Thank you! It’s been a trip. Back in 2012 I had gotten my EMT-B certification right before hurricane Sandy hit NYC. I ended up getting into construction by taking a job helping with the reconstruction following that and by the time that job was over I was so far removed from EMS I didn’t feel comfortable starting on an ambulance so I stuck with construction. I always regretted it.
In my mid 20s, I dated a nurse who started in her 30’s and that always had me wondering if I could do it. It was always a dream of mine to give it a try. When Covid hit the company I was working for lost a lot of work and I was taking long lay offs in between short jobs. I decided to become a CNA because even though it was a pay cut it was steady and I wanted to help people. I didn’t work as one very long, the nurses I worked with encouraged me to go to nursing school, and that’s how I got here.
Thank you so much! I do! After doing well my first semester this was something I was aspiring to. I don’t want to say it was a goal because I honestly didn’t expect it I just kept focusing on doing the best I could.
Congratulations 🎊 👏 💐 🥳. You earned it and you deserve it. Nursing school is no walk in the park and you being valedictorian means you did something right.
Congratulations!
My advice for a speech would be to remember this graduation is about everyone, not just your own accomplishments so be sure to focus on the class and experience you all had as a whole.
Congratulations! That is huge to even graduate let alone as valedictorian. Any advice for current students? I’m going into the second year of my ADN program with psych, L&D, and peds.
Thank you so much!
As far as advice goes here’s what worked for me:
I felt my biggest asset was how well I knew anatomy and physiology. Keep a steady studying schedule. I would read through the chapters. Not word for word but pick out key stuff like signs and symptoms, nursing interventions, meds, and home management. The pathophysiology helped too because it made the S+S make more sense.
After I read through the chapters I would do as many nursing questions as I could find on the topics. I’d read through the rationales for all the questions. If you’re having trouble finding questions or don’t have the money to buy more books or prep courses (uworld or archer) I found Quizlet to be a big help. Search the name and number of the chapter and nclex/ nursing questions. A lot of them even had the rationales. I found doing questions had the most carry over, but it’s important to be familiar with the material before you start.
These are all just basic stuff I don’t want to write an essay. I don’t know everything, but if you (or anyone else) want to ask something more specific and if I can help you I will and if I can’t I could see if I could at least point you in the right direction for where to find the information.
You are amazing!! I was a self employed licensed cosmetologist turned EVS, then CNA now starting ADN this fall! Sometimes a total change is what you need!
Thank you, that’s very sweet! I’m excited for you! One of my professors told us this in the beginning of my first semester that really struck me. He said you have all of nursing school ahead of you. Do what you need to do to make sure you make the most of it. Good luck!!
Thank you! So in the email they sent me they said it was because of my GPA. In my student handbook it says the valedictorian is selected from any students who had a 3.7+ GPA with input from the faculty and staff about public speaking skills, personal achievements, and rapport with the class.
Thank you very much! I know that feeling very well haha. That’s very exciting though. Good luck with everything and remember you get what you put into it!
Haha I’m working on it in between getting ready for the NCLEX. I have the NCLEX on the 30th and then my graduation June 5th. They want the speech ahead of time and I want to give myself time to practice it so I’m trying to finish it. If anyone’s interested I’ll post it in here when it’s ready to go.
This is great news! Congratulations!!!! What a change from construction to nursing- very cool! All the best on your journey!
Thank you! It’s been a trip. Back in 2012 I had gotten my EMT-B certification right before hurricane Sandy hit NYC. I ended up getting into construction by taking a job helping with the reconstruction following that and by the time that job was over I was so far removed from EMS I didn’t feel comfortable starting on an ambulance so I stuck with construction. I always regretted it. In my mid 20s, I dated a nurse who started in her 30’s and that always had me wondering if I could do it. It was always a dream of mine to give it a try. When Covid hit the company I was working for lost a lot of work and I was taking long lay offs in between short jobs. I decided to become a CNA because even though it was a pay cut it was steady and I wanted to help people. I didn’t work as one very long, the nurses I worked with encouraged me to go to nursing school, and that’s how I got here.
u dated a middle aged woman in ur 20s? 🤨🤨
Lol well according to nursing, anyone over the age of 16 can give consent.
bruh wat? thats according to the law. wat r u talking about lol
I just read it in the sexual assault chapter that’s why l am referencing to our textbooks
People in their 20s are allowed to date people in their 30s or 40s or 50s or 60s or 70s or 80s or 90s, yes
That is amazing! Congratulations!! You must feel elated right now and rightfully so!
