For 海角乱伦 nursing graduate Elizabeth Gardner, inspiration comes directly from her family. Her mother, Ann, studied nursing at Great Bay, graduated in 2022, and now works
as a registered nurse.
Elizabeth followed the same path, enrolling as a nursing student at Great Bay the year her mother graduated. She will graduate with her nursing degree this spring.
鈥淚 have wanted to be a nurse since I was 11 years old, when I was present for the birth of my younger brother,鈥� she said. 鈥淗igh school was very challenging for me, and I never truly believed college was an option鈥攍et alone nursing school.鈥�
Gardner started by taking a few classes 鈥渢o test the waters鈥� and quickly realized that she was more than capable. She was accepted into the nursing program and deferred enrollment for one year due to the birth of her first child.
鈥淣avigating nursing school as a young single parent while working multiple jobs has not been easy, but the faculty at Great Bay and the support they showed me every step of the way is a huge part of why I am graduating,鈥� she said.
Gardner said her mother鈥檚 experience at Great Bay directly influenced her decision to pursue a nursing degree. Great Bay was part of her childhood, she said. She remembers attending a Polar Express movie night in the gymnasium, playing pool with her younger sister in the student center while her mother studied for exams, and other campus activities.
鈥淭hose experiences helped me see from a young age how welcoming and supportive the campus community was,鈥� Gardner said. 鈥淪eeing my mom work so hard to build a better future for herself and for us showed me that nursing school was possible, even when life felt overwhelming. Great Bay has been such an important part of both of our journeys, and I鈥檓 grateful to be able to share that.鈥