Molly Cornwell & Miranda

Student

“There are a lot of bad influences out there in the world. It can be dangerous and people need to be aware of that and keep their lives on track.”

Life is about choices. And sometimes if you’re not prepared, or you’re frightened, you can find yourself wondering where the years have gone and hoping desperately to find a way back into the game. Molly Cornwell remembers 1986 as the year when life became a situation that she couldn’t deal with. “I just began to wander through difficult times. I was waitressing, doing odd jobs. Very dead-end sorts of things,” she recalls. “I was dealing with an awful lot of depression and was in a very abusive relationship. I felt there was no way out.” But then Molly became pregnant and her view of what she is capable of changed. “I got motivated by my daughter’s birth. I felt I might be able to live through what was going on, but I knew she couldn’t. So Miranda was actually the little spark that I needed to start caring about myself. I suddenly wanted a life, a good career, and a way to give her everything she deserves.” Since Miranda’s arrival there have been some bad days, but never has Molly allowed herself the luxury of sliding back. “I used to look at other people’s success and just know it would never come to me. That has changed.”

Molly and her “spark” are now in the game of life for the long haul. “I’m going to be a teacher of the third grade,” she says with emphasis. “I’m drawn to eight-year-olds, I love that age and there’s just something about their enthusiasm and curiosity about life that I feel I can encourage,” she says. “I think that it will be a career I can be proud of.”

Molly’s family has stepped up to support her. Her friends are there when she needs them. And her sense of “sparkle” is returning as she makes her way through SMC. “There’s a very great quality about this place and its teachers,” says Molly. “It’s hard being a single mom, but I’m getting lots of support.” A lot of that support has its beginnings in one little “spark” named Miranda.

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