A child of divorce, Tegan and her twin sister depended on their mom for nearly everything. She was their support system, their rock, and their ride to the many events they participated in for school. So, when she was injured in Tegan’s freshman year of high school, the family dynamic suffered a huge shift. 

“My sister and I [took on] a lot more responsibilities around the house,” Tegan recalled. “It was weird, talking to my friends about why I can’t go and hang out with them because I have to drive my mom to an appointment.” 

Tegan struggled to find support in her community due to the disconnect between her life and the lives of others. “I felt like there weren’t many people I could relate to.” 

Thankfully, Tegan found support through her school’s guidance counselor, who introduced her to Kids’ Chance of Illinois (KCIL) as Tegan began applying to colleges. “I was so surprised that there’s an organization for kids just like me.”  

With the support she received from Kids’ Chance, Tegan was able to travel from her home state of Illinois to the nearby state of Iowa. “I love Iowa City. It’s not too far from home. So, I can go back and see my family, but on campus…there’s so much to do.” 

As a child, Tegan never dreamed she’d go somewhere out of state for school. Out-of-state tuition costs can be high, as can the cost of rent in college towns. But with help from Kids’ Chance, Tegan was able to find a school where she can blossom in her chosen major, biology. “With the financial support I needed, I could pick the school I’d be most happy at.” 

“Many years down the road, I hope to be the principal investigator of my own lab.” Tegan’s career aspirations have grown. Where she once dreamed of being able to study biology for a career in medicine, she is now fully immersed in the joys of research, a love she may never have discovered without her scholarship. 

Tegan hopes to introduce more kids to the program. “I think the more you want to dive into it and be vulnerable and want to talk to the board members and other kids, the more you’ll get out of it.”  

As a Kids’ Chance recipient, Tegan has found a level of support and understanding that she never thought she’d have.