A little bit of encouragement

xopanda91 · Nov 24, 2014

This was great to read. Thank You. I'm 23 and in a similar boat. I'll hopefully have my RN at 25. It definitely used to get me down, seeing my old friends or peers graduating and all, I felt left behind. But I'll be the first person in my family to ever have a college degree, finish school, or have a career like this. So I'm staying hopeful.

Red Kryptonite · Nov 24, 2014

Comparison is the thief of joy.....I like that.

tbird88 · Nov 25, 2014

I appreciate your comment because I am now 44 and just starting my nursing journey over again. I was in the practical nursing program 13 years ago and did not succeed. I feel so stupid when I think back on this. Well I am finally starting over and I know I am definitely behind my peers who have been in their careers for numerous years. The statement the time will pass anyway is so true because it does, 13 years have gone by and I could have already finished my nursing degree. Well I suppose better late than never. I will remember not to compare myself to others but just work on my own future.

futureLVN40 · Nov 29, 2014

Thank you! I constantly think that it's too late for me to do this at age 36, barely working on Associate's Degree and Nursing prerequisite classes. My age seriously discourages me at times. I'm trying to get over it though. :yes: Like the saying goes the time will pass by anyways so why not do something within that time.

Leonardsmom,LPN · Nov 29, 2014

Comparison is the thief of joy.....I like that.

Agree, I like that too. One of the things I battle with constantly is getting into the thought process of I could have had my nursing degree 4 or 5 years ago had I continued with my schooling and had not stepped away. The thing that I focus on remembering when I get into that mind set is that over the last 7 years I have gained invaluable hands on experience working as an aide, that has allowed me to apply what I am now learning in class to past experiences I have had with patients I have taken care of, along with being able to apply that knowledge with the patients I am taking care of currently. Something that I would not have been able to do so in the same way 7 years ago. While it would have been nice to be able to start establishing and advancing in my career while I was in my 20's, I find that in my 30's I am more willing to make the sacrifices and to put in the work that is needed to achieve the goals I have set forth for myself.

This post reminds me of one of my favorite poems by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken. Not everyone is going to follow the same path as others do, and sometimes it might take us longer to realize what are goals are, or to be able to achieve them, however it is our individual journey that makes us who we are and is what is important.

[h=1]The Road Not Taken[/h]

BY ROBERT FROSTTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

daniellehorses · Nov 30, 2014

Thanks for the encouraging words! I am going back to school at 26 but I am excited! You can't go living you life with what if's and I can't change my past so I am only looking ahead at this point. Do I wish I would have done Nursing right out of High School?--- Heck yeah but I have two wonderful kiddos, a hubby, and at the time I did go after a degree I wanted to. It's never to late to go after a dream! Best of luck to you :up:

P.S. --- You aren't that old lol

Sizzline · Nov 30, 2014

I agree! I started working on my prerequisites part-time around a more-than-full-time job and an infant in 2010. I chipped away at it, and another child later, I am finally finished with my prerequisites and starting the core nursing classes, at age 33, for an ADN degree in January. It has been a long time coming, but I am proud that I did not give up.

s.leblanc2014 · Nov 30, 2014

Thank you for posting this! Right now I'm 18 attending community college in my first semester. I'm struggling in one of my classes, but have A's in my other ones. Hopefully I can get into nursing school for Fall of 2015! Thanks for your encouraging words, really. :)

daimorales · Dec 3, 2014

Thank you for your encouraging words! I am 20 and get very frustrated at times because I had to retake some classes and feel like it is putting be behind and I'm going to end up graduating when I'm older and don't want to but this really helped!

Best wishes!

smarie0708 · Dec 17, 2014

I am in the same boat right now and I feel like it's really getting me down. I am 22 graduated in 2010 went community college right out of high school but didn't take the classes seriously, seeing all of the people I went to high school with graduating with bachelor degrees really makes me sad considering I'm still taking pre reqs for a ADN program. I need words of encouragement!

voyage2cj · Dec 17, 2014

Thank you so much for your positive energy. At the age of 26, after 2 degrees, I am starting over and completely transitioning. Looking at admission requirements and course load overwhelmed me a bit, but after reading this I am motivated to begin the journey to do something I always wanted to do! Your small act of kindness made a big impact! Thanks!!!!