Meet Christine, one of the 2022 NEDP Scholarship recipients. Christine is a recent NEDP graduate from EASTCONN in Hampton, Connecticut.
“The NEDP program has drastically changed my life for the better. When I was 18, I made a decision I knew I'd regret, but I was too busy being a social butterfly to care. I was failing ninth grade for the second time, but I was 18 in a classroom full of kids, and I just didn’t care. I had been working since I was sixteen, and McDonalds was (I thought) a great job. I had my friends, I had free food, and I had minimum wage. On the day of my 18th birthday, I signed myself out of school.
At the age of 20 I signed up for a Certified Nursing program because ever since I was a child, I wanted to be a nurse. I’ve always been a hard worker, so I started at the bottom of the totem pole to work my way up. For the past twenty years I have been a Certified Nursing Assistant, a job I’ve loved. But as I got older and more mature, I realized that it wasn’t just that I loved my job, it’s also that my patients would always compliment me on how great I cared for them, how I helped them, and how I always had a smile on my face. I needed additional training. I knew it was time to get my high school diploma. But I needed a program that was portfolio-based, that would fit my work schedule, and that I could complete in under a year.
I didn't just want my GED; I wanted a high school diploma. Being a single mom has also pushed me to want to show my 13-year-old son how important school is, and how important an education is. It took almost a year for me to get through everything. I had the help of two amazing, smart, patient women, Elyse and Jess. There were bumps in the road, but I never gave up (even though there were times when I wanted to). In February, I completed the corrections for my final section and waited. And then, I found out I did it! I earned my high school diploma! Less than a month later I started prerequisite college classes to earn my Associates Degree in Registered Nursing. I am on my way to achieving my goals and dreams because of the NEDP program.”
Christine’s Assessor writes: “The NEDP has changed her life. The ability to earn a high school degree by creating a portfolio has strengthened her self-esteem and her organizational skills. With her amazing work ethic, her optimism and dedication, she has won the respect and admiration of the NEDP staff.”
We wish you all the best as you embark on the RN program at Goodwin University. We are proud to be able to support your educational dream and goals of becoming an RN. Congratulations on winning an NEDP scholarship.