tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80891853765882278842024-02-08T06:22:17.062-08:00Knock Out SleepyThe Sleepy Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03429826494994636510noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089185376588227884.post-21244394311631756362015-05-31T16:18:00.000-07:002015-05-31T16:23:18.556-07:00My Educational Decision<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
On Wednesday, I
received a call from Aurora University stating that I was accepted into their
nursing program for the Fall of 2015. This was a shock because I had previously
been denied and put on the wait list. Despite this generous offer to join <st1:city w:st="on">Aurora</st1:city>’s Bachelors of
Nursing program I choose to decline. I made this decision in only a few minutes
and could not be happier with my decision. </div>
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I
could not possible accept their offer because my heart belongs elsewhere. When
I was first denied by <st1:placename w:st="on">Aurora</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">University</st1:placename>, it was a couple days after I received an
exhilarating call, saying I was accepted into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rockford</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>’s
Nursing program. I immediately accepted <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rockford</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>’s
offer before I knew if any of my other two options would accept me. There was
safety in accepting because I did not know my future at other nursing programs.
Fortunately, both of my other two options came back as being declined because
it really drove home that I was not meant to go to those schools. When I heard
I was declined from both I was happy because it meant that I was solidly
destined to go to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rockford</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>. I am a
believer in a divine hand who plays a role in our lives and I believe only
getting accepted originally to Rockford <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype>
was a gift from above. It helped to clarify that despite all my concerns about
leaving home, meeting new peers, and the challenging curriculum of a nursing
student that I would find my place within this new community. I think my
certainty also stems from the fact that after I received my phone call of
acceptance to Rockford University at work. A member whom I had not seen in a
while, traveled up to speak to me. She was wearing a Rockford University
sweatshirt and I learned she was currently in their nursing program. Upon
confessing to her, I had just heard I was accepted she offered me her nursing
textbooks to help save some money on my expenses. Although I am sure Aurora
University has an amazing nursing program from the beginning it has been clear
I was meant to go to Rockford University. </div>
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Not
only did I feel that I was destined to go to this school, but I had a lot of
other motives to why I actually decided to decline the offer to join <st1:placename w:st="on">Aurora</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">University</st1:placename>
instead of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rockford</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Both of these
schools are private colleges which to be frank means they have a higher cost
than public institutions. My financial stability when I get out of college
depends on me making the wisest choices with my educational expenses. I am
constantly applying for scholarships to try and lighten the burden of higher
education but regardless of the number of scholarship applications I submit it
is out of my hands if I am selected. While searching for scholarships, I have
come across a lot of companies that are generous enough to help students with
the significant cost of secondary education like <a href="http://www.ironsecurity.com/">Iron Security</a>. Rockford
University was the better choice because I was already selected to receive
their prestigious Dean’s scholarship resulting in about half of my yearly
tuition being funded from this scholarship. Rockford University also included
an advantage over Aurora University, because I have been blessed to have been
introduced and bonded with about five people who will be peers in many of my
nursing courses. These are people that will be pursuing their nursing degree at
the same time as me, and we will be in the same graduating class. I cannot
speak highly enough of knowing people in my major before school even begins, it
is great to know that I will be seeing a few friendly faces and have a
dedicated group of people to study with and help navigate the difficulties of
the nursing profession. Even during this summer, I have been communicating with
a girl about all the excitement and concerns about starting school in the fall.
These reasons help to contribute to my choice to not change my nursing
educational institute. </div>
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In
two minutes, I made a life altering decision to decline the offer to go to
Aurora University and I could not be happier. My financial future depends on wisdom
when choosing the better choice to lower my educational expenses. The Dean’s Scholarship
offered to me at Rockford University helped to make this college the best choice.
The friendships I have developed before the start of class with other future
nursing students have comforted and excited me for the lasting friendships I
will generate during school and beyond. And last but not least, my final reason
to decide not to go to Aurora University is because my heart believes I am
destined to spend the next 2.5 years at Rockford University. </div>
The Sleepy Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03429826494994636510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089185376588227884.post-88107340574532122872015-04-28T22:35:00.001-07:002015-04-29T12:52:32.093-07:00One Degree Smarter<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In a couple of weeks, I am
graduating from McHenry County College with my Associates of Science in
Administrative Office Management. Not only will I be receiving this degree, but
I will have five certificates that display my name Leah Baird proudly for the
world to see. Being a 23 year old graduate might not seem like a major
accomplishment. But when I was in middle school, I was told from a counselor that
I would never graduate from college. You might be wondering what could possibly
give a counselor the foresight to predict such complicated and discouraging declarations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">During seventh grade my world
changed, I developed into a child who was extremely tired all day every day. I
would often sleep in class and when I got home from school. People around me
thought I was having a growth spurt. I remember the first time I felt the
uncontrollable need to sleep, my father a photographer took my brother Kyle and
I up to Wisconsin to take photos of the beautiful landscape, and I slept the
whole time. My dad would be trying to get me involved but I felt an insatiable
need to sleep that no amount of sleep could correct. I have always enjoyed
laughter, but at a certain point humor became a problem. I would collapse to the
floor paralyzed during moments that I found funny many times a day. Hitting my
head on my science textbooks or collapsing all the way to the floor from a
standing position. This could be concerning to many parents, but mine
considered I might be seeking attention since I am their youngest child of five
children. Later in the summer, I started to have vivid dreams that frightened
me to the point of nightly terror. I was so terrified at this time that I would
cling to my father every night and in the process ruined his sleep cycle. This
is what led my father to search for answers, one night he stayed up googling
the phrase “night terrors and falling down laughing.” During his search he discovered
something known as narcolepsy, and by morning with absolute certainty woke my mother
up and said I had narcolepsy.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">My middle school counselor took the
fact that I had a severe sleep disorder to mean that I would never graduate
from college which is quite sad of her narrow minded view. It seemed to say to
me that regardless of my drive, purpose, and decisions in life I could never
overcome my sleep disorder. I find this honestly comical today, and it reminds
me of how far I have come on my journey. In my late teens, I was deeply
troubled by this new diagnosis of narcolepsy not only because of the daily
challenges it brought on but because of my worries about the way I would be perceived
by others. I have blossomed from the shy teen that was fearful of others in the
ten years I have lived with this sleep disorder. My purpose in life was refined
by developing narcolepsy. I have taken a burden and decided to use it as a
gift. In the fall of 2015, I will be heading to Rockford University to become a
registered nurse. I plan to specialize in sleep medicine and specifically help
the patients and parents of people with narcolepsy understand that life does
get better. My journey is not over yet, but I will continue to fight daily for
every accomplishment. My future is very bright and I am looking forward to continuing my journey! </span>The Sleepy Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03429826494994636510noreply@blogger.com0