Adams, who served as an information systems technician in the U.S. Navy, said part of her motivation to serve in the military were the education opportunities that would await her after completing her work.

“Knowing that many of my family members served, I wanted to also serve my country,” said Adams. “I was unsure of what I wanted to attend college for, and I thought, ‘What better way to figure that out than to serve, gain life experience and learn about different opportunities.’”

Adams explained that nursing intrigued her because of the ever-changing dynamic and continuous upward growth. She said she has been able to use the skills she developed in the U.S. Navy to realize her academic goals at the university.

“While college has been a journey of its own for me, learning discipline and learning to take responsibility for myself and my actions has been a great help,” she said. “Additionally, learning to respect those around me, learning to choose my battles and learning to lead a team — those are just some of the valuable things I have gained from my time in the service.”