Persistence Pays Off

Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to attend college, but I wasn’t really sure if I was truly college material. I was a smart enough kid, but social anxieties and a rough upbringing caused me to question my abilities.

At the age of 15, I dropped out of high school but later took and passed the proficiency examination. I became a medical assistant at the age of 16 and began taking classes at MJC when I was 17. I was not successful due to a lack of maturity and no true sense of responsibility. I later returned to MJC in my early 20s after having a child and trying to determine where I needed and wanted to be in life. I attended for a few semesters and then left again. Finally, when I was in my 30s, I made the decision to obtain a college degree. I had worked in the medical field most of my life so I decided to take the prerequisites for the nursing program.

Success!

I graduated with my Associate’s Degree in Nursing in April 2005, the first person in my family to complete college, and began my nursing career at Doctor’s Hospital. I then obtained my BSN in 2007, my MSN from Missouri State University in 2009 and my Doctorate in Nursing from Chatham University in 2010.  Today, I am a Family Nurse Practitioner and a full-time Associate Professor in a nursing program in Missouri.  I truly believe that none of my successes would have been possible had I not had such a great experience at MJC. I will forever remain grateful to those who guided me and inspired me. Thank you, MJC!!

- Jaimee McGuire, Class of 2005