Returning to school after 20 years……

            It was about three years ago, a flier to go back to school, all expenses paid presented

itself in the pharmacy. It was around 3:00p.m., the day was winding down. I was tired and not

 paying much attention to the flier. The pharmacy was quiet, fax machine was going and

 everyone was racing around trying to get their work done by the end of the day. I thought to

 myself of all the repeated work I had performed for 12 years and how I could do much more

 with myself and for others.

            Veronica, a co-worker of mine, blonde-haired, green-eyed average height women

 approached me. She said, “Yvonne, there is an opportunity to go back to school all expenses

paid.” The flier stated that prerequisite classes were being offered for nursing. I asked, “How

much is it really going to cost us?” “Nothing is ever free.” she replied, “Our union for St. John’s

will be paying for all costs.” Veronica was very optimistic and enthusiastic about going back to

school. She was always looking for better opportunities to better herself and help others do the

same.

            I recalled back in my high school years doing really well in school, and I had a GPA of

 3.75. Honestly, it was quite scary, thinking of returning to school with all of these

 young, intelligent individuals fresh out of high school. I thought to myself, “My school days are

 over.” How could I possibly go back to school with having to care for three children and a

 husband? “Impossible”, is the word that came to mind. Finally, after giving this matter a lot of

thought, I said to Veronica, “I think we can do this.” You know, go back to school and maybe

even become registered nurses. She paused and looked at me with admiration in her eyes and

said, “You really think we can become RN’s?” I said, “We can be anything we want to be.”