I bet I heard "she wants to better herself" at least three times. Each time I had a vision of Willie E. Gary smiling beside Crystal, Mary, Travis, Shirley, and Jackie. I think they all want to better themselves.
There's no normal history on her...No old grammar/high school teachers, bosses. Just no one except her parents and their interest is probably more toward the grandchildren.
Surely "wants to better oneself" applies to at least 99.5% of the populations.