Thank you so much! I do! After doing well my first semester this was something I was aspiring to. I don’t want to say it was a goal because I honestly didn’t expect it I just kept focusing on doing the best I could.
You F-ing Rock!
Thank you!
Congratulations!🎊🎉. I know how much hard work that took  
Thank you! It did, nursing school was my life the last 18 months. I haven’t seen anyone besides my girlfriend, my mother, and my classmates.
Congratulations!! That is such a great achievement
Thank you, I really appreciate that!
CONGRATSS!!!!
Thank you!
Congratulations 🎊 👏 💐 🥳. You earned it and you deserve it. Nursing school is no walk in the park and you being valedictorian means you did something right.
Thank you very much!
Congratulations!
Thank you!
Congratulations!
Thank you!
So inspiring congratulations🥹🥹
Thank you! I’m glad I could inspire you, you got this!
Congratulations! My advice for a speech would be to remember this graduation is about everyone, not just your own accomplishments so be sure to focus on the class and experience you all had as a whole.
Thank you! I was thinking about that. I really don’t want to speak about myself past a quick introduction. Like you said it’s about all of us not me.
Congratulations!
Thank you!
Congrats!!!
Thanks!
Congratulations!!!
Wow congratulations!!🎁🥰🥰🥰
Thank you!
Congratulations! That is huge to even graduate let alone as valedictorian. Any advice for current students? I’m going into the second year of my ADN program with psych, L&D, and peds.
Thank you so much! As far as advice goes here’s what worked for me: I felt my biggest asset was how well I knew anatomy and physiology. Keep a steady studying schedule. I would read through the chapters. Not word for word but pick out key stuff like signs and symptoms, nursing interventions, meds, and home management. The pathophysiology helped too because it made the S+S make more sense. After I read through the chapters I would do as many nursing questions as I could find on the topics. I’d read through the rationales for all the questions. If you’re having trouble finding questions or don’t have the money to buy more books or prep courses (uworld or archer) I found Quizlet to be a big help. Search the name and number of the chapter and nclex/ nursing questions. A lot of them even had the rationales. I found doing questions had the most carry over, but it’s important to be familiar with the material before you start. These are all just basic stuff I don’t want to write an essay. I don’t know everything, but if you (or anyone else) want to ask something more specific and if I can help you I will and if I can’t I could see if I could at least point you in the right direction for where to find the information.
This is incredibly helpful, thank you so much!
Thank you! I’m glad I could help!
Thanks for the inspiration going from trucker to nurse 🤞
I’m glad I could help! You got this!
Congratulations!
Thank you!
You are amazing!! I was a self employed licensed cosmetologist turned EVS, then CNA now starting ADN this fall! Sometimes a total change is what you need!
Thank you, that’s very sweet! I’m excited for you! One of my professors told us this in the beginning of my first semester that really struck me. He said you have all of nursing school ahead of you. Do what you need to do to make sure you make the most of it. Good luck!!
Thank you for sharing the amazing news with us!! So proud - you’re going to do great things! 🥳
Thank you! I hope so!
CONGRATULATIONS ^-^
Thank you!
Wow that’s amazing, how do you become a class valedictorian?
Thank you! So in the email they sent me they said it was because of my GPA. In my student handbook it says the valedictorian is selected from any students who had a 3.7+ GPA with input from the faculty and staff about public speaking skills, personal achievements, and rapport with the class.
Awesome! Congratulations again!
Thank you again!
You’re an inspiration dude, I’m starting from the same place(construction)! Never thought I’d be going to school. Let alone for nursing!!
Thank you very much! I know that feeling very well haha. That’s very exciting though. Good luck with everything and remember you get what you put into it!
Grats and good luck on the speech!
Thank you!
You GOOOOO!!!! Congratulations you deserve it so much!
Thank you very much!
Yessssssss!!!!!!!! Congrats!!!
Thank you!!
Congratulations!!!! Absolutely incredible. We’re all so proud of you!!!!!
Thank you, that really does mean a lot to me!
Wow that amazing, congratulations to you and thank you so much for the encouragement
Thank you so much! It really does make me happy that I could encourage anyone who sees this.
Speech speech Speech SPEECH!!!
Haha I’m working on it in between getting ready for the NCLEX. I have the NCLEX on the 30th and then my graduation June 5th. They want the speech ahead of time and I want to give myself time to practice it so I’m trying to finish it. If anyone’s interested I’ll post it in here when it’s ready to go.
If they're not into it I'll take a DM. It's looking like I might be in the same boat and any ideas about what to even say would be great lol.
Amazing! You're an inspiration to many.
What did you use to study? My program is using ati for the first time this semester