Miranda’s Story
My name is Miranda Sweeney, and I’m deeply honored to share my journey with you tonight as a graduate of the Education Navigation program at Weatherford College, made possible by the incredible support of Catholic Charities Fort Worth.
I grew up on the Mississippi coast, just 25 minutes from the beach, but life was far from idyllic. I was born to parents who were addicted to drugs, and my father was abusive. My mom worked as a CNA but was in and out of jail for stealing medication. Our family lived on basically a compound, with my grandma’s trailer in view from our backyard. Many nights, when things got rough at home, I would literally run to my grandma’s place for protection, seeking the safety and comfort that I couldn’t find under my own roof.
I was the youngest of three, and while my brother tried to stay away from home as much as possible, it was my sister, seven years older than me, who truly raised me. I have vivid memories of her rocking me to sleep when I was just eight years old. But even with her love, life was harsh.
In 7th grade, I started using meth and pain pills, following my mother into a world of addiction. I even found myself selling pain pills to my classmates to help my mom. Despite this, I managed to go to school every day, graduate, and avoid trouble. But the struggles were far from over.
I graduated high school just before Hurricane Katrina hit. My apartment in Gulfport was destroyed by the storm, leaving me homeless. I had only been in college for two weeks before Katrina, and I never went back. Instead, I got a job in insurance, trying to keep busy and stay afloat. At 20, I had my daughter, and soon after, I was divorced. Still caught up in a lifestyle that was leading me nowhere good, I found myself in deeper trouble when my mom was raided by the feds for using her kids to sell drugs.
At 24, I made a life-altering decision to leave Mississippi with two friends. We moved to Fort Worth, Texas—a place I had never been before, decided by the flip of a coin. Two days after moving here, I met my husband, a sheriff’s deputy. It’s almost ironic when you think about it—after everything I’d been through, including my own struggles with the law, I ended up literally married to the police. We fell in love quickly, built a family, and for the first time, I began to see a glimmer of hope for the future.
In 2017, I was hit by a semi-truck. The settlement from that accident allowed me to go back to school and pursue my dream of becoming a stenographer. I enrolled in Weatherford College, determined to turn my life around. But the road wasn’t easy. I had been clean since 2012, but balancing school, family, and finances was overwhelming. That’s when I found Catholic Charities Fort Worth.
I knew they were on campus, but I had no idea just how much they would change my life. When I started the program, I had three main goals: to take care of myself, to learn how to budget better, and to manage the stress of exams and comps. Catholic Charities provided financial assistance for school supplies, uniforms, and tuition, and the workshops they offered—on interview skills, resume building, banking basics, mental health, self-care, and credit—gave me the tools I needed to succeed.
But it wasn’t just about the financial and practical help. It was about having someone in my corner. Becky, my Navigator, was that person for me. During my first clinical assignment, I was ready to drop out. In what can only be called an act of God, Becky called me. I was sitting in my car, feeling defeated, but Becky wouldn’t let me give up. She told me that I could do it, that I just had to hold on a little longer. For the first time in my life, I had someone other than my husband who believed in me and was there when I needed it most.
And now, here I am. I graduated in May, and today, I run the entire sonography department at Lake Granbury Medical Center. I also pick up call shifts at two other medical centers nearby. And soon, I’ll be transitioning into an exciting new role—scanning first responders, traveling around North Texas to police and fire stations. This new position not only brings a significant pay raise, but it also gives me the opportunity to travel around the states, supporting the first responders who keep us safe. I’m also proud to share that I’ll be finishing my first semester of my bachelor’s degree with a 4.0 GPA.
Thanks to Catholic Charities, I have the chance to build a better life for myself and my family. Growing up, I always dreamed of going to college and living in the dorms, but that dream wasn’t in the cards for me. Now, my daughter gets to do just that. For the first time, I’ve been able to go on a trip beyond driving distance—later this year, my daughter and I are going to Forks, Washington, a dream vacation I never thought we’d be able to take. And, for the first time, I can buy groceries without checking my bank account to see if I need to put anything back.
Becky, you’re one of the best people I’ve ever met in my life. I wouldn’t be standing here today if it weren’t for you. Thank you for believing in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. Thank you to Catholic Charities Fort Worth for giving me the chance to build a better life for myself and my family.