Plans change
It took a day on the job to learn where I felt right
By the time I had reached high school I had figured out what I wanted to do with my life.
I have always loved to nurture people. I have always put others' best interests in front of my own. Within my group of friends I received the nickname of “the mom.” I was constantly asking questions such as “are you sure you won't need a jacket?”
Because I had these qualities, I thought becoming a nurse would be perfect for me. My entire career would be based on taking care of people, something I truly love to do.
I wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse. I couldn't think of a better way to spend my work days than to help mothers bring babies into the world.
I have always been a person with a plan. I usually feel more comfortable when I know how everything will turn out. I had my college pathway completely planned out. I would go to Jackson Community College for three semesters. Then I would transfer to the University of Michigan for the remainder of the program.
During my first semester at JCC, I enrolled in the first four courses that would lead me to becoming a nurse. One course was Introduction to Professional Nursing.
The class is designed to show the student the ins and outs of the nursing field and open your eyes to the good, the bad and the ugly.
For some reason my mind got stuck on the ugly.
One of our larger assignments was to shadow the nurse of your choice. I chose to follow a nurse on the labor and delivery floor of Foote Hospital.
As I was sitting in the nurses station, quietly listening to what was going on around me, I had an epiphany like I'd never had before. It hit me like a train wreck. All of a sudden, all my passions came rushing into my head. My passion for art. My passion for music. My passion for dance. My passion for writing.
I felt that if I entered the professional world of nursing, I would have to put my passions to rest. As silly as it may be, I began to feel trapped. I didn't like the fact that all my courses had been laid out for me, and that I wouldn't be able to study my passions further.
I could not wait to get out of that hospital.
I decided I wanted to spend my life fulfilling myself creatively. I figured I owed it to myself to do what truly made me feel alive.
I spent my second semester at JCC exploring each of the things I love. Doing this helped me figure out what I could see myself doing for a career.
I love writing so much, and it is one of the only things I feel I do well. I decided that journalism was what I really wanted to do. From then on everything changed and I focused on an entirely different future.
I am enrolled in Introduction to Journalism. I have truly enjoyed every aspect of the class. I believe it is painting a clear picture of what my future can look like. This time, I really love what I see.
Just as I did for nursing I got the chance to job shadow for journalism. This time, instead of wanting to run from the building, I wanted to stay longer.