Miranda was a single mother of three young children, working as a server for $9 an hour. Caught in the cycle so many single parents know too well, Miranda was trying to get ahead in a world that only allowed her to just get by, working hard but barely making ends meet. Wanting more for her children, Miranda did not see a clear path forward.
Miranda found Project Self-Sufficiency through a community partner. She had big dreams of being where she is today: she wanted to become a radiologic technologist. Starting with the basics, Miranda earned her GED shortly after enrolling in our program. With the support of her Project Self-Sufficiency Advisor—who served as her coach, mentor, advocate, and accountability partner—she began tackling the challenging prerequisite courses for the Radiologic Technology program at Aims Community College.
The road wasn’t easy. Between caring for three children, working to keep food on the table, and wrestling with demanding coursework, progress was slow, and sometimes felt insurmountable for Miranda. Personal struggles threatened to derail Miranda’s plans, yet Miranda didn’t give up. Along the way, she earned her phlebotomy certification, taking every opportunity to move closer to her goal.
She transitioned from serving tables to working as a registrar at an imaging center, finally getting her foot in the door of the medical field. Then came a setback: she wasn’t accepted into the Radiologic Technology program on her first try. Many would have stopped there, but not Miranda. She applied again.
On the second attempt, she got in.
The Radiologic Technology program was incredibly demanding, made harder by immense family challenges during that time. Miranda had something many single parents don’t have: a support system. Thanks to Project Self-Sufficiency partners, Miranda received:
- A donated vehicle to get to classes and clinicals
- Project Self-Sufficiency Strengthen Grants every academic year since 2020, helping her to cover gas, car maintenance, food, rent, and utilities
- Assistance in securing affordable housing
- Holiday gift sponsorships for her children
- Back-to-school clothing through the Project Self-Sufficiency Cool Kids Fund
With this foundation of support beneath her, Miranda completed her degree and went on to Weber State’s online program to pursue her radiation therapy license. In December 2025, she passed her licensing exam.
Today, Miranda works as a radiation therapist, earning $45 an hour ($93K a year).
Her journey:
- $9/hour as a server
- $20/hour as a student X-ray technician
- $30/hour as a PRN X-ray tech
- $45/hour as a radiation therapist
Eight years. Three children. Countless obstacles. One determined mother. And donors who believed in her potential.
Miranda’s story demonstrates what’s possible when single parents receive not just financial assistance, but wraparound support—an Advisor who walks alongside them, resources that remove barriers, and a community that invests in their future.
This is the power of your partnership with Project Self-Sufficiency. This is SelfPower in action!
