When our children are born, we can’t imagine what they will
become. Will they become a doctor, a nurse or a school teacher? An astronaut, engineer
or construction worker. A professional athlete or entertainer. A CEO,
accountant, or business owner. A firefighter, police officer, or lawyer. A politician,
Prime Minister or President. The opportunities are endless for those tiny hands
and feet.
Though my son, Nic, came into the world fast and furiously,
he was timid and shy thereafter. As a little boy, he was easily frightened,
intimidated, and embarrassed … by the slightest things.
When he started school, he was quiet, apprehensive and
anxious; diffidently standing on the sidelines observing the activity, needing
nudged to participate. Certainly, not a friend maker or risk taker. I thought
he’d be hanging onto my shirt sleeve until he was sixteen, and in many ways, he
did.
Unable to annunciate words clearly, he required speech
therapy.
Inept at reading, he needed outside tutoring. Yet, he was an
outstanding student; albeit, an insecure student who needed a little extra help
developing.
Like most kids, he’d rush through his homework just to get
it done, not always putting forth his best effort. Knowing he was capable of
better work, I insisted he re-do it the right way. “MISS PERFECT PICKY PANTS,”
he would hiss in a fiery fit. A title for which I was and am most proud.
In Middle School, he excelled in his college prep courses
and asked to be placed in honors science. The school didn’t recommend it due to
his reading aptitude. Consequently, he missed out on all the local science
fairs.
An ordinary, awkward teen, he was going through life
unnoticed and unfazed. Quiet. Reserved. Insecure.
Suddenly, on his 16th birthday, we switched
churches – a huge risk for a teenager who was secure and comfortable with his
lifelong friends. Had this not gone well, he could have walked away from his
faith forever.
But, at the new church, mature leaders took a genuine
interest in him. They noticed his heart, his maturity and his potential, and
they invested in him. He began trusting people and openly talking about dicey
issues. It was remarkable to see this child, who clung to my shirt sleeve,
letting go.
By the time he was 17, he was walking with his head a little
higher. In school, he found a love for Chemistry. He adored the teacher, and
she admired his hard work. This teacher saw his potential, and offered him a
position in AP Chemistry the following year, even though he still struggled
with reading apprehension, according to statewide achievement tests. Of course,
he excelled, earning an A+.
At age 18, he had no idea what he wanted to do when he
graduated high school.
At church, his peers called him Pastor Nic. Because he
always made good choices, they sought him for counsel. He interned for a
semester with the youth pastor to determine if ministry was his path forward.
During that time, he planned and flawlessly executed many exciting events for
his peers. He led Bible studies and small groups, and transformed into a
confident young man and leader.
He had decided he’d take a gap year between high school and
college. During that time, he’d attend Lancaster Bible College and get a
certificate in Bible.
At senior night for his youth group, he stood up straight
and tall, with a confident, unwavering voice and told the audience of 100 or
more people how God transformed him from a shy and awkward child into the
leader standing before them because of two men who took an interest in him. He
declared that he would be attending Lancaster Bible College.
Tears of joy and wonder rolled down my face, as I saw what
my child had become. And, I knew it was only the beginning.
Afterwards an elderly gentleman whom I had never met
approached me. “Does your son have a sponsor at Lancaster Bible College?” he
inquired. “He does not,” I answered. “I am on the Corporation at LBC. Every
year, my wife and I offer a student a $6,000 scholarship. We’d like to offer it
to Nic.”
We were both overwhelmed at this kind man’s generosity and
provision.
A few weeks later, he graduated in the top 15% of his high school
class with straight A’s, and a 4.05 GPA.
At the end of summer, he went off to Lancaster Bible
College, seeking God’s direction for his future. While there, he discovered
that he could study Bible and Chemistry at a tiny little evangelical Christian school
in western Ohio, Cedarville University. They had a brand-new school of
pharmacy. “Maybe I could be a pharmacist?” he said to me.
A few weeks later, during Superstorm Sandy, he and I drove
seven hours to this tiny little school nestled between cornfields in Ohio.
