"In nursing, you're digging deeper, you're figuring [concepts] out. It's all just a puzzle with nursing and it's been so fun to learn."
Pronouns
She/Her
Degree/Certificate & Class Year
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, 2024
Hometown
Wenatchee, Wash.
What’s your favorite class? Why? How has it expanded your knowledge?
The Nursing Theory sequence courses, taught by Instructor Carol Milliron, were my
favorite. She's a wonderful teacher … she just teaches in a way that we all can actually
understand the process better.
[Theory] is really cool. You get to watch all of our knowledge come to play when we're actually at the hospital bedside.
Who is your mentor on campus? Why do you consider this person your mentor?
Definitely Carol Milliron, she has talked to me through a lot of my troubles and hard
times. She has redirected me on the right pathways to learn. [Nursing] is not like regular
studying. Usually, you're just reading a book and learning concepts. [In nursing]
you're digging deeper, you're figuring [concepts] out, it's all just a puzzle with
nursing and it's been so fun to learn.
What made you interested in studying at YVC?
My mother passed away and I also got divorced at the same time. I had to find a place
where I was able to start fresh. This was the first opportunity and getting into a
nursing program. So, I jumped on it.
How did you decide on a major?
I was previously a dental assistant. When my mother became ill with cancer, I would go to take her to her appointments. [Her nurses] were
kind and shared information on how I could become her caretaker. After taking classes
to become her caretaker [and enjoying it] they and my mother encouraged me to consider
nursing. When she passed away and I went through my divorce it just put me on this
pathway and I saw it as a way to be successful on my own.
Are there any barriers that you’ve overcome to be successful at YVC?
Definitely time management. I am a mother of two daughters and nursing school is a
lot of studying. I still have to work to support them as well, so figuring out how
to set time for family, work, school and finding new ways to learn was tricky for
me. But obviously I did all right because I'm here today.
What have you found the most interesting about your major?
Labor and delivery. I worked in the emergency room as a technician for a while, and
I loved it. However, me being 35 now, I can't take the adrenaline that long anymore.
But labor and delivery, I have my externship there currently and it is everything
and more that I could have dreamt of.
Is there a place on campus where you find community with other students?
Absolutely. The nursing lounge is definitely a place that we all gather and it's nice
because you meet during first quarter and move along in the program [together].
What advice do you have for prospective students?
Know that it is hard. Time management is hard, financial stress is hard, but there
are so many opportunities available within Yakima Valley College. And you can always find a way if you really want something.
I think the other advice I could give is to take your professors’ availability when they offer to meet with you because they are there to help you. I have definitely been able to better my test scores and my learning because of that.
How has Yakima Valley College changed you?
I have grown substantially. They have provided me with so much knowledge that I now
look at life so differently in more ways than one. And I just feel like my knowledge
level is at a maximum capacity and I'm forever grateful for that.
How has being a recipient of the WAVE scholarship helped you in your education and your future goals?
First off, it is a huge confidence booster. They were so wonderful and saying it's
a merit-based scholarship and how well all my papers and everything looked to them.
I'm thankful for that. It’s also providing the chance for me to continue on for my
bachelor’s degree — which I will be the first of my family to receive.
Did you receive any financial aid or scholarship funding to attend YVC? If so, please
describe how this helped you on your journey.
Yes, I do have some financial aid and I also have the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship and the Wendy Baker / Foundation Scholarship [need to check for sure]. And I am continuing to apply for scholarships for my future endeavors.
How important is getting scholarship funding for you to be able to continue your studies?
It is the only way I would be able to continue. I make sure that I read the scholarships
that I'm applying for because for myself personally, owning a home and needing child
care and not meeting any of the requirements to get state help, I really have to look
at the scholarships that are able to be freely used so I can apply the money where
I most need it.
What is your ultimate goal? Where would you like to end up?
I would love to stay here in Yakima Valley and eventually continue with my master's,
maybe one day become a nurse practitioner. I continually want to better myself.