November 5, 2026
A scholarship makes nursing possible for nontraditional student Abraham Meza Garcia.
Nursing professors at JCCC often remark that when they walk into an area hospital, they inevitably run into nurses they taught as students.
JCCC student Abraham Meza Garcia will soon join those alumni, but his educational journey wasn’t always so clear.
“I’m not a traditional student at all,” said Abraham. “Right out of high school, I moved away from my hometown, Dodge City, to Wichita to pursue college, but dropped out due to severe anxiety.”
Abraham tried reenrolling, only to encounter the same challenges. A third undertaking was cut short when his mother had a stroke and needed care.
Once life had calmed down, Abraham realized he had outgrown Wichita, so he decided to move on his own to Kansas City for a fresh start.
“After a couple months of living in Kansas City, I knew I wanted to go back to school,” said Abraham. “I knew since high school that I wanted to be a nurse.”
Abraham found JCCC’s Registered Nursing program, and this time, everything fell into place.
“From the moment I started here, it felt right,” he said. “I had no anxiety whatsoever and felt so at ease. It sounds corny, but it was almost like JCCC truly chose me.”
A rewarding career serving others
Abraham’s goal in becoming a nurse is to help bridge a gap he experienced at a young age.
“Growing up, it was always a struggle for my parents to get any medical help because they didn’t have the luxury of many Spanish-speaking nurses or doctors in the U.S.,” he said. “My siblings or I had to go with them to be able to translate, and also advocate, for them to get the care they needed.”
These experiences inspired Abraham to use his nursing career in service of the Hispanic community.
“I want to be able to ease my future Spanish-speaking patients’ worries,” he said. “I want them to know that I am there for them, that I understand them, and that I want to advocate for them to receive the medical care they deserve.”
Advocacy runs in the family! Abraham’s sister is also in the healthcare field, working as a doctor in underserved Hispanic communities in Kansas.
“She is someone I take a lot of inspiration from,” said Abraham. “I hope to one day be just an inch of what she is for everything that she has done for the medical and Hispanic community as a whole.”
JCCC makes college affordable
Abraham is completing his prerequisites for the program and plans to begin his nursing studies in the fall.
Since Abraham is a nontraditional student, working full-time to pay rent and bills, he values the scholarship opportunities JCCC provides.
“The JCCC Foundation awarded me a scholarship that paid for my tuition, and I was able to attend college at no charge,” he said, “I’m closer into my degree, goals, and future career.”
JCCC sets your education in motion
With his future in focus, Abraham advises incoming Cavaliers to never give up, saying that it’s not too late to start over.
“Everyone’s path is truly different, and you shouldn’t be ashamed of yours,” he said. “Just remember, no matter how many bad doors or paths you’ve chosen in life, there is another path or door eagerly waiting for you with a dozen new chances for you to take on!”
Take on your dreams at JCCC
With affordable tuition, supportive communities, and a reputation for success, your goals start here.