Sarah

“I had three things that I needed in my life: a job, a career path, and stability. Fresh Start really aligned with me.” 

At 26 years old, Sarah* was no longer in school and didn’t have a job. She started to feel closed off from the world without purpose in her life. In December 2023, Sarah’s mom recommended that she check out the free resources at Fresh Start.  

“I thought to myself, ‘Oh my gosh, I need to do something,’ and in researching Fresh Start, I saw that they helped with career stability and that really lined up with what I needed.” 

First, Sarah joined the Personal Empowerment Series (PES) to learn more about boundary-setting and self-confidence. She truly began to feel the power of the group of women who came together during the empowerment series. 

“All of us are together learning new things and we care about each other because we hear what we’re all going through and how we’re each growing. We’re all trying to begin a new chapter of our lives and to be together at the start of that is special.” 

While Sarah set her sights on gaining personal stability, her family went through trying times as they filed for full custody of her older sister’s five children. Her sister struggled to stay on the right path and faced her own issues that did not foster the best environment for her children or a healthy relationship with Sarah’s family. Sarah hoped to be able to help her family support the children if they won the custody case.  

The Personal Empowerment Series also played an important role as Sarah learned how to set boundaries to protect her well-being.  

“Sometimes my sister blamed my mom for her own life issues, and at Fresh Start, I learned so much about boundaries and how to relieve myself of feeling responsible for my sister’s decisions.” 

Sarah then began to participate in Fresh Start’s success coaching with a member of the social work team and she was encouraged to apply for the Women in Finance cohort set to start in February 2024.  

“My mom is an immigrant, and she can’t work in the United States. She inspires me to keep pushing toward my goals. I want to be able to provide for her and my family. Being able to do that would be big for me.” 

Through the six-week cohort which introduces the numerous career opportunities within the banking and finance industry, Sarah narrowed down which sector of the finance industry she wanted to aim her new career path toward. She hoped to one day work in stocks and investing to help her community understand how to build and strengthen their financial portfolios.  

Sarah was extra motivated to complete the Women in Finance cohort in order to find the stable career and income that would enable her to actively participate in the care of her sister’s children.  

“My life is different now because I am more fulfilled. I’ll be able to help my nieces and nephews’ in their lives and I want them to go to a good school and for them to have a good life.” 

 As the cohort neared an end, Sarah, unfortunately, had to miss the career fair day with local employers to attend to an unexpected issue in the custody case.  

“That is why I love Fresh Start because even though I missed such an important day, they said they would help connect me with potential employers.” 

Success as defined by Sarah is being happy and living in a state of inner peace. She yearned to be financially independent and would feel successful as a financial contributor to her family.  

“Having a fresh start and changing careers, wanting a better life for myself and my nieces and nephews kept pushing me to persevere for myself and my family. Having a career in finance is going to be so cool.” 

Sarah hoped that other women who felt alone without a life plan would find Fresh Start to help them realize and achieve their goals.  

“I’m proudest of being able to achieve and finish this program. Things are coming together and I’m proud of what’s going on in my life.”