“YVC’s nursing program is one of the best you could ever wish for as a nursing student.”

Degree/Certificate & Anticipated Class Year 
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing 

Hometown 
Lagos, Nigeria  

I'm an international student who has been in the United States since 2020. I first learned about YVC from my husband’s mutual friend. He shared that Yakima Valley College had a nice community and nursing program.  

How did you decide on this major? 
This is my third degree. I have a master’s degree in human resources that I received from a university in Australia and was working with the government when my daughter began having a medical condition.  

When I gave birth to my daughter, who has a medical condition I was at the hospital and noticed how caring the nurses are. I decided I wanted to go back to school so I could care for people. I wanted to be there for other people who need help to be healthy. 

What do you find most interesting about this major? 
With nursing you get to care for people. You get to be on the other side where you're stretching out a hand to make people feel better. You get to have that connection with your patients and hopefully make a difference. 

What’s your favorite class? Why? How has it expanded your knowledge? 
I really enjoyed the cardio unit in the critical care module. It was very interesting to me because I got to see care given to the most vulnerable patients and how the ICU saves lives.  
 
Who is your mentor on campus? Why do you consider this person your mentor? 
I have a bunch of them. Each faculty member has something they have given in one way or the other. I feel like it's just a puzzle where you have everything coming together to make the drawing complete. Each has a different way of teaching and I've been able to get a very vast perspective on different subject areas. It's been a really well-rounded education and you definitely have the best of the best minds coming together to teach students here.   

How do you network and build connections with other students on campus? 
I studied with a group of fellow students on campus. We helped each other and worked together often. I would say this program is not for the faint at heart — it is very intense, but it's very rewarding. You must put in the work. You have to really want to make it but having the support of my classmates was so valuable to me.  

What’s your favorite spot on campus? 
My favorite spots would be upstairs in the nursing facility right next to the faculty offices where there is a table and sofa. That’s where I used to go hide to study in the mornings before my exams. It's very serene and quiet spot for last minute studying before exams. I would just go and study and then go over things that I needed to. 
 
Were there any barriers you overcame to be successful at YVC?  
My daughter does have a medical condition and I had a choice: either to be there for my daughter or miss clinical and possibly not be able to finish my [required] clinical hours. The program has a lot for you to make up if you miss but the timetable is not very flexible. It was a difficult time for me because I was all the way in Seattle with my daughter and then I had to also be at clinicals [in Yakima]. Thank goodness I had a very understanding instructor and peers who helped support me. There were several the sacrifices I had to make to be where I am today.  

Later when I gave birth to my third child I faced another struggle. I only had a couple of days [with her] then I would have to go for clinicals. I would leave her with her dad, who was amazing, for like 12 hours each day. I would be freaking out wanting to know she's OK and what kept me going was my faith in God. I could do this even if it didn't seem possible. When I gave birth I was going into the quarter that people often fail, in the middle point. If you get past that quarter, you're pretty much seeing your license. It was tough, there were days I would wake up and my body was just not in the right shape to go, but my husband would say “You can do this, just go,” and I would go. There were days I would just not want to show up but my husband would cheer me up. I knew I really wanted this bad, I didn't want to take any time off, so I just keep going and I am here.  

How has Yakima Valley College changed you? 
I didn’t like YVC at first, I've always been at a university in a bigger city with more things to do and more activities. But the more time went on I realized that it's a community here which I never had when I was in the university. My professors never knew me by my name before — I was just a number. Here, your professors know you by name and they call you by name. When I go to the registrar's office it's very familiar and you can ask your questions and get answers right away. That's what I like, I like the community here and I like the fact that it's also very diverse. I like the community feel. I like a small-town feel.  

Are there any support services or resources that you have taken advantage of? (e.g. tutoring, academic advising, library) How have you found these beneficial?  

While taking my prerequisites I was not the best in math, so I did take some tutoring. Since getting into the nursing program I haven’t done any tutoring, but [I] have a study group with other students in the program. The instructors are very, very well rounded. We have the best instructors in the nursing program. YVC’s nursing program is one of the best you could ever wish for as a nursing student. I got everything I needed to succeed from my instructors and I’m just so grateful to them.  

Did you receive any financial aid or scholarship funding to attend YVC? If so, please describe how this helped you on your journey.  
I did get some funding from financial aid as well as the Cares Act. I also got scholarships from the YVC Foundation. They've been really gracious with scholarships. I know not just for myself but for others in the program it has allowed us to just focus on school and not on all the things we need to pay for. It really made a difference to us. It also helped me with funding for my practicum.  
 
What is your ultimate goal? Where would you like to end up? 
 I do actually want to pursue more education. I know people think I'm crazy, but I have a lot I want to give back to society and have been blessed to be educated to the highest level, so why not? Right now the program is giving me a license to practice as a nurse, but I want to also get my DNP (doctor of nursing practice) and own my own practice. I actually want to have a double DNP — the second as a mental health practitioner — because there's a lot of need in mental health. Pre-COVID there was a need for these services and post-COVID the need has just multiplied. I want to be there to fill that need. 

What advice do you have for prospective students? 
Don't shy away from the [nursing] program, but know that it's going to be two tough years of your life and it's going to be worth it in the end. You can do it if you have the will and the zeal and if you have the right intentions of why you want to become a nurse. The nursing profession is not for the faint of heart. If you really want to do nursing, go to YVC’s program, it's amazing. We have very good instructors. You know they're there to push you to learn and to be the safest and the best nurse you can ever be.  

Do you have anything else you’d like to share with us about your experience at YVC?  
It was a humbling experience for me especially with changing careers from business to health related. I realized if I really wanted to do it, and if anyone wants to do the same like me and wants to change [careers], be humbled. That's all I can say. Be a sponge and absorb all the knowledge you can absorb. Like my mom used to say “Learning never stops till you die,” always be in the mood to learn. My instructors, even when I took prerequisites, they were just amazing. They kept pushing me. I wanted this so bad and I wanted to be prepared and I feel like, even if it takes time do it, don’t ever think you're too old or too young. You just have to put in the work.