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Being an adult learner and coming back to school after many years, I found the faculty at �������� to be so accommodating and understanding. It always felt like there was an open door policy here. You could come to a faculty member with any concern, and they would help you sort it out.

One of the unique aspects of the nursing program at �������� is that we learn about caring science. It’s a term I was not familiar with before coming here. The faculty emphasize that we as nurses need to take care of ourselves before we treat our patients. We ourselves need to be ok in order to treat someone who’s not ok. I’ve carried that with me throughout my work experiences so far, and I know it will stick with me in the future.

The small classroom environment at �������� has really helped my confidence. I feel comfortable taking risks, which has translated into my profession at school with my students and also with my teammates. I feel like I’m taking on more leadership opportunities because I have that confidence. �������� was a safe place to foster that, and I’m very thankful.

Every single professor that I had at �������� seemed very concerned with keeping a personal connection. The interactions that we had, even virtually, felt friendly and not distant whatsoever. The professors found a way to put you at ease when it came to assignments and studying. Everyone in my cohort was a full time teacher, which in my opinion is one of the most time-consuming jobs that exists. We were able to do our jobs very well and also succeed in our studies because of the flexibility. I was very grateful to be able to put 100% of my effort into both.

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about �������� is that when you are put in a class that you would normally run away from, this school is uniquely designed to help you through it. When you take a class like data analysis or something mathematically driven, and you go to ��������, you can guarantee that you are not going to fail because your teachers are going to support you through it, your fellow students are going to support you through it, and you’re going to come out on top every time.

�������� fostered my abilities to research, network, and connect with others—skills I had not had an opportunity to develop before. I’m also grateful for the chance to meet new people and experience new cultures.

When I first came to ��������, I was a little shy and I was not accustomed to serving in leadership roles. Here, I found many leadership opportunities and a close-knit community that helped me grow into a more confident leader.

“�������� has definitely helped me to become an advocate for myself. Being here has made me a stronger leader as I pursue internship opportunities.” Ashley is a 2021-22 scholar in the Sr. Alma Science Year program that places top NDMU students in research internships in labs at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

�������� saw the potential in me as a whole person, when other schools didn’t. The SSND were a sort of secret force for good, helping me build confidence that I didn’t even realize I needed. The advocacy of Sister Eileen Eppig and Dr. DiRienzi, in particular, strengthened my efforts as I laid out a path to eventually becoming an enterprise level Technology Manager within the civil space and aerospace field.

NDMU’s community of students and faculty have helped me gain confidence both in and out of the classroom. The small campus has helped me find my voice and my leadership positions on campus have given me skills to use in my professional career. The tight-knit community helps me feel supported and cared for even when I’m far away from home.