Dorothy Sanford’s Speech at Project QUEST’s graduation December 2008 – RN Grad from San Antonio College

Hello everyone, my name is Dorothy Sanford and I am a Quest Graduate of the Nursing Program. I was asked by Project to tell you a little bit about myself. 

I was raised in a single parent home with my mother and 5 other sibling's - 1 brother, 4 sisters. When I was a young teenager, we were abandoned by my mother. I was left to raise myself. Without parental guidance, I became homeless and lived on the streets of San Antonio. I started participating in gang activity such as stealing cars and fighting, and that landed me in Juvenile Court and into the justice system as an offender.

At the tender age of 16, I became pregnant and I was soon a teenage mother of two - yes, I said two. I had one baby after another in less than a year. My first child was born deaf, blind and with a brain tumor and many other problems.  I was forced to drop out of school and be a full time parent. 

I really didn't understand why I was chosen to bear and care for a disabled child. I was a statistic – a young, Black female, uneducated, unwed, single parent who was taking care of her children with government assistance.

 The doctors told me that he wouldn't live past 3 days old, and if he did he would be mentally and physically challenged. Today – December 16th 2008, Ja'Marcus turned 15 years old. He is physically healthy and mentally intact. His only disability is that he is deaf. I had to learn another language (sign language) and teach his sister to communicate with him as well, and everything else just fell into place I saw my son go through so many tests and procedures as a child that it created an interest for me in the medical field.

I wanted so much more for myself and I dreamed of so much more for my kids. I got a job working at Wendy's hamburger making minimum wage to take care of my kids. It helped for a while, but eventually I had to get a second job just to make ends meet. I knew in order for me to get a better job, I had to get my GED. So I took my GED - and failed three times before I finally passed.  Then, I was able to explore other options. 

I enrolled in the Southern Career Institute for the medical assistant classes. I struggled through the classes, but I made it through and graduated at the age of 19. I spent sometime working and taking care of my children, until life's demands became more than its treasures. I decided to go back to school and pursue a nursing degree. My two sisters who had preceded me in the nursing field told me that nursing school was hard and that I probably wasn't smart enough because I didn't finish high school. Even though I was scared, I took on the challenge. I started my prerequisites classes in 2004 at San Antonio College.  I failed my first class – but I did not quit.

 I moved to a low income housing unit so that I would be able to afford the rent without a job and focus mainly on school. I got on food stamps and Medicaid to help me in my journey. 

Then I met another student who told me about Project QUEST and the benefits and support that they offered for nursing students.  I inquired and soon became a program participant.  I received tuition assistant, book assistance and gas vouchers as support. Project QUEST was a Divine intervention. They worked out a great financial plan to help with school and family expenses and provided me with great support and motivation.  I was now in a much better position.  After my prerequisite courses,  I applied to the San Antonio College Nursing Department with a composite score  of 6.5 out of a possible 7.5 - which I thought was acceptable. After a month, however, I learned that I was not accepted.

I didn't understand, so I made an appointment to meet that person who graded my application. She told me that I was not prepared to compete with other students in the program. I was devastated and imagined all kinds of things. I made As and Bs in my prerequisite classes, but maybe someone thought I didn’t deserve a chance because of the GED, or my background, or my juvenile record.

The next day, I contacted the Dean and asked for her help. She found no reason for me to be turned down.  She called me back and offered me a slot in the nursing program.  Naturally, I accepted.

I started nursing school and quickly became as overwhelmed as everybody did.  I passed my initial class, but right in the middle of the hardest class so far, my sister Bettye passed away from cervical cancer and left me 6 extra children to care for.  I was now caring for 9 children. At this ratio of 9 to 1, I thought I was defeated. I went to Project QUEST to let them know that I just could not continue with school. I remember my counselor Maria's words, "if anyone can handle this situation, it would be you." She motivated me to continue, provided me with support services for the children and me, and I once again felt that I could move forward.

I came across another road block. Despite my hard work and motivation, I failed one of my classes. I needed only a fraction of a point, so I went to ask if I could maybe re-do another quiz or exam. I was directed to the same person who had initially challenged my enrollment in the program.  She reminded me that nursing was not for everyone.  Eventually, however, I was able to re-take the exam and pass the course.

Well, I have indeed completed my required courses, and that's why I am standing before you today. I am a college graduate, a nurse WOW!  I couldn't have possibly done any of this without Project QUEST. I want to thank Maria for her continued support and belief in me, and for never letting me down. Thanks to Hugo, to Virginia and to Yomeida for everything.

In summary, I had to fight to get in the Nursing Program. I had to fight to stay in the program and I had to fight to get out of the program.  And you know-what,  it was the fight that I have in me, that kept me going.