05/08/2026
âIt was definitely a calling, and probably one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. My kids are happy, they're thriving. And likewise, so am I,â Michelle Laboy said as she reflected on her decision to join the Nursing Program at Union. As a mother of four kids, she never envisioned her family moving across the country from California to Nebraska just for nursing school. But God can move mountains, so she packed her kids and dog in a car and drove east. Now, sheâs at Union finishing up her third semester. âI would have never thought I would come here. But Union called me. So I took it ⌠This is definitely a calling. God wants me to go do this.â
Laboy is one of nine mothers studying in the Nursing Program this semester. Three of those nine moms are graduating this Motherâs Day. Graduation day will be extra special for them. Firstly, they are graduating with a degree that will take them into the next chapter of their lives, and second, their kids will be in the audience to witness it.
For many of the moms, getting this degree is all about making a better future for their children. Mirra Brooks, a level-two student, shared how for the past 10 years she has worked as a CNA, but as soon as she had her son, she knew something had to change. âI definitely like being a CNA, it's decent money for one person, but itâs not enough to provide the life I wanted for my son. That's when I was like, okay, I have another human Iâm responsible for. I gotta go to school. So it's definitely just about giving him a good life.â
Going to nursing school is also about setting an example. Stanise Murphy, one of the graduating mothers, has four kids who are in school. As a single mom who is going back to school, she talked about what values she hopes her children will gain from watching her do something that takes commitment and persistence. Stanise said she hopes her kids learn, âThey can do hard things. Nobody can tell you no, only you are your own person to bring you down. You gotta keep going. Persevere, be determined.â
Kelly Mishleau, a level-three student with a toddler and a baby on the way, shared how even at her young daughterâs age, she is learning from watching her mom. âShe notices when I go to the hospital. I don't know if she thinks I'm a doctor or nurse or what she thinks on that point, but she knows how I go to the hospital to help people ⌠I hope that she sees her mother try so hard to care for her, to care for others. And I hope she learns those values. The most important thing in this world is people. You can't really take things to heaven, you can take people to heaven. So caring for everybody around you is the most important part of living. And I just really hope that she takes that and shows others the care they deserve.â
For some of these moms, going to nursing school felt like a direct call from God. Starla Tejeda, a level-two student, shared that her life in the waste removal business was getting in the way of spending time with her two daughters. Starla remembers, âI was just praying, âHey, Father, I think there's something else I need to do.â I don't know why I thought that, but that's the way I was being led. So I just prayed about it, and it was very clear: you need to go to the Nursing Program at Union.â When asked how she was managing her many responsibilities, she said, âLots of prayer. My faith, prayer, but also the discipline too. I know that I have to do my part. But it's a really supportive program, and the faculty are really amazing. They love Union and they love us and they want us to succeed. They're like, âYou're going to be an amazing nurse. Just keep going. This is the hardest part, being the nursing student, but once you get past it, it's worth it.ââ
Of the six moms interviewed, all said they would encourage any other mothers out there who are looking to go back to school to join Unionâs program. Even with the responsibility of long clinical hours, required lectures, preceptorship hours, late nights of study, and an intense exam schedule on top of caring for their families, all of them said that itâs worth the effort. Nancy Tran, a graduating student, said, âI say do it. I say go for it because you only live once. I mean, the years are gonna pass by anyway, and you know, why not just go to school and advance your education, advance your knowledge, and expand your networking. Just go for it because that time's gonna pass anyway.â
Through the hard moments and the God moments, each of these moms is a living testimony to the glories of what God can do. Laboy said, âMy kids are everything to me. I do everything for them. Me finishing this is for them. They see me going through this, and they see all the blessings that have happened.â
by Sami Hoffer, a junior biomedical science major
