Sarah Otis is quick with her encouragement for anyone feeling unsure about their current life situation: Don’t give up. She wholeheartedly says and believes the sentiment, because it’s what she reminded herself while navigating ever-changing personal challenges over the last several years.
“There’s no one timeframe for how long things should take or what pace you work at,” she says. “Just stay focused and you can achieve your goals, even if you stumble.”
Sarah’s goal was to complete her high school diploma, after an out-of-state move to Minnesota disrupted her initial coursework.
“Losing my dad, losing my mom, I lost focus,” Sarah says. “I wanted to just achieve my goals and do something different.”
Once she decided she wanted to go back to school to finish her education, Sarah worked with PPL’s Diploma Connect program to build a personalized plan. She gradually completed more of her classes, and along the way, wrote an essay about her personal experience with homelessness, which received positive feedback from state reviewers.
Eventually, Sarah’s completed diploma became a reality — she was a graduate. “I did it. And that is what I’m most proud of,” she reflects. “It took some time, but I stuck with it and earned my diploma.” Sarah’s success gave her renewed energy around what she is capable of. Using her business and finance knowledge she gained in school, today, Sarah is the proud owner of her own small business focused on fashion.
“During my time with PPL, I’ve learned to ask more questions and ask for help rather than trying to figure everything out myself,” Sarah says. “I’m also encouraging my sister to go back to school. She sees that I did it and knows that now she can, too.”
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