In February of 2002, at the age of 13, Chloe and her younger sister were uprooted from their home in Florida and moved to their aunt’s house in South Carolina after their mother received a Naval deployment to Bethesda, Maryland.  It was very difficult for Chloe to adjust to a new environment, and being separated from her mother only made it that much worse.

Even after finishing her duties with the military, Chloe’s mother was forced to stay in the Washington, D.C. area, and Chloe and her sister joined her here. Their mother continually struggled to make ends meet for herself and her two daughters, and soon a trend of evictions and regular moves began.  As each apartment grew smaller and more stifling, Chloe began to feel her hope and confidence in the future diminishing. 

After her mother was involved in a serious car accident, Chloe and her family were forced to rely on public transportation.  Chloe’s mother returned to work but couldn’t seem to pay all of her bills, although between two jobs she was working 80 hours a week.

After a long-awaited trip to Holland to visit her father, Chloe came home to discover that the Montgomery County Department of Housing had placed her family in a hotel room.  The hotel was far away from her school—an hour-long commute by bus each day—and Chloe had to struggle to keep her affluent friends in the dark about her homelessness and her family’s financial state.

Chloe’s family continued to suffer a series of blows, including a broken leg that put her mother out of work for four months.  Soon the family had to adopt a policy of perpetually storing their possessions in boxes, never knowing when they would need to move again.

Despite her challenging and constantly shifting circumstances, Chloe has maintained a positive outlook and a rare sense of confidence.  She now feels that optimism is attainable and has chosen to consider poverty her motivation instead of her excuse.  She maintains a commendable GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.  She frequently tutors through the Minority Scholars Program and enjoys playing trumpet in the pep band and wind ensemble.

Chloe has found solace and comfort in her faith through being an active member at her church and in her community.  She considers herself lucky to be blessed with such a strong support system:  teachers, friends, and family who are always looking out for her, and she calls this her best year yet.