Alternative Student of Nursing at LSSC

Why have you decided to go back to school now? I’m 31. Maybe I should have done the college thing 10 years ago but everything happens for a reason. I’m a big believer in that. I think if I had done this 10 years ago, I would have been on a different path. How it fell is how I took it.

What happened with school the first time around? I‘ve always wanted to go back to school, but I wanted to be a chef originally. I tried it, couldn’t do it financially, so I put it on hold. But I looked at the brighter horizon. You always take care of what is in front of you. Don’t harp on the past. My dad always told me to “remember your smile, your prayers, and that your dad loves you.”

What did you do before you were a nursing student? I went into construction, and I loved it. I saw and did a lot of awesome things that really made me the man I am today. I appreciate the little things because I’ve seen the hard work that goes into those little things.

Why nursing? I met my wife and we put her through the program. Experiencing the journey Ashley had going through school, I saw the medical field as very interesting, entertaining, intriguing, and always challenging. And I love a good challenge. I want to be that person who does not hesitate to speak his mind for the patient.

To what do you credit your success? A lot of it has to do with my father; he was a single dad. My mother left but never once did he talk negative of her. So anytime I went through anything difficult, I’d think ‘Would my dad give up on this?’ No. Because he never gave up on his kids.

Do you have any words of wisdom? Knowledge is true power.

Favorite Book? The Gerson Therapy.

Favorite Band? Incubus. My wife turned me on to them.

PHOTO: Fred Lopez