As a working adult, Diana balanced family, work, and school to earn her degree—unlocking career growth, financial independence, and the confidence to lead.
Her journey reflects what many in northeast Indiana face—and highlights why employer support, flexible learning options, and community encouragement matter.
As our region braces for a growing demand in degree-holding talent, it’s time to invest in people like Diana—because when individuals succeed, so does our workforce.
"No paycheck means no security, and that's a frightening feeling.” – Unknown
The lady at the food bank pointed to a can of sauerkraut, a can of navy beans, and was excited to offer a half-gallon of frozen yogurt. It was a hot summer day, and the frozen yogurt was tempting but there was no way that it would survive the two-hour bus trip back to the apartment. It was unlikely that a two-year-old would entertain the idea of sauerkraut, but the can of navy beans had potential. Food had gotten scarce after the food stamp office cut off all benefits after receiving notification of a new job. Using money for bus fare to get to the food bank, to only leave with a can of navy beans, seemed like a waste of resources but it was a hopeful excursion; hope for enough food to put on the table just to get through two long days before pay day. That paycheck couldn’t come fast enough.
