Send DeLaura to Nursing School!
Donation protected
Dear Friends and Family,
In celebration of pivoting from a joyous 30-year career as a full-time pioneer Mom (cheese-maker, farmer, local food activist, music educator, social entrepreneur, and community builder), I am ready for a new chapter in my life. My musical homesteader’s journey has taught me how to survive on nimble intellect, the strength of my relationships, pure grit, and a loving heart. I now desire to learn a set of technical skills and to share experiences with coworkers in a setting where things have clearer definition, protocols, and boundaries.
Some of you may recall a year or so ago I posted on Facebook: “This lady's gonna be a nurse someday." Here's what has happened since I announced my intention:
1) I discovered programs that take folks like me who have B.A. Degrees (mine is from George Washington University, 1986, Psychology and French) and lead them through accelerated courses to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in about 15-16 months.
2) I faced my doubts and fears about being a 55 year-old full-time back-to-the-land mom living off the grid, singing songs with toddlers and their families, headed back to school, and found that yes! older dogs CAN learn new tricks! I have succeeded in all my prerequisite classes with the last two coming this fall.
3) I applied to and have BEEN ACCEPTED at my 1st choice program: Drexel University in Philadelphia! Drexel not only has the most accelerated program in the US (11 months to BSN!) but is also located a reasonable distance from my home in Virginia (for any “down” time I might have between the four 10-week quarters.) Importantly, Philadelphia is also home to my eldest daughter and son-in-law, and many friends who will provide much-needed moral support as I go through this next leg of my journey.
The price tag for Drexel takes my breath away. I need to raise $75,000 to cover tuition, fees, books, equipment, food, and housing.This is huge - roughly equivalent to 3 years' income for our homesteading family.
Tuition $50,872
Fees $4,000 (first quarter only)
$50 (all subsequent quarters)
Room and Board $22,324
YES, it’s a lot to wrap my head around.
AND, I am confident I will reach my goal.
I wish to bring the deep reservoir of compassion I have cultivated within me to the care of pediatric hospice patients, the population I feel most passionate about serving. My patients and their families will have a steadfast and caring advocate working with them when they most need it in their lives. My depth of experience as an educator will enable me to empathetically explain complex clinical issues to patients while my musical background will help me create bridges of connection, healing, and strength. I can't think of a better way to have deep impact with my life learnings and your support will make it possible.
I figure if I receive even a dollar for every time I have sung "Itsy Bitsy Spider" with a beautiful child over the past decades, my fundraising goal will be met! ;)
In gratitude for your generous support, I offer the following tokens of appreciation:
Donations of $1000 or more will get a Thank You weekend at our place (in 2021) enjoying the gifts of the season: preparing and eating what the garden may have to offer, hanging out with the goats, or reading quietly by a cozy fire in the wood stove, secure in the knowledge that a Registered Nurse will be onsite 24/7!
Donations of $250 or more will get something delicious and homemade - pickles, kim chi, applesauce, jam or jelly, baked goods, goat milk soap, etc. OK, please don’t eat the soap.
ALL DONORS will receive a huge hug of appreciation and FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK, once my training is complete. A donation is a ticket to the final graduation party on the farm.
Time is ticking. My program starts in 2020.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all for your love and support!
DeLaura
In celebration of pivoting from a joyous 30-year career as a full-time pioneer Mom (cheese-maker, farmer, local food activist, music educator, social entrepreneur, and community builder), I am ready for a new chapter in my life. My musical homesteader’s journey has taught me how to survive on nimble intellect, the strength of my relationships, pure grit, and a loving heart. I now desire to learn a set of technical skills and to share experiences with coworkers in a setting where things have clearer definition, protocols, and boundaries.
Some of you may recall a year or so ago I posted on Facebook: “This lady's gonna be a nurse someday." Here's what has happened since I announced my intention:
1) I discovered programs that take folks like me who have B.A. Degrees (mine is from George Washington University, 1986, Psychology and French) and lead them through accelerated courses to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in about 15-16 months.
2) I faced my doubts and fears about being a 55 year-old full-time back-to-the-land mom living off the grid, singing songs with toddlers and their families, headed back to school, and found that yes! older dogs CAN learn new tricks! I have succeeded in all my prerequisite classes with the last two coming this fall.
3) I applied to and have BEEN ACCEPTED at my 1st choice program: Drexel University in Philadelphia! Drexel not only has the most accelerated program in the US (11 months to BSN!) but is also located a reasonable distance from my home in Virginia (for any “down” time I might have between the four 10-week quarters.) Importantly, Philadelphia is also home to my eldest daughter and son-in-law, and many friends who will provide much-needed moral support as I go through this next leg of my journey.
The price tag for Drexel takes my breath away. I need to raise $75,000 to cover tuition, fees, books, equipment, food, and housing.This is huge - roughly equivalent to 3 years' income for our homesteading family.
Tuition $50,872
Fees $4,000 (first quarter only)
$50 (all subsequent quarters)
Room and Board $22,324
YES, it’s a lot to wrap my head around.
AND, I am confident I will reach my goal.
I wish to bring the deep reservoir of compassion I have cultivated within me to the care of pediatric hospice patients, the population I feel most passionate about serving. My patients and their families will have a steadfast and caring advocate working with them when they most need it in their lives. My depth of experience as an educator will enable me to empathetically explain complex clinical issues to patients while my musical background will help me create bridges of connection, healing, and strength. I can't think of a better way to have deep impact with my life learnings and your support will make it possible.
I figure if I receive even a dollar for every time I have sung "Itsy Bitsy Spider" with a beautiful child over the past decades, my fundraising goal will be met! ;)
In gratitude for your generous support, I offer the following tokens of appreciation:
Donations of $1000 or more will get a Thank You weekend at our place (in 2021) enjoying the gifts of the season: preparing and eating what the garden may have to offer, hanging out with the goats, or reading quietly by a cozy fire in the wood stove, secure in the knowledge that a Registered Nurse will be onsite 24/7!
Donations of $250 or more will get something delicious and homemade - pickles, kim chi, applesauce, jam or jelly, baked goods, goat milk soap, etc. OK, please don’t eat the soap.
ALL DONORS will receive a huge hug of appreciation and FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK, once my training is complete. A donation is a ticket to the final graduation party on the farm.
Time is ticking. My program starts in 2020.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all for your love and support!
DeLaura
Co-organizers (2)
Tara Padovan-Hickman
Organizer
King George, VA
DeLaura Padovan
Beneficiary
Maren Padovan-Hickman
Co-organizer