Nursing School..............?!?

Hey folks,

just a little update on my Nursing school Status.

I got in, and will begin April 2009!!!!

I just went to my 6th nursing school lottery....I know many of you know all about this, but~I'm in "tell-all" mode, and I just need to get it out of my system....

I've been in the system since September of 2004, finishing up pre-requisites. Due to EVERYBODY and their dogs wanting to get into some sort of Health field occupation, getting pre-requisites under my belt took a LOT longer than we anticipated....classes filled up before I even had a chance to register (due to credit priority and stuff), thus it took forever to get through.

Anyway,

by September 2006, I finally finished up and began the lottery process for nursing school. They have 3 drawings a year, and as I stated above...this morning was my sixth try (thus six tickets).....

I still didn't get in for the January school year.....BUT...I did get in for the April Quarter. I am the 8th alternate to possibly get in this January...but I'm not going to count on that.

I'm thrilled, but at the same time, dare I say~ I am VERY VERY VERY angry at

this ----/crappy system.

4 or more people got in this time around with only 1 ticket...in other words this system is MESSED UP!

You do the math:

300 and more students in the lottery. If it's your:

1st lottery = 1 ticket

2nd lottery = 2 tickets

3rd lottery= 3 tickets

4th lottery = 4 tickets

5th lottery = 5 tickets

6th lottery = 6 tickets

7th lottery = 7 tickets

thus, my percentage of getting in on my sixth try was somewhere around only 15%.

Luckily if you have 6 or MORE tickets you get put in the "alternate" drawing, which if you get pulled out of that, you are guaranteed a spot in the next quarter...or if somebody drops out this quarter, you may get in this round.

Anyway, for whatever reason, I'm really fired up right now about this system. I just feel like they are really cheating students. For somebody to get in on their first try and for somebody to be waiting years and years and still not get in is just absolutely ridiculous.

I am 100% ok with waiting to get in, even if it's 2+ years...it's the whole "coming of age thing" or whatever....it's just how it is...you wait your turn. However, when you see other students "cutting" in line, it really makes me want to...I don't know, just be really really mad...like ferociously mad (almost :O). This has been a long, hard, exhausting, anxiety-filled, discouraging road.

I'm very happy that I am finally getting my chance to make my dreams come true. That's right, my dreams! I have dreamed about being a nurse since High School, and am beyond words excited that I finally see the light at the beginning of another long tunnel :O)!

Ps...would you like to hear what made me realize that I wanted to become a nurse in the first place.....ok, here you go:O)

I must have been a Junior in High school.

In our sunday class, we had a lesson on "service", I believe. In the lesson, my teacher gave me a story to read on Florence Nightingale! I read the story, and immediately felt moved by all of the amazing things she did. She was an angel, a true angel. She didn't have to help, but she couldn't help it...she had to because she wanted to. She helped to comfort thousands of people, cared for them and loved them....

I want to be like Florence Nightingale someday, and if that sounds 4th-grade-ish to you...so be it. I fell in love with her, and fell in love with all of the great things she did for the people around her. I respect her sincerity and I admire her generosity....I want to be like that. Selfless, giving, loving, kind, warm-hearted, brave, strong, committed, compassionate....etc....

I pray that I will be a good nurse, and I pray that I will have Christ-like Attributes to help me along the way.

Ok. Enough of that :O)

If you talk to me and I don't sound thrilled right now, I am. I just need some time to let this "fire" inside of me burn out.

I shouldn't complain, I know that. It's just going to be so much more complicated now that we have 2 kids, and really want to continue with our family (adding more children).

I just feel taken advantage of, and feel that it didn't have to be this way (meaning, they really could change their system to make it more fair!).

However, it was up to me how I dealt with the waiting and the putting my life on hold... I didn't always do a great job, and I really let it get to me sometimes. So, I realize that my attitude played a big part of this whole "mess", and it probably didn't have to feel so awful to me...but for whatever reason, it did...and I am just trying to work through the frustration on paper :O), and if you're brave enough to read through this whole thing...I'm sorry to put you through all of these "emotions"... :O)

But anyway,

To make a long story short (actually longer :O), I'm counting my blessings that I get to actually begin my dream of being a nurse...and a good one at that. This isn't just about making a good "career" move, it's about doing what I've wanted to do for so long, and helping people along the way. I know it may sound "goody-two-shoe-ish" or whatever you may want to call it.... but I just want to help, I want to be able to help in a way that I can't right now. I want to know/have a good idea of what to do when somebody needs care. I want people to be able to come to me, and feel like I am going to help them in the best way that I know how.

I want to be a good nurse. I want to be a really good nurse. And I'm excited to learn everything I can about this field.

Forgive my "fire" analogy that I talked about above. As I'm writing my feelings down, I'm feeling it slowly die out....don't get me wrong~ it's still burning strong, but I can feel it thinking about not burning so bright :O)

Anyway, I just thought I would give you all an update.

Thanks for the prayers and well wishes.

sly,

joni ann