Five in a half years ago I started my college career. And two weeks ago, I finally finished it. Shortly after I found out I was pregnant with Turner, I promised myself one thing....No matter what happened I would finish school. Finishing school meant I would have an education that nobody could take away from me. My degree would also ensure me job security (hence me choosing the nursing profession). With so many uncertainties in my life at that time, I needed something that would promise me a stable future, that one thing was a degree in Nursing.
I went into the nursing program under the impression that nursing was the best career for me because of the job security and decent pay. I left the nursing program a changed person, with alternative motives to my nursing profession. I absolutely fell in love with the career. Nursing is a unique profession in that nurses have the opportunity to better a patient's hospital stay, educate them on the importance of lifestyle modifications or medication compliance, and mentor them through a challenging time in their life as all hospitalizations shake up a patient's normal routine. I feel blessed that I went into this profession with the notion that I would be promised a job, and left falling in love with my career choice.
For anyone that has had the chance to go through the nursing program, they understand the amount of stress and time demands that school requires. Anyone with kids might understand what little free time you get to yourself, between the demands of a spouse and children. This made for a nasty combination. My role as a mother and wife came first and foremost. All of the duties that go along with those titles required me to be extremely organized. Between cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, shuffling kids to and from daycare and to needed Dr. appointments, paying bills, attending church and bible study classes on a weekly basis, my free time was far and few. Since my role as a mom and wife came first, I tried my hardest to not do homework when my kids were around. The majority of the time, I waited until they were in bed. This allowed me to dedicate a few hours each day to spending time with them. When everyone in my house finally fell asleep, my evening of homework had just begun.
Sure there were instances where I would take a day to enjoy time with my family, but when this occurred I was plagued with a strong sense of guilt. I guess the best way to describe that feeling is the idea of a big grey cloud (homework) following you around at all times, and when you did take the chance of taking time to enjoy time away from school it felt as if it was pouring rain on your parade.
Even though nursing school is made out to sound like hell, it's not. I had to opportunity to meet some amazing people through school. It also allowed to me see a world that I didn't know existed...working with the homeless and those less fortunate as me. I remember driving to clinicals stressed out about whatever events in my life that seemed significant at the time, whether it be the inability to pay our bills, an argument with Kade, one of our kids being sick or an upcoming test. I would then be exposed to many people less fortunate than I, this really allowed me to keep my life in perspective. I usually left clinicals with a new attitude that in the grand scheme of things, my problems are insignificant.
Two weeks ago I closed that chapter in my life and opened another. This next chapter is titled, "the real world". YIKES! I'm looking forward to entering the work force. I'm really looking forward to that first paycheck! I'm also looking forward to spending some much needed time with my family. I plan on working just part time until my kids are older. I also made myself a little list of things I want to accomplish for myself over the next two years. I want to learn to play my guitar that has sat in it's case for the past 4 years, take time each week to work out and delve into my spirituality; all things I'm passionate about! Did I mention that in my two weeks since graduation, I've read 3 books and been able to cuddle up with my kids in the afternoon to nap. WHAT A TREAT!
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