Making it official

Just walked out of the advisor’s office with my major declaration form signed and submitted. Elena Rodriguez, nursing major. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

Making it official

I’ve been thinking about this moment for weeks, ever since that breakthrough with my anatomy studying. But actually sitting across from Dr. Martinez and saying “I want to officially declare nursing” out loud made it real in a way that surprised me. She smiled and said she could tell from my recent grades that I’d found my focus. Apparently going from barely scraping by to actually understanding cellular respiration doesn’t go unnoticed.

Called my parents the second I got back to my room because I knew if I waited I’d chicken out and just mention it casually at Christmas dinner or something.

Breaking the news to Mom and Dad

Dad answered and I could hear him putting me on speaker so Mom could listen. When I told them, there was this pause and then Mom started crying - the good kind of crying, she made sure to clarify. Dad just kept saying “we’re proud of you, mija” over and over.

They asked about the timeline, the coursework, whether I’m sure this is what I want. All the parent questions. But for the first time, I had real answers instead of just shrugging and saying “I think so.” Two more years of prerequisites, then the nursing program application, clinical rotations. I can see the whole path now instead of just stumbling through one semester at a time. Feels good to finally know where I’m headed.