I am inspired to receive my BSN at ETSU in Spring 2023. I am an LPN and have been for almost twenty years. I decided in 2020 that I wanted to go back to school and finish my goal by getting my BSN. I was worried; due to being 42 years old and working sixty hours a week. Then COVID-19 hit after 3 months being in school and I became overwhelmed because I had to hold down my clinic and get through school which was extremely hard. School seemed so important and I did not want to give up, so I continued to push through. Over the semester I was not so sure I could do it, but my husband and patients kept telling me that I could do anything. I was so involved with my patients and trying to help them with insurance issues, being able to afford medicine, application assistance for the majority of them and empathizing the struggle of the disease with its increasing fatigue with depression. Well the first semester I passed but not with the grades I usually make and questioned my ability! I had to stop and breath and remind myself that I was trying to accomplish too much. I did not want to let my husband, patients, or school down. I ended up with Covid-19 of course and very sick in July. I developed cardiac problems, fatigue, heart murmur, muscle, and joint pain. I developed syncope and thought I would not be able to finish my goal. Then I developed severe anxiety and constantly felt overwhelmed with everything in life. I just wanted everyone to get better and no one else to die alone. The following months were hard; Many of my patients started dying from this virus . I knew I had to keep going so I could be educated and be able to be there for my patients in the hospital. The families told me such horror stories, in regards to being treated like they had Leprosy and being called the wrong name. I started going to therapy for my mental health. Continued with school and work till December of 2021. My therapist and husband stated if I wanted to continue with my career and advancement in school I needed to go to part-time. Well at my place of employment it meant so much to me to continue, but the doctor stated “he needed me there for the long hours and he had no one else”. He did not allow part-time, I started his practice and had been with him for eight years and could not understand why we could not get more help and let me continue school for my degree? December 1st was my last day at the office and it was heartbreaking. Needless to say I really blossomed come January 2022 and done very well in school! I have also done great things for my mental health which has helped be greatly with my education. I am taking my last prerequisite Microbiology in the Fall and look forward to ETSU come Spring 2023. I look forward to helping patients once again. It’s a difficult job, but the forth important journey in my life besides God, Husband, son, and my pets. I would like to practice Rheumatology due to having Psoriatic Arthritis and become a patient advocate!