs and she also volunteers at her church.

"I have to worry about the demands of my job, you know, and taking care of home life with my children, you know, being there for them. I've found a lot of challenges, but thank God my kids are very caring."

Arellano is interested in the area of oncology or hospice. She said she just wants to help patients during their darkest moments.

With the high cost of school, Arellano applied for a scholarship after she learned about it from her apartment complex. She had no idea she would be selected as a recipient.

"So when I got the e-mail saying that I was awarded, I was in shock. I was in shock, you know, but very blessed, very grateful."

Scholarship applicants are scored on categories like their GPA, participation in extracurricular activities, recommendations, workload and career objectives.

She told ABC-7 this scholarship will help her tremendously in continuing her education.

"It just gives me so much hope and faith and it gives me hope more than anything that, you know, I can move forward and there's people who care."

Arellano explained her daughter also wants to follow in her footsteps and also go into the medical field. She said she is proud to know she is inspiring others.

"It helps me because, when I achieve my goals, I'm going to be able to help others, you know, especially, like, single mothers like myself."

Arellano will be graduating this December and plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree after.

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