Was anyone a not so great High School student and become a GREAT college student?

[emndarmic]

Hello,

I am getting ready to start my pre-reqs January 3rd.

I am actually nervous about starting. When I was in High School ( I graduated in 1990) I wasn't a very good student and was never "Made" to do anything by my parents. I was the only one who Graduated out of my family, my Sister quit school at 18, my Mom quit in the 10th grade to get married to my Dad (not married now though) and who by the way made it to 7th grade w/ out learning to read or write anything more than his name. I don't want this to sound like a sob story that's not what I am trying to do here. My problem is even though my GPA was only 1.777 I have a huge desire to become a Nurse. You have to have a 2.0 at least to be admitted into the program, they said I can make it up in course work before then. I have wanted this since my Daughter was born in 1996, I got to see upclose and personal what an OB Nurse gets to do and I soooo bad have wanted it all these years, 2 more children later here I am, I watched them as I delivered my next 2 sons, the feelings I get to even watch Birth Day on Discovery Channel is pure delight, I get teary on those T.V. shows and always say out loud "I want that", I have the desire to do it no matter what anyone else says,

I get negative vibes and comments from Mom like, " Are you sure you could handle being a nurse? What if a baby would die on you", things like that discourage me, I think of things on the flip side, what if I can help a little one or an older Lady with daily activities, she sees the sad or gross as she has put it before, and I see the beauty. I realize it is not always wonderful, but I want to make a difference in my life as well as patients. I have a great husband and 3 wonderful kids that I want to make a good life for too. As I told my DH yesterday and got the death look, "Once I become a Nurse, they could put me on 2nd shift and I wouldn't even care", now that's desire to become a Nurse (Tee Hee Hee). I think my Moms probem is that I am stepping out and wanting something out of my life unlike what she has done, by the way my Mom and Sister are stay-at-home mom's (me too, but I don't want to do that forever like my mom has done) they have no desire to get out and work nor does their Husbands care if they do or they don't

My fear is w/ a GPA of 1.777 is that I won't be smart enough to make my dream happen. I can't start my program until Fall 07', so I will have all my AP's and Microbiology all the hard classes out of the way (I know there is still gonna be hard ones, but the way we have it set up now is first quarter the only thing I have to take is Foundation of Nursing and that is it, then 2nd quarter will be Foundation of Nursing 2, 3rd quarter will be Foundations in Womens health and Children then the 2nd YEAR I will have to take it all except for Sociology which I will have already taken, does this seem possible for a person like me?) . I had a boyfriend all through High School and never took things seriously, I never never never studied because it would take time from him, never took my ACT's or anything that I would ever need for College, always thought I would be at home just like Mom (not that there's anything wrong w/ that, I've been at home w/ my kids for almost 10 years, now my desires have just changed).

I'm sorry this is so long, but I can't discuss these fears w/ anybody else for I am embarrassed of my grades.

Has anyone had a low average like that and still made a go of Nursing, or do well in AP like you never thought you could or Algebra ( I stink in math too). I am going to post this in another place too so maybe I can get a lot of feedback and get some self confidence about myself. My DH, Sister and Dad are very supportive of me (Sis bought me scrubs already as an incentive, so that was cool). Thanks in advance. Have a Great Weekend..

[BoonersmomRN]

Yes I was a HORRIBLE HS student.. I also was a HORRIBLE college student my first 2 tries ( parent demanded). I became a 4.0 college student once I grew up and matured. I was a wicked smart student K- 8th grade and only slacked off in HS due to a rivalry with my older sister.. I was STUPID. Now...many years later( graduated HS 91) I have my act together.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Yep - worked my butt off in college. That is what it takes. Graduated with a 3.7 GPA after not even finishing 10th grade and getting a GED.

[tlhubbard]

I wasn't a BAD student, but I NEVER needed to study and could pull B's. I had to learn to study in nursing school at the age of 28. WHEW!!! That was interesting. I did very well in nursing school.

I do find that I do MUCH better in classes when I have an interest. I really stunk at history in high school (because I HATED it).

I think your interest in your classes makes all the difference in the world in your ability to take in the info and use it.

Good luck!!

