my.CSMD
Real Story: Loren Eiland
Loren Eiland
Class 2026, Nursing
Current Job Title: Emergency room nurse, MedStar St. Mary's
Accolades, Accomplishments, and Highlights: Class of 2026 Student Speaker, School of Health Sciences
I was born in Alabama and I started my college journey at Auburn University of Montgomery. After three semesters, I left the university and joined the world’s greatest navy, where I proudly served for seven years. During that time, I met my husband, who has supported me every step of the way in this nursing school journey. (Thank you, Hunni!)
If someone had told me after my high school graduation that I would one day be graduating with a degree in nursing, I would have laughed. If they had told me I’d be speaking at my college graduation, I probably would’ve laughed so hard I cried. Eighteen-year-old me was so certain that I would be graduating six years later as a pharmacist.
Well, I learned my lesson: Never say never.
In high school, I said I would never join the military. Well, I’ve been there and I’ve done that.
I said I would never be a nurse. Here we are.
I also said that I’d never speak in front of a huge crowd of people. In fact, I got married in the San Diego courthouse because I was too nervous to say my vows in front of my very large family.
Every time I’ve stepped up to do the thing that I said I would never do, I grew. I grew into a stronger version of myself by doing the hard things or, at least, the things I presumed to be hard.
Maybe you, too, once said you would never go to college. But every graduate got where they are today because, not only did they go to college and get through their first class, they also kept coming back time and time again, doing the thing that was once hard. They committed themselves to learning and improving and it paid off.
Some students come to CSM with certainty. They know their dream and they go after it. Others arrive with uncertainty and end up finding their passion through trial and error.
Some come to CSM right after high school. Some enter the workforce first and return later. Others, like me, start college, step away, and find their way back.
In the beginning, I wasn’t so sure that nursing was the path for me. Two years later, I could honestly say that I found my calling.
And even though it took me 13 years to get there, and I am still not a pharmacist, I walked across that stage as a nurse with my heart full of pride, knowing that years of dedication and commitment brought me to that moment.
To the Class of 2026, and to future CSM health sciences graduates, I hope you take a moment to reflect on your journey and how much you grew in your time at CSM.
As the next generation of healthcare heroes, promise yourself that you will continue to grow and learn. Keep growing in your field. Keep striving to provide the highest quality care to your patients or clients. The degree we receive is not the end of our learning. It is the beginning of a new responsibility.
Learning is truly the key to life. I’d like to share with you some wise words from a pioneer in American automotive manufacturing, Henry Ford. (Daddy, I don’t want you to think I’m a traitor; I’m still a Chevy girl like you raised me to be, but Mr. Ford had a good point.)
He said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” Mr. Ford’s words should inspire all of us to continue to learn every day.
For anyone remembering a dream you once had of going to college, I want to say this to you: It is not too late. You may be thinking, “I’m too old to go back” or “I’ve waited too long.”
But, let me tell you: You are wrong. It’s never too late to get an education. My own mother started her college journey later in life at the tender age of 41. I am so very proud of her for having the courage to do something hard and for committing to her dreams of becoming a nurse. She set the example and showed me it’s never too late to go out into this big world and follow your dreams. Her strength showed me that you can get through hard things, even with other responsibilities like being a wife and a mother.
I want each of you to continue to do the hard thing. Be courageous and strong and step out into the world and keep learning something new. Keep learning every day so you can be young at twenty or eighty.
I’d like to give a shout-out to Dr. Eden Kan, my Foundations in Nursing professor, who inspired me to consider emergency nursing. From the moment I stepped into the ER, I was hooked. Helping someone get through what may be the worst day of their life and providing care and comfort during a time of uncertainty is truly rewarding.
Last updated: 5-26-26