Designing Life’s Blueprint
stories of overcoming obstacles
2025 Holiday Giving
Martresse
featured student story
2025 Spring HSE (High School Equivalency) Graduate tells us about her time at Begin Anew. She describes how she found our program and how her Life Blueprint was impacted, thanks to your generosity!
Your generosity is changing the Life Blueprint’s of the individuals Begin Anew serves. In 2025 Begin Anew had over 100 graduates!
These students were able to graduate because of the support of our donors. Your gift provides for three FREE education programs! Your donations help to fund official exam costs for students, tutoring/teaching materials, and programming.
Give a gift today to impact the life of a student:
Student Stories
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Martresse — a “47-year-young” grandmother of four and proud mother of three — grew up in East Nashville. She was raised by a hardworking single mother in the housing projects. Life there was about survival. Surrounded by poverty, addiction, and struggle, Martresse made choices that left her with a criminal record, instability, and a lack of purpose. Martresse knew that there was something more for her life. She had always seen herself as a leader and someone who stood by her friends and family. When she had children of her own, she knew she had to break the cycle.
Continue reading Martresse’s Story here.
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Juan is from Honduras, where he grew up in the beautiful city of Choluteca. There, he completed primary and secondary school. In 2012, Juan moved to the capital Tegucigalpa, where he studied at UNAH for two years. Financial circumstances led to Juan having to drop out and return home to look for a job to help support his family.
Read more of Juan’s Story here.
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Utopia grew up in Cleveland, TN, with a loving family and good childhood but when she turned 15 she began to struggle with addiction. At the age of 23, Utopia began her sober journey and was sent to Oak Cottage for Women. Through Oak Cottage’s partnership with Begin Anew, Utopia enrolled in the Computer and Job Skills (CJS) course and HSE program. She graduated the CJS program in December of 2024, and she was determined to get her High School Equivalency Diploma.
Read more of Utopia’s Story here.
HELP ELIMINATE BARRIERS
Volunteers
Pablo (Volunteer and Board Member)
“I admire the courage, resilience, and drive that my students have; coming to class for two hours after a long day at work demonstrates those behaviors.”
Ben (Volunteer)
“This program WORKS…I’ve heard students who are feeling overwhelmed, ready to give up and time and time and time again: everybody comes together, lifts those people up, and fills them up with their love…that’s what’s happening here.”
Special Thanks to all of our 2025 Partners
