Ariana Medina was an understudy for the Amazon Prime episode of "The College Tour" that filmed on the WNMU campus in November. Link to article about film at end of this article.

When she was considering her college options, nursing major Ariana Medina (BAS '22) did not just stumble upon WNMU; both of her parents are alumni of the university, and her mother works for WNMU.  Medina said she was inspired by her parents' experiences.  "They both said they were very fortunate to have [a strong support system] as they were going through their educational journey," said Medina, "so that was more or less my inspiration for wanting to attend Western New Mexico University."

Since starting at the university, she has seen that kind of strong support first-hand.

Said Medina of WNMU, "There are smaller class sizes, and you are not identified as a number here. You are an actual person and your professors know you, and you can seek that interaction with them when needed."

The support network extends beyond the classroom, Medina said. "There is no shortage of opportunities" at WNMU, she said, "You have resources at every corner within your staff and faculty that are willing to take the extra step and mentor you in not only pursuing your education, but they can connect you and network you with other job opportunities. Here, you have those opportunities, and they are easier to grasp than really anywhere else."

Medina used these opportunities to earn her first bachelor's degree in Rehabilitation Services and is now working toward a degree in Nursing. "I have always had a vision for helping people," she explained, "especially people in rural communities."

This desire to help has led her to a job as a Certified Nurse Assistant at Gila Regional Medical Center, where she primarily provides bedside care.

"Not many people can say they love their job, and I really do love my job very much," she said, "I love what I do, and I am excited to experience it on a different spectrum once I finish school . . . It has been nice to get some experience on top of getting the education itself."

Explaining her passion for nursing, Medina said, "Someone comes in to the hospital, and they are ill, they are terrified, or they hurt; I wanted to be their advocate and their support system at that time."

Medina said that she is committed to "helping someone at a very difficult time and really just being there as their hand to hold and for them to lean on." She added that it this was important "not just for them [the ill or injured person] but also to support their families."

Her experiences so far have shown her that nursing can be profoundly demanding in addition to being rewarding. "It can on different levels be overwhelming," she said, "but I love it."

https://www.grantcountybeat.com/events-calendars/local-events/82907-the-college-tour-mustang-edition