My name is Pam Evans. I want to share a little about my story, which is still unfolding! Where to begin? For starters, I grew up in Tammassee DAR school. After I graduated high school, I lived with my grandmother and immediately started working at Itron. I also enrolled in school at Tri-County Technical Community College. While attending Tri-County, I met someone who would later become my boyfriend. For the first time ever, it felt like I had someone consistent in my life. Unfortunately our relationship came at a price; I soon became pregnant with just 3 classes remaining until graduation. The stress of going to school, work, and having a newborn was just too stressful. Therefore, I quit school and began my journey as a single mom.
I eventually got a job at McDonalds, but with the low pay, I was not able to afford my bills. There were many months I had to make a choice between the car insurance or the rent bill. I always had to choose the roof over our heads. Making matters worse, I ended up totaling my vehicle and having my license suspended for three years. The suspension of my license made my life much more difficult. My grandma was forced with the task of taking my children to daycare; and myself to work everyday. It was an extremely perturbing time, for both my grandma and family.
During this time, a teacher at Tammassee encouraged me to apply for Ripple of One. I went from only having my grandma to an instant family, my Ripple family! Ripple coached, loved and advocated for me. I had to work strenuously, but my team guided me throughout the entire process.
With the help of my Ripple team, I applied for subsidized housing and moved out of my grandma’s home. They also assisted with transportation and helped me earn my driver’s license back! My Ripple financial coach developed a car budget for me, specifically tailored for repairs and car insurance.
I decided to enroll in school again, to teach my children to never give up on their dreams. This took a number of people helping and encouraging me. Carolyn Maddox was one of the biggest advocates on my team; she made it possible for me to attend school. Carolyn volunteered to watch my children, while I was enrolled in evening classes. With the encouragement and support from the Ripple Team, I finally earned my degree! Possessing my new degree made me complete! I proved to myself that I can accomplish more than what people may think of me. More importantly, I showed my children that with hard work, you can conquer anything!
I eventually was promoted to management at McDonalds, however I was desiring more. Ripple of One offered a graduate program to assist us in moving up the ladder. They helped me improve my resume and submit it for a position in a school district. I wanted a job where I had similar hours that coincided with my children’s school hours. Ripple organized mock interviews to assist me in practicing for my Oconee County School District interview, and I got the job! Because of the career change, my children were able to grow stronger.
After a couple of years, my Ripple Team and Ms. Carolyn pushed me to apply for a Habitat for Humanity house. I needed to get out of HUD housing; the roaches had become part of our everyday routine. Our Habitat house is being built as I write this, and we are so excited about having a real home. Thank you to Ms. Carolyn and everyone who poured into us! I’m still on my journey, but I can say that my life is so much better than it was three years ago. We are creating our own Ripple effect because of what I’m teaching my children.