Nursing Graduation Proves to be a Family Affair at Columbia Campus

Brother, Sister, and Father Prepare to Become Nurses

Michael Capers had nearly finished a bachelor’s degree in sociology when he realized that degree would not help him get where he wanted to go. He left school and took some time to figure things out. Michael had thought of becoming a nurse. After all, his mother was a nurse and his sister was studying to become a nurse practitioner.

So, he began doing some research and was attracted to the year-round program being offered at ECPI University. Without all those holiday and summer breaks, he could finish his studies in just 15 months. “When I told my dad that I had made an appointment for the next day, he said, ‘that’s great and I’m coming with you,’” says Michael. His father, also named Micheal – with a slight variation in the spelling – had been contemplating a change himself.

Big Micheal earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of South Carolina in 1986 and had spent the past 20 years working in management at Flying J. “I was ready for a change,” says Micheal. “Whenever my wife would talk about work it always sounded so interesting. I figured now was the time to take action, and to do it with my son would make the experience even better.”

Seven months after they enrolled at ECPI University, Michael’s sister, Michaella, decided to join them. She had been doing administrative work at Palmetto Health and was eager to switch to the clinical side. “I saw how well they were doing and how much they enjoyed it,” she says. “Palmetto Health is part of ECPI’s Education Partnership Program, so I decided to enroll too.”

Just a little more than a year after they began, father and son are about to graduate together. “I can’t believe we are almost finished,” says Michael. “It has been such a great experience. The classes are small, so we really got a lot of time to interact with the faculty. And you could really tell they wanted to make sure that we retained what we were learning, and not just trying to remember it for the next test.

“I am so glad I was able to do this with my dad and sister. School is hard. Sometimes, it’s not so easy getting out of bed in the morning. It can be hard to stay focused. Traveling the same road with my family has made all the difference. We support each other and keep one another motivated.”

Sister Michaella wishes she was joining them, but looks forward to cheering them on. Besides, she’ll soon join what they call the “family business” early next year. “Having them a little ahead of me has been so helpful, says Michaella. “They’ve been able to help me with things they’ve already done, and sometimes give me that extra push I need. I’m going to miss having them on campus with me!”

Michael says while he’s looking forward to celebrating graduation with the people who made it all possible – family, fellow classmates, and faculty – he can’t wait to start his life as a nurse. “Each day is different and I really like that. It keeps you sharp throughout your entire career. People’s lives are on the line, so you have to stay on top of your game.”

Are you interested in becoming a nurse? If you want to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, ECPI University offers this program at an accelerated rate. For more information on this exciting degree, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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