Dear fellow first semester student,

Congratulations and welcome to the Wildcat Nursing Family! Through your hard work
and dedication, you’ve made it into one of the highest ranked nursing programs in Arizona
within a school that leads in health-sciences education, filled with diversity and resources that
will help you become the best nurse you can be in the future! You should be so proud of yourself
as I am for you. I am so excited for you as you begin such an amazing journey.

Now that you have earned your spot in the program, relax and make lots of friends! I
know it might have felt like a competition to get where you are now, but from here on out,
consider your cohort family! Your peers will be the same individuals that you will see and grow
with for the next four semesters so you will definitely get to know one another. One of our
instructors once told me that some of your best friends are made in nursing school, which I
believe is very true. Afterall, we are all on the same boat so you’ll find that your nursing friends
are friends that you can easily relate to and who will support you through all of your triumphs
and tribulations throughout this new chapter in your life. Engaging with my peers also
introduced me to more efficient studying/learning techniques. Prior to nursing school, I found it
best to study alone but going out of my comfort zone to form study groups actually resulted in
higher test scores. As we both know, being a nurse requires exceptional critical thinking skills
and I think studying with your peers helps open your mind to different perspectives, leading you
to ultimate success. Also, don’t be afraid to turn to faculty for support! The College is comprised
of the friendliest, compassionate staff who are always there to listen and will give you the best
advice through their real-life nurse experiences.

Now I’m going to be honest with you; nursing school is hard. There will be numerous
times of high stress, tears, and sleepless nights, but do not give up. When school gets tough,
always remember what brought you here. Remember why you chose to be a nurse and let that
serve as your biggest motivation. Early in the program and throughout, you will learn the
importance of self-care. I probably wouldn’t have gotten through nursing school without the
encouragement from our instructors in taking the time to focus on yourself. Nurses tend to be
very selfless and caring for others, but don’t forget that your own health matters too. Sometimes,
the best thing you can do for yourself is to just sit back, close your eyes, and breathe.

You can do it! Be proud and believe in yourself. It will all be worth it. If you have any
questions or need advice on anything throughout nursing school, I am here for you! You can
contact me any time at phoenixvelasquez09@hotmail.com. I wish you the best of luck! You are
going to be an amazing nurse.

Sincerely,

Phoenix Velasquez
Fourth Semester BSN Student