By: Honoria Piña Fernandez, Class of 2025
I am the first of seven children in my family to attend college and the second to graduate high school; never in my life had I imagined I would have come this far. I held back a few years after I graduated high school because I always thought college was hard and I wasn’t going to get through, especially with my primary language being Spanish. I was scared that, language-wise, it was going to be too complicated. Now that I think about it, I closed the door to myself for a few years. When I finally decided to go to college, I already had my kids; I got a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant, where I loved caring for others. I started taking part-time prerequisite credits at a local community college so that once I got into a nursing program, I could focus on the classes and continue with daily life responsibilities— especially as a mom. With God’s will, I managed to achieve the first goal of my college career. I know God placed me on this earth for a reason, and healthcare has always been my field of interest, even before I was working as a CNA.
Another thing that has driven my passion for working toward healthcare is that I come from a low-income family. My parents couldn’t afford healthcare when I was growing up. They worked hard to provide food and shelter for my siblings and me, and their income was insufficient for us to see a doctor or dentist. Aside from that, they did not know there was free help in the community for yearly doctor check-ups. My dream goal is to help others, especially those with limited income who don’t speak English, and teach them the importance of seeking healthcare and serving them in any way I can.
When looking into furthering my education after taking prerequisites, I wanted to become what I always dreamed of: a registered nurse working in healthcare. I wanted to do more than my role as a CNA to help educate and care for others.
NNU is close to home, and every time I drove by, I envisioned myself going to college there; little did I know God was planning to place me there. God had the right timing for me, and he knew NNU was the perfect place to learn and further my education. Currently, I am seeking a degree in Nursing in a three-year program.
As a non-traditional student and a mother of two kids—Manny, 17 years old, and Ximena, seven years old—college has been different because NNU has supported me so much in these two years I’ve been here. My professors are exceptional, their teaching is phenomenal and they’re always cheering me on to continue my journey. The students I’ve encountered are lovely and I’ve even become closer to some of them. We see each other as family and help each other in any way we can.
My first semester here was the best experience. I knew from the first day I stepped foot in class I would not be alone during this journey like I had felt in my previous college experience. My professors stayed after class to discuss any questions I had; they asked if we needed help and constantly reminded us that anything was possible. Especially Professor Zaroban, with whom I was taking my pharmacology class. She took time out of her busy schedule to review with me and reteach the material I was struggling with to make sure I understood and did well in her class. Professor Weis was my mentor and gave lots of study tips for taking exams. She taught me so much. This was such a blessing because I had never had this before—it truly shows that our professors at NNU want to see us succeed.
I’ve also received a tremendous amount of support through the Center for Academic Success and Advising (CASA). Because my first language is Spanish, I need more time on exams; translating things into my language takes me some time also, and CASA helped with that. Last semester, I was in a tough spot financially, and Maggie Alcaraz and Stacie Knudsen from the financial aid office jumped in and helped me. This semester, they helped me achieve a scholarship through the John William Jackson Fund, when at the time, I thought I would have to drop out due to my inability to pay.
This is what I love about NNU’s culture. NNU is preparing me to become a great nurse and by the time I graduate, I will have enough knowledge to care for people in the healthcare field.
Although it’s been challenging at times, it is not impossible; I have learned time management skills and prioritizing. I work on my assignments and study time while at school, and sometimes, I have sleepless nights because of schoolwork-related things. I work on them while my kids sleep, but I would not change it for anything. I thank God every second of my life for placing me here and helping me for things to work out the way they should. My class schedule, including clinical days, has allowed me to care for my kids and not feel the guilt of leaving them alone for a long time. I go to school at the same time they attend their school, and most days, I get home when they do and work a part-time job to provide for them. It takes time and dedication to do all my assignments, and even when days are hard and seem overwhelming, I lean on and trust God because these moments won’t last forever; without Him, I would be nowhere. As a mother, I don’t want to miss anything about my kids, although sometimes it’s unavoidable. I have made it to most of my son’s soccer games during soccer season because I know it’s important to him that I am there for support, and I give as much attention and time to my daughter as possible. I cook for them and do my household chores. There are some days when the mess has to wait, but I’ve been growing as a mom and a student and trying to set an example for my kids. NNU has been the best choice I’ve made, and I know it’s where God placed me. I’m excited for the upcoming year, and hopefully, after completing the nursing program, I’ll be able to move on and start working in the nursing field to better others’ lives and help in the community.
