Where are you from?
Vanessa: My dad is in the military, so I kind of moved all over, but the longest place I’ve actually lived is here in Montana, so I’ve called this place my home.
So what were you doing before you came to Great Falls College?
Vanessa: I was working as a CNA, and then I challenged the exam to become a medical assistant, and I started working in women’s health and then merged to pediatrics at Benefis’ Women’s and Children’s Center.
So how’s it going at Great Falls College?
Vanessa: I love it. I was a little terrified to—so I knew that I wanted to become a nurse, but I’ve had a stroke and so I had to kind of take extra classes, and it kind of… I wasn’t feeling that confident, but I think the services and everybody here are amazing, and they’ve helped me overcome that.
Can you talk about some of the services you’ve used?
Vanessa: I would hang often in the tutoring center. And there’s one teacher actually in particular, Thomas Oakberg. He helped me a lot when it came to my math and whatnot. We would meet here, and then I’d have Zoom calls to kind of go over any questions that I was confused about for homework. And I thought that was really helpful. And then I also, when I was taking chemistry, I came here too.
Did you use anything else?
Vanessa: I also use accommodations and Mackenzie Merja. They helped me with some accommodations, like double test time and being able to record lectures and whatnot because sometimes I can’t remember everything. So that’s been very helpful. And then the double test time has been really helpful.
Have you used the Military Family Center?
Vanessa: I will just go into the room sometimes and we’ll do study groups, and I prepare for exams coming up.
Did you always know you wanted to be a registered nurse?
Vanessa: Oh, no. Actually, that—so my daughter, Melody, she was born premature at 25 weeks. So, we basically lived in the NICU for three months, and those nurses became my family. So that is what led me to wanting to help people myself. So I started off by becoming a CNA and then gradually working myself to where I am now.
Can you explain what really touched you about the nurses becoming your family?
Vanessa: I was flown to Missoula to have her and, obviously, I live here. And so I didn’t really have anything over there. And they made sure over there that I was taken care of, helped me when I had issues with breastfeeding or if there was anything going on with her. They were very supportive. And they just were always there for me when I was having a hard time with her or even just myself going through all of that.
How many children do you have?
Vanessa: I have a 12 year old. His name is Mateo. And then Melody. She’s going to be 10 in June.
How’s Melody doing now?
Vanessa: She’s doing great. Most people, when they see her, they would have never thought that she was born at 25 weeks.
That must have been stressful.
Vanessa: Yeah. It was very stressful, but it was also, in a way, kind of interesting to see how they would normally be developing in the womb, which you could see outside of it. So that was cool because her eyes, they weren’t open yet—they were still sealed shut. And so we got to see when she finally opened her eyes to where she was growing, and I thought it was a cool experience to see, even though it’s a little traumatizing.
Do you remember that? Is it still traumatic?
Vanessa: Yeah, I remember. So I had a placental abruption, and I was told that I had more blood in my stomach than baby so their goal was to just keep me as pregnant as long as they could. And then they were going to do a C section at 28 weeks. And so I had my placental abruption at 24 weeks. And then she came on her own at 25. So that was a surprise for all of us. She’s just a little stinker.
And then you had a stroke?
Vanessa: I had a massive hemorrhagic stroke a year after that in October 2017. They were kind of confused because I was so young, so they didn’t really know why I had that. And that’s when they found out that I had this rare brain disease called Moyamoya. And so from there, we had to do surgery in February 2018 at Harborview in Seattle. After that, I was having multiple TIAs, which is a transient ischemic attack. So I had another surgery on the other side in August of that same year, and everything was okay. I was healing all right. And then three years later, I had three more strokes and it wasn’t hemorrhagic, it was an ischemic one, and they were tiny and so I had to go see the specialist at Harborview again.
At this time, we did a different surgery. So my first one was called an STA to an MCA bypass. And then the second surgery, we just did a burr hole and revascularization on both sides. So I went there and I had my follow up, and he told me everything is looking great. So hopefully from now on things will look up and be better. So we’re just going to hope from all of this I won’t have any more. And I’ll just reach my equilibrium and not have any more. But there’s not that much research to know all of the stuff, so I try not to think about that. I’m just moving forward.
And do you think that’s had any effect on your motivation to become a nurse as well?