There, we encountered God, and knew beyond a shadow of doubt that this was the
school for him. Able to study chemistry from a biblical worldview, he was
offered a Presidential Scholarship that covered about half of his undergrad
tuition. If his grades remained above a 3.5 the scholarship would continue, and
he would be guaranteed one of 50 seats in the doctoral program at their School
of Pharmacy.
Forfeiting the generous scholarship from the kind man at
Lancaster Bible College, he began his journey to become a pharmacist.
At Cedarville, he made many sacrifices and diligently
studied, determined to get straight-A’s. This child who was labeled by the
state as an inept reader, was now reading medical journals and science
textbooks. Yes, it was hard. He gave up many social events to focus on his
future. Because he spent countless hours in the library with his books, we lovingly
teased him about dating text books.
During the summers, he boldly networked and found
extraordinary internships. He had tried his hand at a big pharmaceutical
retailer, and discovered that retail pharmacy wasn’t his passion. Reaching out to
acquaintances, following leads provided to him, he landed an internship at a
local hospital. Every day, 40 hours a week, in every spare moment he had, he
went out the door in scrubs to work in clinical pharmacy.
Now a confident and competent leader, he served as class
Chaplain and class President. He joined pharmacy clubs and associations. He
designed and presented a program for 5th graders on the dangers of
over counter the medications. And, he excelled at everything his hands did.
At his White Coat Ceremony in September 2015, the child who
needed speech therapy in grade school, was invited to address his classmates,
professors, family and friends. Using John 13 as the example, he challenged his
peers to lay down their white coats and wash the feet of the sick and needy.
My heart again swelled with joy and wonder at what this
timid child had become, and yet, I still knew, it was only the beginning.
In May 2016, he graduated at the top of his pharmacy class with
his BS in Pharmaceutical Science. His faith, hard work, and sacrifices paid
off.
In the doctoral program, he continued working hard, making
sacrifices, and trusting God. Laser focused on his future, he continually went
above and beyond, standing out with his academic performance and leadership
abilities.
In the fall of 2016, he said to me, “Mom, there are three
places I want to intern next summer: Johns Hopkins, May Clinic or Indian Health
Services.” Knowing competition would be fierce for a few coveted slots at those
prestigious institutions, I asked, “Are you also going to apply at some local
hospitals?” Adamantly, he answered, “NO!”
Based on his academic performance, the assistant dean at the School of Pharmacy knew he was equipped for a prominent position, and encouraged him to begin the application process - no small feat for a full-time student with a rigorous course load. But with her support, he managed to fulfill the requirements and applied to all three organizations, while maintaining nearly perfect performance in his classes.
To my amazement, he was first invited to interview at Johns
Hopkins. In typical Nic fashion, he spent hours preparing. He reached out to a Johns
Hopkins pharmacist in his network for coaching, and the interview went well.
A short time later, he sent me a text: “Mom, pray for me. I
have an interview at Mayo Clinic,” the #1 healthcare institution in the world. My
heart did somersaults as I sought God’s favor for my child.
Against all odds, the student from a tiny, little known
pharmacy school nestled between cornfields in rural Ohio, was offered 1 of 8
pharmacy internships at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for the
summer of 2017.
This is the frightened toddler … hesitant Kindergartner …
grade schooler who needed speech therapy and tutored in reading … the kid who
did sloppy homework and called me Miss Perfect Picky Pants … the one who clung
to my shirt sleeve until he was 16.
While it seems like the odds were against him, he had many
things going for him: - A Mom who taught him to do his BEST always and never stopped believing in him, loving him, or praying for him
- A Dad who was always present and spent time with him
- Two men who saw his potential and invested in him
- A science teacher who recognized his passion and gave him an opportunity
- A stranger who encouraged him with an unexpected blessing
- A professor who believed in him when he didn't believe in himself
- Faith
- Hope
- Sacrifice
- Perseverance
- AND A GREAT BIG GOD who works ALL THINGS for the good of those who love him and are called according to His purpose.
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