Skylar Sloan

Skylar Sloan is graduating today from Wallace State’s Nursing program.  Skylar completed more than a few childbirth simulations in our world class simulation center, but it was her real life labor and delivery experience that sparked her interest in nursing.

You see, six years ago at the age of 16, Skylar delivered her little sister who was born at home and premature at 27 weeks. Gracelyn was born feet first and was not breathing. Fortunately, she began breathing and Gracelyn and her mother were rushed to the hospital, where she spent the next 99 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It was there that Skylar realized being a neonatal intensive care nurse was what she was meant to be.

Skylar’s dream was to attend the University of Alabama to pursue a nursing degree, but that soon became a dream to be deferred as she struggled to navigate learning remotely through online courses due to the COVID pandemic. She had advisors who told her she would never get into nursing school and faced heartbreaking rejections for admission.

Finally, Skylar decided it was time to change her dream and sought other avenues for her nursing education, ultimately discovering the joint enrollment program between Wallace State and UAB. As a graduate of Wallace State and UABs joint enrollment nursing program, today Skylar has earned the associate degree and the baccalaureate degree in nursing, and in June, she will fulfill her dream of being a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse at Brookwood Medical Center.

Congratulations, Skylar, and thank you for letting us be a part of your dream come true.