I started my healthcare journey as a phlebotomist back in 2005, I really liked working in the lab and drawing blood. My supervisors and patients would always tell me, “You could draw blood from a turnip." I was the "go to" person for all the hard sticks. Eventually I started wanting more patient interaction; I returned to school in 2010 and completed my certificate for Medical Assisting. I have been an RMA since 2011, working in research, internal med, holistic med, urgent care, and presently neurology. In 2016, I had my first and only child and that same year my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson disease. Two years later I found myself a single mom. My dad kept telling me that I needed to go back to school and finish my Nursing degree. I was reluctant because I was a newly single mom trying to make it on my own, so I told him I would one day. In 2019, my dad told me that he wanted to find a nice house somewhere, where we could each have our own space and still live together. That way if something were to happen to him, he would know that I have a stable place for myself and my daughter to live and we would be taken care of. My dad knew that his disease would progress and get worse. It did in 2021, he developed Lewy body dementia on top of his Parkinson's. I then became a full-time caregiver on top of working full time and being a single mom. It was a very hard and trying year! I had so many different obstacles and struggles to overcome. Even with his dementia, he was still pushing me to go back to school. I promised him one day I would, but it wasn't going to be that day because he was my priority. My experience and knowledge as a Medical Assistant in Neurology was a blessing in helping me be a caregiver for my dad. Which brings me to present day! I am still in Neurology, and I want to be able to do more for my patients and community by expanding my scope of practice and finally finishing my Nursing degree. Not only will this help me thrive in my career path but also financially in my personal life and I will be able to provide a better life for my daughter, become a role model for her. I want to show her it’s never too late to go after or finish anything she wants to do in life. My dad passed in April 2022. I am now at a point in my life where I want and need to honor my promise to my dad. I started back Nursing school May 4th, 2026, and I am expected to graduate Dec 2027. I could not be more excited and nervous about this journey. I am all in to do the best I possibly can in this program. I want to succeed more than anything, not only to make my dad and daughter proud of me but also help my community in any way possible. No matter how big or small, I just want to make a difference in people's lives.

My dad was always my biggest supporter and would always tell me that I need to go back and finish school. He told me that for years. I wanted to become an RN but the waitlist was very long and I wanted to start building a career as soon as possible, so I decided to become a Registered Medical Assistant. I had all intentions of going back BUT, “life happens.” I kept telling myself it is only a set back and I will return to school at some point. I have had a good job as an MA for the last 16 years, divorced, and raising a child on my own. I felt like my main priority was taking care of her and I didn’t have the time or money to go back to school. My dad, an Army Veteran; had been diagnosed with Parkinson Disease and eventually moved in with me. His disease progressed to Parkinson with Lewy Body Dementia. So, here I was a single mom, working full time and taking care of my father and a small child. The VA did very little to help with anything. Luckily, my background in healthcare and working for a Neurology practice gave me the knowledge and skills that I needed to take care of him but as my scope of practice as an MA is limited. I knew I wanted to be able to do more to help others. After he passed in April 2022, everything fell onto me and again was taking care of everything and everyone, except myself. Now 4 years later, I am a 40-year-old single mom; thinking its time to do something that will not only better myself but also my child. I want to be able to provide for her and not just “survive”. I want her to know that no matter how old you are or what you have going on in life, you can still achieve your goals. It is never too late. I have made up my mind that the time is now for me to put “life happens” excuses on the back burner and start achieving my goals. I am scheduled to start the Nursing program this May 2026. Change is scary and some financial things may be uncertain but where there is a will, there is a WAY! I always find my way eventually and I couldn’t be more thrilled to start this new journey. I hope after completing my RN, that maybe I can find a career where I can help more veteran families, when the help they need falls short. I know what a struggle I went through and If I can help ease someone’s burdens, then that’s exactly what I will do.

