My first year of nursing school has been a complete rollercoaster, but I am also incredibly thankful for every part of it. My proudest accomplishment so far is that I am still on track to get a 4.0 gpa. I have one more class left of the semester, but for me I am so happy because I am so stingy with myself about my grades.

I am not going to lie, the first half of the semester was very difficult and stressful but all of the knowledge I learned was so worth it…. This quarter has been much less stress producing and a lot more enjoyable. I completed my Mom and Baby clinical which was so far my favorite, and I just completed my MedSurg1 clinical. I was able to stand in on a femoral surgery and I saw a few C sections and vaginal births which to me was amazing and such great new learning opportunities.

My nurses have helped guide me and give me tips, they’ve all allowed me to practice my nursing skills with supervision and open arms. My professors are great also, each one of them I have really liked and that so helpful for my learning.
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I am anxious to continue my nursing path but I am also really excited because I’m ready to see what else is out there in the nursing world, what more I can learn, and all the opportunities have that are still in front of me.

-Julia

​The past year I have been an ICU travel nurse! I was lucky enough to land a job in San Diego, CA for 8 months and had the best time there! Travel nursing has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people and try new things. I have learned how to surf, ate amazing food, enjoy concerts  and went on my first cruise! I cannot explain enough how grateful I am for my career. I have been lucky enough to gain financial stability and independence. Traveling has reignited the love I have for nursing that I thought I lost during the pandemic. At the moment, I am in rural Nevada working at a Critical Access hospital in the Emergency Department, and I’m learning a lot! I cannot express enough how much this scholarship helped me and relieved so much pressure off of my family and I during school.

Sincerely,
Molly Ann Ginther

Scholarship recipient Kara Rodeheaver recently participated in a Regis University Interfaith Medical Service Project in Central America.  She details her experience in the following blog post on rubuildingcapacity.com.  Click that link and read about her emotional experience!