Hello everyone! Quarantine as final giving me some spare time to finally sit down and write an update about my college experience. I graduate on April 23rd from BYU with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. With all the changes that have been going on I’m just very grateful that I will still graduate. College has been great, and I’ve loved my time at BYU, but I am ready to move on to the next step in my life. I have accepted a job at Primary Children’s Pediatric ICU in Salt Lake, and I am excited to start working as a registered nurse in June.
My time with BYU’s nursing program has been equally parts rewarding, enlightening, and taxing. My first year at BYU was stressful because I was really worried I wouldn’t get into their very competitive program, and while getting in was a huge relief, my first year was nothing compared to how stressful and intense the next 3 years would be. There were a lot of long nights reviewing medications and diseases, early mornings driving to hospitals an hour away to work a 12 hour shift I was not being paid for, and a lot of time spent worrying about how my mistakes could be life-threatening to my patients.
Despite all these darker patches in my education, I have loved my time in nursing school and wouldn’t trade it for anything, even more sleep. I had so many opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I’ve learned at nationally ranked hospitals. I participated in high fidelity simulations, both as a victim and as a nurse. I went to India on a study abroad to learn about public health. I changed my mind about what kind of nurse I wanted to be a billion times and settled on pediatric intensive care of all things.
With all that’s going on, I want high school seniors to understand that the enjoyable parts of school will always outnumber the stressful parts. You’ll look back on your education and dwell a lot more on the fun you had and the times you felt like you really got something, than the days or nights where you wondered if your education was worth the effort. Make the most of your education. Take classes for fun that don’t count towards your major. Take opportunities that present themselves whether that’s a study abroad, internship, or research opportunity. I promise you won’t regret it.
ForCarol: Drive Safe! Never Forget 