Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram
Willie Daniels began helping his mother manage her health when he was just five years old. This May, the Demopolis native will walk across the stage at the baby直播, fulfilling a dream, decades in the making.
For Daniels, nursing has never just been a career choice鈥攊t鈥檚 a calling rooted in a lifetime of caregiving. 鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to be a nurse,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 wanted to learn what I needed to do to care for my mom.鈥�
After graduating from John Essex High School in 2009, Daniels enrolled as a nursing major at the University of baby直播. But during his sophomore year, his life took an unexpected turn when his mother suffered a severe epileptic seizure. As her condition became unstable, Daniels made what he calls a heart-wrenching decision to leave school at the end of the semester to care for her.
鈥淚 knew I couldn鈥檛 balance schoolwork and take care of her at the same time,鈥� Daniels recalls. 鈥淚 made the only decision I could.鈥�
Years later, after stepping away from school while working and caring for his mother, he returned to the field with a renewed focus on caring for babies.
While in nursing school, Daniels secured a nurse externship with the DCH Health System, an opportunity that allows student nurses to work under the mentorship of registered nurses. This experience provided him with the chance to enhance his nursing skills, develop critical thinking, and time management. Employed by DCH, Daniels began his externship in the trauma intensive care unit before transitioning to the neonatal intensive care unit. Throughout both placements, he performed many of the same duties as registered nurses, gaining valuable hands-on experience. 鈥淚 got to do everything the nurse does, and it helped with my proficiency,鈥� he explains.
But getting to this point wasn鈥檛 easy. Returning to school at 33鈥攏ow married with two daughters, Annalise and Arin鈥攎eant overcoming new challenges.
鈥淚 definitely couldn鈥檛 have done this without my wife鈥檚 support,鈥� Daniels declares. 鈥淚 worked many jobs over the years to support my family, even earning an associate degree in business from East Mississippi Community College. But after my mom passed in March 2020, I had no excuse not to pursue my dream.鈥�
Pursuing a nursing degree meant quitting his job and relying on his wife, Patience, a criminal justice instructor at the University of baby直播, to support the family.
鈥淧atience has been so strong throughout this process. When I come home tired, she鈥檒l sit at the table with me, grading papers while I do my schoolwork鈥攈olding me accountable every step of the way. She鈥檚 got my back,鈥� Daniels says.
Family encouragement and patient feedback throughout nursing school confirmed he was on the right path. 鈥淚鈥檝e had patients鈥� families pray for me and speak life into me,鈥� Daniel reflects. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 so encouraging. It lets me know I鈥檓 fulfilling my calling.鈥�
Though he once considered becoming a labor and delivery nurse, Daniels now has his sights set on becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. He recently accepted a job as a NICU nurse at DCH in Northport, allowing him to gain critical care experience while continuing to care for newborns 鈥攁 requirement for acceptance into CRNA school.
Daniels knows he wouldn鈥檛 have made it this far without the unwavering support of his instructors at UWA.
鈥淭hey don鈥檛 coddle you, but they will sit down and help you figure out why you missed a question on a test or struggled with a skill set,鈥� he says. Their approach helped him feel capable and encouraged him to keep going.
Daniels has discovered that sometimes, life鈥檚 biggest obstacles can be overcome by taking a single leap of faith.
鈥淚f there鈥檚 something you can鈥檛 stop thinking about鈥攖hat鈥檚 God tugging at you,鈥� he says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 telling you, 鈥業f you take one step, I鈥檒l take two.鈥� That鈥檚 what I did. I prayed about it, took one step, and it felt like God took ten.鈥�
His faith continues to guide him. Drawing strength from his spiritual beliefs, he said he often recites Philippians 4:13: 鈥淚 can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.鈥� This Bible verse, he says, keeps him grounded and resilient through challenges.
Perseverance, one of the cardinal principles of his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., is a value Daniels strives to embody. He demonstrated it fully by completing a long-held personal goal and earning this nursing degree.聽
A deep sense of responsibility drives him. As one of the few males in the program, he understands how important representation is in the field. He often wonders why some male nursing students don’t persist.
鈥淚s it because they don鈥檛 have male professors to relate to?鈥� Daniels reflects.
This question has led him to consider a future as a nurse educator, with the hope of helping to bridge that gap. However, he still plans to become a CRNA, believing that nurse educators should first have field experience.
鈥淭eaching nursing isn鈥檛 just about understanding disease processes,” he explains. “It鈥檚 also about having good bedside manner and building rapport with patients. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 develop those skills without practicing them.鈥�
As he nears the end of this chapter, Daniels reflects on his journey with gratitude and faith. 鈥淟ooking back, I know God guided me every step of the way,鈥� he says.
His only regret is his mother isn鈥檛 here to witness this moment. 鈥淪he would be so proud.鈥