KELLY Napier had tears in her eyes when she recalled her recent nursing degree graduation.
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Becoming a nurse has always been a dream for Mrs Napier, but she has only recently seen that wish become a reality.
After completing her Bachelor of Nursing degree via distance with Charles Sturt University, Mrs Napier graduated in December and has recently started at Leeton District Hospital.
The Leeton shire resident was hopeful she would be placed at her home-town hospital and was now finding her feet at her dream job.
"It was my desire to work here locally," she said.
"I always wanted to be a nurse, even in high school.
"But after high school I got married, had children, worked on our farm with my husband and with seven years with WIRES rehabilitating injured wildlife … so I never thought it would happen.
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"I've always admired nurses. I like people. I like caring for people."
After thinking she had missed the boat when it came to nursing, Mrs Napier watched her daughter graduate from high school and enroll in a nursing degree.
"The comment was made 'oh you're so lucky', you get to pursue my dream' and my husband around that time heard they were taking enrollments for ENs at TAFE in Griffith," she said.
"So I applied and I was taken up to do the EN training and then I went straight on to do the university degree."
Mrs Napier said her years of study and hard work paid off the moment she crossed the podium and received her official graduation certificate.
"I cried … I crossed that podium and I cried," she said.
"It really was a dream come true.
"Already I'm loving it here at the hospital. I only started a couple of weeks ago, so I guess when I get the official uniform I will probably cry again."
Mrs Napier said she was living proof fulfilling a dream was always possible, not matter one's age or situation.
"You just have to get in and do it," she said.
"You definitely won't regret it at all."
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