This Single Mom Shared All Her Work Badges And Their Evolution Is Inspiring
One September evening, Faye Lewis, a student on her way to becoming a family nurse practitioner, was going through her items with her mom and talking about the struggles that she was encountering while pursuing her Doctorate. Her mom was encouraging Faye to keep going and not give up. That same evening, the student found a plastic bag full of her old badges: “[I] noticed that my new badge now listed my BSN so, I snapped the photo – to encourage myself”. Faye Lewis, then a 27-year-old shared the photo on her Facebook in order to motivate herself to push through the first difficult weeks of graduate school.
One day Faye Lewis, while struggling with her doctorate studies, decided to give herself a boost of motivation
Image credits: Faye Lewis
“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,” said Lewis.
“I just needed to remind myself how far I’ve come,” she said. “I never in a million years would think it would also motivate other people to go for what they want.”
She went through her stuff and found a bag with all of her work badges and posted a picture of them on her Facebook
Image credits: Faye Lewis
When Faye was 16, she got her first job at KFC as a team member. She wanted to help out her parents and also have some extra cash, but as she says, “I knew I wanted to be nurse. I love to help people. I do it with joy in my heart.”
Faye continued working at KFC even when she went off to college, however, things didn’t go exactly as planned – she received Bs in two of her classes and was rejected from nursing school. To add to it all after the freshman year Lewis became pregnant with her son AJ, who was born in 2010. Faye left the university and moved closer to her parents.
“I didn’t know such a simple post would inspire so many”
Image credits: Faye Lewis
Around this time, Faye was promoted to a manager at KFC and obtained a position as a housekeeper at an Assisted Living Facility. With the help of a government program called New Step, Faye was able to complete her certified nursing assistant training and started working at Memorial Medical Center.
“People are telling me that the post gives them hope”
Image credits: Faye Lewis
Finally, Faye was working in a hospital setting and was surrounded by her role models – registered nurses. Inspired by them, Lewis knew that she had to continue her education. While still working at KFC, she enrolled into an LPN (licensed practical nurse) program and was able to complete it in 9 months. But she did not stop there and decided to continue her education, yet again, and pursued her Associate’s Degree in Nursing.
“I prayed a lot and asked God to guide me”
Image credits: Faye Lewis
Unfortunately, Faye was faced with yet another rough patch. “Many students lose their loved ones while in nursing school,” Lewis recalls a Professor saying. At the time, she did not think of it much. Tragically, just a few days after her professor said those words, Lewis’ father, three cousins, and the family dog were killed in a house fire. “When I heard the news, I dropped to my knees. My mom made it out alive just by a miracle of God,” Faye says. In such tragic circumstances, many people may have given up. But not Faye. “I had a supportive family and I knew my Dad wouldn’t want me to quit,” she added.
“My family really supported me and helped me make it possible”
Image credits: Faye Lewis
It was rough – Faye was working as an LPN during the day and at KFC during the evening and was still going to school, raising her young son and dealing with the tragic loss of close family members. She obtained her Associates Degree in Nursing in 2014 and enrolled in a Bachelor Degree program, which she graduated from in 2016.
“I made it through despite it all”
Image credits: Faye Lewis
Today, she is studying in a Doctorate Program to become a family nurse practitioner. Faye Lewis’ determination and passion has inspired thousands of people to go after their dreams.
“I probably wouldn’t have chosen this journey. But, it’s my journey, I own it. I embrace it.”
Image credits: Faye Lewis
“Keep trying. Never give up and stay positive through all of it,” Lewis says. If there’s one thing that we could learn from her, it’s certainly remaining positive no matter what life brings you.
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Share on FacebookBored Panda, this is one of the best articles I have ever seen. On this page. It really is inspiring, and reminds us all that when the road ahead looks impossible sometimes we have to look behind us to see how far we've come. What an incredible woman!!
