Finding Purpose: The Impact of Belief and Support

Written by Kristin Kline, Glendale Community College (AZ)

When I walked into that interview with the Nina Mason Pulliam Foundation, I was carrying the weight of my past—years in prison and the guilt of being separated from my daughters. I wasn’t just looking for financial help. I was there seeking a lifeline, a chance to rebuild what felt broken beyond repair.
Leona Morales, the Sr. Student Services Analyst, was the first person to see beyond my past and into my potential. When she awarded me the scholarship, it was more than financial relief—it was the moment someone believed in me when I couldn’t yet believe in myself.
The scholarship wasn’t just a ticket to education. It opened a door I didn’t know existed—a path toward a future I thought I had lost. But Leona’s support went far beyond that one moment. She became a constant guide, walking me through the intimidating process of starting over. When I struggled to balance school and raising my daughters, she taught me how to be resourceful, and showed me how to navigate our support systems.
Her care extended well beyond academics. She would constantly update me on food box deliveries, ensuring I never missed one. From small acts, like helping me find an instrument for my daughter’s band class, to bigger gestures like making sure we had a Christmas tree, Leona showed me that her belief in me went beyond my potential as a student—she believed in me as a mother and as a person.
Then, Leona did something that changed everything. She asked me to speak at the Maricopa Community Colleges Student Essential Resources Summit. The thought of sharing my past terrified me. I wasn’t ready to be vulnerable on that level. But Leona saw something in me that I hadn’t yet seen in myself. She wasn’t going to let me hide from my story.
On the day of the summit, as I sat on the panel, something shifted in me. As I spoke, I realized that my story—my messy, painful past—wasn’t a weakness. It was a source of strength. It wasn’t just a story about survival—it was a story about finding purpose. That day, I found my voice.
After the summit, I was invited to sit on the GCC Student Needs Committee, and from there, my path became clear. Today, I co-lead a nonprofit with my partner, running a fitness and mindset program on the largest women’s prison yard in Arizona. The same principles that helped me rebuild my life are now empowering other women to reclaim their strength and rewrite their stories.
Leona Morales didn’t just give me a scholarship—she gave me the belief that I had something to offer the world. And because of her, I now spend my days passing that belief on to others, helping them realize their own potential.
Leona helped me find my purpose, and now I dedicate myself to helping others discover theirs.
Thank you.
Kristin Kline

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