From the very start of her career in healthcare, Brittany Baumbach knew she wanted more. “I’ve been working in healthcare since I was 18,” sh
e shares, “and as rewarding as each step has been, I always felt I wasn’t quite where I was meant to be.”
The spark to return to school came from a deeply personal place: her children and her baby sister. She wanted to show them that “nothing is impossible. You can set goals and crush them at any age, no matter your circumstance!” Another powerful influence was her best friend’s father, a chiropractor who returned to school to become an FNP. “He was my only true father figure,” she says. “When he passed last year, it lit a fire underneath me to continue and make him proud.”
“You can set goals and crush them at any age, no matter your circumstance!”
Growing up in poverty, Brittany always dreamed of a better life for herself and her children. That drive has guided her through the challenges of balancing work, family, and school. “Staying disciplined is my biggest challenge,” she admits. “I have to set aside designated times for schoolwork—but I’m learning I can do hard things.”
Her proudest achievement so far? Buying her childhood dream home—a milestone she celebrates alongside her academic progress. Support from the Big Country Rural Healthcare Hub has been instrumental. “They keep me on task, hold me accountable, and celebrate life’s successes with me,” she says.
Connecting with Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) has been another key part of her journey. Weekly check-ins and a supportive community help her stay on track and feel less alone in her studies. “One of our last meetings hit me—I’m almost at the finish line,” she recalls. Through CEN, she’s also discovered opportunities like UTA’s BSN program and local clinical placements, bringing her dreams closer to home.
“One of our last meetings hit me—I’m almost at the finish line,” she recalls.
Looking forward, Brittany is focused on completing her prerequisites and entering UTA’s BSN program, with a long-term goal of becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her advice to anyone considering a similar path? “Don’t get overwhelmed. Take it one class at a time. You can do 5 weeks of anything. You got this!”
Her story is a testament to the mission of CEN: opening doors for rural and underserved communities, showing that education can transform lives—even when life feels unpredictable. “Life is truly a beautiful mystery,” she reflects. “One day I’m working as an LVN in a correctional facility, the next I’m following my dreams. And I hope my story inspires others to do the same.”
