

Valencia Collins
University Hospitals
Cleveland, OH USA
"Success for me is peace of mind."
Career Roadmap
Valencia's work combines: Medicine, Science, and Helping People
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Take Roadmap QuizSkills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Look at what you're wanting to accomplish and what timeframe you want to accomplish it in. Then look at the resources that are available at your school to help you accomplish that goal. Build connections with your professors and administrators while in college. Even if your schooling is online, send an email to introduce yourself personally and make a better connection. You never know when those connections will be important for future applications, internships, or job opportunities.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
Registered Nurse
Cuyahoga Community College
Bachelor's Degree
Nursing
Loyola University New Orleans
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.
2.
I started college to pursue social work because I’ve always been passionate about helping people.
3.
I quickly realized that social work wasn’t the best fit for me, so I took some time off from school to live and try and figure out another path related to helping people.
4.
I eventually decided to give nursing a try and completed my first nursing degree at Cuyahoga Community College.
5.
After graduating, I went on to earn my bachelor’s degree in nursing from Loyola University New Orleans.
6.
I’ve since built my career as a registered nurse.
7.
I will soon graduate with my master’s degree and hope to move into leadership so that I can help the next generation of nurses.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I went to college for social work but realized it wasn't a good fit for me. I needed to take time away from school to reevaluate. When I decided to go back for nursing, I was able to transfer all of my community college prerequisites to my new major.