Jasmine grew up in a small town in Texas called Longview. She was raised by her mother who worked as a caregiver at a nursing home. Her mother would often take Jasmine to work along with her. This set her life course. At a young age, she saw first hand how much passion her mother had for her work, the dedication she had for her patients, and how her patients loved and respected her mother.
Later on in Jasmine’s life, she decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and pursue a career in nursing. “I just always thought I could see myself helping people” she mused when I spoke with her recently. Her dream is to become a registered nurse (RN).
When she was in middle school, she gave birth to her first child. While some may view this as a barrier to pursuing a career or education, for Jasmine it was a boost of motivation. “I always like to tell people that having a kid does not have to stop you,” she advised. After having her first child, she took charge of her life: she graduated from high school a year early and moved out of her parents’ house to live on her own.
Between working jobs at fast food restaurants and in customer service, Jasmine was able to take care of herself and her child. But, she never forgot her dreams to be a nurse - she started work as a caregiver at a nursing home and started to climb the nursing ladder. She registered for certified nursing assistant (CNA) classes through Dreambound and got her certification. Today she works as a CNA supporting three kids while preparing to go to nursing school.
Jasmine also inspired her twin sister Jacqueline who is currently pursuing a CNA certification in Dallas through Dreambound as well.
“I want to be an example for my kids. I didn’t have a lot of things growing up but I know what I want to do and I have the goals I have set for myself.”
Her advice for people considering a CNA certification? “Ask a lot of questions, don’t hesitate even if it takes you months or years, just go for it. Never give up on your dream.”
This is the first of many inspiring hidden stories of Dreambound students that we will share here. Dreambound's mission is to create upward mobility for America.
Pursarth is the Head of Growth at Dreambound. He has over a decade of experience working in marketing, product, and operations for large enterprises and startups. He has lived and worked in Bangalore, New York, San Francisco, Kathmandu, and Singapore.