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"Half of this photo represents who I am today.
The other half represents who I once was.
There was a time when my face was posted online as Most Wanted.
Active addiction. Mental illness. Homeless. On the run. Jail, psych wards,
detoxes. I truly believed my life was over before it ever started.
Fast-forward to nursing school.
What most people don’t know is that I went through all of nursing school not
knowing if I’d even be allowed to sit for the NCLEX. There was no guarantee. No
safety net. Just hope, hard work, and faith.
After graduating, I had to submit a packet to the Board of Nursing that was
literally about an inch thick:
• court closure documents
• proof of completed probation
• letters of recommendation
• personal statements
• documentation of years of recovery
• evidence that my life looked nothing like it once did
Then I waited.
For months.
While my classmates scheduled and took their NCLEX, I waited. I watched. I
prayed. I wondered if everything I worked for could be taken away with one
“no.”
Eventually, I got the answer.
Yes.
Not only was I allowed to take the NCLEX — I passed.
Not only did I become a nurse — I’ve gone on to travel nurse, advocate for
patients, earn recognition, and build a career I once thought was impossible.
Today, my life looks completely different:
Married to an
incredible man
Over a decade sober
Travel nurse
Homeowner
Pardoned by the state
Restored
relationships
A life filled with
peace, purpose, and joy
This photo isn’t shock value.
It’s proof of transformation.
I share this because people deserve to know:
• Your past does not automatically disqualify you
• Recovery is real
• Transparency matters
• The Board cares about who you are now
• And it IS possible to come back from what feels like the end
If you’re navigating nursing school with a record, recovery, or fear about the
Board — ask me questions.
If you’re in the middle of rebuilding your life — you’re not alone.
If you feel written off — so was I.
And if this photo makes you uncomfortable?
Good. Growth usually does.
Recovery didn’t just save my life.
It gave me one worth living."
https://www.facebook.com/alabamaamanda
Cheers!
Donna
