SAMANTHA MARIE QUESNEL
2022 Award Winner
Helen Hamilton Scholarship
Samantha just finished her second year of study for an Associate’s Degree at Springfield Technical Community College and is in the process of choosing between Westfield State University and Springfield College where she hopes to continue her education in the Fall of 2023 leading to a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. After graduation, her goal is to help people struggling with addiction, particularly mothers.
This is an intensely personal crusade for Samantha as she grew up in an environment where addiction was commonplace, leading her to associate with the “wrong crowd” and becoming an addict herself.
Growing up in Monson, Samantha graduated from Pathfinder High School in 2015, but she acknowledges that for a few years she struggled with opioid addiction: her dependency; the effects of addiction; and how she could overcome it. The turning point for Samantha was getting pregnant and the realization that as a mom, she could not continue this lifestyle because she didn’t want her children to undergo the same experiences she endured. Working with medical care providers, Samantha went to detox and embarked on the difficult path of overcoming opioids and succeeded. When asked how she is doing now, she acknowledges “a lot better than I was many years ago.”
Now, Samantha’s focus is on her two young daughters, her fiancé, and school. Besides the Helen Hamilton Scholarship, Samantha is also the recipient of the James Z. Naurison Scholarship Fund from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.
Her goal, actually her passion, is to pursue a degree in Social Work and help other moms struggling with addiction.
"My journey towards sobriety has been fueled by my unwavering determination to provide my children with a loving and safe home, one that I was not able to experience during my own upbringing. Despite my past struggles with addiction, I am grateful to have been given a second chance at life and the opportunity to pursue a college degree. As a mother, I made a solemn promise to myself that my children would never see that side of me as it is not reflective of the person I aspire to be.
Fortunately, I have been blessed with support from various sources, including the college and outside financial assistance through scholarships, which have helped alleviate the financial burden associated with continued education. I am particularly thankful for the generosity of those who have donated to the Helen Hamilton scholarship, which has allowed me to focus on my studies and prepare for a brighter future.
I remain committed to turning my personal experience with addiction into a source of inspiration for others who may be enduring similar struggles. My ultimate goal is to use my education and experience to help others along their recovery journey and make a positive impact in their lives."