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[Music] Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer vice president of marketing communications and this is definitely the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it's time for a segment of the show I like to call did you know? Did you know that we have an on-campus store called Manny's Market? Manny's

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Market is the go-to spot on campus where students can grab an iced coffee, sandwiches, snacks in between classes. It has a counter that you can like sit there and do some work. Manny's Market is actually run by a team of student cashiers with a student manager. And this past year, it has definitely been probably the number one hangout spot on campus. Some of the most popular items in the market include um Red Bull Fusions, which is a mix of a Red Bull with some sort of tropical flavored syrup, iced coffees, iced tea. Um snacks

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and food students really enjoy sandwiches, muffins, and chips. My personal favorite to grab from Manny's Market are the cheddar sour cream um Ruffles chips, which are very good. And if I need an afternoon like pick me up, a ginger ale is my go-to beverage. So the the market is definitely a really cool place and um because it's run by students, there's a lot of creativity and a lot of student initiatives that kind of come out of the the market. People call it the market typically on campus. So around Christmas time and for

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Halloween, um the team of cashiers decorated the market with like festive decor. They would play different holiday movies on the TV screen in there. They're always running different polls. Um they have a whiteboard in there and they're always running different little polls people can participate in. And I always hear students talk about that they love the vibe. The vibe of the market is one that resonates well with students. So always good to hear. The the Manny's Market is also a place where

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you can buy Manor College gear. Um, some of the most popular items for gear is crew necks, pajama pants, and then of course a classic college staple, hoodies. Um, for listeners who want to get themselves some manor gear but maybe live a little far from campus, we've got you covered. Listeners can visit our online store at manny'smarket.com and use the code the nest at checkout for 15% off their entire purchase. So that's Mannysmarket.com with the code the nest for 15% off

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your entire purchase. Happy shop happy shopping blue jays. You can never have too much manor merch. I am now honored to welcome today's alumni guest, someone who embodies the spirit of hard work and dedication to helping others. Today we are talking to a Lafayette Hill native and a Plymouth White Marsh High School graduate who earned their associates in pre- N nursing from Manor College in 2022. She transferred to Thomas Jefferson University to earn her bachelor of science and nursing all while excelling um on Manor's volleyball

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team when she was a student here at Manor. Now a registered nurse at Jefferson University Hospital, she credits Manor College for her strong foundation. Please join me in welcoming Mayor College alumni from the class of 2022, Caitlyn Rampone. Hi, Caitlyn. Welcome to the show. Hi, thank you for having me. Of course. Of course. Thank you so much for being with us today and I'm so excited to talk to you. Um, for those of you listening, Caitlyn was a part of a little photo shoot that we did a few weeks ago out um in downtown

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Philadelphia. we needed to capture some photos um of manor alumni like working in the nursing field. So, Caitlyn was gracious enough to let us work with her and I'll make sure that um our producer Anthony throws up some of those pictures in our podcast here for those who are watching on YouTube. But Caitlyn, so start us off by sharing how did you choose Manor? How did you like hear about Manor College and why did you decide to attend Manor? So, that was a very last minute decision. I'm not I'm

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going to be completely honest. So, at the time, my best friend who also went to Manor with me, we also ended up rooming together, Brooke Strassel, she was looking into Manor College, and I was just, we were both at Montgomery County Community College at the time. We kind of were looking at what the next step was going to be, and she was telling me about Manor, and I was like, "Oh, you know, I've never heard of it," as I'm sure many people normally say. Um, and the more that she looked into it, I just

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kind of also started looking into it. And it really appealed to me the small school size and how kind of intimate the classroom sizes were. And it just seems like you could get a lot of one-on-one help there. And I knew going into such a hard um degree that I was going to need that sort of extra help just to kind of boost me along in my journey. So the more I started to look into it, the more I kind of fell in love with it. The small campus, it was just in such a nice area. It was far enough away from home that I

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didn't feel like my parents were breathing down my neck, but it was also close enough that I could come home on the weekends that I wanted to just spend that little extra family time. Um, and so we ended up just signing up for the open house. We went together. We saw the campus, kind of fell in love with it a little bit more, and we both applied, we both got in, and then ended up rooming together. So, it all really worked out. That That's so cool. I love that. Um, obviously I I knew you as a student, and

