Laura Horan

When I graduated from high school, I was unsure of what I wanted to do, so I worked in my family’s floral and gift shop. After some time I began taking general education courses, at the age of 24, I joined the United States Air Force. While in the service I was a fuel systems technician and a medical service technician (Medic).  During my time as a medic, I found my calling to be a nurse, and started taking classes, towards earning my degree as an registered nurse (RN). After years of being a medic, I was able to challenge and pass New York’s licensed practical nurse (LPN) exam, and worked as a LPN, while working on my RN degree. I worked full time, while attending school for my associates in nursing, my bachelors in nursing, and the current degree that I hold, a masters of science in nursing education. So the advice I would like to leave the first-generation students, at ODU, is to follow your dreams, and earn your degree now, while you are young, and fairly un-burdened, by life many demands. This will allow you to focus your energies on learning what will be needed in your chosen career/degree.