Shayla Bolyard is a practical nursing student at West Virginia Junior College Bridgeport. She is a 2019 graduate of South Harrison High School. Her initial plans after high school were to pursue a teaching career, aspiring to be a kindergarten teacher. However, after starting her college career, majoring in education, she decided to change her career path based on job security.
Shayla still had a strong drive to help children, so she began searching for another career that would fulfill her dream. She decided she wanted to be a pediatric nurse and started looking at different nursing programs in the area. Shayla chose WVJC Bridgeport for many reasons. Being a Lost Creek native, the campus is almost in her backyard. She loved the idea of being so close to her college. She also wanted something that was fast-paced to keep her engaged. Since classes have started, she says the best thing about the Practical Nursing program is the people in the program. She also says she feels the instructors are very invested and truly care about the students.
When Shayla is not in class she keeps herself very active. She works a couple of days a week as a waitress in a local restaurant. Her parents recently adopted a new baby, so she enjoys being at home, loving on the little one. If you can’t find her working or spending time with her new sibling, she is probably with her long-time boyfriend of five years. After graduation, Shayla wants to work in pediatrics, but she has also recently become interested in emergency medicine.
To learn more about WVJC’s Practical Nursing program, request information here!