Nursing School~Blood, Sweat, Tears...Coffee and a Few Beers

I am not sure what was harder...going back to school after being out for almost 2 decades or the fact I wanted to go back to study nursing.  Nursing wasn't even on my mind until a friend of mine started working at a local Hospital and told me to join her, that I would love it! I was getting a bit burnt out of my current career and was feeling the need to do something more to help people.  Why not I thought? What's scary about leaving a good job, decent salary, 4 days a week or knowing it wasn't going anywhere? Everything!!  But I did it! I applied for a Clinical Associate position, got the job, gave my old job a 5 week notice and in February of 2014 I started a whole new path!  One year later, I knew I wanted to apply for Nursing School and fortunately I was accepted my first time around. 

Happy tears as I read that letter stating that I made it in!  It was a small chance even with a good GPA because I didn't live in the county the school is located in and they only accept about 10% of us outsiders...call me lucky! I also applied for an Endowment Scholarship that could possibly pay my entire tuition for the first year...guess what? I got it.  Not only had a left decent paying job, I was going to be working part-time and going through school...and students at my age still have bills so this scholarship was something I needed! It was a relief for sure!  I knew the next two years would be hard...studying, financially, giving up things I had been used to for so long but the end result would be worth it, right?

I am now entering my last 8 weeks, where has the time gone? I remember the first day of class, I remember what I wore and I remember how scared shitless I was.  My life has taken some major turns and this one, although a positive step, made me question if what I was doing was the right thing. What if I fail? That has crossed my mind so many times...I wouldn't say I am a negative person but I have seen it happen, I was trying to be real with myself.  I'm not sure I should use the word fail, I am very strong headed and usually strive for and achieve my goals, but I knew this was going to be one of the hardest challenges to date.

First semester, not too bad, passed with a B.  I had to tell myself, "Shona, it's ok to not be an A student". Second semester, sucked ass, literally.  It was so hard. I was actually failing Pathology until the very last test, which would determine passing this class. However, this was a class I could retake and still move on, but who wants to do that?  Fortunately I passed, with a C, but hey it beat having to re-do.  I wanted to flush that semester down the toilet and I did too.  Third semester, cake walk, literally. Spoiled for sure...I had the nursing course and Pharmacology and ended the semester with a B and an A which I needed after that damn C in second semester.  Fourth semester, first 8 weeks. Scared.out.of.my.mind.  Three tests, your average has to be a 76% to pass. So basically I needed to do well on the first test to have some cushion. The way I looked at it, if you F up on the first test, you are playing catch up on the last two...I did not want to deal with that.  Last Thursday, I took my final test of the first 8 weeks and ended the class with a solid B. I can breathe again.

My last 8 weeks are soon approaching and I as prepare for my pinning ceremony in May, I can finally see the end.  I now know that I am going to successfully complete Nursing school and start working as an RN, upon passing my NCLEX, this summer. But here's the thing, now I finally feel confident that I will pass both the last 8 weeks and the NCLEX, which is a whole different test taken after you graduate.  Before now, entering every semester, I was scared to death and many times doubted myself through this process.  Thankfully, I have had amazing support from friends, family, and the BF...who has seen me through 3 whole semesters!  I have cried, laughed, rolled my eyes...a lot, and felt fear. Encouraging words have definitely helped me through and maybe a few times, hugs...sometimes hugs help too.  I am so grateful for everyone who has stood beside me. Did I mention, I have had the BEST study group....and since First Semester!

So, as I write this over what appears to be my last official "spring break" as a student, I am ready to begin this new path of helping others more than I already am.  It's time to give up the royal blue scrubs and start wearing navy and white!!

Cheers to May 23rd!
Shona, Future RN.

A Tribute to Twenty16

Twenty16, you were amazing.  As I look forward to Twenty17, I must reflect on the year I like to remember as the year of unforgettable days, nights, weeks, and months.  A year for me that as they say, is going down in history.

The year Twenty16 started with a two hour brunch at Succotash, literally, on New Years Day.  I took someone very special...I can admit that because I am happy to say this special person is my now boyfriend, to one of my favorite places to enjoy brunch and after losing track of time, we had gotten a chance to catch up on the lives we had before the months-in-the-making date happened.  The fact I could sit down and have a convo with someone who I hadn't seen in a decade was a good way to start my year!

