Recent Graduate Outcomes:

THE POWER OF YOUR PEERS

The most influential group I was a part of was my fellow 3-year nursing students.

We took every class together, so we almost had no choice but to become close! I believe that who you surround yourself with has a large impact on your own mentality and work ethic, so being surrounded by similarly driven individuals helped in such a demanding program.

The 3-year program also introduced me to some of my best friends that I still talk to every day! Although the 3-year track was difficult, I would never have traded those difficulties for the experiences and the relationships I gained along the way. Even when I face difficulties in my professional career, I know that if I have the right team supporting me, we can get through any issue together.

SPEAKING TO THE STUDENTS

I encourage current students to throw themselves into as many learning opportunities as possible.

This is the time to try new things and to learn as much as possible. You never know what may interest you until you try it out for yourself. And you never know how far you can go unless you ask.

If you have the opportunity to participate in one of the J Term study-abroad programs, do it! I absolutely loved my nursing trip to Jamaica and it opened my eyes to so many different cultures and how they affect every aspect of life.

LIFE LESSONS

There are two lessons that I learned at Hartwick that were solidified during my career.

Keep learning. Volunteer for as many learning opportunities as possible. Your learning and skills will accelerate faster than you could imagine. In that same vein, you must advocate for your own education!

Build lasting relationships. Never burn a bridge if you can help it. You never know when old acquaintances come back around to offer new opportunities. I am where I am today because of the people I met during my time as a Hartwick student.

CAREER PREPARATION

I participated in a nursing capstone experience which is similar to a formal internship.

I was able to work side by side with one nurse, following their exact schedule. It was very helpful as it opened my eyes to the full responsibilities a nurse is saddled with during their shift. Some of these nuances can be lost during typical clinical rotations. It was the perfect segue into my career as a new graduate nurse.

WHY CHOOSE HARTWICK

I enjoyed my time at Hartwick and felt it was the perfect fit for me.

Smaller class sizes allow you to really connect with your peers and instructors, which I feel is a huge part of succeeding academically. Additionally, Oneonta is a great college town! It’s large enough that you can have fun and be social, but you can quickly lose yourself in the quiet nature that surrounds the area if you choose.

I also cannot stress enough how wonderful the J Term sessions are. It gives students the opportunity to study abroad that typically wouldn’t be able to, either due to the nature of their program or because they are unable to commit to months abroad.