26 • The Beacon See You At The Coshocton County Fair September 22 , 2022

By Josie Sellers

It ’ s never too late to find your passion . Alyssa Haines is currently working toward hers and is grateful for help from the Coshocton Foundation to help her pursue her goal .

“ I ’ ve spent a lot of years trying to find my passion ,” Haines said . “ I ’ ve worked a lot of jobs but never had a career . I was in school for graphic design when I got pregnant with my son . I liked it , but it didn ’ t fill my cup . Seven years and two kids later , I find myself back in school , this time wiser and with purpose .”

Haines is enrolled in the nursing program at Ohio University Zanesville .

“ After my second child , I found myself going through a divorce , a single mom working four jobs to make ends meet ,” Haines said . “ I was so unhappy , but I didn ’ t have time to realize it . It wasn ’ t until later that year , COVID hit , and I found myself unemployed for the first time ever at age 32 . I was lost , stuck standing still . Anyone who knows me can attest I never stay still

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It ’ s never too late to find your passion . Alyssa Haines is currently working toward hers and is grateful for help from the Coshocton Foundation to help her pursue her goal .

long . It was in that year that I learned sometimes you must take a step backwards to move forward .

“ Seeing the nurses on the front lines , I thought , ‘ I can ’ t be unemployed during a pandemic if I worked at a hospital .’ I was inspired . I applied for a tech position at Genesis Hospital over and over for months until I finally got hired on a cardiac intensive care unit . I was instantly hooked . The critical thinking , fast-paced

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hard work , helping people overcome life ’ s obstacles — it was a natural fit . Fast forward to today : I ’ m almost two semesters down out of four on my way to become a registered nurse . It ’ s never too late to find your passion .”

Haines will graduate with her associate degree in nursing in August 2023 and then plans to pursue her bachelor ’ s degree .

“ While working toward my BSN , I ’ d love to continue my career at Genesis as an ER nurse ,” she said . “ I look forward to continuing as a strong advocate of health and wellness , as well as an active member of my community . My biggest goal is to make a positive impact on Coshocton , just as my hometown has made on me .”

During her educational journey , Haines received the Kenneth Berry Memorial Scholarship from the Coshocton Foundation .

“ The biggest impact this scholarship gave me is time ,” she said . “ Working in the hospital , I ’ ve learned time is even more precious and valuable than I had ever realized . I picked up 614 extra hours of work last year trying to pay for school . Between being a single mom in nursing school , balancing studying , working 12-hour shifts , flipping a house , making it to the gym , coaching my son ’ s soccer team and spending time with my family , I would love a little extra room on my plate to just enjoy my kids while they ’ re young — to not have to miss any more of my son ’ s ball games because I needed to pick up extra shifts .

cation pathways for College Credit Plus students have been established to assist those high school students who take compatible courses that would transfer to MVNU and help them finish their degree faster .

“ The proposed programs indeed focus on semiconductor manufacturing , specifically . However , instead of limiting engineering students to this field , they are intended to provide more vocational opportunities for them , which were not possible before the Intel project . The Engineering Department at MVNU provides a wide range of engineering

“ I saw the scholarship on social media . Funny enough , I found out I had won by running into Bob Pell at Walmart while I was buying paint for my house . I just love that . I think that speaks volumes of the community we have here .”

Haines has loved being in school as an adult student .

“ Life experience has impacted my critical thinking and the way I learn ,” she said . “ Going back to school with an already full plate is not

easy , but there ’ s something magical in the adversity . Show up for yourself ; you deserve it .”

Haines is thankful for her support system .

“ My parents and boyfriend help me a lot with my kids while I ’ m in school , clinical or working ,” Haines said . “ I also try to always make time for myself , even if that means waking up at 4 a . m . before working a 12 to hit a CrossFit class . Finding balance in the chaos can be a challenge , but it ’ s worth the hard work .”

concentrations including mechanical , electrical and computer engineering . Our graduates are successfully hired in all kinds of manufacturing fields ,” Meng said .

“ We are thrilled that we can continue to provide our students a person-centered , Christian liberal arts engineering education at MVNU that now , through our partnerships with larger universities , also provides them with high-level technical experiences that will prepare them for a successful career at Intel ,” Couts said .

To learn more about MVNU ’ s engineering programs , visit www . mvnu . edu / engineering .

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