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I I knew Brooke, and I love how like you guys kind of like did this together. Um, that's really special and really a testament to your friendship. So, that's so cool when you got to room together and what a cool bond that that was. So tell me what was your manor experience like? Like what were you involved with? Um how were your classes and kind of like describe what your experience was like. Yeah, so definitely coming to a school. This was both of our first time staying somewhere

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like on campus being away from home. So it was definitely a little bit of a a life change. It was kind of getting used to okay well now I'm living with a bunch of strangers. How do we turn these into friendships sort of thing. And it was definitely a little bit of a struggle for me at first just because I am I like to think of myself as a little bit of a more introverted person. So I'm not really the one that kind of goes out of my way to start conversations with people I don't know. It just it's just I I get

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anxious as I'm sure many people do in those situations. So it was just a lot about sort of pushing myself to realize that I'm going into a career that I'm going to be faced with people I don't know all day every day. So sort of it almost helped me break out of my shell a little bit more. And also knowing that the school was so small and you live I think there was only about at the time because it was sort of it was close to co there was maybe only about 40 or 50 of us in the dorms I want to say. I

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could be wrong but I think it was about that. So you really got to create these close special bonds with the people that you live with because you saw the same 40 to 50 people every single day. So, it really did help me kind of break out of my shell, become friends with people that I would have never normally met on a regular day. Um, and as far as classes, I took obviously the pre- N nursing classes, so the sciences were really hard, but I have to say the teachers were all amazing. There was

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never a time that I felt like I couldn't go to somebody if I was struggling, if I could I couldn't get that sort of extra oomph over a topic. the teachers would sit with you for hours and just help you specifically as one student kind of be able to grasp that concept that you couldn't understand which I it was another thing that kind of assured me in my decision of choosing manor because of just how great all of the staffing was. Um, and then as far as like extracurriculars, obviously like you

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said, I played volleyball, which it sort of that was my first time playing volleyball since I was in high school, like early high school. I played like all throughout middle school, early high school, and Manor really kind of brought that love of volleyball back into my life. I I didn't realize how much I missed it until I started playing again. And then that's when Brooke and I, we developed the volleyball club, which I is still going, which we love. Um, and also just like being involved in

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all of the other sports, being able to go to the games, the basketball games, soccer games. Um, it's just like it's such a fun environment to be around all of the people who are so passionate about the school, the sports, and just it's such a great time all coming together and just rooting for one thing. Yeah. I I love um I love how you kind of talked about how you know you were living in the dorms with 40 50 people and and right we were getting fresh out of COVID so the dorms were a little bit

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lower in numbers than they typically are but like because of that you guys had a really unique bond um it was like you're like family in a sense for the good and the bad of what a family is you know but I think that's so kind of cool and and really a unique experience um you know I went to college and I like was a fortunate enough to like stay at the college and live there. And that's really where like the bonding happens and the friendships happen and it's just it's different. It's different than

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being in a class and then you go you go home with your parents and um you know to each his own and they all have their pros and cons. So I think it's really cool that you were able to do that and kind of have that shared experience and like get the full campus life. Yeah. To a certain extent that's really neat. And then obviously managing like being involved with activities, having a social life. Um and then studying and studying for a really challenging profession and subjects and sciences. No small feat and major kudos

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to you and and I believe that you worked as well when you were I did also work as a student. Yes. Right. Where did you work and what was like how many hours were you working? So I actually had two jobs. So I had two jobs. My goodness at I think the first semester I had two jobs. So I was working as a babysitter. I would nanny about two days a week in the afternoon for about four hours. And then I would also work at Jane School, which is a preschool that my mom works at. Shout out to my mom. Um, and I would

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work there probably I think it was about two to three eight hour shifts also depending on my schedule at school. Oh my word. Like I'm all I'm always amazed and always frankly stunned at like manor students how they balance so many facets of life. Oh yeah. And I'm a college student. Like I feel like that's a very manor thing. Um 85% of our students are working while they're a student and the majority of that is working full-time. So like it's just it's such a testament to like if you're

