(Photo of Emilie Bailey by HCTC)
Hearing great things about the nursing faculty and the nursing program at Hazard Community and Technical College is what attracted Emilie Bailey to enroll. She is so glad she did. As she looks forward to graduation in May 2021, she is thankful for the help she has received.
She is especially appreciative of faculty member Rebekah Abney for helping her. “I asked so many questions and had to have clarification on pretty much everything we talked about in class. Becky would meet with me one-on-one to look over my notes and help me revise and find the most important things about the content we were covering. Personal issues wise I have very bad anxiety and doubt myself more than I should. Becky has been one of my biggest supporters, aside from family, since my first semester. I had a hard time believing in myself and when I could not believe in myself, she did it for me,” she said, adding that each of the instructors go above and beyond to help students be successful.
Nursing faculty member Rebekah Abney said Bailey was a great student. “She has shown hard work pays off and she will be an awesome nurse,” Abney said.
Bailey would love to work as a labor and delivery nurse. She plans to further her education and become a midwife.
The Morgan County High School graduate lives in West Liberty.
Being a college student hasn’t been easy. In February 2019, she lost her dear grandfather, Henry Bailey Sr., who played a big role in her upbringing. “Even though he isn’t here with me I know in my heart he watches over me and helps me through each and every day,” she said.
She thanks her Dad, Henry Bailey Jr.; her grandmother, Chassie Bailey; her fiancé, Marshall Jordan; her sisters, Heather, Kimmie, Carrigan, Ashley, and Laura; her step-mom, Vanessa; her mom, Rhonda Ison; and her soon-to-be-mother-in-law, Belinda. “I would not have made it this far without them. They have pushed me to be the best I can possibly be. They have helped me any way they possibly could,” she said.
“Pursuing a nursing degree is hard in itself without added stress. The past year and a half of my life has been the hardest time in my life. Losing my Papaw, having to quit my job to attend nursing school, plus dealing with my anxiety and depression has been very hard, but the past two semesters I have been blessed with amazing instructors who have gone above and beyond for me. I am looking forward to continuing my educational journey through HCTC and hopefully this time next year I can officially say I made it through nursing school,” she added.
She has a message for others considering college. “If I can make it this far, then anyone can. I want people to not let their anxieties get the best of them, especially because at HCTC, there’s always someone there to help.”