What an original way to look back at a lifepath !! I love this, I think it really is motivating and will help her achieve her ultimate goal. She's almost there, she already made it so far ! Just hang in there, Faye, we'll all be thinking of you ! :-)
Wonderful - What an excellent way to show the evolution of a self improving effort!
That HAS to be here in Springfield, Illinois! Good for you, Faye! (You might know my niece Lauren who also works there.) Way to show people how it's done!
What a great role model to shut down all those able-bodied complainers out there waiting for a hand out. G-d helps those who help themselves and this lady deserves whatever support she gets. Congratulations on making it so far and I encourage you to keep going until you accomplish your goals.
I have tears of joy for her strength and perseverance in the face of adversity. May you always live strong.
I love her story and think it is a valuable message to send to those who have dreams that with hard work and determination everything is possible. Thank you for sharing, YOU are an inspiration ! ! !
Shame she's putting her faith in fantasy instead of herself. It was her own hard work that got her there and she should be proud of it.
It is incredible how 6 badges could show the hard work this woman put in to finding her dream job. I wish her the best!
Faye is an inspiration and her story should be shared over and over again. She proved that it may take time and plenty of work to achieve your dreams, but you should never give up. So happy to have read this story!
So cool! I love it when I see MA's go on to be RN's! Keep going!! Be an PA or NP!! I wish I had! This coming from a retired RN after 49 years..
There is admiration to her courage trough her journey. She never gave up, for that I am proud of her 😊
Not everyone can win at everything....but we all owe it to ourselves to keep trying and never give up. Thanks, Boredpanda. I needed this type of post right now.
ive Never even had a single work badge, let alone an entire collection of ever more impressive ones.
Is that it? I think many people who study go through crappy jobs until they get to do what they studied for. This is commonplace.
Well, sorry she didn't work 100 lousy jobs before her dream job just to please you. Get a grip
Load More Replies...Bored Panda, this is one of the best articles I have ever seen. On this page. It really is inspiring, and reminds us all that when the road ahead looks impossible sometimes we have to look behind us to see how far we've come. What an incredible woman!!
What an original way to look back at a lifepath !! I love this, I think it really is motivating and will help her achieve her ultimate goal. She's almost there, she already made it so far ! Just hang in there, Faye, we'll all be thinking of you ! :-)
Wonderful - What an excellent way to show the evolution of a self improving effort!
That HAS to be here in Springfield, Illinois! Good for you, Faye! (You might know my niece Lauren who also works there.) Way to show people how it's done!
What a great role model to shut down all those able-bodied complainers out there waiting for a hand out. G-d helps those who help themselves and this lady deserves whatever support she gets. Congratulations on making it so far and I encourage you to keep going until you accomplish your goals.
I have tears of joy for her strength and perseverance in the face of adversity. May you always live strong.
I love her story and think it is a valuable message to send to those who have dreams that with hard work and determination everything is possible. Thank you for sharing, YOU are an inspiration ! ! !
Shame she's putting her faith in fantasy instead of herself. It was her own hard work that got her there and she should be proud of it.
It is incredible how 6 badges could show the hard work this woman put in to finding her dream job. I wish her the best!
Faye is an inspiration and her story should be shared over and over again. She proved that it may take time and plenty of work to achieve your dreams, but you should never give up. So happy to have read this story!
So cool! I love it when I see MA's go on to be RN's! Keep going!! Be an PA or NP!! I wish I had! This coming from a retired RN after 49 years..
There is admiration to her courage trough her journey. She never gave up, for that I am proud of her 😊
Not everyone can win at everything....but we all owe it to ourselves to keep trying and never give up. Thanks, Boredpanda. I needed this type of post right now.
ive Never even had a single work badge, let alone an entire collection of ever more impressive ones.
Is that it? I think many people who study go through crappy jobs until they get to do what they studied for. This is commonplace.
Well, sorry she didn't work 100 lousy jobs before her dream job just to please you. Get a grip
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