Featured #GateWayGrad Joici Montoya
Joici Montoya started her nursing journey a very long time ago. From a young age, she knew that one day she wanted to be a nurse. Growing up in the Hispanic community, she saw the important need that bilingual nurses served and wanted to provide this important service to her community so they could get the best care possible.
She started her nursing program in January of 2018. As a brand-new mom of a three-month-old and newly wed, she had to prepare herself for the journey ahead and the hard work that would follow. After not passing her first semester, she did not give up. She got right back up and took in a new application for nursing school. Within a couple of weeks, she received her confirmation that she would start again in January of the following year.
In January of 2019, Joici started the accelerated program. Being more prepared this time around, she dove headfirst into her coursework. After every exam she would sit by the computer waiting for her grades to be posted. Every semester came with its own challenges, but she managed with the support of her family and close nursing school friends. After recently passing her last exam, Montoya said, "I can not believe it. I am finally done! If it would not have been for my supportive family and nursing friends, I don’t know if I would be here. Thanks to them I was able to accomplish my goal of passing nursing school!"
Congratulations Joici!