YON 2020 Day 290: Alexis Costello, LCCC Nursing Student


As she approaches graduation from the nursing program at Lorain County Community College (LCCC), Alexis Costello reflects on how her studies have changed her. Now she looks forward to making a difference to the patients from whom she will care.

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As I head into my final eight weeks of my ADN program, I can’t help but reflect on how this nursing school journey has changed my life in the best ways. Before I started, I was clueless as to what career path I should pursue. My family had always mentioned possibly pursuing a career in nursing, but I never gave it any thought, though I had always been interested in medical sciences. I took random science and health classes for two and a half semesters before I decided to give nursing a shot.

It took a great deal of work to get my admission material up to the required criteria in order to apply to the program. It appealed to me because it is primarily hands on learning. Nursing also requires critical thinking. There are so many opportunities as I advance my education.

Finally, in the spring of 2019, I began my journey. Despite the stress, tears, long days, and heartache, I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for everything my instructors, peers, nurses, and patients have taught me. I have learned to look at people without judgement—only as human beings, and to treat each of my patients with the same dignity and respect as the one before. This, I believe, is an incredibly important quality in the current world we live in.

I have learned to more confidently communicate, advocate, and lead, as well as be more caring and empathetic. I have met friends in school that I feel are now like my family and am forever grateful for that. I know that I have entered the most rewarding career that I could have chosen. I feel that nursing has already touched my life by having made me a better person. I cannot wait to touch the lives of my patients in the same way.