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For Her Children

DE’SHONDRA MILES had a goal of becoming a pharmacy technician. After enrolling in Blinn College, her plans changed quickly. With no intention of starting a family, she was blessed with a beautiful baby girl in March 2005. Instead of continuing her education while pregnant, she worked late night hours at Super Wal-Mart. She raised her daughter as a single mother with the help of her mother and grandparents. Soon after giving birth, she left her job at Wal-Mart, and started working full-time at West Corporation. Since her daughter was very young, Deshondra felt the best decision for her at the time was to have her kids live with her grandparents until she could find a safe and healthy home for her and her family.

Deshondra applied for housing assistance through BVCOG and received her Housing Choice Voucher in 2006. She learned about the BVCOG Family Self-Sufficiency Program at her first meeting and decided to sign-up. When she first joined the FSS Program, she was unsure of her goals. With her FSS Coordinator, she set a goal to go back to school and become a Pharmacy Technician. But again, in 2007, plans changed, and she became pregnant with twins. After she got further along in her pregnancy she had to leave her job. After giving birth to her twins, she was determined to obtain a good job, and keep that job which she needed to raise and care for her three children. “As their mother, I feel that my children deserve my all. I plan on giving them just that. I am determined for myself and my family to be successful. I will continue to push until I have accomplished all of my goals,” she explains.

In 2008 she moved her family into a 3-bedroom apartment in College Station. Soon after moving into their new home, she received a call from an employer who told her that they saw her resume on workintexas.com, and that they would like to interview her. She went in for her interview and got the job. To this day, De’shondra is working full-time and employed with The Bank of New York Mellon.