Before Victor started his nursing degree program at Phoenix College (PC) this fall, he spent the spring looking for scholarships. “I couldn’t find anything, and then I came across the Equality Maricopa PRISM Scholarship Fund. I applied and, thankfully, was awarded the scholarship.”
With a full-time job in the medical field for six years, Victor’s colleagues inspired him to pursue nursing. “I found a love for patient care. I felt it was a calling to give back to the LGBT community that has helped support me for so many years.” Two aspects of the Phoenix College Nursing Program particularly appealed to Victor. First, he chose PC because of the educational environment. “It’s so welcoming. We are all like one big family in class. I’m in cohort B, and I look forward to the next two years with my cohort.” But he also noted the importance of safety. “I wanted to come to an institution where I felt safe and free to express my personality.”
One of the most significant barriers to Victor’s return to school was financial. To attend school full-time, he had to shift to part-time work and needed to find resources that would help. Victor is using the PRISM scholarship to help “with transportation, books and food resources,” he said. Victor’s employer also supported his return to school. “They went to great lengths to accommodate my school schedule,” he said. “Since my work is in the medical field and my degree is in nursing, they were willing to keep me on as a part-time employee and will transfer my title to RN once I receive my degree and become licensed.”
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