My mom was 58 when she passed in 2006, I was just 20 years old. It was a hard pill to swallow but I managed to push through. Maybe time does heal or just makes it easier to get through the days? However, I was much closer with my Dad. I was 9 years old when my mom left my dad and I made the decision that I wanted to stay with him. It was he and I from that point on. He was an Army Veteran and worked as a civilian for the DOD once he left the military. My dad always pushed me to do my best. If I needed something, he always made it happen. No matter what! I told myself that would be the type of parent I want to be when I grew up. In 2016, I gave birth to his first and only grandchild, he was ecstatic! That same year he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. Two years later I found myself going through divorce and becoming a single mom. My dad welcomed me and his granddaughter back home with open arms. He told me I needed to go back to school and finish getting my RN. I told him dad, I just don't have the time or money right now. He would tell me "not to wait too long, but I could still go back". My dad knew that his disease would progress and wanted to make sure that I was going to be ok and I would be able to take care of myself and his granddaughter. We bought a house together in 2019, we had the best 2 "normal" years there. In 2021, my dads Parkinson's started to progress rapidly and he eventually developed Lewy body Dementia. It was heartbreaking to see such a strong incredible man become so frail. I promised my dad that I would never put him in a home. I'm a medical assistant for a Neurology practice, so I already had some skills and knowledge to take care of him. I was a single mom, working full time, and taking care of them man that had taken care of me all of my life. I would do it a 1000x over. He passed away in April 2022 and I made a promise to him that I would find my way back to school somehow and finish what I started. These last 4 years have been trying in so many ways. He raised me to be strong and independent. I think he did a very good job at that! Now, I am at a point in my life where I want to keep my promise to him and finish getting my RN. I am scheduled to start Nursing school May 2026. I am nervous about this new endeavor, but I am also thrilled about the journey! I know my dad has always been proud of me in life but I also like to think that he is still cheering me on and pushing me to be better, for myself and for my daughter. I continue to be positive and push through obstacles every day to achieve the goals I have set.

My dad was always my biggest supporter and would always tell me that I need to go back and finish school. He told me that for years. I wanted to become an RN but the waitlist was very long and I wanted to start building a career as soon as possible, so I decided to become a Registered Medical Assistant. I had all intentions of going back BUT, “life happens.” I kept telling myself it is only a set back and I will return to school at some point. I have had a good job as an MA for the last 16 years, divorced, and raising a child on my own. I felt like my main priority was taking care of her and I didn’t have the time or money to go back to school. My dad, an Army Veteran; had been diagnosed with Parkinson Disease and eventually moved in with me. His disease progressed to Parkinson with Lewy Body Dementia. So, here I was a single mom, working full time and taking care of my father and a small child. The VA did very little to help with anything. Luckily, my background in healthcare and working for a Neurology practice gave me the knowledge and skills that I needed to take care of him but as my scope of practice as an MA is limited. I knew I wanted to be able to do more to help others. After he passed in April 2022, everything fell onto me and again was taking care of everything and everyone, except myself. Now 4 years later, I am a 40-year-old single mom; thinking its time to do something that will not only better myself but also my child. I want to be able to provide for her and not just “survive”. I want her to know that no matter how old you are or what you have going on in life, you can still achieve your goals. It is never too late. I have made up my mind that the time is now for me to put “life happens” excuses on the back burner and start achieving my goals. I am scheduled to start the Nursing program this May 2026. Change is scary and some financial things may be uncertain but where there is a will, there is a WAY! I always find my way eventually and I couldn’t be more thrilled to start this new journey. I hope after completing my RN, that maybe I can find a career where I can help more veteran families, when the help they need falls short. I know what a struggle I went through and If I can help ease someone’s burdens, then that’s exactly what I will do.

