Lisa Peers

Nursing is a lifetime career. It is not just a job. It is a state of being. Nursing is one of the most respected occupations. Nurses have the trust and respect of their clients and others. They are loved and appreciated by all.

Nursing is comprised of many duties and responsibilities. I have always stood up for what I believe in and as a nurse I can for my patients what they may not be able to do for themselves. I am their advocate, protector, caretaker and so much more. I am a community leader and educator.   

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s New Careers in Nursing scholarship has taken off a lot of hardship and burden from me and my family. When I applied for the second-degree program, I had no idea how I was going to pay for it. When I got my acceptance letter, it was a moment of mixed emotions: elation, anxiety and mostly fear. I was so proud to be going to nursing school yet I had no idea how my husband and I would afford school, childcare and other living expenses. I’ve always worked full time while going to school but with nursing clinicals, I knew that would not be possible. The money from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has alleviated much of the stress and worry that I had about finances. I would have gotten loans to fully get through school but I am so grateful for the money provided because that means I am much farther ahead. When I graduate and start paying back loans it won’t be such an economic burden. Now, I will be able to focus more on my nursing career.   

I am the first in my family to go to college. My father was promoted from the fourth grade but never had the chance to attend the fifth because he started working the fields to help support his family. He and his twin sister were the youngest of eight. He joined the Marine Corps when he was seventeen and was sent to fight in Korea. When I asked why he chose the Marines he replied, “They were the only ones that would take me ’cause I was too dumb to pass the tests for all the others.”

I never thought of my father as a “dumb” man. He was a simple, no nonsense kind of person. He always told me to get an education. No matter what, he would say, that is something that no one can ever take from you. He was right. Nobody will take my education from me but the knowledge I am gaining as a nursing student is something I will gladly share with those in my area to help them and to grow a stronger community.