‘It’s never too late to chase your dreams,’ 34-year-old ATU nursing student says

After two decades of being told she could never go to college, Alysha Frost proved the naysayers wrong: The single mom of two from Pope County enrolled in the nursing program at Arkansas Tech University in August 2020. 

“I believe that it is important for my children to know that it’s never too late to chase your dreams,” Alysha said. “We are the keyholders to our own futures and at any moment we can change the direction of our life.”

Recognizing her dedication to education, Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund has selected Alysha as the August 2023 Student of the Month.

Alysha shared her journey in her own words, which you can read below!

My name is Alysha Frost. I am a 34-year-old single mom of two children. I am in nursing school full-time, and I work on the weekends to provide for my family. I am a first-generation student. I have struggled my entire adult life to provide for my family, especially when doing so alone.

My parents told me that I would never be able to go to college because they/we wouldn’t be able to afford it, so I had this same stuck mentality for two decades. After we moved here to Arkansas, my grandparents helped me to see that I was able to go back to college and that I could even be successful while in college. They helped me to believe in myself and to adopt a growth mindset.

While I absolutely could not have done this without the support system of my family, the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship has been the bridge to being able to financially get through college as a single parent, during every semester since 2021. I am so thankful for their support.

They get to know their recipients, and they care and can relate to the journey that we are on as single parents. This foundation has blessed my family and they are part of the reason that I am able to continue my education and better myself and my family. I will forever be indebted to this foundation, and I hope to one day be on the other side, helping single parents pursue their dreams and build a better future for their families.

I have maintained a 3.7-4.0 GPA since returning to college in August of 2020. I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. With a nursing degree, there are limitless opportunities in various fields to choose from in deciding my career path. I won’t be happy unless I get into a field where I can help others in some way. I want to be a light in the darkness, hope in their time of need.

 If I can do this at 34 years old, with the circumstances that I’ve overcome, anyone can do this. The time is now, it is never too late.