Mother Becomes Valedictorian After Experiencing Homelessness
In the days between Christmas and New Year’s Day, Jolene Sumner and her three children arrived at The Salvation Army’s shelter in Winnipeg.
A severe pest infestation forced the family to leave their home and, as a result, they lost most of their belongings.
“The Salvation Army’s slogan of ‘Give Hope Today’ is true.”
“The outcome was similar to a house fire. We lost it all: family photos, clothing that I collected through the years, my daughter’s grad gown, sports jerseys, electronics, everything,” Jolene recalls.
When they arrived at The Salvation Army, Jolene’s spirits were low after experiencing such an overwhelming loss. However, it was there that her journey toward rebuilding her life began.
“When I first arrived, I felt traumatized,” Jolene shares. “However, my caseworker simply listened and counselled me. Instead of shutting down, I was able to open up and we developed trust.”
With the staff’s encouragement, Jolene slowly began to look toward a brighter future. On one occasion, she was invited to tour Shelter U at Booth University College, a program hosted in partnership with The Salvation Army that introduces clients to post-secondary education.
The experience motivated Jolene to pursue an academic journey.
“It was a lifelong dream of mine to attend university, but I just never had the opportunity,” she says.
“My caseworker simply listened and counselled me.”
While living at the shelter, Jolene enrolled in adult high school to complete some credits she needed to pursue post-secondary education. With three children, balancing motherhood, studies and the challenges of her living situation was not easy.
In the end, she not only passed her courses but also earned high marks in every subject.
The school’s committee later selected Jolene as valedictorian and she delivered an inspiring speech at graduation.
“I was really honoured to be valedictorian. It meant so much to me, especially considering everything we had to overcome during that time,” Jolene shares.
In early May, Jolene and her family moved into their new permanent home. The Salvation Army helped furnish it and provided curtains and kitchen essentials.
For Jolene, the practical support, along with having a safe place to stay, made all the difference.
“You know, The Salvation Army’s slogan of ‘Give Hope Today’ is true; they really do give hope,” she says.
Now that those difficult months are behind her, Jolene’s focus is on the future. This fall, she will begin studying psychology at Booth University College.
“I chose this path because I want to help people who are struggling with their mental health and addictions, because right now it’s becoming a crisis.”
As for the family, Jolene and her children are embracing this fresh start in their new home.
“We are looking forward to contributing to society and also giving hope to other people,” Jolene says. “We are going to be focused on our educational journeys and put one foot in front of the other every day.”
By Juan Romero
