Mom (Erica) and Dad (Shane) are both pursuing college degrees and working full time. In addition, the couple is raising three small children.
Erica is a student in the Chickasaw Nation School to Work program.
She is majoring in Human Services/ Counseling at Ardmore (Okla.) Higher Education through East Central University.
This fall, she will begin her senior year.
"I can see the end, finally," said the 25-year-old.
When she completes her education, she wants to help families in the social services field.
"I want to give back," she said.
Erica's desire to help others stems from the time her twins, Auston and Addie, were born early and strangers lent her a helping hand.
When the twins were born a month early in August 2008, little Auston had to go to a Dallas hospital for a two-week stay in a neonatal isolation unit (NICU).
"We knew no one in Dallas or had no family, and the Ronald McDonald house offered us a place to stay at a time when we were most vulnerable, she said.
"After that time, it made me what to give back, even if indirectly, because it meant so much and we were never asked for anything."
She said working within the Chickasaw Nation to help its citizens would be an ideal position for her.
"The tribe has given me so much and helped me with school and even with WIC (Women, Infant and Children Supplemental Nutritional program)," she said.
Erica is working in tribal Vocational Rehabilitation in Ardmore in the School to Work program and says she is learning many new things.
"I have learned a lot about how the rehabilitation process works and I have learned so much about the paper work and the referral process, things that I haven't been taught yet in class," she said. "I didn't realize there was so much involved."
Although her days are very busy with the twins and six-year-old Macey, Erica manages to maintain a high grade point average.
"The School To Work program helped because I can go to school during the day and its part of my job instead of taking just night classes," she said.
She also credits her mom and her husband for helping her with the children.
"I couldn't do it without them."
She encourages anyone who has the will and the drive to complete their education to make time to do it.
"People say ‘I can't go to school, I don't have time,' but I have three kids, so, if I can do this I don't see why anybody else couldn't, she said.
"They don't have any excuse."
Erica's long-term plans include earning a master's degree in human resources and working as a director of a shelter.
