2023 Scholarship Recipient
Caroline Mackey
2023 All-Star Scholarship Recipient
Hi Caroline, can you introduce yourself to the UMPS CARE family?
Hello, my name is Caroline Mackey, and I am 18 years old. I live in Arizona, and I am going to Colorado Christian University to double major in Psychology and Elementary Education.
Can you talk a bit about what this scholarship means to you and your educational goals?
This scholarship means so much to me and it has made CCU more affordable for my family. I cannot express my gratitude enough for this scholarship and the impact it has not only made on me but also on my family. Just knowing there are people like those in the UMPS CARE Charities family who want to support me in my educational journey is so special to me. To have people invest not only in my education but also in my future has been so encouraging for me.
Why did you choose to go to Colorado Christian University?
I wanted to go to a Christian university, but also be a bit farther away from home. I looked at some other Christian schools and was accepted at a few, but ultimately, I chose CCU. I chose to go to CCU because I love the size of the school, as it is much smaller than other universities. I also really enjoy the community aspect of CCU and the idea that my professors would know me personally, which is a different experience than most public universities. I want to not only further my academic growth but also my spiritual growth. I am excited to see what God has in store for me at CCU.
Would you be willing to share a little bit about your background and what you’ve overcome?
When I was about four years old, my mom left me and my sister, Brie. After that, we would find ourselves moving from place to place constantly. This was difficult because we would end up going to many different schools and at times, our dad would not even take us to school. Soon, my dad became physically abusive toward me, and he smoked and did drugs often. When my grandparents became involved, long story short, they decided they wanted to adopt me and Brie. This began a long period of almost two years of waiting to try to adopt us. Throughout these two years of waiting, our grandparents became our foster parents, in a way. They took care of me and Brie, and we lived with them. After about two years, when I was in fifth grade, my grandparents adopted me and my sister on July 29, 2016. This year we will be celebrating seven years of being adopted and about ten years of my amazing grandparents watching after and taking care of me and my sister. I am so grateful for my amazing family and all they have done for me and Brie.
Do you feel that being adopted gives you a different perspective on life than your peers?
Yes, especially because I was coming from a broken household full of abuse and hardship. I came from a home that was not even a home. I think I can deal with challenges or struggles throughout life because I have already gone through difficulties and challenging times. Being adopted has shown me that it is possible to be successful in life even if the beginning was not easy. Being adopted has also shown me perseverance and what it means to keep trying, even when things do get difficult, and for that, I am thankful.
What is one fun fact about you?
A fun fact about me is that I love to play piano and sing. Music has always been a passion of mine and I hope to continue that in college while at CCU.
