My name is Joshua Askins. I am currently and undergraduate student working on my second bachelor's degree in nursing. My first bachelor's degree is in substance abuse counseling with a certification in chemical dependency counseling. I work at a health care clinic that serves the homeless population of the Louisville Metropolitan area. I've known I've wanted to work in a "helping" career field since I was really young. I started out in a small town college in southeastern Kentucky pursing my nursing degree because I thought, "what better way to help people than to be a nurse, right?" Little did I know, I would have to overcome a lot before I would be able to even think about fulfilling that dream. Ultimately, I ended up finishing my bachelor's degree in counseling. I've always loved Psychology and studying things that are wrong with the brain. But even more so, here in Kentucky one of the most prevalent diseases is substance abuse disorder. Since I graduated, I've looked for many ways to use my bachelor's degree until a year and a half ago when I found the job I had been waiting for helping homeless people take a hold of their mental health. Moving forward into nursing, I'd like to take a stand and help people in this community with more than just their mental health. I want to be able to help them and teach them about the physical health also. That is why I want to be a nurse. That is why I do what I do now. It is my driving force to be able to help other people and anyone I know would tell you that a million times over. Being able to help people is not a virtue everyone possesses. It is something that people are born with and really value. I was born to be a helper, I know that deep down about myself. I honestly couldn't see myself in any other profession, being a servant to my community and giving back to them is what really has always mattered to me. I want to see the people in this community thrive and be in tip top shape for years and years to come. That is why I do what I do. The satisfaction in knowing that I was a part of something bigger than myself, that makes it all worth it to me. I love people and I love being a part of the growing change and growing work force in health care.

I've known I've wanted to be in a helping field of work since I was about 13 years old. I've always had the passion, drive, and empathy for the well-being of others. When I first started nursing school in 2017 I had a lot going on in life, wasn't focused, and had a lot going on with my own mental health that did not allow me to succeed. Since then, I have received a bachelor's degree in counseling. But, counseling never felt like enough; I missed the hands-on things that were provided in the nursing profession that made me feel more proactive in the helping process. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing but respect for counselors, therapists, and other similar professionals, but to me, it didn't fit. I finally decided to go back into nursing. I've loved nursing since my very first clinical, and it just feels like everything I'm doing in life keeps pushing me back toward this rewarding, albeit tough, profession. I know that nursing isn't easy, and it requires dedication, hard work, and focus. Now that I'm older and have a better prospective, I've gotten away from things that would otherwise distract me, and worked on my own mental health, I know I'm ready for the task of completing nursing school. I was built for this profession, however, my wallet was not. Being that I'm already in debt from my first degree, it is hard to ask for more and more to continue an education, but this is the education that I want and have worked so hard to finally be able to get. Now that I'm older, I have the focus and dedication for this profession. I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is. Being that I am older now, I have a better understanding of what I want, and I want to be able to provide that for myself. I want to be able to prove to everyone what they and I already know is true, that I have what it takes and will be an amazing nurse given the chance. When I am successful and become an RN my goal is to work in trauma or behavioral health; I have a very healthy respect for those who work in behavioral health. I know that my long-term goal is to become a nurse practitioner, however, I'm not sure which path I would like to take when it comes to that. When I first started nursing, I wanted to be a midwife. My goals have changed over the years, and I know that Obstetrics is not a place I would want to be permanently. I've been fairly close with behavioral health in recent years, but I know how difficult that can be also. So at this point in time, I just know that my goal includes becoming a nurse practitioner; I think the near future will tell what type I would like to become.