how kelli does it

kelli, more fondly known as 'kb', is my little sister. that same little sister who colored with sharpies on all my pound puppies. who insisted on dressing just like me. who was paid by all of her siblings to clean their rooms. who wore the same sweatshirt every day for at least a year. but she's also that little sister who sends me packages when she knows i'm feeling down. who skypes with me at least weekly. and who is raising two of the cutest kids on the planet - and is doing a great job. i guess that little sister isn't so little anymore. 

here's how kelli does it...

The request to share how I do it came on a perfect {or not so perfect} day.  Back up to being 2 years old.  I decided then, in 1987, that I wanted to be a nurse.  Yes, at two years old I believe you can know for sure what you want to be when you grow up.  My parents never pushed the career or subject on me but I just knew that with how fascinated I was at everything my father went through - surgeries, transplants, encephalitis and eventual death - i was interested in learning more about these things and finding out how I could help and be a part of it all.  

Fast forward to 2003.  I started college at BYU and entered as a pre-nursing major. I took the hard chemistry and anatomy classes, pathophysiology, bio chem, microbiology and physiology.  I loved them.  Hard? Extremely. But I loved them.  I applied for nursing in the fall of 2004.  I was rejected, nicely, but I was crushed.  The college offered suggestions of what I could do to help better my chances for next time.

I got my CNA {certified nursing assistant} and got a job at the near-by hospital in the maternal ward and LOVED IT!  This made me want to be a nurse even more.  I worked hard and re-took a few classes to improve my grades and applied again.  Rejected. Again. NOT so nicely.  I was not crushed.  I was mad.  They were rude and cold and told me I would never be a nurse {at their college} and to move on to plan b.  Fine. I did.  I took a 19 credit and a 23 credit semester to graduate and be done with college {changed my major to exercise science and ended up really enjoying it!}.  

I met my husband just after I changed my major and we got married just after I graduated.  He was attending the University of Utah. The U had an accelerated Nursing program where you could apply if you previously earned a Bachelors Degree {in anything}.  So apply I did.  Time number 3.  Rejected. AGAIN.  I still loved my job in maternity and just felt so right in a hospital.  But i was so discouraged.  I gave up.

We moved to Arizona in 2008 and I decided to pursue physical therapy {one thing I could do with my bachelor’s degree}.  I became an aide and I enjoyed it.  I didn't love it, though.  In fact, I missed the hospital every day.  

Fast forward to December 2010.  I had a 22 month old girl and a 6 month old boy.  The nursing idea came back to me and I decided to look at Univeristy of Arizona.  They had an accelerated program just like the University of Utah, only U of A was a masters program!  Perfect.  I applied. People {including me} thought I was nuts.  I didn't think much of applying. Didn’t tell too many people cause I didn't think I’d get very far. This was my 4th time.  To my surprise I got a call for an interview.  I was in shock. The first good thing to come from nursing.  I went to the interview. I felt it went okay. Then I waited. And waited. And waited.  And finally, I was rejected. AGAIN!  I wasn't sure what to think.  I wanted to think the easiest thing, which would be obviously I’m not supposed to be a nurse.  But I didn't like that reason.  I talked to family and friends to try to shed some light on the subject.  And through it all I have come to this...

How I do it?  How do I deal with rejection? And getting back up and trying again?  I have the support and love of my family and friends.  Without them, I would have given up after time one.  I have my Heavenly Father.  He is there for me and listens to my prayers.  He knows what is best for me and what I can handle and the timing of things.  

I can see that I am not supposed to be a nurse right now.  Being in school right now would take away so much of my time that I’d miss my babies being, well, babies!  I don't want that. I know I could do school and it would benefit me and my family, but it's not what I’m supposed to do right now.  

So I will not get down on myself that I’ve been rejected 4 times.  If anything, it just shows my determination when I go in the 5th time.  I will keep myself surrounded by a great support system and try to keep myself in a positive attitude about the situation because life is too short to get mad or have a grudge or be bitter about things.  

I don't know who said it, but I’ll listen..."If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!"