As a Michigan State alumni that chose to go back to pursue a career in Nursing, my school pride runs deep. I’m a newly admitted nursing student in MSU’s baccalaureate accelerated nursing program. My time in undergrad was utilized getting involved in the student nurse community on campus by being an executive board member of MSU’s Nurse Student Association. Being on e-board and being responsible for organizing the mentor mentee program was a nostalgic experience as I was one of the mentees myself sophomore year, looking for advice from current nursing student mentors. With this achievement, I was also given the opportunity to partake in community service as well as attend the National Student Nurse Association Convention along with other club members. Outside of academics and campus life, I made it a priority to grow as a healthcare professional and prepare myself as much as possible before attending a nursing program. I did this by gaining experience in different healthcare positions in order to become a well-rounded healthcare worker. Healthcare positions like medical receptionist, certified nurse assistant, and clinical assistant were foundations in building necessary knowledge to begin my nursing journey. The nursing program is allowing me to grow my knowledge and experiences to ensure quality care for my future patients. One of the ways I've left a impact on a community is when I attended a nine day volunteer trip. This trip had forty students on a bus traveling through six states in nine days doing community service at each stop. The experience left me realizing the importance of not only giving back in your local communities but other underserved communities as well. People in each community was very grateful that we made the effort to come out and help. I plan on continuing this as I enter my nursing career with patients in my community as well as others. Although financing college can be challenging at times as a first generation college student, I was grateful to receive help through financial aid, and for one year, received assistance through a program called Spartan Advantage. I also use summers and school breaks to work and save money for living expenses. However, for second degree bachelor programs like the accelerated nursing program I’m attending, financial aid will only offer limited loans. Despite the fact that this circumstance makes it more difficult to find ways to finance college tuition, it’s not something I’ll allow to hold me back from accomplishing my goal in becoming a nurse

As a Michigan State alumni that chose to come back to pursue a career in Nursing, my school pride runs deep. I’m a newly admitted nursing student in MSU’s baccalaureate accelerated nursing program. My time in undergrad was utilized getting involved in the student nurse community on campus by being an executive board member of MSU’s Nurse Student Association. Being on e-board and being responsible for organizing the mentor mentee program was a nostalgic experience as I was one of the mentees myself sophomore year, looking for advice from current nursing student mentors. With this achievement, I was also given the opportunity to partake in community service as well as attend the National Student Nurse Association Convention along with other club members. Outside of academics and campus life, I made it a priority to grow as a healthcare professional and prepare myself as much as possible before attending a nursing program. I did this by gaining experience in different healthcare positions in order to become a well-rounded healthcare worker. Healthcare positions like medical receptionist, certified nurse assistant, and clinical assistant were foundations in building necessary knowledge to begin my nursing journey. The nursing program is allowing me to grow my knowledge and experiences to ensure quality care for my future patients. Although I have no specific area of nursing that I'm currently committed to, I will be eventually as I go through weekly clinicals in the nursing program. My goal as I'm growing and learning the skills necessary to be a successful nurse is build my critical thinking, clinical, and direct patient care skills. Therefore, I'll be able to give my patients quality care. I'm aware that one of my responsibilities as a nurse is to be an advocate for my patients. In order to be the best advocate there is, I'm currently gaining classroom and clinical knowledge to do so. Although financing college can be challenging at times as a first generation college student, I was grateful to receive help through financial aid, and for one year, received assistance through a program called Spartan Advantage. I also use summers and school breaks to work and save money for living expenses. However, for second degree bachelor programs like the accelerated nursing program I’m attending, financial aid will only offer limited loans. Despite the fact that this circumstance makes it more difficult to find ways to finance college tuition, it’s not something I’ll allow to hold me back from accomplishing my goal in becoming a nurse

Knowledge is an asset that no person can take away from you. An asset is something that is useful and valuable. The value in getting an education is receiving information from experts that would be difficult to learn otherwise. The information you then receive can be used in your career, daily living, and helping others. I'm a first generation college student that is very grateful to have the opportunity to go to college. Although financing an education can be difficult, the knowledge you gain is priceless. There are many people around the world that aren't fortunate enough to have resources that allow them to learn the things they're inquisitive and passionate about. Getting an education helps you build the foundation knowledge you can use for the rest of your life. I'm personally very grateful to have the opportunity to pursue a career in nursing, which I'm greatly passionate about. I would not be able to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse without the help of the education system. Without the right knowledge to provide quality care to patients, successfully doing the job would be very difficult. Education is essential in situations where you need to recognize symptoms that can negatively affect patients' health. When another person's life is in your hands in the healthcare field, the primary thing you're utilizing to care for that patient is the knowledge you've gained when getting an education. Many things in life are temporary and can easily be taken away, however, one thing that can not be changed is the knowledge you hold in your brain. Education allows for the world to improve and excel to its highest potential. It allows you to stimulate your brain and then utilize that information to improve your life as well as the people around you. I can easily state that without receiving the education I have previously received, I wouldn't be the person I am today. My education is a tool that has allowed me to better navigate through life decisions by improving my problem thinking skills. I believe that everyone should strive to always continue learning in life, whether it's something very complex or simple. With the use of education, you are able to not only advance your knowledge quicker, but you also hold information that could be taught to others. Education is so important because it allows us to teach others as well as learn from each other.