While many high school seniors enter college after graduation, seven former JCPS students have already stepped ahead, launching their careers in nursing.

Anaiah Cox spent most of her life dreaming of becoming a nurse. So, when the opportunity presented itself through a partnership with Galen College of Nursing and Norton Healthcare to earn her degree during her senior year of high school, the decision was easy.

“It’s a lot of work, a lot of sacrifice,” Cox said. “When I was in the program, I didn’t know if it was a good decision or not, because I saw all my friends during senior year having fun and all this stuff. I was cooped in my bedroom, worried about trying to pass a pharmacology test.”

Unlike many of her classmates at Male High School, Cox spent her senior year focused entirely on her future. That determination paid off. In 2025 she graduated from high school and then Galen, with a Practical Nursing (PN) diploma.  At 18 years old, she is now working full-time at Norton Audubon Hospital in the Oncology department.

“I would be at a four-year university right now,” Cox said. “I have a lot of friends who are still in their freshman year of college, and a lot of them haven’t even started taking nursing classes yet.”

While her peers are just beginning their journeys, Cox is already gaining hands-on experience in the medical field, something she says has been both challenging and rewarding, and she’s not slowing down. Cox has already taken the next step, enrolling back in school at Galen College of Nursing to work toward becoming a registered nurse (RN). Her goal is to become certified to administer chemotherapy to patients.

“Before I even joined the program, I knew I wanted to get a bachelor’s degree in something, at least,” Cox said. “This is just part of that journey.”

Cox’s story isn’t unique within her cohort. She says that all six of her classmates from the program are also now working in medical-related fields, putting their diplomas to use and building their careers.

Cox’s journey shows what’s possible when students are given the chance to get a head start, and the determination to follow through. While her path required sacrifice and discipline, it’s already paying off in meaningful, real-world experience. As she continues working toward her RN and eventually a bachelor’s degree, Cox and her classmates are proof that with the right opportunities and support, students can begin building their futures long before graduation day.

Ready to jumpstart your career in healthcare? You don’t have to wait years to get started.

At Galen College of Nursing, students can earn their Practical Nursing (PN) diploma in as little as 12 months and continue to an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) in about two years. If you’re motivated to make a difference and start working in the field sooner, now is the time to explore your options and take that first step toward a nursing career.