This June, I will celebrate thirty years as a registered nurse. In many ways, it feels like a lifetime ago, yet it also feels like yesterday. I have worn many hats throughout my career, but when I first graduated at twenty-two, I proudly wore the old-fashioned nurse cap that was still part of the uniform. I was excited to finally be working, earning my own money, and living my dream of helping others. Nursing quickly became more than just a job, it was a calling. It sharpened my critical thinking skills, tested my courage, and gave me purpose.
Nursing demands readiness. Seconds can make the difference between life and death, and I had already learned the weight of those moments growing up in Compton, California. Just four years into my career, at twenty-six, I was honored with the Nurse Merit Award for outstanding performance and leadership.From among numerous nurses in a hospital featuring more than a thousand beds, I was selected.
That acknowledgment transformed me for good. It boosted my confidence, allowed others to perceive me as a leader, and validated that I was fulfilling my purpose. At the age of twenty-nine
, I had earned my bachelor’s degree in nursing, and by thirty-five, I became the first Black woman and the first female to serve as both Chief Operating Officer and Head Nursing Officer at Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center. However, the journey to that achievement was anything but simple.
Before I ever became a nurse, I was a teenage mother. In 1984, Compton was torn by drugs, gangs, and violence. My mother and grandmother raised me with love, faith, and discipline. My grandmother, firmly invested in community and church activities, worked to guide me in the right direction. She actually urged me to participate in a local drill team, believing it would be beneficial.
That’s where I met a boy who seemed charming and mature, but my young love quickly turned into heartbreak. By early 1985, at just fifteen, I was pregnant. My family was disappointed but rallied around me. Their one condition was simple: if they were going to support me, I had to finish school.
I transferred to Harriet Tubman Alternative High School, a place for young mothers. For the first time, I didn’t feel ashamed. I wasn’t the only girl navigating motherhood so young, and there was a sense of sisterhood there. Along with the usual classes, we had to learn a trade. At first, I turned down sewing and cooking, but when offered the chance to join a Certified Nursing Assistant program, I said yes. That decision changed everything.
My instructor, Ms. Lillian Giles, became a role model and mentor. She showed us respect and empathy, never casting judgment on our situations. Rather, she motivated us to have faith in our abilitiesThrough her, I discovered my passion for caring for people. I wanted to be like her, strong, professional, and inspiring. She changed the course of my life, and to this day, we remain close.
My pregnancy was not easy. I developed preeclampsia, a high-risk condition, and had to be carefully monitored. On August 30, 1985, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Craven Foster Charles, named after my late uncle. Life was hard, I was on welfare and food stamps, but I pressed on. I earned my CNA certificate at sixteen, graduated high school with honors in 1987, and enrolled in nursing school.
Life tested me again. At nineteen, I became pregnant with my second child. Overwhelmed, ashamed, and battling depression, I reached a breaking point and even attempted to take my own life. One night, at a church service, a pastor prayed over me, and I let go of my guilt and pain. That moment was a turning point. I chose to fight for myself, my children, and the life I wanted to build.
With my son and daughter, I pushed forward, finishing my nursing degree at twenty-two. I became the youngest registered nurse in my graduating class. I wanted to show other young mothers that their story didn’t have to end with struggle, it could also be one of triumph. I learned the importance of loving yourself, being kind to yourself, and taking accountability for your future.
Today, I am the CEO and founder of Living Your Life Without Limits, a platform that allows me to coach, mentor, and inspire others. I travel the country as a motivational speaker, educate through community programs, and encourage nurses who are burned out and losing faith in the profession. My work has even been featured on national television, and I’ve had opportunities to work with Hollywood families as a concierge nurse.
Looking back, I see a full-circle journey. From a scared fifteen-year-old girl in Compton to a nurse leader and entrepreneur, my story is one of resilience, faith, and perseverance. Nursing gave me purpose, but my struggles gave me strength. Today, I wear the title “The People’s Nurse” proudly, because my mission is simple: to help others see that no matter where you come from, with consistency, discipline, and love, you can build the life you deserve.
