What is your dream?

My dream is to help people with developmental disabilities. I am at the University of Kansas so that I can get my degree in social welfare and spend the rest of my life working to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities.

How the 1000 Dreams Fund helped me

The 1,000 Dreams Scholarship would take a large weight off of my shoulders. It helped me pay for textbooks, so I can continue to save for a service trip to Kenya to work with students there in an internally displaced community.

Who inspires you?

At my high school there was a class the integrated special education and general education students and we worked together to create service projects. Working with that population is the most fun and rewarding experience I have ever had. But in that time I saw the challenges THEY face. I want to be able to help those students overcome their challenges.

What are some challenges you’ve faced?

I am a first generation student with few funds. Paying for it myself is overwhelming. Textbooks, tuition and living expenses are extremely expensive. I am going to be taking out a lot of loans and going into a not so profitable career path.

My quote of inspiration for others

If things don’t work out exactly how you plan, just wait, because they might end up being even better than you can imagine.

Learn how Kathryn used her funding here.