Empowering Youth to Pursue Their Dreams: A’shi’néé George’s Journey through Nursing School

Mount Marty University nursing major A’shi’néé George '25 has set out to impact her future patients and be a role model for youth in her Navajo culture. "I want to demonstrate that they can pursue their dreams beyond the reservation, especially higher education. My hope is that I can foster a growth mindset and demonstrate that they are the writers of their own stories. There are many opportunities at their disposal to help them, just as it did for me." 

George is from Shiprock, New Mexico, a small town on the Navajo reservation. Since middle school, she has always desired to become a nurse. "Growing up on a reservation can be challenging as not a lot of members in the community have access to the basic life necessities or the pleasures that many of us are fortunate to have. There is a greater need for water, electricity and shelter. While all of this is true, many communities just like mine suffer from an inadequate health care system. This is when I felt I was called to become a nurse, care for those in need, and enhance their quality of life." 

In Navajo culture, stories and legends describe the creation of their people and how they should live and harmonize on the earth. "These teachings are meant to instill resilience, perseverance and the pursuit of education within," said George. "Although, due to some of the disparities and social norms on reservations, this becomes a challenge for youth. These include financial hardships, psychological trauma due to historical trauma and a lack of knowledge and awareness. I want to be an example for the youth in my community that those challenges don't define them."

Following her passion for caring for those in need, George found her home away from home at Mount Marty for the past four years. "A big factor in finding my college home meant finding a college that not only provided me the necessary education but also nourished the person I want to be. This is someone who cares compassionately, receptively and holistically. Not to mention, when I was being recruited to Mount Marty for track and field, I learned through my research of the school that the nursing program is one of the best programs in the state of South Dakota, and instantly, there was no question that I'd attend Mount Marty." While studying in Yankton, George has been working in the community and gaining experience in caring for others, even if the experience isn't directly linked with healthcare. She currently works in Walnut Village caring for assisted living members and previously held positions at Hy-Vee and First Chiropractic. "As much as these jobs are quite diverse and are out of the realm of nursing, each job has taught me something unique in the way I care for others," recounted George. "This extends beyond the basic needs of a person or the basic skills, such as assessing vital signs or using a gait belt to transfer a patient. I have been taught the beauty of patience, listening, mindfulness, compassion and attentiveness." 

George is grateful for the Mount Marty nursing faculty who have supported her through every step of her education and her time as an admission ambassador. These people and opportunities helped George find her confidence and a desire to positively impact those she encounters. "I want to ensure that I give my time back to this community as they opened their arms and hearts to someone like me, who is from a whole different state, with different values and, most importantly, a different cultural background. It has truly been a blessing to be immersed in this community." 

George was recently appointed to the inaugural Avera Nursing Advantage cohort, a group of senior Mount Marty nursing students who receive significant educational funding from Avera Health in exchange for working at an Avera facility for three years after graduating. She has accepted a job on the medical-surgical floor at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton and is excited to provide faith-based, holistic care to each of her patients before eventually caring for her Diné (Navajo) community. She also wants “to be entrusted with my leadership skills and care knowledge from my colleagues and potential nursing students who get paired with me. My hope is that they feel a sense of belonging and compassion." George plans to continue fostering a sense of community after graduation and being open to Mount Marty's core value of lifelong learning, a value she hopes will empower those around her to pursue their dreams.

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About Mount Marty University

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic, Benedictine institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, recreation management, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.