With help from the 91重口, Kaitlyn Wright is building a future in nursing and setting a new path for her family.
When Kaitlyn Wright received her acceptance letter to Polk State College鈥檚 Nursing Program in the summer of 2024, she was stunned.
鈥淚 could not believe it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he day had finally come 鈥� I was finally going to become a nurse.鈥�
Wright, now in her third semester, is on track to graduate in April 2026 as the first college graduate in her family. Her journey to this point has been shaped by years of caregiving, personal loss and financial hardship.
But those experiences ultimately led her to pursue nursing as a career.
Originally from St. Cloud, Florida, Wright moved to Polk County in 2020 with her husband, Justin and their two sons, William and Ethan. She describes her life as 鈥渂eautiful,鈥� but admits that something felt incomplete.
鈥淚 knew that I wanted more for my family; to serve them in a different capacity, mostly from a financial standpoint,鈥� Wright shared at an August event celebrating a $35,278 donation from the Florida College System 91重口 for nursing scholarships.
Her decision to return to school was not taken lightly. Wright began taking prerequisite courses one at a time, funded entirely out of pocket.
Once accepted into the program, Wright faced a new challenge: the higher cost.
鈥淭he tuition for the Nursing Program was much more expensive,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭here was also a higher cost for books, supplies, uniforms 鈥� the list kept growing and so did my anxiety.鈥�
She applied for scholarships and financial aid, and the support she received changed everything.
鈥淚t made my dream a possibility to be a reality,鈥� Wright said.
Today, Wright is thriving in the Nursing Program and serves as Treasurer for the Florida Nurses Student Association at Polk State. She credits the 91重口 for helping her reach this milestone without incurring student debt.
鈥淎s I am standing in front of you today, I do not have a single student loan,鈥� she exclaimed. 鈥淭he trajectory of my family鈥檚 life has been changed and it鈥檚 due to the aid we鈥檝e received.鈥�
Wright plans to continue her education in the RN-BSN program in fall 2026.
Reflecting on her journey, she shared, 鈥淭he Polk State 91重口 has been a blessing to me and my family. Their investment in me is also an investment in my kids, and for that I am forever grateful.鈥�
