Finding opportunity in the middle of turmoil can never be easy. But that is just what Subrina Johnson, a survivor of domestic violence who has three sons to inspire her, did when she took charge of her life and rose above the chaos toward her educational goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.
Johnson was recently acknowledged for her efforts by Soroptimist International of La Jolla, which presented her with $3,000 as their Women’s Opportunity Award Recipient to help improve her economic situation through education.
“The Women’s Opportunity Award is a scholarship that we give to women who are head of household and who have come out of a difficult time, where they need a hand to help step them up to improve their lives,” said Trudie Breen, chairwoman of this year’s award. “We select women who are working very hard trying to better themselves because we don’t want them to fail in their struggle.”
The cash award will help Johnson to finish her prerequisites at Mira Costa College in Oceanside. She will then transfer to Cal State San Marcos to finish her BSN degree and become a nurse practitioner.
“This year we found Subrina Johnson, a fabulous woman to whom we gave the award because she so fit the bill of what we were seeking in an award-winner,” Breen said “We awarded her the $3,000 because we really feel that it can help her in her efforts to rise above it all and make a success of herself.”
Never one to dwell upon her plight, Johnson maintains a 3.6 GPA while working part-time and raising her children. She shares her story as a volunteer peer counselor at Mira Costa College, where she speaks to other single mothers hoping to return to school to improve their lives.
“Soroptimist International is a volunteer organization for business and professional women and the Women’s Opportunity Award remains one of the most important things that our organization participates in,” Breen said. “Our ultimate goal is to improve the lives of women and children throughout the world, and when we hear the stories from our award-winners who have made a success of their lives, it just makes you so happy about helping them help themselves.”
Soroptimist International of La Jolla meets each Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m. at Café Lautrec, 7644 Girard Ave.
For more information call (858) 456-4848 or visit www.soroptimistinternational.org.
