Finding Her Calling and Bringing Others Along

When Latina Conley moved from California to Louisville, KY to be near her eldest daughter, she didn’t expect the move to eventually fulfill a lifelong dream.  

Nursing had been on her mind for years, but life kept changing the plan. Seeing her daughter complete nursing work at Bellarmine helped solidify what Latina already felt: it was time. 

“I’d been thinking about nursing for probably 20 years,” Latina said. “When I came across Galen, I just had this feeling — this is it. This is where I’m supposed to be.”  

Latina started at Galen in January 2023 after moving the previous December, and she quickly recognized the practical advantages of Galen’s programs that made them more accessible than back home.  

“What stood out to us was that the prerequisites were included in the program,” she said. The rolling start dates, and more frequent enrollment windows also made it possible for her to get into nursing sooner rather than waiting for long admissions cycles. 

Her decision to enroll created a ripple effect that inspired many family members and their friends. “I ended up leaving California along with a nephew of mine, so he came with me. And we started at Galen,” she recalls about the start of their journey. 

As others learned about the program, they chose to enroll as well. “My two younger daughters and two of their friends… we were speaking with them about also coming to Galen and advancing their nursing career. And they agreed as well. So, we all decided to come,” she adds.  

That circle grew into a support system that made the hard work of nursing school feel lighter. Latina explained their plan: “The goal was to build a community within ourselves to help each other through.”  

They set up check-ins, studied together when possible, and swapped real advice about how to approach nursing exams and clinicals. “We celebrate each other, we cry together, we encourage each other, and we just try to stay in tune with where we all are in our process.”  

Some of Latina’s favorite memories from campus were the small, human moments that stitched the experience together — like hearing her children call to her from across the building. “The funniest thing is being on campus and hearing ‘mommy!’ from across the hall or the cafeteria. And then forgetting, like, ‘who’s calling me?’ Then realizing, ‘oh, that one does belong to me,’” Latina laughs. Those everyday moments of family life mixed with school made her journey feel both surreal and deeply meaningful.  

Latina also reflected on why finishing this dream was so important. She’d started the path long ago — even becoming an LPN along the way — and there were several times she felt discouraged.  

“I said to myself, if I don’t complete this, I think I’m going to probably feel this for the rest of my life,” she remembers. That persistent inner voice helped her keep going until she and her cohort crossed the finish line together.  

Looking ahead, Latina is deciding where to take her nursing career next. She says she feels pulled toward delivery rooms and the operating room: “Labor and delivery is where my heart always wanted to rest… as well as surgery and the OR.” She’s also considering advanced practice and becoming a Nurse Anesthetist: “We discussed wanting to do the CRNA program. I’ve kind of been setting a course for that.” 

Through it all, she’s grateful for the people she brought with her and the community they built along the way. “Without really realizing it, we just kind of built a little community,” she adds.  

Latina’s story — moving across the country, reigniting a decades-old dream, and bringing five others along — is a reminder that nursing can be a family project, a second chance, and a shared calling all at once.  

“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far,” she said. “And it’s not just about me — it’s about showing my daughters, their friends, and anyone watching that it’s never too late.” 

Her journey is proof that with determination and a supportive community, dreams are within reach — and that sometimes, pursuing your calling can inspire others to follow along.  

Learn more about Galen College of Nursing’s programs and how you can start your journey.