Flor
Flor, a forty-year-old Hispanic immigrant, came to the United States at age eleven. To teach herself English, she read newspaper articles in front of the mirror. The first time she understood television, she cried.
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Years later in nursing school, she enjoyed putting strategies together to understand the full scope of anatomy and physiology. Her one regret is that she didn't begin sooner. At twenty, she got pregnant and was accepted into college, but reality hit—she didn't have enough funds for both. She chose to buy a gallon of milk rather than a textbook.
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She never married, focusing instead on being the best single mother she could be. She pursued culinary training and worked as a bread department manager for five years before asking herself, "Do I want to be baking for the rest of my life?" She went back to college, following two friends into a Vocational Nursing program. She had admired nursing ever since her child started choking and she didn't know what to do.
Returning to school entailed more than anticipated. She was older than the other students and struggled to grasp concepts. She cried herself to sleep but kept studying until she obtained her vocational nursing license.
Her first job was working with mentally disabled children in a skilled nursing setting. Then she worked with the homeless population in downtown Los Angeles—she had finally realized her passion: helping people. Searching for stability, she joined AltaMed. After two and a half years, she heard about the HRSA grant program. Her co-workers were scared to apply, but Flor completed the application. When she was accepted, it felt like winning the lottery.
Associate Degree of Nursing school brought ongoing challenges. Her daughter began her freshman year at Berkeley. Flor suffered empty nest syndrome, never understanding how deeply this would affect her. Some weeks she barely made ends meet. Despite her instructors' recommendations, she worked more hours to cover tuition.
She failed her comprehensive predictor in the last term. Twice. She requested another chance, took responsibility, and asked for another attempt. After weeks of waiting, her appeal was approved. She studied like never before—reviewing questions at the bank, listening to recordings in the car, every waking moment devoted to studying. When she passed on the final attempt, she cried. Due to her preparation, the exit exam was easy, and she passed the NCLEX on her first try.
After graduation, she immediately enrolled in a BSN program. She's now an RN with a bachelor's degree, working as an Outpatient Case Manager with AltaMed. She helps her community's most at risk—the homeless population. Whether her patients need surgery, a wheelchair, or a hard-to-get medication, she's there. Her daughter is now a junior at Berkeley studying Computer Science. Flor learned that if she believes in herself and gives it her all, she can accomplish anything. "The end goal is worth the hard work," she says. She leads by example, making sure her daughter understands the message Flor lives by: "If you follow your heart, you can change the world."