Margaret Waithera, Registered Nurse
Good Evening, my name is Margaret Waithera, I was born and raised in Kenya. I am married and have a 12-year-old daughter. I migrated to the US on February 2016 to join my husband who is currently serving as an active-duty military. I started school back in Kenya and attended Kiserian primary school for my primary education, and later joined Oloolua high for my secondary school. At this time, my mother had fallen sick and both of us were living with my grandparents. I passed well in my high school education, but unfortunately, I was not able to join college then due to financial difficulties and my ailing mom continued to get sick. In March 2003, during my second year in high school, my mom was admitted to the hospital and later the same month, my mother passed away. Being an only child and raised by a single mother and at the age of 16 I was lost, this was the darkest moment of my life, and I cried every day.
I later joined a college in 2010 and graduated with a diploma in Early childhood Education and was teaching until 2016 when I migrated to the US.
I have always wanted to become a nurse, and when I came to the US, I had faith that I will be able to work hard and achieve my dream. I joined college immediately and got my license as a certified nurse aid and started working. I enrolled in El Paso Community College to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse, and I ranked for the RN program on October 2017.
I heard about Project ARRIBA from a nursing counselor during the first-semester orientation. He told me how helpful Project ARRIBA has been to students needing financial assistance with tuition fees, uniforms, supply kits, books, and daycare payment. Soon after, I went to Project ARRIBA offices to apply to become a participant. I met with my case manager Priscilla and shared my story with her. She was very helpful, kind and respectful. She helped me with the application process, and in a few days, she contacted me and informed me that I had been accepted as a participant.
My family and I were very excited. Through my case manager Priscilla, Project ARRIBA has assisted me with obtaining uniforms, supply kits, books and many more. Besides, Project ARRIBA, through Priscilla, is currently helping pay for my NCLEX processing. Also, through the VIP meetings, I have learned skills such as communication, time management, interpersonal skills, how to write resumes, and job interviews, among many. With such skills, I feel much prepared for my career as a nurse.
The journey to obtaining my degree has not been easy, but my case manager Priscilla has been very helpful checking on me frequently, calling and texting me to inquire how I was doing. She also made sure that I got my supply kit and books on time. She has been a crying shoulder to me and continuously encouraged me to keep going. I wouldn’t have made it without you, Priscilla.
Through Project ARRIBA’s assistance, I have been able to realize my dream of becoming a registered nurse. With this achievement, I will be able to better my family’s life. It is also my desire to give back to the community and help other students in need of financial assistance to realize their dream careers and help develop the city of El Paso.
I later joined a college in 2010 and graduated with a diploma in Early childhood Education and was teaching until 2016 when I migrated to the US.
I have always wanted to become a nurse, and when I came to the US, I had faith that I will be able to work hard and achieve my dream. I joined college immediately and got my license as a certified nurse aid and started working. I enrolled in El Paso Community College to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse, and I ranked for the RN program on October 2017.
I heard about Project ARRIBA from a nursing counselor during the first-semester orientation. He told me how helpful Project ARRIBA has been to students needing financial assistance with tuition fees, uniforms, supply kits, books, and daycare payment. Soon after, I went to Project ARRIBA offices to apply to become a participant. I met with my case manager Priscilla and shared my story with her. She was very helpful, kind and respectful. She helped me with the application process, and in a few days, she contacted me and informed me that I had been accepted as a participant.
My family and I were very excited. Through my case manager Priscilla, Project ARRIBA has assisted me with obtaining uniforms, supply kits, books and many more. Besides, Project ARRIBA, through Priscilla, is currently helping pay for my NCLEX processing. Also, through the VIP meetings, I have learned skills such as communication, time management, interpersonal skills, how to write resumes, and job interviews, among many. With such skills, I feel much prepared for my career as a nurse.
The journey to obtaining my degree has not been easy, but my case manager Priscilla has been very helpful checking on me frequently, calling and texting me to inquire how I was doing. She also made sure that I got my supply kit and books on time. She has been a crying shoulder to me and continuously encouraged me to keep going. I wouldn’t have made it without you, Priscilla.
Through Project ARRIBA’s assistance, I have been able to realize my dream of becoming a registered nurse. With this achievement, I will be able to better my family’s life. It is also my desire to give back to the community and help other students in need of financial assistance to realize their dream careers and help develop the city of El Paso.