Senior Year Tuition

I started school back in 2011, shortly after the birth of my daughter. I had someone who depended on me, I had recently watch my grandmother suffer for months on the unit I worked in and during that time I had the opportunity to see nursing from another perspective. They weren't just pill pushers, who spent their days passing from room to room with a med cart. Though they were unable to save my grandmother, they worked tirelessly day after day. They kept her clean, did the best they could to preserve her fragile skin, they comforted both my family and I the night her blood pressure began to drop and made it possible for me to fight through the remaining 4 hours I was scheduled work. It was at that very moment that I knew without a doubt my grandmother was responsible for getting me that job.
By the fall I was enrolled full time at a community college. At that time my daughter was a little under a year, therefore the struggle of making childcare arrangements became apparent. We managed. Some how God made a way. My mother and my daughter's father have by far been my biggest supporters and at that time they were my ONLY supporters. They rallied around me and we made a way for me to work fulltime, go to school full time and somehow make time for my daughter.
After the first year I realized I had to cut down on my hours, so I picked up a per diem position within St. Francis which allowed me to have a little more flexibility but I still maintained fulltime hours. Just instead of working four 8 hour shifts. I pretty much worked all day, every weekend.
When I was accepted in nursing school, I felt like I had already made it, even though this journey was just beginning. My daughter and I paraded around the campus. I bought her all types of AIC paraphernalia. I was proud that I could stand before the two people who inspired me the most, and my grandmother up in heaven with a pen on my shirt with my name that read AIC NURSING STUDENT lol. It was a huge moment in my life.
Nursing school has by far been my second child and at times it has trumped everything, including Amiya. I spent countless nights crying and studying only to walk away with a test grade that was Just Below nursing school standards. And 2 semesters in particular, including this one, I walked into the final not sure if I was actually going to pass the class.
My car has died in me so many times I can't keep track. It died on the way to my 1st med surg exam. Then again on my way to clinical. Everyday I drove that old bucket to Mass I prayed the entire time. For 2 semesters I had to share a car with my mother. This required me to get up at about 4 in the morning, bundle my daughter up and drop her off to her father's, drop my mother off at work by 5:30 am. My classes usually started at 8 or 9 but Suffield is a lot closer to Mass so I just sit in my car and studying most days and others I would take a nap.
Despite all of the set backs I've made it all the way to this moment. The moment where I unfortunately am unable to register for my second semester nursing courses due to an outstanding balance. Asking others for help is extremely difficult for me but I'm not pursuing this career solely for myself and therefore I'm putting my pride to the side in order to finish what I started. Thank you all in advance for you support!