Day 13: All in the family

Brittany Godfrey, a senior Medical Care Services student from Triad High School, graduated from OHP in 2008 and went onto Clark State Community College on a full scholarship to earn her associates degree in nursing, along with future plans to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees to eventually work as a registered nurse. It is a common path for OHP students to go down after high school, but for Brittany, it is a path that she uniquely shares with her mother.
Carla Stier, Brittany’s mother, was part of OHP’s Nancy J. Knight School of Nursing Adult Education Program, graduating from the practical nursing program in 2006. She is working towards her R.N. degree and plans to have it completed within the next year. Following that, she too has plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree.
Stier is currently an orthopedics nurse in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is completing her nursing degree through Excelsior College.  It is the opportunity and flexibility afforded by OHP's Nancy J. Knight School of Nursing that encouraged her to continue on with her dreams of becoming a nurse.
"OHP did prepare me for work in nursing and to further my education," offered Stier.  "The nursing program is very aggressive.  OHP has the program down to a science, and I will say the program runs like a fine-oiled machine.  It definitely prepared me for my future in nursing."
For Stier, seeing her daughter graduate from OHP and follow in her footsteps only adds to the mother-daughter success story.  Brittany decided to attend OHP to get a head start on her college education and enjoyed her time in the lab with her instructor and doing what she enjoys.
"I knew that I could get college credits and become an STNA (State-Tested Nurse’s Aide) before I graduated," stated Godfrey.  "With my STNA license I can get a job that will work around my college schedule and pay more than minimum wage.  I am passionate about health care, so it's easy to enjoy the program.  I know a lot of high school students get bored with classes because they just aren't interested in them during their junior and senior years.  I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to do what I like."
Brittany's mom also sees the benefit of OHP's high school and adult programs.  She notes the open, interactive, and hands-on approach to learning and is thrilled that OHP equipped her with the education to financially support herself and her family.
"I now have the independence I've always wanted.  I can get a job anytime, anywhere," said Stier.
And it has been a joy to watch her daughter follow in her footsteps.


Written and published in April 2008 for our district’s Hi-Lites Newsletter mailed to over 64,000 homes