From a young age, Shanel D. wanted to be a nurse.

鈥淚t鈥檚 silly, but I used to play hospital with my cousins and my brothers, and I was always the nurse,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, I knew from 8 years old, that’s what I wanted to be.鈥�

As she got older, Shanel said life happened and nursing started to feel more and more out of reach.

鈥淚 always had an excuse not to get into it,鈥� she said.

Still eager to help people, Shanel ended up going to school for a psychology degree. At age 25, she became a 911 dispatcher and although she loved her job, Shanel knew she wanted to do more.

鈥淚 started praying, I said, 鈥楲ord what do you want me to do?鈥� 鈥楬ow can I serve You in a way that will be fulfilling?鈥� And I just knew right there, I had to get into nursing. It just clicked like that to be honest,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was on my way to work, and I saw on the bus: 国产主播.鈥�

Shanel set up an appointment in admissions at the WCU-Miami campus that day. However, she said, doubts started to creep back in.

鈥淭here was always something that says, 鈥楾his is a lot, can you really do this? Can you have a full-time job, raise your son and keep a happy marriage and go to school?鈥欌�� she said.

She started to back out of the application process, Shanel said, but her admissions advisor didn鈥檛 give up on her. He recommended she tour the campus, check out the class schedules, and then deciding if it would work for her.

鈥淚 said, 鈥榊ou know what, this is a time I really need to do something for me,鈥� because I always did something for the family, for the kids鈥� she said. 鈥淚 always put myself last and I said 鈥極K, I’m going to do this for me.鈥� I had to be selfish for once.鈥�

Shanel said it ended up being the best possible fit for her. She was able to earn her CNA license through WCU, allowing her to work part-time in healthcare, full-time as a dispatcher, and be a full-time student.

鈥淚 have been told before when I was trying to get into nursing, you can’t work,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, if you join into core, you have to quit your job. I knew I couldn鈥檛 do that, so I’m so happy I prayed about it, and I saw that bus.鈥�

Shanel graduated in June 2021. When it came time to find a job, she knew she wanted to be in the intensive care unit. At first, she was feeling a little discouraged looking for ICU jobs, until she turned to Career Services. It was there that an advisor told her about an opening at a local hospital. Now, she works as a trauma ICU nurse.

WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.