A little bit of doubt

[DizziJ]

I knew from a young age that when I grew up I wanted to help people. It was something that always got my interest and held it for a long time. For Halloween most of my times as a kid I was a doctor a lot well psycho doctor one time but come on. As I grew and went through school I kind of slacked because I felt like I didn't want to be there and I felt like I wasn't getting the help needed. I was in some special ed classes for some math and such. I never let it slow me down and I did graduate barely but still.

As I grew from high school I started a semester in college community college. That went horribly I took two classes but I think it was because I wasn't ready to start the journey of more education I just got out of high school why did I need more learning. So I went through the motions didn't work and lounged around the house all day long im sure my parents where thrilled. Finally a year went by and I started to get jobs that didn't really work out until I landed a job helping a handi cap kid with every day living. I love the job a lot it has its waring moments but it is worth it in the end to know you are helping someone out. So after two years of that I decided to check back into schools first battling with the issue if I wanted to do criminal psychology because the human mind grabs my interest as well. Well it didn't pan out because I needed my parents info on my financial aid stuff and the government said they made to much money which is crap. Anyway I decided to put school on hold and well waited another year.

Recently my parents have been talking about moving in three years or so and a light bulb went off in my head. Where will I be do I want to be the guy living with his parents forever if you do nothing against you I just want something different. For my whole life I have always put how I felt on the back burner and coasted through everything. So I went and checked out baker college in Michigan I checked out another one for medical assisting but decided that wasn't a easy job to find places to work. So I went and checked nursing it had always caught my interest in so many ways the helping people and just all that goes into it. I was also in luck because I don't need my parents info anymore to fill out Financial aid so hopefully I can get some money.

If you made it to this paragraph thanks for reading the long story. I think what im trying to get at here is this the right choice I feel like it is. But everyone tells me its hard to get into the program. It's hard to do all the work for it. To be honest it makes me nervous and im afraid I will fail. This past year I have taught myself division and proved that if I work a bit harder at studying than I get things just fine. I guess what I need is a little words of encouragement if you can. If not I understand....Im excited and scared all in once but im sure im doing the right thing plus im only 23.

Thanks again for reading this

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

Well, you've gotta start somewhere. Yes, it's hard to get through the pre-reqs. Yes, you will be challenged. Yes, you will have to take classes that you aren't interested in. You may have to save your own money or work through college to pay for it. Keep teaching yourself math. You will need at least intermediate algebra. Take a very basic cell biology class that has a chemistry component. I've watched people with very little educational background do amazing things at the local community college - have also watched young people get distracted with life, and drop out. What you are trying to do is not impossible, just difficult. Are you up to it ?

[StayingCalm, BSN, RN]

I know exactly how you feel. I attended community college right after high school & didn't do so well with college courses because 1) I wasn't ready / mature enough 2) my high school didn't prepare me for college. I dropped out after one semester & started working full-time. Years later, I realized that I want something better for myself and started researching about different careers. I ended up with a LVN license about 3 years ago but knew right away that BSN is my new goal. I enrolled into a different community college soon after & started with the "prerequisite" to prerequisites, or intro biology & intro chemistry. I was never good with biology & chemistry and thought I would be lucky to get B's in those classes. But I think my study skills had improved over the years & I was finally ready for college mentally. I ended with A's in all my nursing prerequisite classes (except for an English class that I took many years ago) & am about to begin BSN program at a CA state university this fall. So the moral of my story is you should find your "drive". Once it's found, it will take you to whatever you set your mind to.

Perhaps you can start with easier courses (English, algebra, intro biology...etc) and slowly build your confidence up. Find out if there's a tutorial center at your school and whether they can help you improve your study skills. Nursing schools are hard to get into but it's not impossible. Just take it one step at a time, give it your best shot, and see what happens. Good luck!