Kari is the epitome of what is seen often with Pawsperity students. She exemplifies strength, resilience, and a strong love for her family. She now looks back at the last several years and shares that her life has changed immensely.
She says, “I was living in a motel with my three children and had been clean for about four months. It was hard. I had a friend who had just gone through Pawsperity’s program and nudged me to do it.” Little did Kari know, this push from her friend would end up being a turning point in her life, and the lives of her children.
After starting school, Kari realized Pawsperity seemed different. She reflects, “It felt like a community—accepting and understanding. I felt safe and seen. Everyone was so patient. Usually, I don’t get along with everyone, but I did at Pawsperity. It was so cool to fit in there.” When asked about the grooming instructors and case managers, she adds, “They were all amazing and so nice. The instructors who were graduates themselves made it inspiring when they shared their own stories. We were just like them.”
What was challenging for Kari was the actual grooming. Even though she worked hard, she says it did not come naturally. She says it was more challenging because it was difficult for her to find her confidence. But she was persistent and pushed through the extensive curriculum, learning the different breed grooms and a whole new set of skills.
While working hard in school, Kari was fortunate to move her family out of the motel and into Pawsperity’s 6-unit apartment residence, or “dorms,” as students call them. She says, “They are so close to the school. They were also cheaper than the hotel where we were living, which allowed me to save money. Even though we were sharing the facility with other students and their families, we still were still able to live our separate lives. It was really peaceful.”
After graduation, Kari went to work as a groomer at Winding River Pet Village, a boarding facility. It just so happens she never left and is still grooming there today, four years later. She is fortunate to have worked alongside, and learned from, a groomer who has been in the industry for decades.
What has been beneficial for Kari has been the flexibility of her schedule. As a single mom, it is still important to her to be able to drop her kids off at school each morning, as well as to pick them up, if they do not have a ride home. Pawsperity strategically chose grooming because of the option to have a more flexible schedule, which can immensely benefit a single parent family. Kari wants to be there for her children, and grooming gives her that opportunity. “I work when they are in school and am home with them when they are home.”
Additionally, having the consistent rent history while living in Pawsperity’s residence helped Kari get an apartment, and eventually a house, where she resides now with her children. She says, “It has three bedrooms and such a large back yard.” The space is a great home for her and her family. Her oldest is an 18-year-old girl who just graduated high school. She is creative and enjoys doing makeup for weddings, proms, and special events. Her 12-year-old son happens to be special needs and was born with DiGeorge Syndrome, which caused six heart abnormalities. He has had over 30 different operations. However, it does not hold him back at all. Kari says, “He may be medically complex, but plays basketball and rides his bike like any other 12-year-old.” Her youngest, a 7-year-old girl, loves Barbies and dolls. She enjoys school so much she likes to “play school” at home all the time.
Kari has been able to create a stable and loving home for her family, which has clearly been her goal. Life has changed a lot since living in a motel with three young kids and not knowing what the future holds. If Kari could talk to a current student, she would give these words of advice, “Keep going! Don’t give up. Believe in yourself. You will be amazed where you could be at the end of your journey.”
