Nursing students Serin Kang and Tomi Abegunde have a quiet excitement mixed with a bit of nervous energy as their seventh semester in nursing school begins.
“I can’t believe we’re finally here,” said Serin. “It feels like we’ve been working towards this for so long.”
Tomi agreed, “It has been a journey! But I think we’re ready. Each semester, we’ve learned so much, and now it’s just about putting it all together.”
Both students attributed the positive start to the semester to how well-organized their classes were. “I feel like the program is really setting us up for success,” Tomi remarked. “Every semester, we gain more knowledge, and it feels like we’re being gradually prepared for what’s next. The increase in complexity this year is a bit daunting, but it’s also exciting.”
“We always feel a bit anxious at the beginning of a new class, especially this year, but we know we’ll get into the groove after a few weeks. It’s just about adjusting to how each class functions,” said Serin.
They reflected on some of the key lessons they had learned over the years. Clinical rotations, in particular, had been a valuable part of their education. “I love clinicals,” Serin said. “It’s where you really see the theory come to life. Plus, you get to meet graduates and experienced nurses, ask them questions, and hear about their career paths.”
“And having the same instructors in both clinical and didactic settings has been really helpful,” added Tomi. “It’s nice to build relationships with the faculty, so you feel more comfortable reaching out when you need help. They know us, and we know them—it makes everything feel a bit more personal.”
Serin has always wanted to be a nurse. “I love the close relationships nurses have with their patients. As a student nurse, it’s so rewarding when a patient gives you positive feedback at the end of a shift. It makes everything worth it.”
Originally from Korea, Serin came to the U.S. in 2021 to study nursing and plans to stay after graduation. Tomi, who had moved from Nigeria with her family in 2019, shared her own reasons for pursuing nursing. “I’ve always admired my older cousin, who’s a nurse. Seeing her in scrubs when I was a kid made me want to follow in her footsteps. I’m passionate about patient advocacy, and I love the connections you build with patients.”
Serin is also serving as an IUSON Senior Ambassador this year, helping to plan and execute student engagement initiatives designed to increase recruitment, admissions, and enrollment management services.
As they look ahead, both Serin and Tomi feel ready to finish their final year strong. They know the courses will be more challenging, but they are determined to stay focused and work hard. “We’ll lean on our mentors and classmates to get through it,” Tomi said. “And when things get stressful, we’ll just remind ourselves to take a deep breath and keep going.”
Serin agreed. “The program has prepared us well so far. Everything’s been really organized, our faculty are wonderful, and we’ve been building our knowledge step by step. Now we just need to focus on our capstone classes, NCLEX prep, and start thinking about the job search.”