My Clemson: Jeannie Brown ’15
My Clemson experience was many years in the making.
When I was nine, I went to live with my grandmother. My great aunt took me to Clemson games, where I learned Clemson history and traditions. Each year my Christmas present was going with my aunt to see Clemson play in their bowl game. I dreamed of playing in Tiger Band and becoming a nurse. When I wasn’t accepted to Clemson my senior year in high school, I was very disappointed, but determined never to give up on that dream.
I started taking classes at Greenville Technical College, but marriage and two children interrupted my education. In 2002, I returned to school and graduated as a respiratory therapist. Working full time, I attended Tri-County Technical College, graduating in 2012 as a registered nurse. It was a busy time — our son played basketball and participated in high school band, and our daughter cheered and danced on a competition team, but we never missed a beat.
I held on to my dream of becoming a Clemson graduate. At the age of 40, I applied to Clemson’s RN/B.S. nursing program and was accepted to begin in the spring of 2015. It was an outstanding program and very manageable for a working nurse. But I had one more dream to fulfill … to play in Tiger Band. I worked it out with my boss to adjust my work schedule so that I could attend band camp and practice throughout the fall. My Clemson dream was coming to pass.
I couldn’t wait to put on my uniform and play “Tiger Rag” for 80,000 fans in Death Valley, but I never expected to have such an outstanding football season — I went to Syracuse, the ACC Championship, Miami for the Orange Bowl and all the way to Arizona for the National Championship. Who would have dreamed all this?
On December 17, 2015, I graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in nursing, and my diploma hangs in a central location in my home as a reminder that with hard work, you can accomplish your dreams.
No matter where life takes me, my blood will always run orange. I’m Jeannie Brown, and this is MY Clemson.
Photos courtesy Imagine Studios.
Wow! Good for you!
That is so awesome!!! I am also a Clemson grad and have returned to school for my masters at age 41 (at UF). It’s tough but definitely doable! You are never too old to fulfill your dreams! Go Tigers!
I AM IMPRESSED HOW YOU KEPT YOUR GOAL AND STRIVED HARD TO ACHIEVE IT. STRONGLY SUGGEST GETTING YOUR MASTERS IN NURSING. YOU ARE AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE FOR UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS.