Elizabeth’s Journey into Nursing
When Elizabeth graduated from a four-year university in 2020 with a degree in user experience design, she expected to begin her career in the creative tech world. But as the pandemic reshaped the job market, many of those opportunities disappeared. Rather than stand still, Elizabeth pivoted.
In 2021, she became a nationally certified pharmacy technician and spent the next three years working in the field. The experience strengthened her desire to help others, but she soon realized she wanted to make a deeper impact in her community.
That realization led her to ICC. Elizabeth knew the college had one of the best nursing programs in the area, and she was ready for a change that felt meaningful. She applied to the nine-month LPN program and began a new chapter that would shape not only her career but also her confidence and identity.
Keep an open mind and say yes to opportunities. You will not know what is right for you unless you try.
Elizabeth, ICC Graduate
Elizabeth found the nursing program to be more supportive than she ever imagined. Her instructors encouraged her through every challenge, understood the pressures she faced outside of school, and helped her find balance in a demanding program.
One professor in particular, Terri Punke, left a lasting imprint. “She pushed us hard, but she did it with love,” Elizabeth said. Punke reminded students that even in the most difficult moments, they are showing up for patients in their lowest moments. That message continues to guide Elizabeth in her daily practice.
Clinical experiences gave her the chance to explore a wide range of specialties, including assisted living, medical-surgical nursing, obstetrics, and pediatrics. When Elizabeth expressed an interest in oncology, her instructors went the extra mile to arrange additional experience in that area as well, reinforcing how deeply ICC invests in individual goals.
Balancing a full-time job while completing the program was not easy. It required discipline, resilience, and self-care. During financially challenging times, ICC’s campus food bank, Cosmo’s Cupboard, became an essential support, one Elizabeth credits with helping her stay on track. After graduating, Elizabeth packed up a U-Haul and moved to Florida to join her family. She soon began working at a new rehabilitation hospital in Daytona Beach, where she supports postoperative patients regaining independence in their daily routines.
Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in nursing, possibly in oncology or as a nurse practitioner.
Elizabeth hopes her story encourages others to embrace new opportunities and trust the process of discovery. “You will not know unless you give it a try,” she said. “Keeping an open mind can lead you to exactly where you are meant to be.”