My dad was always my biggest supporter and would always tell me that I need to go back and finish school. He told me that for years. I wanted to become an RN but the waitlist was very long and I wanted to start building a career as soon as possible, so I decided to become a Registered Medical Assistant. I had all intentions of going back BUT, “life happens.” I kept telling myself it is only a set back and I will return to school at some point. I have had a good job as an MA for the last 16 years, divorced, and raising a child on my own. I felt like my main priority was taking care of her and I didn’t have the time or money to go back to school. My dad, an Army Veteran; had been diagnosed with Parkinson Disease and eventually moved in with me. His disease progressed to Parkinson with Lewy Body Dementia. So, here I was a single mom, working full time and taking care of my father and a small child. The VA did very little to help with anything. Luckily, my background in healthcare and working for a Neurology practice gave me the knowledge and skills that I needed to take care of him but as my scope of practice as an MA is limited. I knew I wanted to be able to do more to help others. After he passed in April 2022, everything fell onto me and again was taking care of everything and everyone, except myself. Now 4 years later, I am a 40-year-old single mom; thinking its time to do something that will not only better myself but also my child. I want to be able to provide for her and not just “survive”. I want her to know that no matter how old you are or what you have going on in life, you can still achieve your goals. It is never too late. I have made up my mind that the time is now for me to put “life happens” excuses on the back burner and start achieving my goals. I am scheduled to start the Nursing program this May 2026. Change is scary and some financial things may be uncertain but where there is a will, there is a WAY! I always find my way eventually and I couldn’t be more thrilled to start this new journey. I hope after completing my RN, that maybe I can find a career where I can help more veteran families, when the help they need falls short. I know what a struggle I went through and If I can help ease someone’s burdens, then that’s exactly what I will do.

My dad was always my biggest supporter and would always tell me that I need to go back and finish school. He told me that for years. I wanted to become an RN but the waitlist was very long and I wanted to start building a career as soon as possible, so I decided to become a Registered Medical Assistant. I had all intentions of going back BUT, “life happens.” I kept telling myself it is only a set back and I will return to school at some point. I have had a good job as an MA for the last 16 years, divorced, and raising a child on my own. I felt like my main priority was taking care of her and I didn’t have the time or money to go back to school. My dad, an Army Veteran; had been diagnosed with Parkinson Disease and eventually moved in with me. His disease progressed to Parkinson with Lewy Body Dementia. So, here I was a single mom, working full time and taking care of my father and a small child. The VA did very little to help with anything. Luckily, my background in healthcare and working for a Neurology practice gave me the knowledge and skills that I needed to take care of him but as my scope of practice as an MA is limited. I knew I wanted to be able to do more to help others. After he passed in April 2022, everything fell onto me and again was taking care of everything and everyone, except myself. Now 4 years later, I am a 40-year-old single mom; thinking its time to do something that will not only better myself but also my child. I want to be able to provide for her and not just “survive”. I want her to know that no matter how old you are or what you have going on in life, you can still achieve your goals. It is never too late. I have made up my mind that the time is now for me to put “life happens” excuses on the back burner and start achieving my goals. I am scheduled to start the Nursing program this May 2026. Change is scary and some financial things may be uncertain but where there is a will, there is a WAY! I always find my way eventually and I couldn’t be more thrilled to start this new journey. I hope after completing my RN, that maybe I can find a career where I can help more veteran families, when the help they need falls short. I know what a struggle I went through and If I can help ease someone’s burdens, then that’s exactly what I will do. Especially those patients that suffer with Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Parkinson's. Currently working in Neurology and haven taken care of my own father with these diagnoses, I feel like I want to continue working in this field.

My dad was always my biggest supporter and would always tell me that I need to go back and finish school. He told me that for years. I wanted to become an RN but the waitlist was very long and I wanted to start building a career as soon as possible, so I decided to become a Registered Medical Assistant. I had all intentions of going back BUT, “life happens.” I kept telling myself it is only a set back and I will return to school at some point. I have had a good job as an MA for the last 16 years, divorced, and raising a child on my own. I felt like my main priority was taking care of her and I didn’t have the time or money to go back to school. My dad, an Army Veteran; had been diagnosed with Parkinson Disease and eventually moved in with me. His disease progressed to Parkinson with Lewy Body Dementia. So, here I was a single mom, working full time and taking care of my father and a small child. The VA did very little to help with anything. Luckily, my background in healthcare and working for a Neurology practice gave me the knowledge and skills that I needed to take care of him but as my scope of practice as an MA is limited. I knew I wanted to be able to do more to help others. After he passed in April 2022, everything fell onto me and again was taking care of everything and everyone, except myself. Now 4 years later, I am a 40-year-old single mom; thinking its time to do something that will not only better myself but also my child. I want to be able to provide for her and not just “survive”. I want her to know that no matter how old you are or what you have going on in life, you can still achieve your goals. It is never too late. I have made up my mind that the time is now for me to put “life happens” excuses on the back burner and start achieving my goals. I am scheduled to start the Nursing program this May 2026. Change is scary and some financial things may be uncertain but where there is a will, there is a WAY! I always find my way eventually and I couldn’t be more thrilled to start this new journey. I hope after completing my RN, that maybe I can find a career where I can help more veteran families, when the help they need falls short. I know what a struggle I went through and If I can help ease someone’s burdens, then that’s exactly what I will do.