Vanessa: That’s why I kind of hesitated because of like my stroke stuff. Like I applied after I had my stroke, I went to the school to do everything. And then I scored really low on my placement. So I was just like, oh, there’s no way I can do this. And so I doubted myself. And then, like, I think it was after I had the other stroke that I was kind of like there’s no better time than now. Like, I’m just making excuses. I can do it. So that’s when I decided I’m going to. And I’ve been doing it since. I think I’ve actually been in school now for two years and six months.
Had you done any other college before?
Vanessa: No.
How was the process of enrolling and choosing your career path?
Vanessa: I think one day I just kind of—I decided I’m going to do this. So then I put in the application to apply here. And then of course I had to go take that test. And then I just went from there. I told myself, no more excuses. I want to do this, I’m going to do it. And so I’ve just been going and going, and here I am.
Has it been smooth sailing or have there been some bumps?
Vanessa: Some bumps, mainly with math. It’s not my strong suit, but I just like that we have a lot of people here that can help you. If you’re someone like me that struggles with math, there are wonderful tutors, and I find Oakberg great—a great, great person to talk to if you’re confused.
And how’s the program going for you?
Vanessa: It’s going great. My instructors are amazing, and they’ve been very helpful. I come to them often with questions just to make sure that I’m understanding everything okay and not feeling like I’m behind.
And you’re on track to finish next year?
Vanessa: Next May.
How do you do school life balance? Do you work as well?
Vanessa: Just the front desk (as a student-worker at Great Falls College).
How is balancing being a mom and being a student?
Vanessa: It’s a lot. My son, he has autism, so he has a lot of appointments that I have to keep up with. So balancing that and then trying to balance school and then studying and then also making sure that everything is going well at home—it’s been a challenge. But I think we’re doing okay so far.
Tell me—how do you do it?
Vanessa: I honestly feel like screaming inside sometimes, but I think that also can go with services. I think they’re pretty helpful too. I have the Best Beginnings scholarship, and they’ve helped with daycare (through Family Connections). So that’s been helpful to where I can have like a couple hours to study before.
Vanessa: I recommend it to anybody who has kids—if they need childcare, they are amazing.
Family Connections—is that a community organization?
Vanessa: Yeah. They help even if you’re on the higher income side, you basically just pay a copay for your childcare.
So what else would you say is the best part of Great Falls College?
Vanessa: Honestly, I feel like all the staff here has been wonderful. Anytime I have questions, even if it’s something they’re not quite sure on, they’re always willing to help me and direct me to where I need to be. But I found almost everybody here has been great. It’s surprising because we have so many students here, but I feel like they know me—like myself—and I really like that. Like I’m not just a random student here.
I noticed you were at a few of the Night Out for Science events.
Vanessa: Oh yes. I love that event. It is like—I will be there every year. We actually—this year, my boyfriend and I, we bought a table. So you’ll see us there.
How did you start coming? Before you were a student?
Vanessa: Yes.
How did you know about it?
Vanessa: So his work would give some tickets here. One day they talked about this Night Out for Science, and I came here, and we got to have like a tour of the downstairs with the nursing area, and then where they have the surgical tech area—all of that stuff. And it’s just really cool to see that. And then of course upstairs with the science labs. I think my first one I came, they had—it was like flames that moved with music. And I just thought that was so fun. And I was like, we have to come back to this. So it’s become like an every year thing.
So you work at the info desk. Can you tell us about that?
Vanessa: Yeah. So I work once a week over at the info desk. I just help direct people if they’re looking for something or someone’s calling and looking for something, I’ll direct them to where they need to be.
How did you get hooked up with that?
Vanessa: I can’t remember who it was, but someone told me that they were looking for someone at the info desk. I’m really thankful for that too because it’s been hard finding something—like a job to work with the hours that I’m in school.
When you’re not in school or working, what are your hobbies or passions?
Vanessa: I like to try to spend as much time with my kids as I can. Because I feel like since I’ve been in school, I haven’t been able to spend as much time with them as I normally do. So I try to dedicate that time to just them and doing things. So if it’s like a road trip going somewhere or going swimming or like to the park—that’s kind of what I do in my free time.
And do they understand that you’re in school? What do they think?
Vanessa: Well, my son is over it. He wants me to be done already. And my daughter—when I completed my first semester, she was like, “So are you done now?” And I was like, no sweetie, I still have a few more to go. But she’s been adorable. And every time we go somewhere, she’s like, “My mom’s in nursing school,” and she’s just—she’s so proud of it.
And how’s the program going for you?
It’s going great. My instructors are amazing, and they’ve been very helpful. I come to them often with questions just to make sure that I’m understanding everything okay and not feeling like I’m behind.