I began my journey through college as a broke employee at Dairy Queen recently returned from Germany where I worked as an Au Pair for six months. I was young, and I did not know what I wanted to do with my life, but even back then I had big dreams. I knew my education would be an investment in myself and I was determined to have a plan before I began. I worked full-time at Dairy Queen and saved up $10,000 before I discovered my interest in nursing. One of the key things that motivated me to enroll and to finally overcome my fear of being in debt from college (with nothing to show for it) was when a customer told me she was going to college to avoid becoming someone like me -- 'me' being a deadbeat nineteen-year-old serving ice cream and chicken tenders to drunk college students at 10 pm. Although I laughed that comment off with my coworkers in that moment; it did strike a chord. Soon after that, I took time off from working at Dairy Queen to complete a month-long training program to become a nursing assistant. My manager told my coworkers he did not think I was the type to take care of others. Perhaps he did not think independent and powerful women were the type to find fulfillment in caring for others. The remark taught me of the internalized sexism women constantly face throughout pursuing a career and higher education. Nonetheless, I found an incredible passion for bedside nursing. I enrolled in my local community college a few months later to work on prerequisite classes. Two years later, I have now inadvertently completed two associate degrees as a result of the number of classes I had to take to qualify to apply for nursing school. I am applying for nursing school this year and thinking only positive thoughts regarding my being accepted in the fall. After I complete my associate degree in Nursing, I plan to immediately enroll in a bachelor’s degree program and complete that while working as a nurse in the hospital. I have worked in the hospital as a nurse’s assistant for over a year now and have learned that I am very interested in critical care nursing. I hope to gain experience in the ICU as a new grad nurse and then after many years of experience, begin volunteering locally and in Haiti. I have many coworkers who do this once a year and they are very excited for me to join them one day. Throughout the years my coworkers have been some of my biggest supporters throughout college and life. I have had the opportunity to meet wonderful people and have learned more about life and death in healthcare than I could have in fast-food. The most important thing I have learned is how to be brave and advocate for myself and others. This has applied to work situations, life, and also in the area of academics. How I have changed throughout my undergraduate journey has taught me that fast food managers at Dairy Queen are not the only people in my life who will try to rain on my parade with their negativity. As a woman with a passion for science, evidence-based practice, and leadership in healthcare, my goal is to teach other women that any dream can be achieved regardless of what others have to say or think about you. I know I can achieve this in healthcare by advancing my education and becoming a leader who supports and advocates for those around me.

I began my journey through college as a broke employee at Dairy Queen recently returned from Germany where I worked as an Au Pair for six months. I was young, and I did not know what I wanted to do with my life, but even then I had aspirations. I knew my education would be an investment in myself and I was determined to have a plan before I began. I worked full-time at Dairy Queen and saved up $10,000 before I discovered my interest in nursing. One of the key things that motivated me to enroll and to finally overcome my fear of being in debt from college (with nothing to show for it) was when a customer told me she was going to college to avoid becoming someone like me -- 'me' being a deadbeat nineteen-year-old serving ice cream and chicken tenders to drunk college students at 10 pm. Although I laughed that comment off with my coworkers in that moment; it did strike a chord. Soon after that, I took time off from working at Dairy Queen to complete a month-long training program to become a nursing assistant. My manager told my coworkers he did not think I was the type to take care of others. Perhaps he did not think independent and powerful women were the type to find fulfillment in caring for others. The remark taught me of the internalized sexism women constantly face throughout pursuing a career and higher education. Nonetheless, I found an incredible passion for bedside nursing. I enrolled in my local community college a few months later to work on prerequisite classes. Two years later, I have now inadvertently completed two associate degrees as a result of the number of classes I had to take to qualify to apply for nursing school. I am applying for nursing school this year and thinking only positive thoughts regarding my being accepted in the fall. My family, friends, fiance, and patients are rooting for me. Throughout the years my patients have been some of my biggest supporters throughout college and life. I have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people and have learned more about life and death in healthcare than I could have in any other profession. The most important thing I have learned is how to be brave and advocate for myself and others. This has applied to work situations, life, and also in the area of academics. How I have changed throughout my undergraduate journey has taught me that fast food managers at Dairy Queen are not the only people in my life who will try to rain on my parade with their negativity. As a woman with a passion for science, evidence-based practice, and leadership in healthcare, my goal is to spread the message to other women that any dream can be achieved regardless of what others have to say or think about you.