Teen Graduates As Licensed Nurse Before Finishing High School

Making it through college was one of the proudest days of my life – so much so that I had to do it again for my master’s.

But all joking aside, finishing a degree is a huge accomplishment for anyone. And it becomes even more impressive when the person finishing up a nursing degree happens to be younger than the legal voting age!

Imunique Triplett has already finished up her nursing degree and become a fully licensed practical nurse – all at the young age of 17! As anyone can imagine, Triplett has claimed that her accomplishment “still feels unreal.”

Triplett is one of the first waves of students in the M3 program, which is a partnership program between Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Even though it was something that she’d wanted to do, Triplett still found the amount of coursework daunting. The young nurse recalls, “I actually went into my high school freshman year thinking, ‘I’m not going to be able to maintain a GPA above a 3.0’”

The post-secondary engagement coordinator for MPS, James Sokolowski, was the one who helped Triplett navigate her way through the program.

Speaking with TMJ4 News, Sokolwski stated, “We are trying to work together to build pipelines for students so that they really see the connection of what they’re doing in high school, how it can connect to college and their future careers.”

Basically, the teachers in the program are striving to help their students see the connection between the futures they desire and their education. It was a visual that Triplett claims to have really motivated her to give it her all in school.

“I started actually working towards something, working toward a career,” she told the news outlet.

And it worked! She is now embarking on a brand new life with such an incredible head start for someone her age. She has also already landed herself a job in a local nursing facility. And the best part for Triplett is the fact that she has managed a degree without the constraints of student debt, meaning the world is her oyster.

Triplett is one of the thousands of other high school students who have been a part of MATC’s dual enrollment programs. However, according to Erin Cherney, MATC’s manager of high school relations, most of the students won’t complete the two-year secondary degree prior to graduating from high school. That is what has made Triplett’s accomplishment even more impressive.

As Cherney recalled to TMJ4 News, “When she said she was going to pass — tears. Just straight tears. Because of the hurdles she jumped through, because of the drive that she had. I know how hard it was, especially during a pandemic.”

Following her amazing feat, Triplett’s high school teachers are hoping that her story serves as inspiration and motivation to other students. Triplett, herself, hopes that her accomplishment can be a guidance for others as well.

As the teen said, “I feel like it definitely should be an opportunity for other people to be able to take. They should really know about the program.”

As for what her future holds? Triplett is hoping to one day become a registered nurse. However, so many people in her life – her teachers included – are rooting to see her go on to achieve the highest level of nursing: nurse practitioner. We have no doubt she’ll get there.

Watch the video below:

How incredible is her story? Let us know!

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