Whoever said being a young adult was easy lied. Being a young adult means taking hold of your life and making something of it. For eight seniors from the Newberry County School District, our lives changed on May 17th, 2016. May 17th was the day that our hard work and dedication in the Nurse Aide class finally paid off.

In the state of South Carolina, to be a certified nurse aide you must complete a 100-hour state-approved course, which includes at least 40 hours of clinical time, as well as pass a written exam and a skill exam. This means numerous days preparing for the State Board. For eight teenagers, this was probably the most stressful time of senior year.

In order to get into the program through high school, we were required to apply for the course and go through an interview process. Once accepted, we spent the first semester of senior year in the classroom learning how to do what a nurse aide would do in the medical field. After Christmas break, we were able to begin our clinical experience. We each had our own residents who we grew close with and cared for twice a week for three hours for two months. It was probably the best experience ever.

Throughout the clinical experience, classroom time, and taking the stressful State Board exam, I stayed rooted in my faith. The Bible was my best friend, and not once did I go to sleep without saying a prayer. The Lord truly helps you in times of need and when taking the exam, that was proven. Jeremiah was a great chapter in the Bible during this time. A verse that helped my remember that God was always going to be there for me even if I failed the exam was Jeremiah 33:3. It states, “Call to me and I will answer you; I will show you great and mighty things that you haven’t seen.” This verse helped me personally through the exam because without my faith, I probably would have lost it.

Ultimately, I aspire to be a pediatric oncologist, but the only way to get there is to start at the bottom and work your way up. For anyone with dreams and aspirations, never give up or lose your faith. It is for the best in the long run.

To all of my classmates and to other students who passed the CNA State Board exam, congratulations. We are “Bed bath and way beyond!”