My name is Veronica Solis. I am married to my high school sweetheart, and together we have six wonderful children. Both my husband and I are from Texas, where our story began. My husband’s family were migrant workers who traveled every six months from Texas to Michigan, and when we married, we followed the same path. Together, we worked at Hackert Family Farms in Ludington, Michigan, harvesting asparagus, cherries, peaches, pears, and apples. We endured long days in both hot and cold weather. While my husband always aspired to continue farm work, I realized I wanted to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse.
In 2015, I applied to West Shore Community College and began taking classes. Having been out of school for so many years, I had to start from the very beginning, not knowing it would take nearly a decade to reach my goal. In 2016, I began working as a home health aide at St. John’s Healthcare, an assisted living facility, where I worked 12-hour night shifts, 40 to 60 hours a week. To make ends meet, I also worked part-time on weekends at Holiday Inn. I took a class to earn my CNA certification and continued completing the prerequisites for the nursing program at West Shore.
In 2017, I took on yet another job as a Migrant Instructional Assistant at an elementary school. My schedule was grueling: I worked from 8PM to 8AM at St. John’s, 8:15AM to 3:15PM at the elementary school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, attended college classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and worked weekends at the hotel. When I was accepted into the nursing program at West Shore, I had to give up the hotel and elementary school jobs to focus on my studies. However, the fast pace of the program overwhelmed me, and I ultimately withdrew after failing a course. The nursing director informed me that I would need to wait 5 years to reapply, leaving me devastated. I wanted to move back to Texas, but a friend encouraged me to persevere.
Determined not to give up, I applied to Baker College in Muskegon. Although it would take longer to complete, the program offered a more manageable pace. I was accepted in fall 2020, with plans to begin in spring 2021. However, I deferred my enrollment because I was expecting my sixth child, who was born in spring ‘21. I finally started the nursing program at Baker in fall 2021.
Throughout this journey, financial challenges persisted. Telamon Migrant Program assisted with two years of tuition, but when that funding ran out, I sought help from MiWorks in Ludington. While they initially helped with my first two semesters at West Shore, they were unable to support my transition to Baker. Despite the setbacks, I kept applying for assistance and eventually connected with Niki through MiWorks, marking a turning point in my journey.
Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium played a pivotal role in helping me navigate the many challenges I faced on my journey to becoming a nurse. After exhausting other financial aid options, I turned to MW! for assistance. Initially, they supported me with funding for my first two semesters at West Shore Community College, allowing me to focus on completing my prerequisites without the added stress of financial insecurity. When I transitioned to Baker’s nursing program, I reached out to MW! again for support. Although my initial request for assistance was denied, I didn’t give up. I reapplied and received an email from Niki at MW!, who became an incredible source of guidance and encouragement. Niki provided me with critical information and resources, helping me secure funding from multiple programs to continue my studies. Her support didn’t stop at financial aid; she consistently followed up with me, ensuring I had access to additional resources and offering encouragement during challenging times. MW!’s assistance was instrumental in allowing me to continue my education while balancing the responsibilities of work and family. With their help, I was able to focus on my academic goals and move closer to achieving my dream of becoming a nurse.
My path to becoming a nurse has been one of determination and growth, filled with important obstacles and worthwhile lessons: It was frequently overwhelming to juggle my obligations as a mother of six, a worker, and a student. I discovered how crucial time management and task prioritization are to achieving my objectives without compromising my commitments to my family or my job. It was a never-ending battle to support my family and pay for my education. I learned the importance of resourcefulness by looking for assistance from organizations like Michigan Works! and the Telamon Migrant Program, which taught me to stand up for myself and never be afraid to ask for assistance. It was heartbreaking to leave West Shore's nursing program after failing a course. It was scary to go back to school after being away for years, especially to start with the fundamentals. I frequently questioned my skills, but persevering through those times boosted my self-esteem and reinforced my faith in my abilities. Making the move from West Shore Community College to Baker College meant getting used to a new curriculum, schedule, and setting. I learned from this how crucial it is to be adaptable and flexible to achieve long-term success. Despite many difficulties, such as monetary strains, difficulties in school, and the demands of motherhood, I discovered that tenacity and resolve can get you past nearly any barrier. I came to see how important friends, family, and community initiatives are to reaching one's objectives. Without their support and encouragement, my journey would have been much more challenging. These difficulties have influenced. These difficulties have made me a more resilient and driven person. They have also strengthened my resolve to fulfill my goal of becoming a nurse and setting an example for my kids and the people in my community.
The assistance I obtained from Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium changed my life and was essential to my achievement. Their support enabled me to focus on my studies and maintain my progress in Baker College's nursing program by easing the financial strain of tuition. Under their direction, I was able to get support and vital resources during some of my most trying moments. In addition to helping me, MW!'s services gave me the confidence to keep going, demonstrating that anything is achievable with the correct assistance. I'm happy to report that I will soon be realizing my lifelong goal of becoming a nurse - I start at Trinity Shelby Hospital in February as an RN making $34.60/hr!
Comments