After moving all over the country in a military family, student Shatoria Sandlain has made a home in the College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina. In her time pursuing her undergraduate degree in nursing, Shatoria has balanced schoolwork, friendships, and her sorority, Chi Eta Phi, of which she is now president. When asked how she handles it all, she said, “Stay organized and avoid procrastination. Find a hobby, too.”

As the president of her nursing sorority’s chapter, her priorities have been expanding their membership and focusing on communication. Her past opportunities in volunteering and leadership roles helped prepare her to step into her current role. She has found that building connections has created a gateway for her future. She hopes to continue to foster relationships in Columbia that will lead to a local job. Additionally, she has the goals of continuing her education to be certified as a midwife and to also receive her master’s degree. Her positive connection to professors in the college instilled in her a life-long love for learning.

Shatoria finds that balance is the key to managing her hectic schedule. While coursework, clinical, and her extracurricular activities keep her busy, she also makes time to cook, care for her two Yorkipoos—Pookie and Coko—and she does hair. “Everyone has to have a side hustle,” she shared. Music, exercise, and her closest friends, many of whom are fellow nursing students and understand the demands of the major, also help her stay well-rounded.

“Not every day will be easy,” she said as advice to other aspiring nurses, “but it’s worth it in the long run.” Her motto is “Take it one day at a time.” Doing just that has led to her making a great home in Columbia where even greater success is still sure to come.