My dad was always my biggest supporter and would always tell me that I need to go back and finish school. He told me that for years. I wanted to become an RN but the waitlist was very long and I wanted to start building a career as soon as possible, so I decided to become a Registered Medical Assistant. I had all intentions of going back BUT, “life happens.” I kept telling myself it is only a set back and I will return to school at some point. I have had a good job as an MA for the last 16 years, divorced, and raising a child on my own. I felt like my main priority was taking care of her and I didn’t have the time or money to go back to school. My dad, an Army Veteran; had been diagnosed with Parkinson Disease and eventually moved in with me. His disease progressed to Parkinson with Lewy Body Dementia. So, here I was a single mom, working full time and taking care of my father and a small child. The VA did very little to help with anything. Luckily, my background in healthcare and working for a Neurology practice gave me the knowledge and skills that I needed to take care of him but as my scope of practice as an MA is limited. I knew I wanted to be able to do more to help others. After he passed in April 2022, everything fell onto me and again was taking care of everything and everyone, except myself. Now 4 years later, I am a 40-year-old single mom; thinking its time to do something that will not only better myself but also my child. I want to be able to provide for her and not just “survive”. I want her to know that no matter how old you are or what you have going on in life, you can still achieve your goals. It is never too late. I have made up my mind that the time is now for me to put “life happens” excuses on the back burner and start achieving my goals. I am scheduled to start the Nursing program this May 2026. Change is scary and some financial things may be uncertain but where there is a will, there is a WAY! I always find my way eventually and I couldn’t be more thrilled to start this new journey. I hope after completing my RN, that maybe I can find a career where I can help more veteran families, when the help they need falls short. I know what a struggle I went through and If I can help ease someone’s burdens, then that’s exactly what I will do.

My dad was always my biggest supporter and would always tell me that I need to go back and finish school. He told me that for years. I wanted to become an RN but the waitlist was very long and I wanted to start building a career as soon as possible, so I decided to become a Registered Medical Assistant. I had all intentions of going back BUT, “life happens.” I kept telling myself it is only a set back and I will return to school at some point. I have had a good job as an MA for the last 16 years, divorced, and raising a child on my own. I felt like my main priority was taking care of her and I didn’t have the time or money to go back to school. My dad, an Army Veteran; had been diagnosed with Parkinson Disease and eventually moved in with me. His disease progressed to Parkinson with Lewy Body Dementia. So, here I was a single mom, working full time and taking care of my father and a small child. The VA did very little to help with anything. Luckily, my background in healthcare and working for a Neurology practice gave me the knowledge and skills that I needed to take care of him but as my scope of practice as an MA is limited. I knew I wanted to be able to do more to help others. After he passed in April 2022, everything fell onto me and again was taking care of everything and everyone, except myself. Now 4 years later, I am a 40-year-old single mom; thinking its time to do something that will not only better myself but also my child. I want to be able to provide for her and not just “survive”. I want her to know that no matter how old you are or what you have going on in life, you can still achieve your goals. It is never too late. I have made up my mind that the time is now for me to put “life happens” excuses on the back burner and start achieving my goals. I am scheduled to start the Nursing program this May 2026. Change is scary and some financial things may be uncertain but where there is a will, there is a WAY! I always find my way eventually and I couldn’t be more thrilled to start this new journey. I hope after completing my RN, that maybe I can find a career where I can help more veteran families, when the help they need falls short. I know what a struggle I went through and If I can help ease someone’s burdens, then that’s exactly what I will do.