SNHU Spotlight: Susana Ashooh, BS in Nursing Grad

After a seven-year journey to finish her bachelor's degree, Susana Ashooh '23 was ready to celebrate at Commencement.

"It feels a little surreal to receive my degree," Ashooh said, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). "But here I am."

SNHU's online program allowed her to earn a degree at her own pace, studying when it was most convenient while submitting assignments each week. Thanks to this model, she was able to balance her coursework with other commitments — which was especially important to her as a parent.

"I have two boys," she said. "I needed something that was going to work with my schedule, with my kiddos."

And that's what she found at SNHU.

Although Ashooh didn't enjoy school when she was younger, she said this degree gave her the opportunity to study a subject that she was really passionate about. She knew nursing was for her — a career that would allow her to change lives and do something meaningful each day.

She said she wants her kids to be passionate about their future careers, too. So, leading by example, she decided that she's still not finished learning.

"Now that I have my degree, I'm going to enroll in my master's program," she said.

Ashooh plans to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nurse Practitioner degree from SNHU to further her education and develop even more medical expertise.

"I think I owe it to myself to pursue my education," she said. "I want my kids to do the same when they're older."

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. They're currently writing their debut novel, which was Longlisted for The First Pages Prize. Connect with them on LinkedIn.