1996

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Rigdon achieves goal of becoming Some linJe girls want to grow up and become ballerinas, others want to be movie stars. Gloria Rigdon always dreamed of growing up to become a nurse. Her wish was granted on June 11, 1996, when she reached for her mail. With her usual large stack of bills and flyers, she found what she was looking for - her nursing state board results. And there it was, her official license to practice nursing! I would question myself and won– der why I was putting myself and my family through this. I would always think about my kids, and I \.\'Ould continue my studies, for their sake. I've always had this horror that my children would go without the things they needed. I was so determined to make it for my kids so that we could survive. Even though it was tough, I knew that one day it would all pay off," she tear– fully explained.

towards my goal of becoming a nurse. I immediately started work– ing on my prerequisite for the ADN program. I also managed a 24-apartment complex. worked a 40-hour week here at ECCC, reared Lee, and I was sending Tammie to college at the Univer ity of Southern Mississippi." Rtgdon said. For 14 years, Rigdon ha also worked in communications at ECCC. She operates the switch– board, types for the facult~ and han– dles the mail and duphcatmg. The entire time she was workmg on her degree, Rigdon continued to work 40-hour weeks in communications. "I:>r. Eddie Smith (College President) was !.o understanding. He allowed me to make up my hours in communications while I went through the program. I would come in at 7 a.m., go to class, and stay and work until 6:30 or 7 p.m., every night. He supported my deci– sion wholeheartedly and his encour– agement and support meant the world to me. Barbara Deaton had to work extra hard while I was out of the office, and I cannot possibly say thank you enough to her. She took on the office all by herself, and she stood behind me every step of the way. She is a dear friend," Rigdon said graciously. Part of the ADN program at ECCC includes completing clini– cals. Rigdon was lucky enough to be assigned clinicals in Jackson during the weekends. She had 12- hour clinicals on Saturdays and Sundays at Methodist Hospital and University Medical Center. She still had to make time to study after returning from Jackson, which meant studying would continue into the "wee" hours of the morning. With all these obstacles to over– come, Rigdon was still determined to pursue her dream. In July of last year, she felt as though it was time to throw in the towel. After all her hard work and determination, she was scheduled to have back surgery due to problems that she had tried to ignore, but could no longer endure without her doctor's help. Her recovery was quick, and Rigdon was back to work in no time, against the doctor's orders. She knew she had come too far to turn back, and her back problems were not going to stand in her way. "There were so many times when

''When I was 15 years old, my father died of lung cancer. While he .....as in the hospital there was a nurse, Mrs. Wallace, who always took care of him. She had so much authority. My daddy thought she could do everything. As I watched that nurse take care of him and how secure she made him feel, I decided I wanted to do something like that. I wanted to be like that nurse and be able to help others," Rigdon said. There's one small catch to this story. When Rigdon decided to go back to school and get her nursing degree, she was not a typical 1 8- year old college student. She was 45. divorced and had two children, Tammie and Lee. Going back to school meant sacrifices for her and her children. Returning to school would mean working, going to class, studying, cleaning house, tak– ing care of her children and hope– fully finding time to rest a few hours every night. Now, two years later, all those sacrifices have paid off. Rigdon always knew she wanted to go back to school, but it just never seemed to work out. That is, until East Central got an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program. "At first, I kept it very quiet that I was considering going back to school, then one day, I was talking to Coach Sammy Pace and I told him about my plans. He told me to get busy and start registering for clal>ses. He really gave me a lot of encouragement. I really appreciate his guidance. It it were not for his encouragement, I may have never gotten my degree," Rigdon said. She spent countless hours debat– ing over whether or not to return to school. She knew it was going to be tough, but she felt she had to do it for herself and her family. "It was like an answer to a prayer that ECCC got the program. It made it easier for me to work

While in school, Rigdon excelled in the classroom. She graduated with a 3.5 grade point average, making her a Dean's list scholar. She was initiated into Phi Theta Kappa honorary society, chosen for Who's Who Among Students in American Community/Junior Colleges, and voted into the Mississippi Nurses' Hall of Fame by her classmates. "Much of my inspiration cali'e from Nancy Harris, the director of the ADN program. I always told her she had more faith in me than I had in myself. She is a wonderful lady and her encouragement got me where I am today," Rigdon said. "Gloria was a good, steady stu– dent all the way through. She was more than willing to help her fello; students. She was totally dedicated to finishing, and she has been an exceptional student. I know that she will make a great nurse," Harris said. In addition to her nursing honors, Rigdon also received the Citizenship Award at Awards Day this May. The award, voted on by the faculty of ECCC is pre ented to a tudent who shows outstanding citizenship, genuineness and sincer– ity to her classmates and the faculty. "To receive this award was a great honor. The faculty and staff here at ECCC have been so supportive and understanding through the past two years. When I was taking my boards, we had a tO-minute break halfWay through the test. I asked myself during the break why I was doing this because I love ECCC, and I don't every want to leave. Everyone is so friendly, and they have encouraged me to strive for my goal," Rigdon said. Rigdon's biggest cheering section has been none other than her two children. Tammie, 23, is also a nurse. She works at Rush Hospital

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