Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Green.
Victoria, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up, the passion of nurturing and taking care of people was instilled at an early age. Initially, I wanted to be a physician but during high school, I discovered nursing was the perfect combination of science and caring. After graduating high school, I enrolled at the University of West Georgia to major in nursing. Unfortunately, at that time I became very distracted with my new independence and social life. I didn’t perform well academically, and subsequently lost the Hope Scholarship which covered my tuition fees and books. I decided to move back home to Marietta, Georgia and enrolled at Georgia State University to re-take most of my required pre-requisites for nursing school. Most nursing schools at that time were very competitive and due to my lackluster collegiate start, I wasn’t the ideal nursing school candidate. I barely had a 3.0 GPA and after repeating classes, increasing my GPA, I still received numerous rejection letters from nursing schools.
One of my pre-nursing instructors at Georgia State University even encouraged me to explore other health-related fields and highly doubted that I would ever get into any nursing program. I felt devastated and defeated. Briefly, I considered my instructor’s suggestion, and looked into other healthcare professions. I started completing an application to the Medical College of Georgia for nuclear medicine and ultrasonography. Prior to sending the application packet, I immediately felt immense hesitancy. I couldn’t do it. My heart was set on nursing. Needless to say, I didn’t send the application. Instead, I gave it one last shot. I applied to one last nursing school, a very renown program in the state. Honestly, I doubted I would get in, but it was worth one last try. I remember being completely transparent on the application essay, expressing how passionate and intentional I was to becoming a nurse, but also discussed all the mistakes I made in school and why I had to “start over.” I humbly begged for a chance to prove myself. Weeks later I received a large white packet in the mail from Georgia Baptist School of Nursing at Mercer University, enclosed was an acceptance letter to their BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). I fell to my knees in my driveway, screaming “Thank you God!!!” with endless tears running down my face.
I graduated from nursing school in December 2009. It was a struggle, but I was blessed to have good support. I started my nursing career in Columbus, Ga working on an oncology/neurology medical/surgical unit at a local hospital. During this time, I started formulating my plan to return to graduate school for my masters to become a Nurse Practitioner. Unfortunately, this would be postponed for a few years. I ended up pregnant and later gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.
Fast forward years later, once my daughter was two years old, I proceeded with my original plan to return to school. I applied to graduate school, was accepted, and after a couple of years in the trenches, I graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing December 2017. After passing the advanced nursing boards, I started my new position as a Nurse Practitioner in July 2018.
Has it been a smooth road? If not what were some of the struggles along the way. Any advice for other women particularly young women who are just starting their journey.
No, my journey has not been smooth by far, but honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. Shortly after having my daughter, I had to adapt to being a new mother, single, away from home, and in a toxic relationship with my then boyfriend. Subsequently, I sunk into a deep and dark place. I struggled with depression, but tried to conceal it as much as I could from my family and friends. I felt hopeless, worthless, vulnerable and alone. I started to isolate myself and I hated my reflection in the mirror. So, at my lowest point, I seriously contemplated suicide and even formulated a plan. At that moment, nothing mattered, I just wanted an escape from the unrelenting darkness. Despite my plans, God, at the midnight hour, rescued me from my dark abyss. At that moment, during an epiphany, I realized I was loved and placed on this Earth for a divine purpose .Some dear friends of mine took my daughter and I into their home, which became my haven. This is when the healing began. Slowly, I started to find my way back to God, serenity, clarity, and peace. Rock bottom became the solid foundation I needed to rebuild my life.
As a single mother, your life is not your own. It’s a very selfless, but empowering role. You must manage and carry a multitude of things while providing a stable, learning and loving environment for your child/children Sometimes it’s challenging to balance motherhood, personal relationships, friendships, hobbies, and a career. It is doable. During graduate school, everyone sacrificed for my advancement, my daughter, my family, my friends. My bills were delinquent at times, utilities disconnected, I was sleep deprived and mentally drained. Making it to the finish line, wasn’t just about me and my aspirations. I had my squad cheering me along the whole time, picking my chin up when I wanted to quit, which was every other month. There was no turning back. I had to persevere, no matter the circumstance, my past, my haters, and the naysayers.
My advice to women is to pursue that burning desire regardless of what the world tells you. Stay the course! Sometimes, the best view comes after the hardest climb, so appreciate the struggle. It won’t last always. Opportunity comes in different forms. Sometimes disguised as temporary defeat or failure. Trust the process. Rejoice through the storm and tumultuous waters, and endure patiently. Success is the persistence through the storm and the ability to apply the wisdom moving forward.
Learn to love and cherish yourself. Celebrate all your achievements and failures. Failures are stepping stones to greatness. Stop comparing yourself to others, you are a Queen, beautifully and wonderfully made. Don’t be misled by another person’s highlight reel on social media. Everything you see is not real. It’s difficult to move forward continuously looking behind or to your side at someone else’s journey. Protect your peace and energy. Unplug sometimes for spiritual, mental, and emotional maintenance. Surround yourself with positive like-minded individuals, repel toxic and negative energy. Show love, be kind, be grateful for the small things, be a light, stay focused, and practice self-care.
What about your work, what do you specialize in, what am I most proud of as a brand, organization or service provider.
Previously, I worked as a Registered Nurse in oncology for eight years prior to starting my new position as a Nurse Practitioner or Advanced Practice Nurse. I currently work at Northside Hospital with the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. We provide state of the art clinical and research related services for patients diagnosed with acute and chronic leukemias, lymphomas, myeloma, and other blood-related malignancies. As a Nurse Practitioner, I’m licensed/certified to provide care to adult patients in acute and critical care settings. I practice under the supervision of a physician, but still have the autonomy to manage most patient needs. My position is very demanding and challenging but rewarding. I strive to provide compassionate care to my patients and families especially during cancer diagnosis and treatment. I try to be a light and exude positivity, encouragement, benevolence, and peace. Advocating for patients and families during a devastating time is a priority. I care for them like I would want someone to care for my loved ones
What’s your favorite memory from childhood?
I grew up in a single parent household. My mother endured many obstacles for raising me. She was constantly under a financial strain, working multiple jobs, having to do most things on her own. She taught me early on how to be independent and self-sufficient. She sent me to finance classes for teens to learn concepts like saving money and budgeting. She was very strict regarding education. I was not allowed to make any grade less than a B, she would insist that I was “above average” and C’s or less were unacceptable. The repercussions for making substandard grades were what I believed to be harsh. I was a cheerleader in high school, but one year, I had to sit out for making a D in algebra. I was restricted from all sources of communication, limited television, and no social events until I improved my grades. That year, I made straight A, then all As and Bs the remainder of high school. That instilled the concept of discipline and self-application: work hard and apply yourself. Even though we (my family) didn’t have a lot of money, if I applied myself, I could be just as successful, educated, and granted access to the same opportunities as everyone else.
Contact Info:
- Email: tori0023@gmail.com
- Instagram: tori_magnolia
Image Credit:
Vivian Green, Natalie Wells
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