Speaker 1:
My name is Crissy Bruni. I'm from Ocala, Florida, and this is where I grew up, in the country. I'm in a program in the Navy called Career Intermission, where I'm in the inactive reserves; and I am going to school to Rasmussen University, and I have three years, and then I will go back into the Navy with a contract for six more years.
Speaker 2:
I was very excited that Chrissy was enrolling to be a nurse because I believe that that is her calling, and it is her passion.
Speaker 1:
About 20 years ago, we suffered a huge tragedy, where I do have a brother; he went to prison for life.
Speaker 2:
It was very hard for her; she went through a hard time. It happened, she was at FSU and had to leave school.
Speaker 1:
And that was really a turning point for me to become who I am today.
Speaker 2:
Sometimes Crissy doesn't think she's enough, and she is. Um, and I see it every day.
Speaker 3:
The students that have so many barriers to achieving this goal of getting a nursing degree, those are the ones that are most inspiring when they achieve that.
Speaker 1:
Rasmussen added fuel to the fire to make it, you know, positive for me by really supporting that I'm a single mom of a four-year-old, I'm working a full-time job, I have to go back into the Navy, I'm on a timeline, you know. Rasmussen made it so, ‘Hey, yes, we can do this. We have a program that you can accelerate and if you put in the work, we're going to be there on the other side for you to help you get through it.’
I've done this for my son; Kingston's my world. I want him to come out of this as not only being proud of me as his mother, but also knowing that the impossible is possible.
Speaker 2:
I'm always so proud of her.
Speaker 1:
Once I get my nursing degree, I plan to work for a little while. I would love to do labor and delivery, and then I would love to eventually get my nurse practitioner and become a midwife.