麻豆视频

What I love most about YVC is how it makes higher education feel accessible and achievable.鈥�

Degree/Certificate & Anticipated Class Year
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing (ADN) 鈥�28

Hometown
Yakima, Wash.

Major
Nursing

How did you decide on a major?
When I was 12, both of my grandparents declined rapidly 鈥� my grandfather had Parkinson鈥檚, and my grandmother had Alzheimer鈥檚. My mom was their primary caregiver, and I joined her at their assisted living facility after school every day for two years to help. Those experiences sparked my passion for caregiving and led me to become a CNA, where I saw my grandparents in every patient I cared for. After having my daughter, I knew I needed a stable and meaningful career. I chose nursing, not just for its versatility, but because caring for others is something I truly love.

What do you like or find most interesting about your major?
I love how versatile nursing is. I am the type of person who gets complacent or bored easily. There are so many options as a nurse: intensive care, family medicine, emergency, pediatrics ... the list goes on! I can dip my toes in everything if I want to and hopefully land on something that works best for me.

What does earning your college degree/certificate mean to you as a first-generation college student?
My degree symbolizes breaking cycles of adversity and societal gender norms. All the women in my family before me were stay-at-home mothers and wives. I am teaching my daughter that women can be smart, achieve seemingly impossible goals, and change the world. I wasn't pushed much as a child to achieve anything outside of being a mother and a homemaker, but I know now that I can be so much more!

Did you know what academic pathway you wanted to pursue when you started at YVC?
I knew long before I started at YVC that I wanted to be a nurse, but I had no idea where to start. My advisor laid all my prerequisites out for me, quarter by quarter, and together we made a daunting 65 credits doable. Now that I am starting to work on my application for YVC鈥檚 nursing program, we're working together on getting all the requirements in line. There are a lot of requirements besides prerequisites, and it would be extremely stressful to tackle them on my own!

What made you interested in studying at YVC?
Well, for one, it is close to home (and by close, I mean less than five minutes away). I knew I didn't have the self-motivation to take classes online, plus nothing beats in person, so location was a huge factor. I also took into account that I wanted the nursing program I chose to be accredited and approved, and YVC has one of the best programs in the state.

Extracurriculars (e.g., clubs, YVC sports teams)
I am part of The Wellness Society, where we cultivate community awareness about addiction and alcoholism, promoting healthy lifestyles to ensure student success.

What three words would you use to describe YVC?
Diverse, Transformative, Inclusive

What鈥檚 your favorite class? Why? How has it expanded your knowledge?
Definitely the human anatomy and physiology courses. There is so much more to human function than eating, breathing and sleeping; sometimes I feel like I know too much about my own body now! Not a lecture goes by where I am not absolutely fascinated by what I am learning and the labs are very hands on. Whether it's studying a real human cadaver, performing dissections or looking under microscopes, I'm always enveloped by whatever it is I am doing.

Who is your mentor on campus? Why do you consider this person your mentor?
Johnny Schofield, instructional technician at the Writing Center. When I was taking English 185 in Spring 2024, we immediately hit it off, same sense of humor, world views and same interest in the strange and macabre. Johnny has remained a constant figure during my college career, whether I need help making a big decision, a venting session or someone to bounce ideas off, he's always been there for me. During stressful exams and days jam-packed with studying, he also provides some awesome comedic relief to my day!

What鈥檚 your favorite spot on campus?
The Writing Center! I haven't taken a writing course in over a year now, but the moment I stepped foot in there, I felt at home. If you are a creative soul, the Writing Center is for you; they hold writing contests, have a community drawing pad, relaxing music and a diverse crowd of people. I've made so many friends that aren't even in my degree pathway by hanging out there. One of my closest friends is seeking a geology degree and we have a game night once a month. It's also a huge plus if you ever need help with your writing!

Were there any barriers you overcame to be successful at YVC?
When I started at YVC, I faced several barriers. I had defaulted student loans from cosmetology school at 16, which made me ineligible for financial aid. Thankfully, YVC鈥檚 Financial Aid office connected me with the , allowing me to get out of default and receive aid again.

Another challenge was being a full-time student with a 1-year-old. How the heck was I supposed to juggle going to classes with a baby on my hip?! My parents are elderly, and I didn鈥檛 want to rely on them for full-time childcare. Enrolling my daughter in , YVC鈥檚 on-campus child development center, was a tough but empowering choice and now we鈥檙e growing together.