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dedicated, if you're driven, you will find a way to get it done. Yeah. And that really I think describes so many of our students. Um so so I'm not surprised but I'm always just really impressed that students pull this off. Um you know and able to do all that. So so tell us now about you know what where does your passion and love for nursing come from? Did you always know you wanted to be a nurse or in the nursing profession? And kind of what has that kind of been like for you now like living it now

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you're a nurse and and what is it like finally getting to that moment? Yes. So, sort of as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a nurse. It was it kind of I I when people ask me this question, I always get so kind of stuck with it because I just I don't remember a time where I didn't want to be a nurse. And I don't really exactly know what sparked it. I know that I mean, everybody has their little story of kind of what got them into wanting to be in the healthcare. And obviously, I had a

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grandmother who was very sick, sort of like in and out of rehabs, in and out of hospitals. So, I was kind of exposed to that, I guess. And I think that's sort of what really drew me into it. And knowing that at the end of the day, it was really like obviously the doctors are amazing. They are extremely qualified. They go through so much school, but at the end of the day, it's really the nurses that are doing the handholding, the extra little care and love that really just makes the difference and really touches the

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patients. And not only the patients, but the patients families. So, I feel like it was just really that what drew me into it. Um, and then I was lucky enough to go to a high school that offered a technical high school program. So I would spend half of my days at my regular high school doing like my core classes, my maths, English, histories, that sort of thing. And then my second half of school, I would go over to my technical high school where I actually was in a classroom in a hospital. I was

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able to see firsthand experience in high school, which I thought was just an amazing opportunity because I knew going into college like I wasn't wasting my money. This was 100% what I wanted to do. the career that I wanted to go into. Um, so it's been a little surreal now that I am finally here. I'm working as a nurse. I feel like it's I've spent the last four or five years really working towards this goal. I'm not going to lie, a little bit of impostor syndrome. I feel like it's it's just so

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surreal like finally being what you sort of accomplishing almost a dream. You sort of feel like is this really right for me? Like I like is this like real life? Is this really happening? Um, but it's just been honestly a blessing being able to kind of look back in like as like a backseat of my life and being like, "Wow, like you actually did this." Like there were so many days, so many times studying for hours. You can ask my friends, they will attest for me. I used to make like 60 to 70 page study guides.

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Like spend hours just locked away in my apartment just studying. And I feel like it's just so surreal being able to now fulfill this dream that I've always had. And it's the most gratifying job that I could ever imagine. Oh my gosh, that's so that's so awesome. Well, congratulations to you. I'm so happy for you that like something that like you've dreamt about, you've pictured and you've pictured in your mind so many times like this is what life will look like when I am a nurse.

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And then you know you chose your path. You went community college. you went to Manor, you went to Thomas Jefferson, and now here you are kind of doing it. That That's so cool to feel like that full moment, full circle picture. Yeah. Um how neat. And I I just obviously wish you nothing but the best and hope that it continues to fulfill you in such a way that you can give back and help people. And I think you're totally right. You know, doctors and surgeons and specialists are awesome

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and we need them, but nurses are like the heartbeat of what keeps the healthcare industry going. And I know I know it's a field that's really really needed right now. We need more nurses. We need more health care professions. I know here at the college, we started an LPN program um and we're going to graduate our first cohort out of that in December. And so like we are currently looking into educating more health care professionals. Yeah. Um because they're so needed in our in our in our area in

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Philadelphia, but also just in our in our world. So thank you so much for doing that um and kind of you know serving in such a wonderful way. So um what was it like transitioning from Manor to Thomas Jefferson University? Um and kind of what was that like for you? So, it was definitely very scary. Um, not going to lie. So, this was actually my first time. I'll stop talking about her soon, but Brooke and I, we've we went to high school together. We went to Monaco together. We went to manor

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together. This was my first time sort of going off to a school on my own, not knowing anybody, not really knowing what to expect. And then I also was I moved to Center City when I went there. So, I was first apartment, first time living by myself. It was just a lot of firsts in one sort of short time. So, it was definitely a really scary. It was a lot to adjust to, but I it was one of the best decisions I've honestly ever made. Um I I have a core friend group from high school that I am so grateful that

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we're all still so close to this day. And I honestly just I thought I thought that those were my best friends for life, which they are. But I just I never pictured myself sort of making more friends, if that makes sense. After high school, after Manor, I had found such a great group of friends. Also, I was sort of like, wow, I'm just so so almost blessed in that way that oh, I have so many great friends. And now after going to Jefferson, I have even more of a handful of like best friends

