Growing up, Becky Achok often imagined herself becoming a doctor, drawn to the idea of caring for others. But it wasn’t until she experienced the loss of her husband that she began to see her future in healthcare differently. 

Last year, when her husband became seriously ill and was hospitalized, Achok witnessed firsthand the impact nurses can have on patients and their families during some of life’s most difficult moments. Although she ultimately lost her husband, the compassion and presence of the nurses who cared for him left a lasting impression. 

“The care that they showed, it inspired me,” Achok said.  

Through that experience, Achok discovered that nursing offered the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. She saw how nurses remained by their patients’ sides, providing care and support in ways that extended beyond medical treatment. 

“I came to realize that it’s actually the nurses who spend the most time with the patient,” Achok said. “So I was like, yeah, this is for me. I want to be there.” 

Today, Achok is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at Galen College of Nursing’s Nashville campus, while balancing the demands of working full-time and raising her child as a single mother.  

“Nursing school is tough,” Achok said. “I’m trying to balance it, right? And I’m also working full-time. I’m a single mom and all that stuff. And then, yeah, there’s a lot of work.”  

The journey has challenged her time, energy and determination, often requiring her to manage work schedules, classes and studying with limited rest. 

“It’s not easy,” Achok said. “At one point, I wasn’t even getting enough sleep. At first, I was doing night shift, so I’d try to work at night. During the day, at some point, we’ll have class. I would struggle between sleeping and being in class.” 

Despite the challenges, Achok remains committed to her goal, determined to turn her desire to care for others into a career. 

As Achok navigates nursing school, she has found encouragement through the faculty and staff at Galen. 

“Since I started, I’ve gotten all the help I need to go through this process,” Achok said. “Whenever I need an advisor, everyone is always there for me, so it really helped me.” 

That support became especially meaningful when she began feeling overwhelmed by her course load. 

“I was doing five courses at the time and also going to work. It was overwhelming to the point that I reached out to my advisor. I told her I want to drop one course, like, I’m done,” she said. “Then she told me, ‘You can talk to the registrar, but you are doing great so far, so I feel like, go for it and keep up the good work.’ And I listened to her. I did not drop it, and I finished that course with a 90.” 

The experience reinforced the importance of having someone who believes in you, especially during moments when the path forward feels difficult. 

“Everybody needs that help,” Achok said. “Someone who encourages you every time.” 

That encouragement has helped her build confidence in her ability to succeed, even while balancing the many demands of her life outside the classroom. 

For Achok, nursing is about more than the medical knowledge she will bring to the bedside. Her experience with her husband’s illness showed her how important it is for nurses to be present for families, too. 

“I want to be a compassionate nurse all around,” Achok said. “I want to be that nurse who is not only present for the patient, but even for the family, too.”  

For others considering nursing school, Achok offers a simple message: compassion matters. 

“I would tell them that nursing school is the place if you have that person, like a compassionate person,” Achok said. “Then nursing is for you.” 

Through her journey, she hopes to turn a deeply personal loss into an opportunity to care for others, offering the compassion and presence that first showed her what it means to be a nurse.