RN Posts 10 Years’ Worth Of ID Badges & It’s Inspiring 1,000s.

Faye Lewis isn’t even 30 yet, but she’s already proven that no matter what curveballs life throws at her, she’ll figure out a way to get where she needs to go.

Last fall, just a week into her studies to become a family nurse practitioner, she posted a photo on Facebook of all the name tags she’s worn during the last decade. It was just meant to motivate herself and show how far she’s come from where she started, but that one photo has inspired hundreds of thousands to reach for their own goals. After learning the story behind it, you’ll understand why.

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See the ID badge up there on the top left? Faye grew up in Springfield, Illinois, and she started working at a local Kentucky Fried Chicken when she was 16, using the income to supplement the family finances. But Faye knew she was destined for more than serving chicken – she wanted to go into the medical field like her mom, who worked as a certified nursing assistant.

When she graduated from high school, she kept her job at KFC and moved on to the university level with the intention of getting into nursing school. But an unexpected pregnancy in 2010 threw a wrench in those plans, and while many single mothers put their own hopes and dreams on hold in that situation, early motherhood only served as more motivation for this determined young lady.

“My family really supported me and helped me make it possible,”she says. “When I had him, it gave me even more strength to pursue my dreams so he can do the same.â€

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As much as it must have broken her heart, she was pragmatic about the situation, withdrawing from school and moving back home. But her forward march continued when she resumed her studies at the local community college. As if that’s not impressive enough, she continued working at KFC through all of this and was eventually promoted to manager, which explains the second ID badge. Then she took a second job as a housekeeper at an assisted living facility, which allowed her a first-hand glimpse into her chosen field.

The next step in her journey brings us to her fourth ID badge, on the top right, when she started working as a nursing assistant at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. Then her fifth, after she completed her studies and became a licensed practical nurse. But she still wasn’t satisfied. She was an LPN by day, a manager at KFC at night, and by sheer force of will, continued her studies, all while raising her son!

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And that’s when tragedy struck.

She was working toward an associate’s degree in nursing when a fire broke out in the family home, killing her father, cousins, and the family’s dog. One of her best friends broke the news, and as soon as she heard it, “I dropped to my knees. My mom made it out alive just by a miracle of God.â€

You’d think such a devastating blow would be enough for her to call a time out and take a long sabbatical from her studies and work, just to grieve and wrap her mind around the loss. But this is Faye Lewis we’re talking about. Thanks to support from her family members and co-workers, along with her strong faith, she didn’t falter for long, and walked away with her associate’s degree in 2014.

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Then, two years later it happened. She officially became a registered nurse.

Over the years I’ve often called my mom, upset, saying things like I can’t do this or, I’m just done. But, my Mom always encourages me and says, keep going, you’ve always made it work.

 
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I found a plastic baggie full of my old badges and noticed that my new badge now listed my BSN so, I snapped the photo – to encourage myself. I had been through a lot, and I knew I could do this too. I didn’t post it for attention. I just wanted to have this photo to motivate me through my Doctorate program.

Faye’s incredible journey is a great reminder that no matter how many obstacles lay in your path, and no matter how unlikely it may seem at the start, staying true to your goals is its own reward. Share if you agree Faye should serve as a role model to us all.