KEARNEY -- Just in time for Women’s History Month, a story about the strength of one young woman’s willpower: The University of Kearney's Erika Pritchard shared a story of one of their students overcoming great obstacles to reach great heights.

"Do something you want to do," said Phadiziana Smith-Whiteside, a sophomore student in college. 

She went from being homeless to bringing homes together as she studies social work at the University of Kearney.

"I didn’t want our families living in that environment," she said, continuing that her family motivated her to reach great heights. 

Smith-Whiteside was studying at Omaha Northwest High School when her family lost their home — at the same time as she was facing a tumor diagnosis.

Seeing families around her struggle to stay together through financial hardships — she found her purpose and chased it all the way to UNK.

"Being homeless was terrifying," she said. "We had to move within a month after living there four years […] we only found a home a month before I started college […] I was conflicted about having a place to stay without my family […] what made me stick to school was my family. I have a little brother who looks up to me and having that role is what had me going."

Now, she is working as a pre-K teaching assistant to Cassie Morten at UNK’s LaVonne Kopecky Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center, while she pursues her degree.

"I would never have known her hardships," said Morten. She said Smith-Whiteside is always happy and teaching the kids positivity -- that Smith-Whiteside’s success paints a motivational story.