Meet Rachel Hollis

How would you describe yourself to someone who did not know you?

I feel like Christ’s purpose for me is to share His love with others, especially in taking care of people. Nursing is caring for those who are in an extremely vulnerable state physically and emotionally, which is why I felt called to pursue this career. I have a passion for holistic gut health, so ultimately, I would love to become a nurse practitioner and work in integrative medicine; learning to combine traditional and holistic therapies. I love to read, spend time with friends, exercise, and cook a good meal!

What did you love most about your Florida College experience that you think other schools may not offer?

Do you think camp influenced you to attend FC?

For sure! I actually did not decide to attend Florida College until 3 weeks before move-in day my freshman year. Growing up, all my siblings and I went to FC camps, I had visited FC for Falcon Days and did want to attend Florida college, but my parents were always told that FC did not give scholarships. I worked hard in high school to get a full tuition scholarship to the university of Alabama, which has top notch nursing school, and so that is where I was planning on going. I had already attended my freshman orientation weekend, made my schedule, all of it. But that summer at camp, I met an amazing camp friend who changed my life. She also had a full-ride to a state school and was told to just apply to FC and see what kind of scholarships she was awarded, and it ended up working out perfectly for her to attend. So I decided I would do the same, I will just apply and not tell my parents until I hear back from everything, and know exactly how much it (scholarships) will be. Well as it turned out, everything fell into place. It was obviously God’s hand. I played volleyball all through school, there was a spot on the volleyball team exactly my position, and so I got a scholarship for that. The academic presidential scholarship is more than I imagined it would be, and some very generous members of the Hutchinson Bell gave me a scholarship to attend. My parents and I were concerned about transferring into a nursing program after FC, which is hard to do even with a perfect GPA. At that time there was no talk of a nursing program at FC. But we knew God had taken me this far, He was not going to leave me behind. He would provide, and boy did He in once again a way I never imagined!

Everything is taught from a Christian standpoint, which is something so unique to Florida College. In nursing we are taught to care for patients holistically, caring for their spiritual needs alongside their emotional and physical needs.

In my freshman Anatomy and Physiology course, Dr. Chandler began one of our classes with a verse, telling us the human body is merely a temple of the spirit. He advised us that in our future careers, we will treat human bodies, but we must remember that the spirit, their soul inside of them, is most important in our interactions with patients. I remember feeling that day that I was in such a special place. I am so thankful that the door opened for me to continue my education at FC in nursing, in a Christian environment, and learn from experienced, Christian nurses. That is not something you could get anywhere else.

My favorite thing about FC is community. A lot of people talk about FC being a family and you meet lifelong friends there, I have experienced first hand that they are right! I have a community in Christ both through friends made at FC, and my church family at Henderson Blvd, that push me to Christ every day. I can’t imagine by life without the people I have here, which is why I have decided to stay in Tampa for a few years following graduation.

Is

there anything you would have done differently?

No. I know every step has been in God’s plan for my life and brought me to where I am with Him today! I would not change a thing.

What sort of internship or job placement for nursing does FC offer?

]We have a preceptorship, where we get paired with a nurse to work his or her schedule and learn everything hands on! I will be completing my preceptorship through my workplace at a local Emergency Department in Tampa!

Who is/was your favorite teacher and why?

Mrs. Paquette is such a wonderful teacher. She was hired about halfway through my 2 years in the program and I have her this semester for Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing. She has so many experiences to share. We all are in awe of her vast knowledge. She knows the “why” and reasoning behind so much! We feel like sponges getting to soak up everything she teaches us.

What advice would you give to someone considering the nursing program at FC?

If you feel God is leading you to pursue nursing at Florida College, listen to Him! You will not regret it. His hand has been in every step to get me here and I see Him working every day. We are taught everything with the mindset of God as our creator and healer. We learn to pray with our patients and learn how to be the best nurses we can be so God can use us as vessels for His care. I would recommend this program to everyone seeking to know God more and to be used by Him in the nursing

What was the most fun thing you did while at FC?

The most fun thing I do at FC is getting to be in this nursing cohort. My class has 12 students, 9 women and 3 men. We have formed such close relationships in our time together. Getting to do life with them every day has been the greatest blessing to me. I am in awe of God’s plan to lead each one of us here. We spend so much time together outside of class and are already looking forward to reunions and trips we will get to take together in the coming years. every day. We are taught everything with the mindset of God as our creator and healer. We learn to pray with our patients and learn how to be the best nurses we can be so God can use us as vessels. I would recommend this program to everyone seeking to know God more and to be used by Him in the nursing field!

What do you plan to do after FC?

I am staying in Temple Terrace, where I have a spot in a yearlong nurse residency program for an Emergency Department! After about a year I would love to go to graduate school to become a nurse practitioner.