{"id":39528,"date":"2017-06-06T15:40:39","date_gmt":"2017-06-06T20:40:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/?post_type=advice&p=39528"},"modified":"2023-05-01T08:10:25","modified_gmt":"2023-05-01T13:10:25","slug":"overcoming-lifes-obstacles","status":"publish","type":"advice","link":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/overcoming-lifes-obstacles\/","title":{"rendered":"How I’m Overcoming Life’s Obstacles and Earning my Degree"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was one of those people that never knew what they wanted to do for a living. It wasn\u2019t until I became a wife and mother that I realized just how important it was to have financial independence. When our son was two months old, my husband was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin\u2019s Lymphoma. That was a wake-up call. I needed to step up to the plate and get my degree if we were going to survive. So, at the age of 25, I took stock of my strengths and skills and went back to school to earn my degree in Nursing<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As I began my research, I could see the challenges ahead of me. First of all, \u00a0I was never a great student. In high school I got mostly B\u2019s and C\u2019s, even a few D\u2019s. In Portland, OR, where I\u2019m from, nursing is a highly competitive field. Getting into nursing school would mean getting as many A\u2019s as humanly possible. On top of that, I had to take prerequisite classes, apply for financial aid, and arrange childcare<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

At first, my husband did not like the idea of me going back to school and was not supportive.\u00a0<\/span>He was upset with me and concerned about the time I\u2019d spend away from him and my son, but I was insistent. I knew what I had to do. As hard as it was, I stood up to him and eventually he gave in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n So, no matter how hard it gets, it\u2019s of the utmost importance to <\/span>stay with the plan and keep going until you are done. Click to tweet<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n

From there, I set an appointment with an adviser at the local community college. She was very helpful and guided me through my first steps. The most useful thing I did was attend an information session for nursing school. There, they explained exactly what needed to be done and what it would take to be accepted into the coveted nursing program. <\/span><\/p>\n

The first thing I had to do was take the placement exam, which felt scary. To prepare, I checked out a book at the city library over the summer to refresh my algebra. Luckily that was enough to help me. I placed in Math 95, the only math prerequisite necessary for the nursing program. I placed in the writing classes I needed, and realized I was a better writer than I initially thought. When it came time to sign up for classes, I decided I would only take two classes at a time. That way, I was available to my two-year-old son and had the time I knew I would need to get an A. <\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most important pieces in all of this is the financial aid: applying for it, understanding it, and managing it. The application was, at times, arduous and difficult to fill out. I made sure to file an application in January for the following fall term. This got me in line for grants that were available to students in my state. FAFSA<\/strong><\/a> was also a big help. With it, I was able to get a $5000 Federal Pell Grant for full-time enrollment (I only went part-time, so the amount was reduced accordingly). The state grants<\/a><\/strong> I received also helped.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n If you make going to school and doing the work your top priority, you\u2019ll make it through. Click to tweet<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n

Next, I had to arrange for my son\u2019s childcare and my transportation to and from school. I signed my son up at the YMCA childcare near my house and bought a discounted student bus pass. Three months of part-time childcare cost me $1500 and the pass cost $170. Both were paid for with my financial aid. At times, it felt difficult spending large chunks of money at a time when our family was on food stamps and welfare. <\/span><\/p>\n

The most difficult aspect of going back to school to start a new career is simply sticking with the program. It is easy to get discouraged unless you work on it and guard against it. Classwork can feel hard and studying can be exhausting. Balancing school with family and work felt overwhelming at times. Nevertheless, I\u2019ve learned to push myself forward <\/a><\/strong>regardless of the challenges. <\/span><\/p>\n

I had to sacrifice a lot of free time, but it\u2019s like they say: no pain, no gain. Growth is a painful process, and there is no growth without hard work. So, no matter how hard it gets, it\u2019s of the utmost importance to <\/span>stay with the plan and keep going until you are done<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Sacrifice<\/a><\/p>\n

Even with all the sacrifices I\u2019ve had to make, they were not always supported by loved ones. Then, life happens. Four months before I started the nursing program. I separated from my husband. The most demanding year of my education was simultaneously spent going through my divorce. In the second year of the program, my mother died from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). I had to take time off from school to be with family. The return to school after losing my mother was by far the most difficult challenge, but I persevered. I kept her memory in heart and mind, remembering her saying: \u201cI\u2019m sorry I didn\u2019t make it to your graduation\u2026 but you get it!\u201d Nothing was going to stop me from completing my degree!<\/span><\/p>\n

If you make going to school and doing the work your top priority, you\u2019ll make it through. I rearranged my life in order to get it done, and I\u2019m very glad I did. If I can do it, so can you! I graduated from Mt. Hood Community College with an Associate of Applied Science in 2016. My first nursing job began in September 2016. This fall, I\u2019ll be completing my degree in an RN to BSN program<\/a>. ONE MORE YEAR! Words do not explain the pride and confidence I have gained through this process, and\u2026 there is more to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

More About Abound:<\/b> We\u2019re here to help.<\/span> Abound: Finish College<\/b><\/a> narrows down your options and gets you in touch with schools that we can confirm are<\/span> Accessible, Affordable, Accelerated, and Advanced<\/b><\/a>. Take a look at the<\/span> schools<\/b><\/a> we trust and find the program that works for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

More Helpful Resources:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Getting College Credit for Life Experience You Already Have<\/a><\/p>\n

Beating the Confidence Gap and Earning Your Degree<\/a><\/p>\n

What\u2019s Your Education Style? Let\u2019s Decode the Terms<\/a><\/p>\n

3 Reasons Why Earning a Degree Will Advance Your Career and Improve Your Life<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclaimer<\/a>: This article contains affiliate links to products and services. We may receive commissions for purchases made through these links.<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Read the story of one woman’s difficult journey towards earning her degree. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":39538,"template":"","class_list":["post-39528","advice","type-advice","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","abound_advice_topics-financial-aid","abound_advice_topics-student-success","abound_advice_topics-college-resources","abound_advice_topics-application-process","abound_advice_oc_categories-nursing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow I'm Overcoming Life's Obstacles and Earning my Degree - Abound: Finish College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I was one of those people that never knew what they wanted to do for a living. 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