A Kentucky State University graduate recently received funding from the Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association (FNSNA) to help complete her associates of applied science in nursing. The HBCU emergency funding recipients are sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Division.

Shamicka White, an Aurora, Illinois, native, began her path in nursing by volunteering at a nursing home when she was 12. Since then, she said, she’s always been interested in helping others. 

“Growing up in a family of caregivers, I knew I was meant to be a nurse one day,” White said. “I have worked in healthcare for 14 years as a state registered nurse aide and I am finally closing in on my dream.” 

White said in her personal statement to the FNSNA that she comes from a family with a history of deafness and profound hearing loss, which has affected her children, who have bilateral hearing loss.

“I will be the first in my family to graduate college and I want my children to know that all things are possible even when the odds are thrown against you,” White said.

White said she’s had many struggles to make it to graduation.

“I struggled with learning how to balance school, work, and home life, and recently having two hearing impaired children at home doing virtual learning due to COVID-19 has not made this an easy journey,” White said. “While my children were home, I was not able to work as much as I normally did before the virus hit and that loss of wages put me in a place where I was wondering how I was going to pay for school.”

Because of the FNSNA funding, White said she was able to pay tuition and focus more on studying and graduating. 

“When I am done with school, my goal is to work in an emergency room at a level-one trauma center,” White said. “I also want to further my career and get my master’s degree in forensic nursing and become SANE certified.”

Through all the obstacles, White said she has never given up. 

“Even though my journey was quite bumpy, it has all been a learning experience,” White said.