When Melissa Miles crosses the commencement stage this December, she won鈥檛 just celebrate the end of a rigorous academic journey, she will honor herself by accomplishing her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse.

Miles waited patiently through marriage, raising children, a previous career in teaching and helping with grandchildren before finally giving herself permission to pursue her dream. Her first major pause came when she decided she needed to take time off to support her family.

鈥淚 always wanted to do nursing,鈥� Miles said. 鈥淏ut I got married, had kids and they became my focus.鈥�

Once her children were grown, Miles took a leap of faith and returned to the classroom. She began her prerequisites with her oldest daughter in 2021. Going back to school with a familiar face helped Miles ease her way back into academic life.

鈥淭here was this student who sat next to me in class who also sat at my dinner table,鈥� she laughed. 鈥淚t was sweet.鈥�

She felt she had finally found the balance between family and her academic responsibilities, but as she began pursuing her nursing degree, life once again led her to put her academic pursuits on hold when her family needed her full attention.

During this break, Miles realized she was too close to the finish line of a bachelor鈥檚 degree to give up. In 2022, she completed a health sciences degree from Georgia Southern.

鈥淚t was exciting for me and for my family to see me graduate,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut my husband looked at me and said, 鈥極k, that鈥檚 not what you want to do. You don’t want to sit at a desk in a hospital.鈥� He was right.鈥�

A call from her advisor and her husband鈥檚 support encouraged Miles to reapply to the nursing program.

鈥淚 was so scared to open the letter,鈥� she admitted. 鈥淏ut when I saw that I got in, it was one of the most unexpected and proudest moments of my life.鈥�

Between balancing family, work shifts in an emergency room and the demanding program, Miles knew this would be no small feat.

鈥淭here were missed dinners, missed bedtime stories,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it was worth it. I just kept remembering my why.鈥�

Her family was her driving force through the nursing program at Georgia Southern.

鈥淚 wanted them to see me do something for myself,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f their 44-year-old mama could go back and get a very hard degree, they could know that they have time to figure out their own paths.鈥�

Miles proudly calls herself a nontraditional student. At Georgia Southern, she never once felt out of place.

鈥淪ome of my closest friendships are with people the same age as my kids,鈥� she laughed. 鈥淭hey welcomed me. They treated me like a peer.鈥�

Miles emphasized that Georgia Southern has shaped her to be more than prepared for her future. She credits her success to the support that she found, especially among the School of Nursing faculty in the Waters College of Health Professions.

鈥淭he professors have been amazing,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey understood where I was coming from, but they didn’t let me slack off. They encouraged me.鈥�

Miles found one professor in particular, Mary Bester, Ph.D., who made a profound impact on her journey.

鈥淪he saw me for me, not just Rebecca鈥檚 mom,鈥� Miles said. 鈥淪he remembered my family, my grandkids. She listened. Being seen like that made such a difference.鈥�

Before joining the program, Miles believed she wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse. However, through summer classes and an ICU rotation, Miles discovered her true professional passion.

鈥淚 fell in love with the ICU,鈥� Miles said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a puzzle balancing things, figuring things out, staying organized. The teamwork there was unlike anything I鈥檇 seen. I saw their compassion. I realized this is where I鈥檓 meant to be.鈥�

Miles hopes to inspire others and show that it鈥檚 never too late.

鈥淛ust do it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here will be days you want to throw in the towel, but don鈥檛. Find your balance. Find your people. And remember your why. If one person at home sees me walk across that stage and thinks, 鈥業f she can do it, I can do it,鈥� then that means everything.鈥�

With a signed contract to work in the ICU at Memorial Health in Savannah, Miles finally sees her dream coming to fruition.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 give up,鈥� Miles said. 鈥淚 persevered. Now I get to help others not give up too.鈥