Ypsilanti, MI, USA 48197
University Information:
734.487.1849
Jose Valderrama
Bachelor of Science, Nursing 2005
Everyone faces adversity in achieving their life's goals. Jose Valderrama’s story is just one example of how you can turn your goals into reality, even if you don't know what your goals are yet!
Jose Valderrama is on top of the world. He has a wonderful family; he’s graduating with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Eastern Michigan University in Dec. 2005; and will soon begin a new career as an emergency room nurse at the University of Michigan Hospital. It’s a position that friends say he’s well suited for, one where he can expand his dedication to patient advocacy and make a difference in the world.
There’s one thing, though, that sets the 38-year-old husband and father apart from many of his fellow nursing students. It has taken him nearly ten years to reach a goal he didn’t think was possible.
A career in medicine was the last thing on Jose’s mind when he first enrolled at EMU in 1985. Although the Ann Arbor native’s father was a physician and many family friends were in health care, he wasn't sure what he wanted to do.
Realizing that he had no clear academic goal in mind, Jose left school temporarily in 1995 to concentrate on working full-time as an emergency room technician. Then, when he met his future wife, Kim, in 1995, Jose says he realized that it was time to grow up and make a decision as to what to do with his life. In 2002, he reenrolled at EMU to pursue a career in nursing. “My friends and my mentor, who was an EMU graduate, encouraged me to go into nursing,” said Jose. “ After speaking with them and another EMU graduate, I looked into the program. I met with one of the professors, Michael Williams, and he made me feel very comfortable. He set me up with the prerequisites I needed for enrolling in the program and an academic adviser. It turned out that nearly all my credits were still good.”
Although the unexpected death of his father caused Jose to put his schooling on hold for one semester, he finally enrolled in the nursing program in 2003. During that time, he continued to work in the ER at the University of Michigan while juggling family life, work and classes. After graduation, he’ll continue working in U-M’s emergency room, but in a new capacity - as a registered nurse.
I had wonderful instructors and mentors. I can't imagine life being any better than now.
