Nursing Student Taiya Stewart Finds Her Purpose at MCC

For Taiya Stewart, working in the medical field has been a lifelong dream.  

"My parents always told me I could do anything I wanted, as long as I worked hard and stayed true to myself," she said.

Inspired by their words, she began taking steps to make that dream a reality. Taiya is currently pursuing an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at McHenry County College. Her journey began with the Certified Nursing Assistant program, where she realized that caring for patients is where she truly belongs.

“I discovered that I genuinely care for people,” Taiya said. That experience confirmed that she had chosen the right path.

Taiya has taken many proactive steps to explore her future career, including reaching out to peers, attending events with medical staff, and even shadowing at hospitals to gain hands-on insight and better understand where she fits in the medical field.

For Taiya, MCC has provided the environment to pursue her goals while connecting with others. Her advice to students starting at MCC: “Get involved with student jobs and clubs. Making friends can be hard, but putting yourself out there helps you make connections and enjoy MCC even more.”