Any past losers out there?

[SwampCat]

Hey all! I've been lurking on these boards forever and I'm delurking to ask a question. I absolutely wasted high school on partying and just squeaked by. I never set foot in a college classroom.I went right from high school to working in a warehouse to being a mom. Now that some years have passed, I've matured a lot. I'm a stay at home mom with two kids (5 and almost 2) and a dream of going into nursing. Anyone else in kinda the same boat? I'm wondering if I can even pass my pre-req's...I've taken some sample tests online for algebra (bombed!) and bio (not too bad). I'd hate to put my family through all the sacrifices just for me to become totally overwhelmed and give up. Sure I could do it if I could study for hours on end, but I have mommy and wife responsibilities.

How do some of you do it all?

[xNursePinkx2b]

Heck, I had a 1.8 GPA in high school, now I'm making A's and B's in my pre-reqs and starting an LPN program in January. I'm married, have 2 kids ages 20 months and 6 months. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

[brightmoon]

This thread is a good reminder and inspiration to all who may have previously lost some direction in life and are now on the path of reaching his/her potential. I too can be lumped in that category and have actually found out two days ago that I will be starting the RN program in January. YAY!!! I try to keep in mind that its not so much reaching the final destination that is so important, but more so, the journey along the way that inevitably shapes our character. Congrats to those who will be starting with me and for those whose time will eventually come, keep plugging away!

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

To answer your question- yes.

Here's my story in a nutshell-

I lived in a trailer park on the bad side of town in a gang infested neighborhood.

Family was mega-disfunctional.

I partied and ditched months of high-school.

I was expelled in the 11th grade. Got a GED, went to tech school.

Worked low-paying dead end jobs for ten years.

Put myself through CNA, LPN, and RN programs. (Got married between LPN and RN- No kids)

Worked all the way through, did not take loans. (While in RN school, I worked and supported both myself and my dh. He was in grad school).

Graduated as an RN, w/ honors- class of 2000. Phi Theta Kappa, College of Nursing Valedictorian.

If you are determined, and committed, you can do it.

[ranka]

Nope, I don't think you're a loser. I like to say people sometimes takes the wrong path in life until they find their direction.

I also wasted time in my late teens and 20's. I started back at school

in 1997 with 2 kids majoring in Healthcare Mgmt. Got prgant with #3 and he ended up being high needs with allergies and gas reflux.

Went back 4 years later after baby #4. Graduated this year in March 07 after baby # 5 with a BS in healthcare Mgmt with a 3.924 avg.

Was going to get my Masters in Public Health, but decided I wanted to be a Neonatal NP after baby #5 spent 12 days in the NICU for a skin condition he was born with. I always wanted to be a neonatalogist, but always thought I wasn't good at math or science due to a male teacher I had in jr high.

I start my science classes at 38-Biology & Chemistry in the Spring 08 and Fall 08 and then onto a Masters program in 2009.

The basic thing that kept me going was making the goal for me and doing it in small steps.