JB Brown helps nursing student pursue her dream

Angelina S. is committed to helping others – much like the JB Brown Fund.

“I went into college not knowing what I wanted to do,” Angelina says. “But something about health care interested me.”

The one-time lifeguard has chosen one of the most demanding and rewarding health care professions – registered nursing. Angelina is in her second semester in the nursing program at Sacramento State University.

“I see how hard the nurses work and how kind they are to patients,” says Angelina, who lives with her mother and sister – a recent nursing school grad and now full-time RN – at Terracina at Park Meadows in Elk Grove. “My sister told me it was super-competitive.”

Very competitive. But after some early struggles, Angelina thrived in the classroom, especially with the prerequisites like anatomy and microbiology needed to enter the nursing program.

“It’s tough,” Angelina says of the four-semester program. The program includes classes and clinical training with patients. “I really liked the patients who I’ve worked with.”

‘It helps relieve some of the financial stress’

The nursing program becomes more challenging and includes more clinical experience with patients every semester. Angelina isn’t worried, thanks to the JB Brown Fund.

JB Brown college scholarships allow Angelina to concentrate on school – and less on how to pay for Sacramento State. In fact, she took some time away from her part-time job at a local restaurant to focus on the admission exam for the nursing program – and scored in the top 1%.

“It’s a great scholarship,” says Angelina, whose sister also benefited from JB Brown Fund scholarships and encouraged her to apply. “It helps relieve some of the financial stress and I can focus more on school.”

Angelina is on schedule to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in fall 2022.

“I would like to work in a fast-paced environment,” says Angelina, who is considering being an emergency room RN. “But I also really like working with kids.”

With a bachelor’s degree and nursing license, Angelina will have many career options – and less of a financial burden with the JB Brown Fund scholarships.

“It’s really helped me a lot,” she says of the scholarship that has helped her reach her dream. “And in nursing school, you don’t know what to expect. I just know the time will fly by.”