In celebration of Black History Month, we are highlighting inspirational students like Sarah.
Sarah has overcome every obstacle that has come her way.
Sarah didn't finish high school, got married, and had a baby all at a young age. Her baby was born with heart problems and spent five months in the hospital.
"I was there all the time, and I was only a kid myself," she remembered. She recalled the nurses telling her that she asked great questions and took good care of her daughter. They thought she seemed like a great caretaker, and encouraged her to become a nurse.
"At that moment I was like, 'Wow, I guess I could be a nurse.' And I decided to go back to school."
Sarah earned her RN license and started working as a nurse. But she knew she could do more. She knew she wanted more. She was talking to some colleagues about pursuing a bachelor's degree when someone told her about their experience with Western Governors University.
Sarah liked what she heard, so she decided to reach out and start asking questions. She learned how affordable the program was and how flexible it would be with her schedule, and she knew it was the perfect fit for her.
Sarah was able to earn her bachelor's degree while continuing to work 12-hour shifts at the hospital. Because of WGU's competency-based education model, she was able to progress through courses as soon as she could show mastery of the material.
She was also able to work on her courses whenever it was convenient for her, because there are no required login times. This meant that her experience as a nurse helped her go through courses even faster. Sarah was able to start seeing benefits from her BSN degree as soon as she graduated.
"I've already reaped a lot of rewards. I've gotten an increase in pay, and I also teach LPN clinicals now," she said.
Sarah had a dream she made come true. Let us help you reach your dreams with our "I Have a Dream" Scholarship.
