A letter from December 10th, 2020

Dear FutureMe, Hello Nurse!!!! (I have always wanted to say that to myself, Animaniacs style). I hope you realize how far you have come and how proud you should be of yourself. Nursing school is not easy and even with some knowledge, it took a lot of time, effort, and focus to get through, but you did it. Not only did you make it, but you made some friends along that way and that made it even better. You learned right from the beginning that even though you thought you knew what a nurse was you were wrong. It was only the tip of the iceberg. The career paths in nursing are almost limitless and there are areas of nursing that you never knew existed. I know by now you have completed your BSN and are doing wonderful things. You have gone to conferences (post Covid) and learned all the latest there is to know in in your current practice! There have been many failures along with many more successes and each was a lesson to help guide you on a path to becoming better all the time. Life is one big learning experience and so is your career. You have learned not only from educators but from the people you have helped along the way. You have learned new cultures and beliefs and hopefully by now you have brushed up on your sign language skills (and remembered how to say more than “more coffee”). I know you have always had an interest in Oncology and never wanted to be a L & D nurse and I am curious if that is where you end up. You always seem to be good at things that are not your initial choice, like when you fostered children and didn’t want any teens, but those were the kids you helped the most and still keep in contact with those special few. After being a medical assistant for 16 years, it wasn't an easy transition from feeling like you know everything to knowing almost nothing I know you felt like starting over might have been a mistake on many occasions and even may have felt like giving up, but I am so glad you didn’t. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for help and don’t ever stop learning new things! Be the nurse that you would want taking care of you or your family and then be even better than that. You made it! Meliss Anne R.N. Just like you had engraved into your watch when you first accepted your seat in the BCC nursing program. Love you, Me xoxo P.S. You look super cute in the white dress, and don’t forget that psych nursing might be a great fit too!