I had just started my second semester of Nursing School and knew this semester was going to kick my booty, and it did.  I passed the Nursing class but barely passed Patho and I will admit, dropping the class crossed by mind, but lucky for me the teacher talked me into staying in the class.  I was stressed to the max and ugly cried a lot, but it was worth the chance. I never have to look at Patho again!  This whole semester I was planning my Summer...because I couldn't wait to get to May...basically because I knew it was going to be my last free summer as a student :)

I traveled and traveled and traveled.  Even with school and work, I was fortunate to adventure around the U.S. and the Caribbean.  May began with Dallas and the Summer and Fall continued with Colorado Springs, Denver, Loveland, Tulsa, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and the Dominican Republic. Dallas included dinner at Reunion Tower, Poutine at the bar next door, and nights at the Nylo with the rooftop pool were amazing. I met my boyfriend's family too, all very sweet and welcoming people.  A roadtrip with me, myself and I to Colorado to run my second Half Marathon; Dinner in Denver with a friend from KC, staying in the Springs with my good friend Alec for the remainder of the trip, and running in Loveland a cool 13.1 miles finishing with a faster time than the previous year proved to be yet another good get-a-way.  The next day we conquered the Manitou Incline, I wanted to die! Upon returning from Colorado, I was off with the BF to the Caribbean.  No plans but the sandy beach, ocean, beer, tequila shots and sunshine.  The resort was amazing and the DR was all that it could be.  Right down to the Coconuts and Machete's. This trip was super relaxing and we hadn't a care in the world.

August hit which meant moving and third semester of Nursing school. Not as tough as second semeter, but I still spent a lot of time studying.  I ended this semester acing Pharmacology and not doing to bad with the nursing course either!  It was a bit more relaxed but I didn't lose focus...just had a little more free time!

I moved into a loft at the River Market in KC, MO. I LOVE IT!  The views, the people, the fact I can walk almost anywhere or catch the Streetcar, brick walls, big windows and concrete floors...I couldn't have asked for a better first experience moving from suburbia to downtown city life!

In the Fall we made a road trip to Tulsa to attend the Deco Ball at the Mayo Hotel.  A weekend of fun around Tulsa, from nightlife to brunch, to the art districts and hot dog trucks and even had the pleasure of meeting some of the BF's friends.  A last minute trip to the East Coast to visit him while he was there for business turned into a Fall tour of 4 different cities and a lot of adventuring. It was a quick four days for sure!  Although I loved the entire trip, I really enjoyed the local bookstore in Philadephia we spent hours in and the night in DC with his family, who showed us some local places they enjoy hanging out at.

I attended my first Opera at The Kaufmann Center for Performing Arts, The Marriage of Figaro, and it was amazing! For my Thirty-Faux Birthday, the perfect gift from my BF followed by dinner at a local Mexican joint. Tacos, cheese dip, margaritas and a bite of his tamales was the perfect way to end the evening.

You know I love this city and this year had so many amazing opportunities around Kansas City.  From photo shoots to runway to live segments on Fox 4 with Jana Meister, it was a great way to meet new people and support my local KC peeps!

Twenty16 came to an end as I spent the Holidays with family and friends. New Year's Eve with my guy listening to Jazz music and a midnight champagne toast at one of our favorite River Market bars, Harry's. Happiness was all wrapped up!

School Semesters Passed, Check!
Adventures, Check!
Opportunities, Check!
New Friends, Check!
Time with Old Friends, Check!
Lot of Happy Hours, Check!
Time with those I love, Check!

Here's to the New Year! I have a feeling you may be better than the last!
Shona

Where I Come From, Home.

November 15th, 1980...10 lbs. 14 ounces...20 1/2 inches long.  The day I entered the world almost walking and eating table food.  My Mom was a saint with that delivery.  Because many of you may not know where I was raised, how I was raised or even the life I had before becoming a "citified country girl" as I have been named...here is an insight.  I wouldn't change it for the world.

LeRoy, Kansas...no stop lights, no gas station other than the Coop, no fast food. That pretty much sums up the size of this town.  The town where if you blink you may miss it, that's about true.  About 500'ish people give or take a few, this is the town I called home for 18 years and if someone asks where "home" is...that's still my answer but also proudly say Kansas City.

For 5 1/2 years I lived in a single wide trailer. My Dad farmed and still does and my Mom babysat. My sister entered the world 2 days before my 4th birthday and we shared a room...but it was okay at that point, she was just a baby. Our home was just steps away from my Grandparents, my Dad's folks, and I remember riding my bike over to their house which of course had a front basket, getting the newspaper and orange slices and back home I would pedal.  I still love orange slices to this day.  I remember having a jungle gym, pear tree and running barefoot in the grass.  We did not have a lot of money, but my parent's did everything they could for my sister and I. One of my fondest memories includes riding along with my Grandpa Walker, my Mom's Dad, in his baby blue VW van. A retired Navy man, shop teacher, greaser and a craftsman. He made me my very own chair that fit perfectly between the two front seats of that VW and our song was "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On".

