‘One Day at a Time’: A Journey of Resilience, Purpose, and Determination
Sarah H. was not expected to survive birth.
Born nearly four and a half months early and weighing less than a pound, the odds were stacked against her from the start.
"I even had a twin that didn't make it," she shares. “I’m lucky to be here."
She credits her survival to the hard-working pediatric hospital staff.
“I was just lucky to have a great NICU [neonatal intensive care unit] and PICU [pediatric intensive care unit] team,” she says. “When I realized that I wouldn't really be here without that team, I decided I wanted to be a pediatrician. And I kept that dream."
That deep sense of gratitude would go on to shape not just her identity but also her life’s mission.
Gaining a new perspective
Sarah planned to pursue a biochemistry degree as a pre-med student with the goal of becoming a pediatrician, a decision inspired by her own experiences.
However, during her senior year of high school, her perspective began to shift while completing a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program.
“I noticed that doctors didn't really take a lot of time with their patients,” she says. “Nurse practitioners or physician assistants would take more time. They had better bedside manner and just overall connected more with their patients.”
Around the same time as this realization, Sarah discovered a path that seemed ideal for accomplishing her goals in patient care: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, a relatively new degree for high-level nursing professionals that was becoming popular.
“I wanted that option to be able to teach or still contribute to the nursing field if I'm ever not able to practice on the clinical side of things,” she says.
At the outset of her program, Sarah had planned to work in pediatric care, but her pathway changed when she undertook her psychiatric nursing rotation. On her first day, she found herself willing and able to take on challenges that gave some of her fellow students pause — such as working in the high-acuity hall, which houses patients whose needs are the most severe.
“I wasn’t scared to go to that hall, and I had a wonderful time speaking with the patients,” she says. “I decided at the end of that day it that was the field I was going into. And here I am, 7 1/2 years later.”
Though Sarah had previously ruled out mental health as a career path due to her own personal and family struggles, she discovered that her lived experience could be a strength rather than a barrier.
“You don’t want to make it about yourself or take away from the care of the patient,” she says. “But you also want to use your experience to make the patient feel less alone or give them hope that things do get better.”
Finding the support to support others
Sarah chose the online BSN to DNP program at Maryville University because it was fully online and one of the few programs at the time that fit her needs and expectations while also offering a psychiatric specialty. Maryville’s commitment to learner support also encouraged her to pursue her DNP instead of choosing a quicker option, such as the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Five years later, Sarah’s completed what she says is one of the most challenging — and rewarding — accomplishments of her life.
“Of course I was nervous, you know, but also excited to start that education journey,” she says. “There's been many, many, many, many times throughout the last four years where I'm like, why am I doing this?”
But her determination never wavered.
“There was no doubt that I would go to graduate school or get a doctorate,” she says.
Sarah began the program in Spring 2020, right at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sarah encountered challenges from the start of her program, getting sick with the virus herself.
“That’s when COVID started — I got the first strain and was out of work for 3 1/2 months because I had it so bad,” she says. “I remember barely being able to breathe but continuing to do schoolwork.”
Her resilience and the support she received from her advisors and professors helped her through this tough start. Professors offered extensions during the pandemic, understanding the toll it took on frontline workers, and her DNP advisor offered personalized support and guidance through every delay and detour.
“If something did come up, the university would work with you,” she says. “Like I said — I’ve had 20,000 things come up between the time I started and now, and Maryville has been very accommodating. My experience has been wonderful, especially with my advisor and the support and resources I’ve had throughout the years.”
In many ways, the positive life changes have far outweighed the challenges: Sarah has also gotten married, bought a home, and become a mother herself.
One year ago, Sarah gave birth to her first child, a son. She is able to provide a better, healthier childhood for him than the one she had — the opportunity “to make sure he has the resources and opportunities that I didn't have growing up.”
“My main motivator now is my son,” she says. “And he’s going to have a vastly different childhood than I had. He already has a different childhood.”
More than just a title
The DNP offers graduates a certain amount of prestige in the field. But for Sarah, the knowledge gained and opportunities to expand her career are the real reasons to pursue the credential.
“It’s a great field — you make great money, have great benefits, and you’re still connecting with your patients and providing care,” she says. “Nurses are the backbone of healthcare. But I want to be able to diagnose, prescribe help, create treatment plans — to improve patients' lives.”
Looking back at her time earning her DNP, she recognizes the ups and downs she faced. But she’s glad she fought through the doubts to accomplish this lifelong career goal and to be better prepared for the future of her field.
“I know that it will open a lot more opportunities, should I need them,” she says. “My degree has been worth it, and it will continue to be worth it hopefully in the future as we continue to transition and improve the field of nursing.”
One of the biggest shifts the program has provided has been in workplace identity — building upon her bedside manner, developing her mindset as a care provider, and growing as a communicative leader. The program has taught her about perseverance, collaboration, and trusting those around her.
And, though it was never the top motivator for her, she’s excited for the title upgrade.
“I want to have a ‘Dr.’ in front of my name,” she says.
Always rising to the challenge
In a sense, Sarah’s life has been defined by challenge from the beginning. But she’s proven herself time and time again to be steadfast, resilient, and committed to accomplishing her goals — both for herself and for those she serves.
“Do not give up,” she says. “Reach out to your support system. Get help if you need it. Reach out to your resources, like your advisor or your professor. Every professor I've had in this program has been very understanding and very open to discussion.”
Now, Sarah has the opportunity to continue building on her goal of giving others an opportunity at a full life — just as the nurses did for her on the day she was born.
The investment is worth the opportunity, and for Sarah, perseverance came from breaking the journey into manageable parts.
“Take it one step and one day at a time,” she says. “It won’t be forever, even though it feels like that sometimes.”
If you’re ready to see how Maryville Online can help you be brave and pursue your educational and professional goals, we’re here for you. Check out our online bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctorate degrees, and post-master's certificates, or schedule a call with an advisor today.