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Giselle Alva
The nurses at the hospital were amazing, and I looked up to them. I saw how they had the ability to change someone’s life and how they were with the patients every step of the way. I said I want to be like them.

Gateway, Promise program helped me realize my dream

Giselle Alva said her dream in high school was to someday become a nurse.

She was unsure how she would be able to pay for college to become a nurse, though — at least right out of high school. Then  she found the Gateway Promise.

Through the Promise program, Giselle enrolled at Gateway and earned her Nursing degree in Spring 2021.

“If I didn’t get into the Promise program, I feel I still would be working and having the dream of being a nurse someday, but not living it out,” says Giselle. “Gateway and the Promise program helped me gain that college experience and launch my career -- and I am thankful.

“The Promise has covered my tuition, books, and it has been good to me. It would have been hard for me and my family to pay for college otherwise. Knowing I can get my degree, debt-free, without having to rely on my family to pay for my tuition, has been wonderful.”

Giselle said the Promise program has helped her financially, as well as providing guidance to her to succeed in such areas as time management, organization and test taking strategies.

Through Gateway, Giselle says she’s gained the skills to realize her dream to become a nurse, a dream that began when she was a child.

“There has been cancer in my family, and I used to go to Children’s Hospital a lot,” says Giselle. “The nurses at the hospital were amazing, and I looked up to them. I saw how they had the ability to change someone’s life and how they were with the patients every step of the way. I said I want to be like them. I want to be a nurse.”

Gateway provided Giselle the training for her career even as it responded to the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of that was being able to hone those skills through highly technical human patient simulator units at the college.

“The patient simulators provide us with real scenarios we would face as nurses. Without that training, I wouldn’t be as calm as I am in my clinicals. The simulators are a great experience, and give you a chance to learn and apply your skills so you can better yourself. If you have mistakes, you learn from them immediately.”

Giselle has already begun her clinicals and has volunteered for COVID-19 immunization clinics to help the community, as well.

“I feel I’ve had an impact already and look forward to my career.”