Lastly, I hadn鈥檛 been in school for 10 years and was nervous about placement tests, especially in math, which I鈥檇 always struggled with. I placed average overall, but math was intimidating. Shout out to Ben Mayo [retired Math Instructor], for the first time, math made sense, and he helped me rebuild my confidence!

How has 麻豆视频 changed you?
As a recovering addict of two years and a first-generation student, my idea of college was completely skewed. I thought being enrolled at YVC was some upper-class, fancy deal. My first quarter, I felt like a fish out of water鈥攄ressing up every day like I was going to a job interview and trying to have extremely formal interactions with my instructors. After spending time with what the recovery community calls "normies" (people who haven't experienced addiction), I began to loosen up and started an unexpected journey of self-discovery. I know it sounds clich茅, but YVC helped me discover who I am authentically鈥攏ot my mind's expectation of what a college student should be. YVC also taught me personal responsibility and accountability. I've earned demerits for being late, completely forgotten about Canvas pre-lectures, and bombed an exam or two. But I used those mistakes as learning experiences, because as we say in recovery, doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results is the definition of insanity!

What do you view as your biggest achievement at YVC?
My biggest achievement is and continues to be the recognition of honors on the Dean's List. Again, being out of school for 10+ years and being someone who likely damaged their brain due to addiction, Dean's List seemed impossible. My certificates are all framed throughout the house to remind me that the hard work I'm putting in doesn't go unrecognized. It truly is a miracle of sorts.

Are there any support services or resources that you have taken advantage of? How have you found these beneficial? (e.g. tutoring, academic advising, library)
The YVC Library's PubMed access has been an awesome resource for compiling research data. Whether it's an English assignment or scholarship narrative, the Writing Center is always there to help. The Tutoring Center's anatomy models and microscopes are huge helps for the A&P class, especially when I can't make open labs. My advisor has been invaluable at breaking down my degree requirements into manageable, step-by-step processes.

Did you receive any financial aid or scholarship funding to attend YVC? If so, please describe how this helped you on your journey.
Federal Student Aid grants currently cover my tuition and extend beyond the classroom鈥攈elping me purchase school supplies, textbooks and even contributing to rent and diapers for my daughter. I was recently selected for a YVC Foundation Scholarship, which comes at a perfect time as I prepare to enter the nursing program, where textbooks and supplies cost significantly more than all my prerequisite materials combined.

How do you find a sense of belonging at YVC (for example, activities or clubs that help you connect with students who share your interests or background)?
The Wellness Society has helped me find my place at YVC by connecting me with other students in recovery. While I'm not pursuing a substance use disorder degree, being surrounded by people who understand the recovery journey makes me feel less alone. The Writing Center's contests and community activities provide a creative outlet that beautifully balances the analytical demands of biological science.

What are your educational or career goals after YVC? What are your dreams?
After graduating from YVC, my family will be relocating to Texas to be closer to my partner's family. I plan to secure a nursing position at a hospital that offers tuition assistance for my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. I'm excited to explore different specialties, particularly the neonatal intensive care unit, hospice care, burn ICU and pediatrics. And yes, with my nursing salary, taking my daughter to Disney World is definitely on the agenda!

What advice would you have for a friend considering whether to pursue college?
Make sure it's something you want more than anything. I made the mistake of pursuing cosmetology when I was younger鈥攚hile I enjoyed it, I couldn't see myself doing it for life and eventually dropped out. I've watched students work toward degrees they don't even want, just to please their parents or partners. These are the people who seem miserable, barely put effort into their courses and stress about everything. When you're doing something you genuinely enjoy, your entire experience transforms. If you don't know what you want to do yet, that's completely okay鈥攅xplore until you find your fit. Take your time and make sure it's something you won't regret.

Do you have anything else you鈥檇 like to share with us about your experience at YVC?
What I love most about YVC is how it makes higher education feel accessible and achievable. The campus size means professors actually know your name鈥攖hey remember your questions from last week and check in on how you're doing with challenging concepts. The support services feel personal rather than institutional; when I walk into the Writing Center or meet with my advisor, I'm not just another student ID number. There's a genuine sense of community where everyone is invested in your success, making what once felt impossible suddenly feel within reach.