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Building futures: How Faith found support and success with Pittsburgh Scholar House

Building futures: How Faith found support and success with Pittsburgh Scholar House

Brittany Boyd, Communications and Social Media Coordinator

United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania proudly invests in a diverse group of nonprofits across our five-county region, all working to help our community meet basic needs, move to financial stability and build for success in school and life. Partner agency Pittsburgh Scholar House helps to build for success by focusing on empowering single parents and their children through post-secondary education and support services. Their Wayfinders Program provides critical resources including scholarships, child care, transportation assistance and more, to help single parents achieve their academic and personal goals.

During a recent agency tour, Wayfinders Program Fellow Faith Otey, shared her inspiring story of the support she received while pursuing her college degree. Her journey amplifies the positive impact Pittsburgh Scholar House has on creating safe and fulfilling lives for families. Here is Faith’s story, in her own words, of accomplishments and ongoing pursuit of success.

“I am incredibly honored to stand before you today as a fellow of the Pittsburgh Scholar House, reflecting on how this program has helped me navigate one of the most life-changing and challenging years of my life.

I’m a single mother, of two young children, forced into a divorce because of domestic abuse. I struggled with personal challenges that were overwhelming at times — a lack of self-esteem, and the emotional and financial weight of raising young children alone.

These experiences took a huge toll on my confidence and my sense of self-worth. For years, I was not sure how I would pull myself out. I knew that I had to create a better future for my family. Going back to school wasn’t just an academic pursuit—it was a way for me to rebuild my life. I wanted to set a positive example for my children, and I knew completing my degree was the key to opening doors and forging a brighter future.

This past May, I graduated cum laude with an English degree and creative writing minor — a milestone I never thought I would achieve. I’m proud to say that I have completed my first semester in my master’s program at Carlow University pursuing my MFA in creative writing. None of this would have been possible without the support of the Pittsburgh Scholar House.

The resources, mentorship and community I found here guided me along my journey as a student, a mother and a person rebuilding their life. The Pittsburgh Scholar House not only provided me with a safe and supportive environment to focus on my studies, but it also gave me the confidence I needed to overcome personal challenges that threatened to hold me back.

I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this incredible village, and I’m excited to give back to an organization that has helped me so much. The Pittsburgh Scholar House has been instrumental in my success; I hope to inspire and support others as I continue to carve out a path of success for my children to walk through in the future.

Thank you for believing in me and for supporting single mothers like me. I’m looking forward to what’s next, and I will forever be grateful for the role this organization has played in my journey.”