WIOA Helps Spring 2016 Nursing Graduate Become First College Graduate in Family
by Kandis Shumaker
Kandis Shumaker
Hello I am a graduate from the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Southwestern Community College. I became the first college graduate in my family. I recently took my state boards test to become a registered nurse. I plan on going to Western Carolina University to obtain my Bachelors of Science in Nursing. I plan on becoming a NICU nurse or working in obstetrics. After obtaining experience, I would love to continue in college to become a Nurse Practitioner.
I will tell a little bit about myself. Neither my mother nor my father graduated from high school, they both dropped out in 12th grade. They both went on to obtain a GED however, neither went to college. When I was a small child, my mother and father divorced. My mother has been caring for my sister, my brother, and myself since this point on a very small budget. Since I was in high school I have been working at least one full time job, at times even two. This was to support myself and help make my way through college.
I wanted to be able to help people here in western North Carolina in any and all ways possible. I wanted to be a nurse for the community. WIOA made that goal possible. I would not have been able to be consumed on the financial aspect of paying for college and paying for living expenses at the same time. Rather, I was focused being a more knowledgeable nurse. WIOA help me be the first person in my family to graduate from a university. WIOA has taught me that no matter what circumstances occur within life, if you are willing to fight for your goals, you can achieve them. I want to be a role model for my sister, brother, and others so that they know that they do not have to be another statistic.
If it was not for WIOA none of these things would have been achieved. I am so thankful that this program is available for the people in our rural area. WIOA has made all of my dreams possible.
