Claudia Ossa LIVING YOUR DREAM AWARD

It has taken many years for Claudia Ossa, 41, to find her way to where she is today – looking at graduating with an associate degree and heading toward the next stage of her quest to become a midwife.

Her dream began in 2007 when she returned to the United States after being gone for many years.

“My parents were immigrants and I felt a lot of my youth very disconnected from my culture,” she said.

She attended San Francisco State University for one year. But then she felt like she didn’t have any direction or sense of purpose and left the university. She moved to South America where she worked for an airline and married young. The relationship turned abusive and she fled back to United States with her children, and began thinking of her future and what would be best financially for her family.

“I thought about being a nurse and that it would be better than being a teacher,” Ossa said.

She took first place for her essay for the Soroptimist International of Solano County Living Your Dream Award, which is going to help her achieve her goals.

The single mother of two teenagers is pursuing her associate degree in nursing at Solano Community College. She will graduate in May. At the same time, Ossa is enrolled in Sonoma State’s Collaborate Nursing Education Continuum Model program, which will result in a bachelor of science in nursing by May 2024.

“I have completed part of this bridge coursework this summer, will continue next summer of 2023, and subsequently one more year starting fall of 2023. I plan to further pursue my studies and obtain a master of science in nursing, with the ultimate goal of attending a certified midwife program,” she said.

“My kids are adults now; it has taken so long to get here,” Ossa said. “I started this when they were children.” before us,” she said. “we were able to go to hospitals and get the labs completed.” really adequate for getting the information.

It still could take several more years to receive her master’s degree and be able to be certified as a midwife.

Part of her delay was taking courses she didn’t need, which she was advised to do by a counselor. She hoped to get into Sacramento State but found out she didn’t meet the strict requirements.

“It was very frustrating,” Ossa said.

The Covid-19 pandemic delayed some of her classes because they could not do labs in-person.

She is trying to get her master’s degree within the next two years, possibly at Touro University California or Sonoma State with the help of federal loans and other sources.

“With Touro I can’t get any federal financial aid,”

In her essay she states, “I believe that my life experiences have helped me to be sensitive to the needs of others. I look forward to applying my experiences and care to make a positive impact one day.”