Describe a school accomplishment you're most proud of and why. by Tonabu

Describe a school accomplishment you're most proud of and why. by Tonabu - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

There comes a time in life where those who are of in my age bracket (50) come to the realization that we must keep reinventing ourselves. By re-inventing I mean we keep finding new meaning in life and new things to be passionate about. I am by nature a caring person and all my personal interests as far as success is concern, are philanthropically driven. Charity begins at home, so the drive to take care of my home comes first, if I may beg to be candid, but the idea that happiness is derived from an ostentatious lifestyle is new to me.
Nursing became that career that could match my personality and simultaneously build a career for myself. Hence I decided to embark on a nursing career but not without some huddles like, my age (50), tuition and the nay Sayers. I began this journey very aware of the fact that I will need to defy the nay Sayers, my age and tuition expenses. I already had a Bachelor’s degree, so I did not have to take most of the electives. I had to retake all my core courses that where more than five years old. Slowly but surely I took one or two courses each semester and finally finished with a B grade or better. I took the TEAS and scored higher than required and was consequently admitted into the nursing program at Gordon State College for the spring class of 2017. On the flip side of things, my bachelor’s degree worked against me when it came to financial aid. I did not qualify for Pell Grant or Hope scholarship. I could only qualify for Federal Student Loans. Hope scholarship is a Georgia based program for high school graduates and non-degree holders. Southern Crescent Technical College in Griffin Georgia also admitted me into the Licensed Practical Nurse program for the spring class of 2017. I received a shocker when I was told that I do not qualify for any of the financial aid programs except for Georgia State based loans. Georgia loans are awarded on a first come first serve basis. It became clear to me that attending Southern Crescent Technical College was not financially feasible, as I could not afford to pay for tuition out of pocket. Luckily, after the Southern Crescent waterloo, came some good news from Gordon State College, a letter admitting me into the Associate Degree Nursing program. Gordon State College is a participant in the federal student loan program. At least I knew I could reluctantly apply for more student loans and begin my journey to becoming a Registered Nurse. Borrowing against your future is not always the best thing to do, but it is the last resort.