Jahcarea Allen grew up watching her mother work in a nursing home and form close bonds with her clients. This week, Jahcarea will graduate from Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing with similar dreams to make a difference in the healthcare field.
“I never thought I would make it this far,” Jahcarea said. “Just all the hard work, I feel like it’s finally paying off.”
Finding a Passion for Care Through Her Mom
Originally from the Bronx, New York, Jahcarea moved to Florida eight years ago with her mother and brother for its educational opportunities. Before enrolling in PBA’s nursing program, she not only spent time in the nursing home with her mother, but she also worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant and grew even more familiar with her passion for health care.
Looking back, some of Jahcarea’s biggest inspirations are her mother’s clients. For example, she met Miss Patty while her mother was caring for Patty’s parents, and they have had a great relationship since. Patty’s father, who kept a photo of Jahcarea in his wallet at all times, passed away in 2022. While this was a tragic loss for Jahcarea, her mother, and Patty, Jahcarea said that their continuous support through such a challenge has motivated her to become a nurse.
“I grew up around a lot of people that had such an impact on me and my nursing career. I want to make a difference in people’s lives,” she said.
Jahcarea’s first year of nursing school brought more challenges. Her mother lost another close friend and client as well as her job. Despite the loss, Allen’s mother continued to support her education.
“She still supports me in the best way that she can,” Jahcarea said while describing how her mother inspires her education. “I think that’s what really brought me through.”
Grounded in Faith
Jahcarea spoke candidly about the difficulty of nursing school but cited her faith as central to her accomplishment.
“I believe I have a purpose and that’s something that keeps me going, just knowing this is where I’m meant to be and there are people who are waiting for me, like future patients,” she explained.
According to Jahcarea, the PBA student body and faculty not only improved her education but provided a faithful community.
“Teachers were always so open, especially in the nursing program. I feel I always had someone that I could go to, and they just prayed for me if I needed,” she said. “I have a classmate that’s really kept me going. I feel like it’s important to always lean on each other because we are all going through the same thing.”
A Living Testimony
Dr. Kathy McKinnon, associate professor of nursing at PBA, spoke passionately about Jahcarea’s work ethic and character.
“Jahcarea is birthed out of resilience to overcome life’s challenges and obstacles,” McKinnon said. “As a student, she overcame many trials, but through it all she never gave up.She persevered, she had a goal and a dream to become a nurse, and her life is a living testimony of God’s grace and power.”
Looking forward, Jahcarea hopes to not just make an impact in the health care field, but she specifically hopes to care for other women. Her dream is to become a midwife.
“I just want to be that close to someone’s care,” she said. “Being a woman myself and going through health care and seeing that we really don’t have a lot of support, that was just always my biggest thing, women’s care.”
Jahcarea offered advice to younger nursing students who may be struggling with the program’s rigor.
“Always ask for help,” she said. “Always take criticism because it’s always going to make you a better nurse.”
Jahcarea also encouraged other nursing students to dwell on why they began nursing school in the first place. She was filled with emotion while speaking about the people who have gotten her to where she is and looks to the future with excitement about serving others in the same way.
To learn more about PBA’s School of Nursing, click here.
