COLUMBUS - Life deals us a bad hand now and then. Sometimes it seems like there is nowhere to go. However, for Jolynn Stancik, she chose to go up in life instead of drowning in self-pity. When her living situation looked bleak, Habitat for Humanity came into her life and the rest is history.
Q&A with Jolynn Stancik, Walmart employee for nine years, and Colorado County Habitat Partner for seven years Question: Tell us about your life in 2017 when you became a Habitat Partner
Answer: I was a 26-year-old single mom with a six-year-old daughter, Makayla. I was a sporting goods associate at the Columbus Walmart. Makayla and I were living in a 2-bedroom apartment with very bad mold. I came home one day, and it was basically raining inside my apartment. The water heater in the above apartment had busted. The landlord did not replace my carpets and I remember when Habitat came for the home visit, the board member touched a pencil to the ceiling, and it was mushy. I turned in doctor and ER bills with my Habitat application because the mold was very bad for my asthma. I never thought I’d ever be a homeowner. We were saving up to buy a trailer but to get approved for it was like buying a house.
Question: Tell us about your experience going through the Habitat application process.
Answer: I remember going to the application workshop. It was really emotional. Will I get approved? There are a lot of people here. Then I realized that buying a house is really emotional too. I didn’t hear from Habitat for a while because the approval letter got lost in the mail. When Scott Mattingly called to tell me I got the house, I was shocked.
When you read the application, it gets overwhelming but buying a house with a bank, they ask you for a lot more information than Habitat. It’s basically verifying that you can afford the Habitat house and that you are the most qualified person.
Question: Tell us about your experience building your Habitat Home.
Answer: It was hot building my home because we were in the middle of summer. It was really emotional. It was very kind that Habitat involved me in many decisions about my home from colors to flooring and lighting fixtures. It felt like I was making my home. When Scott first taught me how to use the nail gun, it felt powerful.
Question: What can you tell someone who wants to apply for a Habitat Home.
Answer: Go through the process. I thought I was not going to qualify. Keep trying – whether it is for a Habitat home or in life. I never thought I’d be a homeowner or be where I am in my career and education. It’s about timing. If I had waited one year to apply for a Habitat home, I would have been above income because I was promoted soon after. If you’re not picked this year, there was someone who was in more need and in a worse situation than you. Apply again.
Question: Tell us about your career at Walmart.
Answer: I have been with Walmart for nine years and I have received five promotions. I went from a store associate to Marketing Coordinator. I received my bachelor’s in communication from the University of Houston in Victoria then recently I graduated with a master’s in business administration, concentration in human resource management from the University of Houston Downtown.
I want to stay with Walmart because of the opportunities available. Walmart pays for educational expenses if they are at the store level. Walmart also gives back to the community. It’s really nice to know that the Columbus and Sealy Walmart has partnered with Colorado County Habitat via financial support and volunteers.
Question: What drives you?
Answer: I had difficult things happen
in my life. My father committed suicide in 2017 around the time I learned I was going to be a Habitat partner. He didn’t finish school and he was not happy with his job. I never wanted to settle. I was 19 years old when I got pregnant, and I didn’t want that to stop my life because I was very young. I went back to school because of my dad and I’m still working hard because of my daughter.
Question: Any last words?
Answer: Nobody knows you have a problem unless you speak up. Work hard and be ready for the opportunities when they come and when you can, give back.
