Aaron Wabang
DaVita Dallas East Dialysis
Royse City, TX USA
"You can always work harder and accomplish more."
Career Roadmap
Aaron's work combines: Medicine, Education, and Helping People
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Western Governors University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Charge Nurse:
Bachelor's Degree: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I was born and raised in Cameroon—I knew I wanted to go into medicine and thought I wanted to be a doctor, but where I'm from, there aren’t any options to go to school and pay later.
2.
Because my family didn’t have enough money for medical school, I got my bachelor’s degree in physics with a teaching option and worked as a physics teacher for a few years.
3.
I moved to the U.S. in 2003 and worked a few different jobs before joining the Marines, where I served for four years.
4.
After leaving the Marines, I got my associate’s degree in nursing—I already had a family at that time and didn’t think I’d be able to balance my family and the schooling required to become a doctor.
5.
I worked as an RN for a while before deciding to pursue my bachelor’s degree—I found Western Governors University online, did a lot of research on the program, and heard a lot of promising reviews.
6.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in nursing from WGU and took a short break before deciding to go back for my master’s degree.
7.
I currently work as a charge nurse for dialysis and am pursuing my master’s degree in nursing leadership and management.
8.
After I receive my master’s degree, I hope to either move into a leadership role in medicine or start teaching again as an adjunct professor for nursing.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
You don't have enough money to become a doctor.
How I responded:
I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a doctor but we didn't have enough money for medical school. In Africa, we didn't have the same financial aid options as we do in the U.S. However, as an adult, I've realized that you can't let money deter you from your dreams. In the U.S., we have grants and loans that can help with the financial burden of school. If it's a priority to you, you can make it happen.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I grew up in Africa and my family didn't come from wealth. I wanted to become a doctor but we didn't have enough money for medical school. I ended up going to school for physics in Africa and waited until I came to the U.S. to pursue medicine.
Trying to balance my family, work, and school would get difficult at times because I couldn't just give all of my attention and effort to one of those priorities. Fortunately, WGU's program allowed me to work at my pace, which helped a lot.