I did not choose this career path lightly. In clinical rotations my studies are focused on mental health, and substance abuse departments of the healthcare system. The end goal for this stage of my life is to graduate from UNC Greensboro with a Bachelors in Science of Nursing and RN licensure in order to be a mental health nurse specializing in PTSD and substance abuse disorders. I am going to work hard getting mental health and medical treatment to veterans who suffer from substance abuse and PTSD. Far too often our system of health care fails those who have sacrificed their own health and well-being for this country. I endeavor to help fill the gaps in treatment such that these people don't fall through. The decision to change courses came 5 years ago, when I decided to get sober while serving in the Marines. I was fortunate to have leaders and fellow marines who assisted me to get the help I needed to live a better and sober life. I was lucky. However, many others, healthcare workers, and civilians alike, lacked an understanding of addiction and mental health. They lacked an understanding of how military members suffer. The sometimes incomprehensibly high personal standards we hold ourselves to can break us down as often as they build us up. In seeking treatment, I found many others who struggled as I did. I understand the immense responsibility of taking care of people’s lives and well-being. My previous careers as a PADI scuba instructor and a United States Marine, while unrelated in many ways, shared a level of responsibility where the choices I made drastically affected the safety and well-being of others. My studies here will allow me to learn how to make the best decisions to help my veteran brothers and sisters, and those still in the armed forces whom I will continue to serve. When I finally achieved sobriety three years and four months ago, I looked back on what I had done, and I knew I had to help others. On the way I lost several marines to drugs and alcohol. They may not have been under my command, but they were my brothers and sisters, and we were fighting the same fight. I reflected on my time spent in inpatient and outpatient programs, as well as the various medications, medical treatments, and counseling I received. A fellow marine asked the question, “who did you see make the difference for these people that you would like to see yourself make?” After several weeks of careful reflection, I knew. The people who made that difference were consistently the nurses. Nurses have medical knowledge to understand the pathology and psychology of what these people are going through. They also have training in therapeutic communication, and counseling to assist their patients in ways that go beyond medical interventions. With that question answered, becoming a registered nurse became my path forward. There’s been no stopping since. I intend to continue living a life of service. I will take pride in providing nursing care with the same level of resolve and pride I developed as a United States Marine. I will be going back to some of the same places I served to help my fellow service members, and support them in ways our system failed to support me. It’s rare to have a fellow marine working in the field of mental health. The machismo of the Marine culture often stifles that kind of support. I will bridge that gap. I am on mission. Through education, a strong heart, and hard work, I will succeed.

I am currently enrolled in UNC Greensboro’s nursing program. I am not simply aiming to become a standard nurse. In clinical rotations my studies are focus on mental health, and substance abuse. I will graduate from UNC Greensboro with a Bachelors in Science of Nursing and RN licensure in order to be a mental health nurse specializing in PTSD and substance abuse disorders. I am going to work hard getting mental health and medical treatment to veterans who suffer from substance abuse and PTSD. Far too often our system of health care fails these men and women who have sacrificed their own health and well-being for this country. I endeavor to help fill the gaps in treatment that so many people fall through I did not choose this career path lightly. I understand the immense responsibility of taking care of people’s lives and well-being. My previous careers as a PADI scuba instructor and a United States Marine, while unrelated in many ways, shared a level of responsibility where the choices I made drastically affected the safety and well-being of others. The decision to change courses came 5 years ago, when I decided to get sober while serving in the Marine Corps. I was fortunate to have leaders and marines who assisted me to get the help I needed to live a better and sober life. I was lucky. However, many others, healthcare workers, and civilians alike, lacked an understanding of addiction and mental health. They lacked an understanding of how military members suffer. The sometimes incomprehensibly high personal standards we hold ourselves to can break us down as often as they build us up. In seeking treatment, I found many others who struggled as I did. When I finally achieved sobriety three years and four months ago, I looked back on what I had done, and I knew I had to help others who were going through this struggle. On the way I lost several marines to drugs and alcohol. They may not have been under my command, but they were my brothers and sisters, and we were fighting the same fight. I reflected on the time spent in various inpatient and outpatient programs, as well as the various medications, medical treatments, and counseling I received. A fellow marine asked the question, “who did you see who made the difference for these people that you want to see yourself make?” After several weeks of careful reflection I knew the people who made that difference were consistently the nurses. The nurses have the medical knowledge to understand the pathology and psychology of what these people are going through. They have training in therapeutic communication, and counseling to assist in ways that go beyond standard medical interventions. Once that question was answered, becoming a registered nurse became the path forward. There has been no stopping since. I intend to continue living a life of service. I will take pride in providing nursing care with the same level of resolve and pride I developed as a United States Marine. I will be going back to some of the same places I served to help my fellow service members and support them in ways our system failed to support me. It’s rare to have a fellow marine working in the field of mental health. The machismo of the Marine culture often stifles that kind of support. I will bridge that gap. Beyond this degree and licensure, I will be back to school again for my masters one day. I am on mission. Through education, a strong heart, and hard work, I will succeed.

I am currently enrolled in UNC Greensboro’s nursing program. I am not simply aiming to become a standard nurse. In clinical rotations my studies focus on the mental health, and substance abuse departments of the healthcare system. I will graduate from UNC Greensboro with a Bachelors in Science of Nursing and RN licensure in order to be a mental health nurse specializing in PTSD and substance abuse disorders. I am going to work hard getting mental health and medical treatment to veterans and civilians who suffer from substance abuse and PTSD. Far too often our system of health care fails these men and women, some of whom have sacrificed their own health and well-being for this country. I endeavor to help fill the gaps in treatment so that these people don’t fall through the cracks. The decision to change course in this direction came 5 years ago, when I decided to get sober while serving in the Marines. I was self-medicating a severe depression, drinking a half gallon of liquor a day. I sunk deep into a bottle. I didn’t care at all if I woke up the next day or about how the people who loved me felt as they watched me try to drink myself to death. I was fortunate to have leaders and marines who assisted me to get the help I needed to live a better and sober life. I was lucky. However, many others, healthcare workers, and civilians alike, lacked an understanding of depression, addiction and mental health. They lacked an understanding of how military members suffer. The sometimes incomprehensibly high personal standards we hold ourselves to can break us down as often as they build us up. In seeking treatment, I found many others who struggled as I did. When I finally achieved sobriety three years and four months ago, I looked back on what I had done, and I knew I had to help others who were going through this struggle. On the way I lost several marines to drugs and alcohol. They may not have been under my command, but they were my brothers and sisters, and we were fighting the same fight. I reflected on the time spent in inpatient and outpatient programs, as well as the various medications, medical treatments, and counseling I received. A fellow marine asked the question, “who did you see who made the difference for these people that you want to see yourself make?” After several weeks of careful reflection, I knew. The people who made that difference were consistently the nurses. Nurses have the medical knowledge to understand the pathology and psychology of what these people are going through. They have training in therapeutic communication, and counseling to assist their patients in ways that go beyond standard medical interventions. With that question answered, becoming a registered nurse became the path forward and there has been no stopping since. I will continue living a life of service. I will take pride in providing nursing care with the same level of resolve and pride I developed as a United States Marine. I will be going back to some of the same places I served to help my fellow service members. Supporting them in ways our system failed to support me. It’s rare to have a fellow marine working in the field of mental health. The machismo of the Marine culture often stifles that kind of support. I will bridge that gap. Through education, a strong heart, and hard work, I will succeed.