Summer of 1986, I was just shy of being 6, an inland hurricane hit our small town.  The "Storm of '86",  I remember it like it was yesterday.  We were home, my Mom was babysitting kids and we were eating dinner and getting ready to head to VBS.  We piled in the bathroom, smaller than most people's closets these days, and waited it out.  The hail was as big as a tub of butter and when we emerged from the bathroom, my Grandma had walked her way over to make sure we were all okay.  There were holes the size of a cantaloupe in our home, almost every window broken, total destruction. How we survived, well I will let you decide...but I know someone was watching over us.  Our trailer was sat at an angle and some believe that was the only reason it didn't tip over.  The winds reached speeds of over 90 mph and 10+ inches of rain was dropped in just a short period of time. My jungle gym was found in my Grandpa's pond nearly 1/4 mile away.

So, we moved because we had no choice.  We rented a place for about 6 months before finding a house we would eventually call home.  A two bedroom, 1 bath farmhouse with 152 acres. A chicken house, detached garage because garages weren't attached in those days and a big white barn.  From 1987 to 1999, this house became my home and my Dad still lives there today.  My sister and I shared a room until we were able to split the living room and make a third bedroom...I had my own room and my own closet.  But even with my own room, my sister and I would still sleep together on Christmas Eve every year, anxiously awaiting Santa to arrive.

I attended grade and middle school which were the same building and high school here until graduating in 1999 as Salutatorian.  My class had 14 people, the high school which was 9th-12th, approximately 70, everyone knew everyone.  I played sports, all sports. Volleyball, Basketball, Track, and Softball in the summers.  You can do that in small town.  I was a Cheerleader, President of the K-Club and Student Council VP my Senior Year.  My Grandma Jane, my Mom's Mom, owned Jane's Place, the only Cafe in LeRoy with home-cooked food. I worked there also, from age 10-18...something else you can do in small town. My Mom and Sister also worked there, my Aunt Kim did the books...family cafe at it's finest, seriously...ask anyone about the biscuits and gravy.  I had a Farm Permit at age 14, which was 8th grade, and was driving my Mom's car to school until I bought my first car in February 1996. I was able to drive to school, work and church and you best believe I did. And by the way, I purchased the car with my own money that I saved from working. I had $2000 and my parent's matched that for the down payment. The rest, was up to me. I made monthly payments until my Senior year when I paid it off and decided I needed another new car. I was on my own on this one.

Sometime in High School I knew LeRoy would not be my forever home. I needed to experience the world outside of the town I knew would always be there.  One week after graduation, I moved to Manhattan, Kansas and lived in a 2 bedroom apartment with my cousin.  I got a job at DQ and was enrolled at K-State.  2 weeks before classes started, I dropped them. I had applied at Commerce Bank for a full-time job and got it. I quit school before I even started...I remember that phone call to my parents like it was yesterday. One year later, I moved on to Wichita, Kansas, transferring with Commerce Bank. I was slowly moving to bigger cities...this job was "downtown" Wichita too...I felt so city! Four years later I transferred to Overland Park with Commerce Bank. I remember that call too..."Hey Mom and Dad, I applied for a job in KC, I have an interview"...they loved moving me! I knew one person who lived in Overland Park, she took me around to show apartments in the area and I remember thinking that I would never learn my way around this big city.  Times have definitely changed.

Skip ahead...from 2004 to today, I moved five more times...and finally this last time I rented a U-haul...it's always been pick-up trucks and stock trailers before.  Next time, I am thinking "movers". Anyway, you don't need to know everything in the last 12 years...but I graduated from Johnson County, had about 102 credit hours, should have finished my Bachelors then but got a job at an Orthodontic office in 2005 and worked full-time there until I decided to change careers and go back to school. Nursing...something I never saw myself doing, but it has been one of the best decisions of my life. Truth.  I have been at Shawnee Mission Health for almost 3 years, am still doing Marketing part-time at the Ortho office and also managing to do well in Nursing School! I will graduate in May and then onto my Bachelors next fall! And who knows, maybe I will keep going from there. I used to think I was too old for this...and I occasionally still say "I'm the old one"...but I have realized it doesn't really matter...I mean I have been turning 30 for almost 6 years now and feel better than ever! So yes, 36 is just around the corner!

The Road to Home

So that's it in a nutshell...country girl, big city dreams, living them daily, traveling, helping people, happy, and loving life.

Shona