Road to Success: A High Schooler Fulfilling Her Dream

Written by: Leah Palladino

Lead: After her graduation from Kellenberg Memorial High School, Jess Palladino plans on attending Providence College in the fall to study nursing. When asked why she chose Providence, she discussed her love for the beautiful campus and the opportunities available to her in their new nursing program. She also said she heard such positive experiences from friends attending Providence now and wanted to be part of a tight knit community.

Jess is one of 75 applicants accepted into the nursing school at Providence. “I was super determined to maintain good grades all throughout high school so I could have a greater chance to get into this competitive program. This has been one of my proudest accomplishments thus far,” Jess says. She was ecstatic when she got her acceptance letter and couldn’t wait to put down her deposit for the school to be an official member of the Providence College class of 2029. 

Jess is a current senior at Kellenberg and will be graduating this June. Although at the time she didn’t know what career path she was heading towards, Jess took a number of science and health classes that helped her prepare for her nursing major. She was also a member of a number of clubs, such as S.A.L.T (Service, Allegiance, Leadership, Teamwork) and Sodality, where she learned the significance that being a leader and teamwork have on everyday life. “Going to Kellenberg for high school was one of the best decisions I made because it prepared me for the next chapter and challenged me in the best ways possible. I also have made such great friends who are now my family and a huge support system in my life.” One part of Kellenberg that she disliked however, was the composition tests taken during the year. These tests consisted of 300-400 questions, which required a ton of studying. That only pushed Jess into better study habits and time management skills, which she will continue to exhibit throughout college.

She doesn’t remember the exact moment she decided this is the career path she wanted to pursue, but she knows her decision stemmed from a passion for helping others. Before applying to any colleges, Jess had the opportunity to get hands-on experience at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in the summer of 2024, where her love for nursing grew even fonder. She took this volunteering job to make sure that nursing was the right fit for her and she had a clear visualization of what to expect in a hospital setting. “Even though it’s hard to see some patients in critical care, I wanted to do my best to comfort them and provide them support.” She will be volunteering at the hospital this upcoming summer as well and is excited to get back into doing what she enjoys.

“I was fortunate enough to meet so many great mentors at South Nassau, who showed me the importance of a nurse's job. I was super nervous going into this because I didn’t know what to expect, but the best advice the nurses gave me was to go in with an open mind and do what I feel is right. Seeing their hard work and dedication to their job made me appreciate them and this job field even more.” She also mentioned connecting with new patients and getting to bond with them, as well as work with the therapy animals, which was her favorite part of the job. 

Jess said that her biggest inspiration are her parents, who have both worked hard to provide for her family and allow her to get an amazing education. Jess is thankful for all the work they have done for her and all the encouragement they have given her throughout her formative years. She is super excited about what her future has in store. In five years from now, she would ideally be graduated from Providence College with her Bachelors in Science of Nursing (BSN) and then continue to a career as a registered nurse (RN). During her time as an RN, she hopes to further her education and become an anesthesiologist, which would require medical school and a four year residency. Although the education aspect can be time consuming, she has no doubt that this is what she’s supposed to be doing. She is also considering being a travel nurse which will allow her to travel the world, but also serving others. The knowledge she will gain in the field of nursing will be admirable and even beneficial to those around her.

Jess has no plan to steer her career in another direction and is very determined to make her dream come true. When she’s not helping patients, she can be found shopping, hanging with her friends, reading or binge watching her favorite TV shows. Jess would like to have a family of her own one day and wants to live in Rhode Island, near the beach, while also maintaining a successful career that she will work super hard for. “It’s crazy to think that I am at this point in my life already, but I just can’t wait to live out my dream!”

Molloy University