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Jo-Anna arrived at ��͹��Ƶexcited to earn her degree in nursing and meet new people. During her time at Dordt, she grew as a student and built strong relationships.

“The crazy hours and difficult content was intimidating at times,” she says. “But it shaped me into a more organized and focused student. I had a couple classes that really were not my strong suit, like statistics, but I learned to use the resources around me like the AEC tutors. As a senior I was given the opportunity to give back by being a tutor myself, and it was really encouraging to look back on how far I had come academically in four years.”

When she was not busy with nursing school, Jo-Anna participated in many on-campus activities, taking advantage of ��͹��Ƶamazing community. She signed up for tons of activities, including PLIA, swing dance, and Concert Band. One of Jo-Anna’s favorite memories is touring Germany, Austria, and Hungary with the Concert Band and performing in cathedrals.

“I loved going on and later being a part of the planning committee for PLIA, which is a club that organizes spring break service trips,” she adds. “I also participated in swing dance, bible studies, intramurals, and went on spur-of-the-moment weekend road trips with my roommates.”

After graduating, Jo-Anna began working at the Sioux Center Health Hospital as a registered nurse on the MedSurg and labor units. Soon, she will be training to work in the emergency department. Jo-Anna loves the diversity of experiences that comes with working in a small-town hospital.

Jo-Anna is grateful for how her time at ��͹��Ƶhas shaped her. She has become more articulate and willing to share her ideas and opinions, and thought critically about her faith and beliefs.

“Group discussions and late-night bathroom-counter-talks with my friends were incredibly formative in helping me better understand other viewpoints from people with very different backgrounds,” she says. “��͹��Ƶalso gave me a lot of opportunities to learn both how to serve and to lead, which has made me more confident and willing to get involved in my community. I have gained a lot of practical knowledge about how to be a good nurse, but my experiences at ��͹��Ƶgo beyond just my nursing career. I have been equipped with a solid background of being able to engage with others who hold a different opinion than me while still listening, learning, and caring for them. I'm excited to take these skills into wherever life leads me.”