This is the story of Kenneth. In September, he experienced the devastating loss of his mom, who had been battling a serious illness. Leading up to the loss, Kenneth had been their caretaker, while living in a hotel with them and a younger sister in the 5th grade. Kenneth was responsible for all aspects of care and care coordination for his mom, and he and his sister swapped days to be present when home healthcare arrived to assist with a few hours of care per week. This fall, Kenneth turned 18 and entered his senior year of high school, and said goodbye to his mom.
This event deeply impacted his sense of stability and future planning. In the months that followed, Kenneth was forced to take on the responsibility of working to help pay all expenses. Understandably, college planning began to feel out of reach.
When approached about completing the FAFSA, Kenneth was initially resistant, expressing that there was no point. He shared that college no longer felt like an option given their current circumstances and financial responsibilities. Beneath this hesitation was a deep sense of grief, hopelessness, and the pressure of stepping into an adult role far too soon.
Each week, a FAFSA mentor checked in, and offered support with the financial aid application, yet each week Kenneth denied assistance, until last week. Kenneth arrived at his case management visit and agreed to begin the process of filling out the application. He made a login, verified his account, and started a needs assessment.
While he is still in the process of completing the application, we are happy to share that he has taken the first step. He also started talking about enrolling in one class at Frederick Community College this fall, a photography course. This plan allows Kennetht to remain connected to their educational goals while moving at a pace that honors their current responsibilities. At the same time, they will continue working full-time to support their sibling, who will be entering middle school in the fall.
This path may look different from that of their peers, but it reflects resilience, intentionality, and a deep commitment to both family and future.
Through consistent, compassionate support, the case manager and FAFSA mentor created space for both emotional processing and practical guidance. Rather than pushing the process, they helped the student reframe the FAFSA as a tool for future flexibility. Step by step, the student began to re-engage, learning about their eligibility as an independent student and exploring options that could fit their current life.