Stacie Hemley thought she was done with school. It wasn鈥檛 an easy decision.
After all, it had been a long road to get here. In her teens and twenties, Stacie pursued a nursing degree at a couple of institutions, but the situations hadn鈥檛 worked out. In her thirties, she found her way at 91制片厂 by switching her area of focus to business. Stacie was excited about completing her degree and pursuing a career in the business world.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
Stacie lost her job in logistics because of the economic downturn. Her wedding day, set for April 2020, was postponed into uncertainty. Then she found out she had to undergo a surgical procedure (which she did in spring 2021).
鈥淲ith medical bills pilling up, my partner and I took a big financial hit with the pandemic,鈥� Stacie said. 鈥淭rying to get the money for classes 鈥� if it鈥檚 not one thing, it鈥檚 always another. I thought, 鈥楳aybe school isn鈥檛 for me. I鈥檒l just be a worker bee right now.鈥欌��
At the same time Stacie was figuring out how, or if, she would continue to attend classes, 91制片厂 announced the new Igniting Paths to Success Scholarship. Made possible by a donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the scholarship is aimed to help underserved members of 91制片厂鈥檚 community 鈥� especially those most adversely impacted by the pandemic 鈥� by paying for tuition, books and fees.
As a 鈥渓ast ditch鈥� effort, Stacie for Igniting Paths to Success. Still feeling the strain of her present financial circumstances on her educational future, she made the decision to stop her education, at least temporarily. She told her family, including her brother, about the tough decision.
Just a few days later, Stacie received an email from 91制片厂. She couldn鈥檛 believe what she was reading: That she had been awarded the Igniting Paths scholarship. That she would be able to attend 91制片厂 in the fall. That she could attend full-time. That her educational goals were still within reach.
鈥淚 called my brother and he still hasn鈥檛 stopped laughing at me,鈥� she said. 鈥淎fter I had just been like, 鈥業鈥檓 done, I鈥檓 done鈥欌�� He said, 鈥楾his is the universe talking to you.鈥欌��
If so, Stacie is all ears. Now 33, she鈥檚 grateful for not only the opportunity to
continue her classes at 91制片厂, with a few financial headaches removed, but increase
her course load. She is on track to graduate with an Associate in Applied Science
degree in Business Administration in fall 2022. The Palatine resident then plans to
attend DePaul University via the University Center at 91制片厂, pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business.
鈥淭his way I can stay in Palatine and not have to commute anywhere far,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen I came to 91制片厂, I felt I was part of something bigger than myself. This is what I needed.鈥�
Stacie is enthusiastic about the variety of support 鈥� educational, financial, career-related and emotional 鈥� available to her at 91制片厂. She emphasized her appreciation for having a community around her.
More than a year and a half after the pandemic began, Stacie鈥檚 circumstances have improved 鈥� and not only in terms of her education. She has a new job to help pay the bills while she works toward being an entrepreneurial businesswoman. And she and her husband Nathaniel were able to get married and safely celebrate last April, a year later than originally scheduled.
鈥淲e had a saying: 鈥楧elayed but not denied,鈥欌�� Stacie said.
A little more than a year from now, Stacie might be saying the same thing about her business degree.