Three years ago, Josette Casarez made a promise to herself: she was going to go back to school, build a better future for her family, and become a nurse. Now, at 34 years old, the Austin Community College District (ACC) graduate is preparing to walk across the commencement stage and receive her pin as a new registered nurse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think what I\u2019m most proud of is that I didn\u2019t give up on myself, even during the moments when life felt overwhelming. I\u2019m proud that my boys got to watch me keep going, keep pushing, and chase a dream that once felt impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josette graduates this spring with her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) after returning to college following years focused on raising her family. As a single mother of two, starting over came with challenges far beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter going through a divorce, I knew I needed to return to school and pursue a career that would provide stability for my two boys and me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During her journey, Josette moved in with her sister as she rebuilt her life. She commuted from San Marcos to campus, balanced work and motherhood, and supported her youngest son after his Autism spectrum disorder diagnosis \u2014 all while navigating the intensity of nursing school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere were moments where I felt exhausted physically, emotionally, and mentally, but giving up was never an option because I knew what I was working toward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through it all, ACC became more than a college experience. Supported through Capital IDEA and surrounded by faculty and staff who believed in her, Josette says the College helped her succeed both academically and personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cACC gave me an opportunity that felt achievable during a season of life when everything else felt overwhelming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She credits professors, including Professor Guzman, Professor Juarez De Ku, Professor Cameron, and Professor Hearn, for encouraging her throughout the program, as well as her Capital IDEA navigator, who helped guide her through the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josette says one of the most emotional moments of her journey came on the first day of nursing school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI remember sitting in class wearing my nursing scrubs for the first time, feeling anxious, excited, and honestly a little emotional. I kept looking around at everyone and then down at my new lab pack, thinking, \u2018Wow\u2026 I actually made it here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ACC\u2019s support extended beyond academics. From accommodations and campus resources to holiday support and after-school care connections for her children, she says the College helped lighten the burden during some of the hardest moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat meant the most to me was how supported my children were, too. As a mom, those things mattered more than people realize. It reminded me that I wasn\u2019t alone during this journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now preparing for her next chapter, Josette hopes to work in neonatal intensive care and eventually become a pediatric flight nurse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always had a passion for caring for children, and I want to continue growing into a nurse who can make a difference during some of the most vulnerable moments in a family\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As she reflects on graduation, Josette hopes her story encourages others who may feel uncertain about returning to school or starting over later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m almost 35, and I hope my story reminds someone that it\u2019s never too late to go back to school or change your life. Don\u2019t let time, fear, or setbacks convince you that your dreams are out of reach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josette joined more than 3,700 graduates celebrating this milestone on Thursday, May 14, at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n