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of girls that I met there that I feel like we really just bonded over this like love of nursing and also just the stress and sort of high intensity situations you're put in. Um because we were in a two-year accelerated program, so everything it was just go go. So, it was amazing to have a group of women that you could really rely on and just lean on and just honestly just to have somebody as a sounding board who was going through the same exact thing as you. Um, it's it's sort of

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indescribable, I guess, to have just such a great group of people around you that really like rally against you and help you and are there to lift you up when you feel like, "Oh my gosh, I just failed this test." or oh my goodness, like what if I didn't what if this paper's terrible? What if I get a bad grade? And it's just like they're always there to really pick you up when you feel down. Um and just the school in general was really amazing and being in such a um like a center of health care as

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Jefferson is. They own so many of the hospitals and especially in center city, you see so many different diverse patients and conditions and diseases and everything. It was just one of the best learning experiences I've ever had, too. Yeah. And I mean, being in an accelerated program, too, it's like drinking from a fire hose, you know? I mean, and that'll bond you with people because like you're going through something, you know, really intense together. And that's like, okay, like we

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got to be friends to survive almost. And how cool that is that you kind of made those connections. Um, and then also people that are like in into the same thing that you're into, passionate about what you're passionate about. So that's so cool that you had that experience. Um, like living downtown, I mean, sounds fun, but also intimidating. Yes. You know, definitely. For sure. You know, losing not losing, but like not not going with Brooke, your kind of like your safety blanket for a long time. and

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um just kind of you know maturing and growing up which is just part of life but scary for sure. Yeah. Um that's awesome. That's awesome. So um Caitlyn as we kind of wrap up here what advice would you give to like current Manor students um who are currently you know we're almost we're about like a three weeks away from finals week kind of at the end of our semester. But what advice would you give them in order to like encourage them and to um just really lean into to their college experience

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themselves like you did? I would say definitely my first thing is just find what you're passionate about. Like it doesn't I feel like no matter what anybody thinks, no matter what you think the right path is for you or what somebody else might be telling you is the right path for you, passion is really just the core in my opinion of what you should be doing for the rest of your life. what's going to make you happy for the rest of your life. Like I'll use my dad as an example. He was

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working as like he did numbers for windows and ordering windows for all of his life and then during COVID he actually up left his job started his own food truck company now does like food catering. Like it just I feel like you have to find what you're really passionate about and just go with that and run with that because that's really going to what's going to make you happy. Um, and I believe happiness is just it's what everything is should be about. It shouldn't be about money or work,

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whatever else you want to say. But I think just finding what you're passionate about and really sticking with that. Um, and I would also say is give yourself way more credit than you think because you just getting through a semester of college, no matter what you're going for, no matter how well you think you did or if you should have done better, just give yourself a little bit more grace that you're going through so much in just in our lifetime. everything that goes on around outside of school.

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Everybody has their own challenges in life as well as just sort of the general challenges that everybody goes through on a day-to-day basis that everybody should give themselves just a little bit more grace because you're doing the best you can and that's really all that matters. What great advice. I love that. Follow your passion, follow your heart, but also be kind to yourself. Give yourself credit. I love that so much. Like I said, I'm always impressed with Manor students. I find that every every

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single semester, every single year, I've been here for almost 13 years. Like I continue to find students who are just like doing all the things or they're going through a struggle and and helping so and so and um you know 30% of our students are like the primary caregivers in their family. So either they have children or they're taking care of parents or grandparents like they have a lot going on. So giving yourself some credit and grace is is really important and and a good reminder for all of us to

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hear and you know I'm hoping that students are listening so hopefully that they're feeling encouraged by that. Um Caitlyn, thank you so much for spending time with us today. It's been such a joy talking to you and just hearing how kind of like full circle your story has become. Um we wish you absolutely nothing but the best and uh thanks so much for being with us. Of course. Thank you so much for having me. I am truly honored. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify and

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YouTube. Stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram, Manor College. That's a wrap on another episode of The Nest, Stories about life after Manor College. Remember, Blue Jays, you belong here always. [Music]