Recent Virginia Tech graduate Carolyn Barnes, who finished a bachelor's degree in political science in three years, will be studying for a dual Ph.D. in political science and public policy at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in the fall, fully funded for five years on a fellowship to complete the degree. However, life was not always so easy for Barnes.
She grew up in a family of five, with a twin sister, an older sister and two parents. "I was very poor," said Barnes. "There were only three or four years when we were functioning like a normal family."
Barnes grew up in North Carolina. Her father left her mother to raise the family alone. They moved to Virginia Beach for her middle school and high school years. The family lost their home, going from motel rooms to shelters in order to put a roof over their heads.
About a week before she graduated high school, Barnes' father died. It was difficult for her, but it hit her mother particularly hard. "I guess she just sort of gave up," Barnes said.
While life at home was tough, Barnes found comfort in hard work. She excelled in school and applied to five universities. "I'm not good at making decisions," Barnes said.
So it helped when Virginia Tech chose her as one of 400 students at her school to attend a preview weekend at the Blacksburg campus.
"They accepted me on the spot and made sure I filled out all of the paperwork," Barnes said.
The beautiful campus intrigued her, and the welcoming nature of the people in the community didn't hurt.
"I thought it was kind of divine. It felt like home," Barnes said.While at Tech, life for her family didn't get any easier.
"Things just got progressively worse," Barnes said.
In her first summer back from college, her family again lost their home. She was still dealing with the death of her father and decided to spend the summer with relatives in Washington, D.C.
Her mother and sister went from shelter to shelter across the country. They went from Virginia Beach to New York, to all different parts of Virginia, and now to Tennessee.
"I didn't even know where they were for a long time. It's just weird," Barnes said. "I have a dorm to come home to. I have really good friends and I don't know where my mother is."
When she came back to Tech after that first summer, Barnes knew that she wanted to study poverty. She found all different avenues for study outside of the classroom. In particular, she found comfort and purpose in the campus ministries.
"My faith is really something I held on to," Barnes said.
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