Frances is a dedicated mother of three who is determined to complete her accounting degree, pass the CPA exam, and eventually start her own home-based CPA business. She is currently attending Strayer University, working toward her bachelor’s degree in accounting, with an expected graduation in May 2027. Limited financial aid and years of balancing school with raising children from a young age have made her path challenging but with her children now more independent, she is focused on finishing her degree in the next two years.
After losing her father in September 2023 and facing her husband’s incarceration, Frances resolved to improve her family’s future through education, despite ongoing financial and emotional hardship. Raised by her single father, who worked in construction and taught her to be independent, she learned early how to manage books and payroll, building 15 years of accounting and leadership experience.
Through a Bible study group focused on managing anger and building life skills, Frances has worked to overcome hyper-independence and learned how to ask for help. Her greatest strength is refusing to give up when life becomes difficult. Her children remain her greatest motivation as she pursues her goal of becoming a CPA. Frances plans to use her award to keep herself in school as she has maxed out her financial aid and has few other resources for tuition and books.