I always thought that when my dream came true (when I found out that I got into nursing school) it would be this big, life-changing moment. I imagined that I would cry and be speechless, I imagined that a dramatic Rascal Flatts song would be playing in the background, and I imagined that I would be surrounded by my loved ones. In reality, I was at the downtown mall parking garage when I found out that I had been accepted into nursing school. I was incredibly happy and I called my mom and dad the second I found out. However, I didn’t cry, the earth didn’t move, and no Rascal Flatts song started playing. At the time, I was confused as to why I wasn’t freaking out more.

But it wasn’t until later, when I thought about all of the hell I had to go through to get there, that I really felt the weight of what I had accomplished. I thought about my senior year of high school, when I was incredibly sick and I wasn’t even sure if I would go to college on time. I thought about my freshman year of college, when I failed a chemistry test and I told myself I wasn’t smart enough to be a nurse. I thought of my year as a nursing assistant, and the long, exhausting hours I dedicated to building my experience. I thought about when I discovered that I would have to postpone applying to nursing school one more quarter so I could finish all of my pre-requisite classes.

I thought about the nights when I didn’t get any sleep, the days I spent studying instead of hanging with friends, and the months I spent waiting to find out if all of my hard work would be enough.

When I looked back and I thought about how far I had come and how many times I kept going when I could have stopped, that’s when I felt it. That’s when I really felt like my dream had come true. That’s when I realized that it was never just about getting into nursing school and it was never just about getting the acceptance letter.

What it was really about was the journey that it took to get here and who I became in the process. By fighting to make my dream come true and by picking myself up every time I fell, I realized that every day and every moment that I have spent working towards nursing school was just as important as the day that I found out I was accepted. I realized that what made getting accepted into nursing school truly special was the path I had taken to get there.

For anyone who is still working towards their dream, remember that all of the work you are putting in right now and all of the struggles that you have faced are what make your dream worth it. It won’t always feel like it, but you will get there someday and when you do you’ll look back and smile at everything you have overcome.

As for me, I can finally find a new dream. I have absolutely no doubt that in two years I will be a nurse. Maybe during that time I will find a specialty that I am truly passionate about. Maybe that will be my new dream, I’m not really sure. However, what I do know is that even when I am struggling through nursing school, the moments when I am fighting to make my dreams come true are the ones I will remember the most.