[Chaya, ASN, RN]

I was a B- to C+ student in high school. I was taking all compulsory courses and most of them I found so BORING it made my eyes cross. I just wanted to get out of there. Plus, throw in hormones, troubles with family and adolescent social traumas and I was so easily distracted I can't believe I didn't fail everthing.

When I started exploring the option of going to nursing school, first I took required pre-requisites for a year and was pleasantly surprised that my brain creaked into action. I actually found it so much eas"studying smarter" but found I did not have to study longer. As other posters have mentioned, there's a world of difference when you can see what practical use the course material will be in your life.

Good luck!

[Annabelle57]

i was not a great student in high school... and in fact, my science and math courses were the worst! additionally, when i headed off to college, the last thing i wanted to take was a science or a math course, but because i went to a liberal arts college for my 1st degree, i had to fulfill certain requirements just to graduate (even being a music performance major) and ended up taking a statistics course (c-) and chemistry for life w/lab (d). high school had convinced me that my brain was not wired for math or science, no matter how hard i would study. truth was, i was so unmotivated that i never really did study when i took those classes... and my low grades just reinforced what i thought.

lo and behold, i decide to follow my true calling to nursing, and i discover that the vast majority of my classes are going to be... science classes, with some math. this is several years after i had graduated with my 1st ba, but the fear was still pretty fresh. there's something to be said, though, for maturity, determination, being out in the working world for a while, having to fund your education completely by yourself, and having a series of crappy, non-rewarding jobs where you don't feel like you make one iota of difference in the world that changes your scholarly performance!

i have made straight a's in all of my classes so far: dev psych, microbiology, statistics, a & p i, and (so far) a & p ii. i've got one more to go - intro to chemistry, to redeem my crap-ass grade from the first go-around 6 years ago - and i know i'll come out strong, even if it's a b instead of an a (i'm shooting for the a, though). so, it can be done. i can't tell you how many people i know who, for whatever reason, made crap grades in high school and/or their first degree, spent time away from school, and then came back (especially when it was for a specific career they were really passionate about getting) and became a very, very strong student.

don't let discouragers keep you from pursuing your passion, either. i've accumulated enough labels in my life that have discouraged me, held me back, and followed me for so long - they're not worth it. i had a teacher once tell me that i was "consistently inconsistent" in regards to my academic performance - motivated one moment, apathetic the next - and i swear, it took me years to shake that label. however, i learned to listen to the voices of encouragement - find them, wherever they are!

best wishes... :balloons:

[ninicats]

Hi Annabelle 57,

I'm a high school drop out that is preparing to get my GED exam in December, I have already inquired about community college here in Las Vegas.

I'm very excited and scared at the same time that I'm not going to do well, but I'm so eager that nothing will stop me at this point, and I dont want negativity to blur my vision.

I'm glad youre on the right track, I have not even started anything yet as far as courses, but I know I'm on the right track.

I wish you good luck and please wish me luck as well, I'm going to need it!!!

[frpeho]

Yes, I received a few D's and F's in high school. After graduating H.S. I travelled the globe for two years. Somewhere along the line I decided to be a nurse. I graduated "cum laude" in my BSN program. I am now currently enrolled in a MSN program at Cal State University L.A. If I can do it, you can do it! If you want it!Go for it! Stay Focused!

[rescue3175]

Oh man, your life sounds very similar to mine. I sucked in high school, I was not popular nor did I get the grades, I was looked at as a loser, not even my high school counselor would give me the time or day to discuss colleges. I got married very young after graduating from high school, had 2 kids and lived a life as a Navy wife/mother. I finally went to college back in '92 as a computer programmer...would you believe, I got a B average in Calculas and Trigonometry...I had 90% of my earned degree fininshed with a College GPA of 3.11..me the loser. Well I had to pull out of college with 3 semesters to go because I was working full time as well as 2 young children.

I got into the EMS field when I was asked to join a local volunteer fire dept...Made EMT-Basic easily, then just 3 years after that, I passed for my EMT Advanced level with 92% in class as well.

Maybe this would be the time to not look back at high school any longer...you know you want it very bad...so you will do well-- I am so positive of that!!!

Keep your chin up!!!

