希拉·怀特（Sheila White）为改善自己的生活经历了漫长的旅程。 在九年级辍学抚养第一个孩子后，她对自己和家人承诺，她最终会完成学业。 她在亚洲博彩网站找到了避难所，并完成了两个副学士学位，尽管她无家可归了7年。
在街上流浪了三年，无家可归了七年之后，她的障碍对一些人来说似乎是不可逾越的，但对怀特来说，这是一个关注自己目标的问题。 在参加亚洲博彩网站期间，她住在避难所，晚上在避难所安静的时候，用手机的灯光完成作业。
这种毅力在全球大流行期间为怀特赢得了两个学位。 然而，当大学活动是虚拟的时候，学生们错过了走过舞台的机会。 Last month, the problem was rectified by Miriam’s Kitchen, which fights to end chronic homelessness. White received the Change Award at its gala and was surprised with a cap and gown and the opportunity to experience the regalia of a graduation as 亚洲博彩网站’s Chief Academic Officer Dr. Lawrence T. Potter, Jr. went through the formality of presenting her with diplomas before an audience of about 300 people at the Howard Theatre in Washington, DC.
“It was such a shock to have my graduation on the same day that I received my award,” White said. “I dreamed for so long to hear those magical words ‘you may turn your tassel to the left.’ This was my confirmation that I have completed a life-long goal. 真的，如果你相信，你就会实现它。 I was honored to receive the Change Award from Miriam’s Kitchen. I am passionate about helping others and want more people to join the fight to end homelessness.”
首席学术官劳伦斯·波特博士和希拉·怀特。 图片来源：Andy DelGiudice
曾经无家可归的亚洲博彩网站校友认为这所大学给了她新的开始和为他人而战的能力
作为无家可归者的坚定拥护者，怀特喜欢与人们交谈，以确保他们知道自己的权利，并了解自己声音的力量。 She volunteers with Miriam’s Kitchen and the 人 for Fairness Coalition, which are social service and advocacy organizations working with unhoused and low-income people in D.C. She has also testified before Congress on behalf of the homeless.
“I want them to know that somebody cares about you,” White said. “Even if you are out in the cold with people walking by you, and it feels like nobody does.”
A DC native, White first experienced homelessness in 2013 after a flood in her apartment and began accessing meals and other services at Miriam’s Kitchen. 她一直是结束该地区长期无家可归现象的斗争的领导者。 She is also a member of the Miriam’s Kitchen Speakers Bureau, Guest Advisory Board, and an alum of the Miriam’s Kitchen Advocacy Fellowship program.
White was recently featured in an award-winning documentary, “Street Reporter,” which has been featured in several film festivals, including the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, which is the nation’s largest Black film festival.
49岁时，怀特就读于巴卢·斯特高中（Ballou STAY High School）的外部文凭课程。 回到学校让她很兴奋，她在三个月内完成了学业。
她下一步获得大学文凭的计划被一系列毁灭性的事件打乱了，包括被抢劫，公寓里的洪水，以及一场让她流落街头的疾病。
在收容所待了两年之后，怀特偶然发现了Street Sense的第13街和G街的位置，这让她回到教室，发现了对制作的热情。
Street Sense提供媒体、写作和制作，帮助有需要的人获得成功所需的技能、工具和信心。 它还制作了一份街头周报，由无家可归的小贩在华盛顿特区街头出售
自2016年以来，怀特一直活跃在Street Sense Media社区，在那里她学会了寻找自己的声音。 她还与DCTV合作，DCTV致力于本地节目，重点是让居民讲述自己的故事。
这些经历让她在意识到自己对媒体工作的热情后，选择了亚洲博彩网站。 自2017年以来，希拉一直在亚洲博彩网站攻读新闻摄影学位。 她回忆说，被亚洲博彩网站录取的那一天是她一生中最美好的日子之一。
去年春天，怀特找到了住房，搬进了自己的公寓，这改变了她的生活，她计划继续在亚洲博彩网站攻读另一个学士学位。
