I started on a new journey a year and half ago to become a nurse. I was a terrible student the first few times I went to college, and ultimately dropped out. I decided that college just wasn’t for me all those years ago. Over the years, I have worked and lived life and was fine without that piece of paper called a degree. But that thing about life is that it changes you. I changed. I started to want something more – to make a difference. I decided that I wanted to become a nurse.

Needless to say, I was not sure nursing school would be a possibility for me given my spotty past with school. However, I was told by advisors that mainly look at the nursing school prerequisites and that fortunately most of my worst grades were in classes they wouldn’t look at! So, I felt that there was hope.

I started taking my prereqs, and re-taking courses I needed to re-take. I felt good about what I was accomplishing. Then, I started hearing how hard it is to get into nursing school. That you have to have a super high GPA, and that it’s very competitive. That scared me! Did I really have it in me? What about my past with school? Was a I going to be good enough? I have basically been a ball of nerves for the past year, and questioned myself every step of the way, but I kept working hard and doing my best.

And I go in my first time applying!

I am not saying all of this to brag, but to encourage y’all that just because something is hard does not mean that it’s impossible! Just because you weren’t successful in the past does not mean that you can’t turn things around if you are willing to put the work in. I have never worked so hard for anything in my life, but it paid off! If there is something you want to do, do it! Don’t let other people tell you it’s too hard, or let your past hold you back, just put your head down and work for it! And just for the record, my GPA for my prereqs was good, but it was not a 4.0 so if nursing school is something you want don’t listen to people telling you that you need all A’s.