By the way, my mom was a high school drop-out to marry and have a child....My mom never wants to talk with me about all my squad runs, nor does she seem all that thrilled of me suceeding as an RN...it might be of a non-intentional jealousy behavior...she wishs she could of had this kind if life.

I don't know you, I am new here myself, but you have my support as well as all others here.

[Fun2, BSN, RN]

Welcome to AllNurses.com, ninicats, frpeho, and rescue3175!

Good luck to each of you. Never doubt that you have the ability to succeed. :balloons:

[Nathalie]

IF I CAN DO IT SO CAN YOU!!!!!!! I wasnt the best student in high school.( I wasnt the worse either) I was basically happy with C's. I ended up graduating high school with a 2.75. You cant do much with that in Florida. So off I went to a community college, which turned out to be a good thing. My first semester of college I thought was a joke. So I started slipping again. TOO MUCH FREEDOM!!!! I was like oh im big and nobody is telling me what to do and I dont even have to go to class. Little did I know that wasnt going to cut it if I was even thinking about becoming a nurse one day or even stepping into the doors of a Nursing School. My next semester I did good and it felt good to get good grades. By the time I took my sciences I was a little nerd. I was obsessed with good grades. I struggled a little with A&P 2 but I ended up with a A in lecture and B in Lab. Not too shabby. I becamse really anal with my grades. Just this past week I got an 84 on a paper I had to write on Kabbalah(Yes Kabbalah, That religion Madonna's into.....had to take a religion course since I am going to a provate university)....well I was VERY upset about that 84 and everyone was like HELLO!!!! You did good.Well it wasnt good enough me. Then I started applying to Nursing Schools and I got in!!!! I am starting Nursing School January 11th and I am really proud of myself. Nursing School will be an adventure but I am really looking forward to it. Don't let anyone doscourage you from your dreams. You can do anything you set your mind to. ANYTHING! If you know in your heart that you can do it than thats what matters. and if youre like me you will probably have to study a little harder than everyone else but that doesnt matter!!! You will be greatly rewarded in the end!!! GOOD LUCK:)

[Juststartingout]

hehe, I was a horrible student in High School (graduated '90), but it doesn't affect anything anywhere, thank the Lord. I can't even recall my GPA, I may not have ever bothered to even LOOK! As, Bs, Cs, Ds! I was all over the place depending on mood/if I liked the teacher/if peers were jerks or nice, if my friends were being cool or rotten, etc! One thing I have to be grateful about with aging is the solidity it's brought me. Now I only focus on learning. :)

I've A's in college now. It's all about what you put into it, how highly motivated you are, and how well you keep the motivation going (getting to every single class, completing all asignments on time, studying for tests). At age 33 my motivation is 100% different than when I was 16. Aside from my kiddos schools the most important thing in my life to me, and I'm enjoying it tremendously. I think you'll do wonderfully.

Gosh yeah! That's me right there!! My high school years, should I say, literally sucked (can I say that here?). My mom passed away also when I was barely 16, so I'm sure that didn't help..not to mention that before that they we're in the process of a divorce. It wasn't easy..but even more-so, peer-pressure in the high school years makes it difficult. If It wasn't for the support of a couple of my teachers who knows where I'd be. Of course, I was stubborn too..I went to school regardless of anything. Maybe I had drive.

On the contrary though, my college years so far have been nothing but great! Adults are much different than youth will ever be, well.. normally , And..you are there for the sole purpose of getting an education for a career or to increase your job skills. I went from being at the lower end of my class rank in High school..gpa wise, probably less than a 2.0, to making the President's Honor Roll and Vice-President's Honor Roll twice in college. BIG DIFFERENCE!

So Trust me..if you really want to do well you can do it! Just follow your heart, set some goals, study hard, do your best..and you'll do great!

I can't wait til I start Nursing school :>)

[PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN]

Hello,

Heck yeah! I sucked at high school and even dropped out. But my first semester in college I made the Dean's list and several semesters I made the honor roll. I was sooo scared to go back to school because I hated high school but I find it very enjoyable. My grades don't come easy though. I study ... study... and study some more. BUT... because I really want to be a nurse, I find the reading material enjoyable as well as the homework. It's easier to learn and to study if you are truly working for a degree that is your heart's desire. You can do it!

~ Psych