(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Rising Star’s Crystal Funderburk has a passion for helping others.
Funderburk’s passion led her to Texas State Technical College to further her education. She is a candidate to receive an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing this summer.
“I am a 33-year-old mom of three boys, and I have a passion to help others. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a nurse,” she said. “I was an LVN and decided to further my education to become an RN.”
She said attending TSTC opened doors for her in the nursing field. During her final semester, Funderburk talked to several clinics in the region and is exploring job options.
“I am keeping all of my doors open, especially in the times we are living in,” she said.
Funderburk commended the Sweetwater faculty for helping her and other students throughout the program.
“They are aware of everything that is going on around the students. They will extend a hand to help you with anything, both in class and away from school,” she said. “That made going to class and attending clinicals easier for me.”
While the program was demanding, Funderburk said the instructors made it “smooth sailing.”
“Academically, you could lean on the instructors for assistance at any time,” she said. “The coursework is laid out where we could understand things. The instructors set it up that way so we could all succeed.”
Funderburk, who grew up in Glen Rose, said her passion for helping others is a way of life for many nurses. She knows the profession is in the spotlight today and hopes more people join her on the front line.
“There is a huge caseload of testing and helping people now. But for nurses, this is a way of life,” she said. “With all of the testing going on and people being treated, there needs to be more hands on deck to help people. Many hospitals are short-staffed right now.”
Funderburk is ready to be part of the front line.
“Anything I can do to help the work flow easier, I will do it,” she said.
Registration for the fall semester is underway. For more information, go to https://tstc.edu/admissions.
