As students head back to the Austin Community College District (ACC) classroom, the college celebrates students at all different parts of their educational journey.

Meet Ana Hernandez, a Licensed Vocational Nursing student who completed her program in August 2023 and is now heading into a promising career.

“Overall, I had a good experience at ACC. There was a variety of ages and ethnicities in all of my classes, which was a great learning experience on top of the education I received. I am nervous, anxious, and excited to begin my career.”

Ana began her education in 2019. She came to ACC for a special reason.

“I am a single mom to two beautiful daughters. My youngest was a micro-preemie born at 1 pound 15 ounces. She was in the NICU for seven months before we could bring her home. She was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and requires support from a home health nurse. One of those very special home-health nurses encouraged me to apply at ACC. I wanted to learn valuable nursing knowledge to help my youngest daughter, who still requires supplemental G-tube feeds, throughout her life. I also wanted to show my oldest daughter that it’s never too late to go back to school since I was in my 40s when I started my higher education journey.”

Through the support of ACC’s partner, Capital Idea, Ana was able to balance her school and home life to reach her goals.

“As a single Mother, completing the LVN program would never have been possible without Capital Idea’s financial support. Their support helped me navigate the higher education system, which changed my life and my children’s lives.”

Ana is sharing her advice to help all the new Riverbats reach their goals.

“You must stay focused and organized. It may be hard at times, but keep small weekly goals, so you don’t get overwhelmed.” 

For more information on a career in nursing, visit austincc.edu/nursing.

Tags: Fall 2023, Fall 2023 Semester, fall semester, Health Science, Licensed Vocational Nursing, nursing, Welcome Back