From loss to healing

Mckaylah, 23, said nurses have always inspired her.

"When I was a little kid, my Nana was really sick and at the hospital I used to watch the nurses come in and care for her," she explained.

"I used to look at the nurses like they were superheroes and I thought, I want to be like them one day."

Mckaylah, a mum of two, said the heartbreak of losing her eldest son made her determined to turn her personal loss into a path of healing and care.

"Two years ago I lost my son and he went undiagnosed."

"When I lost him, I thought now's my chance, I'm going to be a nurse and I'm going to help other mums who are in my situation."

Mckaylah said her Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) at TAFE Queensland is flexible, combining online studies with on-campus training which fits around her lifestyle.

"It's so convenient, I am studying full time and I am managing."

"If I am sick or my child is sick, I can always catch up the next day because the content is online, so you don't miss a single thing," Mckaylah continued.

"The facilities at TAFE Queensland are amazing, it's practically identical to a hospital and there is so much equipment for each student to use."

Mckaylah said people of all ages and from all walks of life are studying nursing alongside her.

"Everyone's so supportive of each other, I've made a lot of friends doing nursing, we've all got the same drive, so you push each other to succeed."

"My TAFE Queensland teachers are amazing, they're really helpful."

"Whenever I'm struggling a little bit or if I have any questions, they give me amazing feedback or email links to help me."

Mckaylah is studying her course for free and has plans to pursue the Bachelor of Nursing next.

"The Fee-Free TAFE was amazing because if you can't afford it, then it's pretty hard to be able to study."

"I also got to use the money that I could have used to pay for the training to buy all my resources for my nursing course."  

Mckaylah, who participated in TAFE Queensland's You Define Your Greatness marketing campaign, said she hopes to inspire others by sharing her student journey and opening up about child loss.

"I define my greatness by being a nursing student and I'm so proud of myself for finally leaping into the journey."

"When I graduate and I am a nurse, I'm going to be so proud and hopefully make my kids proud, and make a change for other mums who are in my situation."