Alyssa Schuricht

My story is not some sort of fairy tale nevertheless, there is a moral to be learned. As a young child it was not uncommon for me to arrive at a powerless foodless “home”. My mom was never the trophy mom in fact she was hardly present at all. I was about ten years old, my mom was MIA. She left me with my two younger sisters. One was only 5 and the youngest was just a few months old. The baby had run out of diapers, and I had no money. Not knowing what to do or how to get a hold of my mother and feeling so helpless and abandoned. That memory will forever be etched in my brain. At such a young age, I had to be their protector, because no one else was. Every unpaid electric bill, every eviction notice taped to the front door instilled that drive deeper and deeper into my soul. I was not going to follow in those footsteps. However, unlearning toxic behavioral traits is a lot easier said than done. My husband at the time was working a full-time job so I could stay at home with my two kids. Before I knew it, my entire life was unraveling before my eyes. My husband began drinking very heavily which eventually led to drug use. He was becoming increasingly violent and angry. Our marriage inevitably ended when I discovered he was being unfaithful. I started working full time and living paycheck to paycheck. Eventually losing our home. Then reality started setting in; not only was I reliving my childhood, my kids were experiencing the same trauma that I swore, I would keep them safe from. It was at that moment I decided I was taking control of my life again. Being a caretaker has always come naturally to me. It was always a dream of mine to work in a hospital saving lives. I started taking a few classes. The goal, getting accepted into the nursing program and I was determined. Countless hours with my eyes glued to a computer screen absorbing every piece of information that was presented to me. When I received the email stating I was accepted I cried tears of joy. It was the proof I needed . It showed me that I am determined, driven, and motivated. I will be the first of my family to graduate from college and have a career. I want to be someone my kids will be proud of, someone that I will be proud of. If this life has taught me anything it’s that I am the main character of my story. I am responsible for making my happy ending a reality. The question has never been “if I’m going to be a nurse, but when I’m going to be a nurse. Being a single mom of two working full time at the hospital most of the time working overtime to just make ends meet. Attending nursing school full time I have to drop to part time, making the paycheck to paycheck more difficult with everything getting more expensive.