Stress-Free and Debt-Free: A World Class Education and Lifelong Friendships

Higher education is primarily about learning, but college is also a meeting ground for like-minded students. Logan McFarland, a student in AACC’s Nursing program, embraces the diverse medical community both in and out of the classroom. 

“Nursing school is a very difficult thing, and you can't do it alone. So, it kind of gave the opportunity for me to branch out to people I probably would've never talked to in a regular class,” McFarland said. “You don't just get study buddies – you get best friends.”

Friendships and comradery help McFarland navigate her time in the program, but she also wants to make her mother proud. “My mom actually went here. She did her prereqs here because she wanted to become a nurse, so that kind of also motivated me like, ‘Hey, let me do this for my mom’.”

Finding your motivation is just the beginning. Juggling between work and school can be one of the most challenging aspects of higher education. Time management has been a major focal point as McFarland continues to work through her associate degree program – with eyes firmly fixed on a future bachelor’s degree. Her ultimate goal is to become a cardiac nurse.

Financial flexibility is one of the best ways for college students to truly lock in academically. In McFarlands’s case, a scholarship was just what she needed to avoid juggling a part time job with school. 

McFarland has achieved balance in her relationships, studies and finances. Academic endeavors are easier when others take the journey with you, and friendships have paved her a more effortlessly traversed road. “Now I feel very comfortable and ready because of the support I have from my family, my friends and the faculty of the program.”