By Jamil Oakford/ editor-in-chief
Kaylee Jensen/The Collegian
For TR nursing student and soon-to-be graduate Ryan Guillory, graduation is symbolic of a bigger theme.
“It means that hard work pays off,” he said.
Since he enrolled at TCC in 2009 after graduating high school at the age of 17, Guillory feels he’s grown a great deal.
Fresh out of high school, Guillory thought about majoring in theater. After moving to Texas from Louisiana and struggling through elementary school, he found a place in the drama program at his high school.
But his focus changed after he took a radiology job working with cancer patients at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth.
“I think dealing with cancer patients really drove me to want to help,” he said. “You see the patient suffering, you see their family suffering and you want to help them through that.”
His time at All Saints also taught him that radiology might not be the field for him.
“You don’t get to form relationships with people like you can in nursing,” he said. “Connecting with people during their worst time, letting them know what’s going on and being there for them, that’s what I wanted.”
Guillory said TCC gave him a few points of pride.
“What I love about TCC is how diverse TCC is,” he said. “There are people from all walks of life, all kinds of races, genders, religions. I think that plays a big part in the career I’m going into.”
Guillory also credits the faculty.
“The engagement of the faculty that TCC provides is key to me,” he said. “I think there are so many success initiatives that prevent you from coming in and thinking, ‘Oh, I’m going to fail.’”
Debra Price, TR nursing assistant professor and interim assistant director, believes it was Guillory’s work ethic that helped his success.
“Ryan follows through on everything he’s asked to do,” she said. “He’s an incredible student among his peers.”
As graduation approaches, Guillory looks to his future.
He will begin work on his bachelor’s degree in nursing at Texas Tech University in August, and he’s also snagged a job. He leaves TCC employed by Arlington Memorial Hospital as an ER trauma nurse.
“I’m starting in July, and I couldn’t be more ecstatic about it,” he said. “I feel that TCC has helped prepare me to go and be in the professional world.”
