Maria Ingram

Maria Ingram

Hard work, soft heart add up to nursing degree for honor graduate

  • Hometown: Lancaster, S.C.
  • High School: Lancaster High School
  • Major: Nursing
  • Video (1:19)

Maria Ingram spent so much time in and out of doctors' offices as a child with ear infections and respiratory problems that choosing to pursue a healthcare career was almost a given.

"I feel like I was put on Earth to take care of people and make them better," she said.

When it came time to decide on her career path and select a college, Ingram had no doubts.

"The university's College of Nursing had such a great reputation that I knew that's where I'd be," she said.

The university's competitive nursing program isn't for the faint of heart or those who aren't academically gifted. In fact, Ingram said, the rigorous third year of the program made her doubt whether she would make it through to the end.

"The third year is the hardest," she said. "I was doubtful that everything would turn out OK."

Ingram was determined to succeed, and her record shows that she did. Her academic achievements were recognized by membership in Alpha Lambda Delta honor society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She also was a cum laude graduate.

Ingram's immediate future already looks bright. She has a job as a nurse at the Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia. The summer after her junior year, Ingram worked at the center and found that she liked working in geriatric healthcare. She may even pursue specialization in the field.

"I wouldn't mind working in a hospital setting," she said. "Every day is a challenge. You get to know your patients, and you're responsible for their care. We may have advances in technology to improve what we're doing, but there are some aspects of taking care of people that technology can't replace."

However, Ingram knows that nursing has many options beyond the hospital setting and is a career with flexibility.

"Nurses have many choices," she said. "But you're always making a difference in people's lives.' "

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