January 9
Sam Hartman ‘24 knew from an early age that she wanted to be a nurse. Though she’s hit some roadblocks along the way, last month she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in nursing from University of Massachusetts Boston, where she was elected president of her nursing class.
Hartman has always been a career-driven person, attending Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School and becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at age 16. She didn’t apply to nursing school right after graduation, however—she wasn’t sure if she could handle the rigor and intensity. After trying out a four-year institution for a semester and taking a handful of classes at North Shore Community College (NSCC), Hartman came to the difficult conclusion that she just wasn’t ready for school yet.
That decision didn’t come easily, and she felt like she was falling behind in life. After all, her friends from high school had immediately enrolled in four-year nursing schools and seemed like they were on track to achieve their dreams.
“I truly feel ready, like I am equipped with the knowledge I need to be a nurse. North Shore is what put me on that path.”
Forges Path to a Bachelor’s Degree
Hartman wasn’t falling behind—she was simply taking a different path. She studied to become an esthetician, her career of eight years, and eventually she enrolled at NSCC again to chip away at her prerequisites for nursing school. NSCC gave her the flexibility and opportunities she needed to succeed, and in 2024, she completed her associate degree in health studies, positioning her to transfer to a bachelor’s program.
“I really loved my time at North Shore—it was everything I needed and more. It was a good environment to learn in, and to grow and find myself in. I loved that I could come to school and I could find a friend like me, who might have been 21 years old, or a friend who might be 41 or 51 with three kids. I felt at home because I knew we were all there for the same goal of bettering our lives,” she said.
In her mid-twenties, she discovered that she has a learning disorder, and her previous difficulties with school suddenly made more sense. With a better understanding of herself and what it takes to learn, she was able to tackle her classes in a new way, and she challenged herself to go out of her comfort zone and join the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Finally, she was prepared to apply to a bachelor’s program in nursing.
“I was ready, I was determined... but I was still scared. It's good to be scared—I think that anything scary is worth doing. It shows that it means something,” Hartman said.
Though she was waitlisted at UMass Boston on her first attempt, she was determined not to give up. She was accepted on her second try, and she continued to push herself to achieve.
During her time at UMass Boston, she further developed her love of nursing, a fast-paced career where she can practice compassion and advocacy. She pushed herself out of her comfort zone again to run for class president, and she was thrilled to be elected for the position.
As nursing class president, she organized and spoke at the class’s pinning ceremony, an event that welcomes future nurses into the profession. Delivering her speech felt like coming full circle on her academic journey.
“I had an untraditional path, and it took resilience and hard work, but if you're willing to do it, you will get there—I went from taking the TEAS four times to coming out as class president.”
As a new graduate, Hartman is focusing on studying for her board certification exam while she works as a unit coordinator in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her goal is to become a NICU nurse, but in the meantime, she is looking for a critical care position so she can gain the experience and skills she will need for her future career.
She hopes that her story can inspire others with non-traditional journeys.
“You have to put in that hard work, and you have to be in a supportive community. I really felt North Shore was that community for me, and so was UMass Boston. I truly feel ready, like I am equipped with the knowledge I need to be a nurse. North Shore is what put me on that path.”
Learn more about health professions programs at NSCC.