u r right X, kudos to up!
very,very inspirational!I need to take notes

Why am I a late bloomer? Well.... I once was going to graduate early from high school(16) and go to nursing school. My father thought 16 was too young for college.... then when I was 19 I thought about it and the same as CD only whores are in the military. (Yes, CD, you most likely would have been spared from Viet Nam. Sharon Lane was the first nurse killed in Viet Nam. She was from the town I live in now. Every year there is a memorial service to commemorate her duty as a nurse. Her mother still attends these.) So, then I decided to get married at 21, have two sons, get divorced....deal with life from the result of that, 8 years later, decided to marry again..divorced, and decided now was the time... since my sons are grown and out of the house.

This has been a long journey to become a Registered nurse. Through high school I wanted to be a doctor, but my mom said I was to dumb and it would be dumb of her to spend her money on me to throw away. That's when I thought I should become a nurse...again to much money for a dummy. So at 17 I registered at the local votec and became a LPN a year later. I was so proud of this accomplishment, and my parents were proud. Many, many years I was happy with the LPN, I have worked so many places in tons of different positions. Every once in a while I'd sign up for college to continue on, but now I had my EX to deal with. He thought it I could never be a RN, he told me how stupid I was...yadda, yadda, yadda. So all these years It has been reinforced how stupid I am and I'll never make anything out of myself. I raised my daughter, got rid of the EX and got remarried to a great guy (don't tell him I said this). One day I was sitting around here in Cheyenne land, with the in-laws (oh boy). I thought I'm heading to the college. Here I am today, three semesters later, getting ready to graduate. My husbands says it's a good thing his parents were here to make me get out of the house to get away from them. At this point in the nursing program I am a 4.0 student, not bad for a dummy, eh? This last quarter I don't care if I get an 'A' I'm just ready to graduate!!! Pretty soon I can sign that RN behind my name. Oh and you all are invited to graduation!

WOW..That is a powerful question for me. I got wrapped up quickly out of high school to become an adult. I didn't want to go to school because I had a great job making what I thought was terrific money for being 17. Worked for a VERY large corporation and made more than most graduates their first year out of college. But I realized somewhere along the way that I needed an education. I got to the point where people started passing me in pay because I didn't have the degree. I decided to go to school and I went through several majors including Psychology, English, Interior Design, and after my aunt passed away a year ago I realized that I wanted to make a difference in what I do in my life. My aunt was 45 years old when she passed and she didn't have any regrets and I didn't want any either. I had always thrown around the idea of being a nurse but never committed. I decided this past year to go for nursing because I wanted to be touched everyday and know that either I made a difference in someone's life or someone made a difference in mine. Something that was rewarding and when my life comes to an end I know that I meant something! So it took me awhile to decide my path but I truly feel with all my heart that I am meant to be a nurse.

When I finished high school I went straight to Pre-Nursing. The following year I got married and started a family. Through the years I received a AAS in Data Entry/Information processing. Ten years after that I got a BS in Business Administartion. But all in all I really wanted to be a Nurse. So now my baby is 19 and I have enrolled in Pre-Nursing working toward a AS in Nursing. I believe I will be a better Nurse now since I have been through all I have been through. Before was just not the right time. I know everything happens for a reason. I'm not complaining I'm too excited about what is to come. Anyone got any ideas on applying for scholarships. I pretty much got tuition covered but those books are pricey? Thanks.

I answered this one before but I would also like to add that for me, it took a certain level of discipline and maturity to be able to get the 'nursing ball' rolling. I accept that I would work weekends, holidays, or nights and deal with the blood, bodily excretions, emotional families etc. Doesn't bother me one bit now. I know that this will be the hardest job that I'll ever love.

You are so right luvsnsg. It is never too late

I didn't "discover" the vast field of nursing until the end of my college career and by that time I had obligations (financial and family).  I worked in various jobs for some time and now, 8 years later, I have decided that its time to follow my passion/desire to become a nurse.

To: Justgettingstartedlate40:

I sometimes think the most important decisions of our life are made when we are the most unprepared to make them. Whatever encouragement I can give you, please don't hesitate to contact me. Looking forward to cheering you on!

In 1964, upon graduation from High School, my best friend was 1 semester behind me. We had both decided to join the US Army on the Buddy System and attend nursing school. When my friend graduated from High School, she eloped. I did not want to join the US Army by myself, so decided to go to college instead. This probably saved both of our lives due to the Vietnam War.

It was in 1976, when my mother was in the last year of her life, dying from ovarian CA, Mets. She was hospitalized many, many times, in the same hospital and on the same unit. One day, when I was in my mother's room, one nurse came in to the room and asked me to step outside. All of the nurses, in that time, wore all white dresses and nurses caps. These Angels surrounded me and told me to close my eyes an hold my hands out in front of me. I then felt papers in my hands. The nurses told me to open my eyes. They said to me, "Susy, you are meant to be a nurse. In your hands, are all of the required papers for you to fill out and go to nursing school".

This had a profound effect on me. I had never spoken one word to anyone about my best friend and I joining the Army to become nurses. I felt this was a Divine moment in my life, and that I could not ignore this. My mother passed away six months later. The next session of nursing school, I was accepted. I was 30 years old with a husband and a 3 year old son. The driving factor of my nursing has been twofold: to be very well informed and to advocate for my patients. However, to be this type of nurse, can bring great angst because of advocacy. But, I have never let my patients down.

I owe my career to those wonderfull nurses who recognized in me something I did not recognize myself.

I waiting until almost all of my children were in college.  Is anyone here in their fifties?

My sister was 56 when she graduated medical school!