Welcoming Community, Expert Advisors with Tina

Transcript

Let’s hear from Tina who moved here all the way from the San Fernando Valley in California with her wife who is in the military. At Olympic College, there’s a place for everyone. With help from the college’s caring advisors, Tina was able to use her military benefits to follow her dreams in nursing. Tell us all about it, Tina.

– Thank you for that introduction, Alex. Since enrolling at the Olympic College, I’ve found a welcoming community with a knowledgeable advisor who have supported me every step of the way. How did I end up in Washington State? Well, my wife is a United States sailor and she’s currently stationed at Naval Base Kitsap. In 2013, I earned my Licensed Vocational Nurse Certification and I knew that I wanted to further my career and become a registered nurse. As a military family member, one of the challenges I face is that we have such short period of time in each duty station, which makes continuing my education extremely difficult. However, at Olympic College, they offer Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse Program, which allows me to complete my degree in five short quarters. After deciding to enroll, I met with a student success coach who helped me come up with a game plan to ensure I completed this program before we had to move again. Once my academic plan was set, my success coach advised me to reach out to the Military & Veterans Programs Department to access tuition assistance as I am a GI Bill transfer from my wife. With their guidance, I was able to utilize and maximize all of my benefits. Additionally, the community is very LGBT friendly, which is a plus for me. Olympic College has clubs like Sexuality and Gender Alliance and the Office of the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which helps create that welcoming environment. With all the guidance from my success coach, MVP Department and all of my professors, I am proud to say that I’m now in the third quarter of the nursing program. My anticipated graduation date is June 2024 and I cannot wait. Thank you Olympic College for making this journey as smooth as it could possibly be. Now that’s my story. Back to you, Alex.

– Awesome, Tina, you truly found a community that helped you thrive. OC creates a welcoming environment through its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and dozens of clubs for students to choose from. Student success coaches are always on standby to guide students through their degree path and funding opportunities. Thanks, Tina.