I attended college for the last time in 1994 but never finished and often had a nagging sense of wanting to somehow redeem myself. Since then, I have taken time at various points to raise my children. I also have had several jobs. But in Fall 2013, I decided that if I was going to get ahead in the workforce, I needed an education to survive. I am currently completing my third semester at CCA, majoring in Nursing. When I was younger, that is what I wanted to do. I guess it always stuck with me that if I ever got serious about going back to school, that is what I would become. I plan to transfer to Metropolitan State University of Denver or Regis University to continue my education after obtaining my associate degree at CCA. I picture myself one day possibly working with people who battle addiction. I have wanted to do this for so long and now I am getting a chance to do it. It is a long road ahead, but it will all be worth it when that time arrives. I would like to thank my family – Steve, Geoffrey, Ty, Tad, and Savannah – for understanding how important the decision to go back to school is to me, and my English instructor, Ms. Davenport, for nominating me for this award.