My daughter was hospitalized back in 2019 right before anyone knew what COVID was. At the time we were unaware of what she had. During my daughters hospital stay I encountered the most empathetic staff. Not only did these nurses care for my daughter but they also helped me in the moments when all I could do was cry. It was during that time that I realized how special those women truly were. Those nurses showed me, a stranger love and compassion, which I will never be able to pay back. This event inspired me to go back to school. When I started working as a medical assistant I immediately fell in love with the profession. While I have had my fair share of failures I have never given up. I keep aspiring to be like those nurses that took care of my daughter and I during such a scary and uncertain time in our life. My educational goals are spread out into a five year plan. I am currently attending South Plains College, and I plan on graduating with my Associates in Nursing Science by May 2024. After graduating I will transfer to West Texas A&M University, to work for my Bachelors in Nursing Science. The goal is to graduate from West Texas A&M by May 2025. After completing my education I am looking into working at a Trauma 1 ER, ICU, and burn unit. By the year 2026 I will attempt to get License to become a Nurse Practitioner. At the moment I am working as certified medical assistant, working 40 plus hours a week.

Balancing my work, home, and personal life has been a challenge. If I could include a picture of my schedule, it would look like a child scribbled all over the month. My school schedule dominates most of my time, but like most adults I still have every day expenses and bills that need to paid. I work full time as a medical assistant at a clinic in my hometown. Unfortunately I have been struggling to work my full 40 hours weeks due to school. I decided to start selling breakfast and lunch plates to help with the financial burden. I have scheduled “alone” time with each of my kids, to help with the distance we have have encountered this year. Sunday are my family day. No matter what is going on through out my week on Sundays I spend my day with my kids. Whether its cleaning the house, yard work, or going to get groceries my kids and I will catch up on life and enjoy the preciouses time we have. Through out the week I have a set bed time routine that allows me to feed, bath, play, and do homework with my kids.