When I was 24 I lost my mom to cancer. I worked as a finacial aid counselor and the money allowed me to live alone but definately paycheck to paycheck!
I helped young people get money to further their education and finally I decided I would help myself! So at 28 I quit my job and lived with my sister for a year and was 'nanny" to her three small children. This allowed me to study and not have to work. I watched her kids after I got out of college and the kids got out of school.
I had a previous degree so I only needed a few classes to get into nursing school but the waiting list was long. So at 29
, when i was accepted to nurising school, I decided since the school was so far away I would just bite the bullet and MOVE IN THE DORM! Yep. I was known as the dorm MOM
I listened to their party and sorority stories, I hemmed and ironed ball gowns
and even made cookies for them. By second semester I was their RA (which was great because this was a paying job).
I sucked it up for 2 years to accomplish my dreams. The nurses had given us so much during my mom's 8 yr struggle with various forms of cancer that I knew I had to do what I needed to do to give back to society.
So now I make a pretty decent living. And although there are many days I want to cry, overall... I love caring for others!!
