Nichol S. grew up with no parental guidance. She had a neglectful mother and abusive father and found herself pregnant and alone by the age of 17. She became a victim of abuse again, when she moved in with her son's father. He began to hit her on a daily basis and Nichol finally mustered enough courage to break off the relationship.

Even though she worked two jobs, was able to get her own place to live, and considered herself a good mother, Nichol strived for love and attention. She tried to regain a relationship with her mother, and did so by falling into drug use with her. Although it was the first time she felt loved by her mother, the drug addiction was destroying Nichol’s life.

Nichol tried to get help. But after different shelters turned her away, she engaged in prostitution in exchange for a place for her and her son to sleep. She became pregnant again and was later arrested, an event she says saved both her and her son's life.

Nichol served time with her son and new-born daughter in a mother/infant program for one year, where she received much-need counseling. She learned how to be a good mother, how to love herself and how to be sober.

Unfortunately, just when Nichol seemed to be straightening out her life, she was once again drawn into another abusive relationship. When Nichol became pregnant with her third child, she decided that being in another abusive relationship was no way to take care of herself or her family. She pressed charges against her abuser and moved on.

Without a family to go to for help, Nichol did not have the financial ability to support three children. She decided, before her third child was born, to place the baby for adoption with a couple from her church. It was then that she realized that she wanted to go to college to become a registered nurse. "Having to take care of myself while growing up was very hard. So I want to take care of others who need help and need to be cared for."

Today, Nichol has turned her life around, gone back to school, and is working to make a better life for herself and her children.