Sha_Ron Ellis is a single mother to a baby boy, Jeremiah. She is currently completing her prerequisites to enroll in a Registered Nursing Program.

What is your passion and mission in life?

My pursuit to become a Registered Nurse derived from the requirement of community service hours. It was a simple task I needed to complete in order to get credit and move on. However, it wasn’t until I started volunteering in underserved areas that I recognized volunteer workers and their service in disadvantaged communities. I witnessed so many individuals that were injured or needed some medical care, and due to their social standing most likely wouldn’t receive the attention needed. From there I knew my passion was to help people and be an instrument of positive change to the world. My mission is to influence, educate and heal others in life.

What was your biggest hardship and how did you overcome it?

January 5, 2017 is the actual date that I found out I was carrying my little baby boy. I was overwhelmed with excitement, nervous and terrified all in one. Of course, I thought the feelings would get better over time, but it didn’t. The anticipation of being a young mother created a new sense of responsibility and provision in my life. I was worried I wouldn’t make it financially; I was working part time at Burger King and still in college. I immediately dropped my classes during the current semester and got a second job. So, by this time I was working 35-38 hours at a fast food restaurant and 20-30 hours in retail. I was only permitted to do this for 6 months, because in July I was ordered for bed rest. My stress level had not improved, and it begun to take a toll on myself and the baby. By now the doctor was ordering me to have a non- stress test every week. Just like any other day I went for my stress test at the hospital and on August 25, 2017 was told I would be having an emergency cesarean section. During the test, the doctor asked was I feeling any contractions and to my luck I was not feeling anything. I was there for only about 10 minutes when the doctor stated I was having contractions the entire time; even worse the baby was distressed. I immediately started crying. I didn’t know what to expect and I was at the emergency room by myself because I thought it was just an ordinary screening to check the baby. During the C-section, the doctor stated it was a miracle because all the amniotic fluid around my son had drained and he had his own feces in his mouth. Overall, I was just so thankful the doctors decided to bring him into the world when they did because it could have ended different.

How has this adversity affected raising children?

Looking back, I was so uncertain about the new changes my life would be taking and the financial responsibility that would be put on me. I put more stress on myself than needed by getting two jobs and even caused my little one complications. The thought of having a little baby rely on me for everything was overwhelming. To admit, I never overcame my fear because I didn’t know how I was going to maintain and provide for a young family, all while preparing for an upcoming rigorous nursing program. I did what I thought was best at the time and through the success of my efforts I am approaching the end of my prerequisites to apply for the nursing program.