One woman’s story of how the New Opportunity School For Women helped her find her confidence and pursue a new future.
The New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW) in Berea, Kentucky, helps Appalachian women facing addiction, abuse, and isolation return to education. Its mission is to provide women in Kentucky and across Appalachia with the tools they need to know themselves more deeply, build confidence, and access the resources at their disposal to improve their personal, educational, and financial circumstances.
Kimberly Longstreet’s story illustrates the impact of that mission. Her inspiring journey of resilience in the face of overwhelming odds highlights how the New Opportunity School for Women helped her find the confidence to get back on her feet.
Kimberly first tried to earn her college degree when she was a young teenage mother. However, in the midst of abusive relationships and drug addiction, Kimberly’s self-esteem was depleted, and she lost sight of who she was. It was a long time, about 20 years of struggling, before Kimberly found the motivation she needed to fight her way back to herself.
She had lost contact with her oldest son over the years, but when her youngest son had two boys of his own, she realized that she wanted to be a person those two baby boys could look up to.
“It opened my eyes to life again, having the babies around. I never wanted them to see me in that state of mind.”
Because of her grandsons, Kimberly started attending therapy and recovery meetings, which she continued attending after beginning her recovery.
Eventually, she started volunteering at a recovery center, which then turned into a job opportunity. While she was there, she learned about the New Opportunity School for Women through a brochure. She says that when she saw the brochure, she immediately knew it was something she needed to look into.
“I wanted to get my self-esteem back,” she says. “I had such low self-esteem that it interfered with everything in my life. I couldn’t forgive myself for what I put my family through—and myself.”
Kimberly attended a three-day online program first, then followed it up with one of the school’s two-week residential programs, which she completed in June 2023. Through that program, she found both herself and her voice again. When she got back home, people noticed an immediate difference.
“When I came home, people were saying, ‘You’re so changed, Kim’. I’m more outspoken now. I don’t keep things to myself. I voice my opinion about things now. I’m more determined and believe in myself.”
A few months after graduating from the residential program with NOSW, Kimberly fulfilled a lifelong dream when she enrolled at Bluegrass Community and Technical College with the intention of pursuing a degree in human services. Because of her financial situation, on top of all the other barriers she was facing, she never felt like she had the opportunity to go back to school. But thanks to a federal program called Fresh Start, she finally had the ability to make it work.
Through her hard work and dedication, Kimberly made the Dean’s List in her first semester. At the time, her goal was to complete a four-year degree. Because of the challenges she faced over 20 years, she wanted to turn her experience into something good and dreamed of becoming a drug and alcohol counselor.
“I want to do the best I can do,” Kimberly says.
Written by Evann Hudecz for Together for Hope
This article was written using information gathered from the NOSW official website, including its original interview with Kimberly, which can be found here.
