Melanie

Twenty-seven years ago, 19-year-old Melanie* found out she was pregnant with her first child during her freshman year of college. In anticipation of the birth of her daughter, Melanie’s priorities changed, and she dropped out of college. Over the next eight years, she had four more children with her then-husband.  

“I always told my kids: Do the opposite of what I did. Go to school, enjoy your life, get your career. Later down the road: get married, have children.” 

While raising her five children, Melanie worked at a distribution center for a multinational corporation for nearly twenty years. The job was very physically demanding; she spent her shift driving machinery, lifting heavy objects, and working in a very male-dominated environment. However, the job allowed her to provide benefits for her children. As she got older, she realized she couldn’t keep up with the physical demands much longer, and she needed a new career for her next phase of life. 

During the years Melanie had her children under her roof, she never considered what life would be like once they grew up and moved out of her home.  

At 47 years old, Melanie was officially an empty nester, with her youngest off to college at Northern Arizona University. As she acknowledgment that her job was no longer a great fit, and with her children grown and successful in their own lives, Melanie found her self contemplating all of life’s possibilities.   

“My kids were my success. Then they became successful and now [as an empty nester] it’s focused back on me, and it’s almost like, ‘Oh my gosh, who am I?’ and ‘What do I want to do when I grow up?’” 

Over a decade ago, Melanie turned to Fresh Start for legal support as she navigated a divorce from her abusive husband. The prospect of becoming a single mom with her five children was daunting, but she wanted to create a safe, nurturing environment where they could grow into into healthy, successful individuals. 

Years later, during another intense chapter of her life, Melanie turned to Fresh Start once again, this time seeking guidance and support to help her move forward.

In January 2025, Melanie began Fresh Start’s Women in Finance program. A career training designed to provide practical banking knowledge and skills through interactive sessions, and personalized support with resumes and interviews to help secure full-time roles in the finance industry.  

Coming from a male-dominated industry, Fresh Start’s sisterhood immediately stood out to Melanie. 

“Everyone in the class is so different but very much alike. Many of us didn’t have good experiences with other women at jobs, so coming here, where it’s not competitive, we can support each other.” 

Melanie was proof that women enrolled in the Women in Finance program did not need a background in finance or previous knowledge of the industry. She was inspired by her Women in Finance instructor, Sara, who validated her class’s curiosity.  

“Any question we ever had, she made it seem like, ‘Oh, that is such a good question.’ Other people could say, ‘Ugh, I can’t believe I have to answer this.’ No, she was excited to answer everything. She had energy and enthusiasm, and nothing was a stupid question.” 

As Melanie and her peers learned foundational information for careers in finance, Fresh Start also assisted with materials used during the job search. 

“The experience of building our resumes and practicing interviews was huge. Fresh Start helps us network and find employment, too. They bring in guest speakers from different financial companies, and that’s been awesome.” 

The first phase of Melanie’s adult life focused on raising her children into successful adults, despite their adversity as a young family. Now that she’s accomplished that mission, Melanie hopes to give back to the organizations and people that supported her during her time of need.

She recalled leaving her then-husband 10 years ago and becoming homeless with her children. Non-profit agencies stepped in to help Melanie secure a new apartment by covering the first and last month’s rent.

“All those different organizations that I had no idea about, and those people came out and helped get me back on my feet,” she recalled. 

Another magical moment for Melanie occurred after her divorce, as she began the journey to clean up her credit score and had the goal of becoming a homeowner.  

“One day, all the bank tellers were busy and a woman in an office offered to help me. We chit-chatted, and in the future, I’d go in there and work on my transactions or ideas on how to clean up my credit. Later, she told me about a homeownership program for lower-income people. I have my home because of her.” 

With her Women in Finance class completed and a new certificate added to her resume, Melanie now wants to pay forward the moments in her life created by helpful and caring people. Like Fresh Start, she knows the value of a helping hand on the journey to self-sufficiency and hopes she can be a change agent in someone else’s journey.