Small Town Girl with Big Dreams

Tamra Brooks has always been a small-town girl with big dreams. After graduating from Wynne High School, she was determined to make those dreams come true. Currently, she lives in Faulkner County.
Tamra started her education journey in 2007 by being accepted to Arkansas State University. After the passing of her grandfather in 2009, she gave up on her dream of becoming a Dental Hygienist. “I’ll go back to school one day in the future,” she told herself. Years went by and before she knew it, Tamra had let three years pass.
In 2012, Tamra gave birth to a baby boy which led to her decision to be something better for herself. “Having my son made me want to dream again, not only for myself but for him.” Tamra says that her son pushed her into getting back in school. She wanted a career instead of just a job. Setting an example for Kaden is her most important goal in life. 
Tamra moved to Central Arkansas and applied to finish what she started at Pulaski Technical College in 2018. A very close friend of hers told her about the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship. She had never applied to a scholarship before and thought she would give it a shot. To her surprise, she received the scholarship.
As a single mom, Tamra often reflects on where she would be without her seven-year-old son, Kaden. Being a single parent has brought many struggles to her as she tries daily to balance working a full-time job, being a full-time student, and juggling a 7-year-old little boy. Some days, she used to feel like giving up. The Single Parent Scholarship has helped in ways she never imagined – such as buying groceries or paying daycare for her son.
In May of 2020, Tamra will be graduating with her Associates in Liberal Arts and Science!
“Accomplishing this goal means the world to me! I want to be someone that my son can look up to and that my grandfather can be proud of. I never thought I would do it, but here I am……graduating from college.” She is now on the right path with her education and currently pursuing to finish her Dental Hygiene dream by graduating from the UAMS Dental Hygiene Program in 2022.
“I’m so glad that I decided to go back to school, and Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund helped me every step of the way. I’m still a small-town girl that’s one step closer to making my big dreams come true.”