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Ariel Glezman can point to the exact day she decided to change her life.

She was in the shower, thinking about her health, the work she loved, and the future she still wanted to build. Living with kidney disease had reshaped her daily routine and forced her to step away from work. School, meanwhile, had been quietly sitting in the back of her mind for a long time. Then she said it out loud.

“That’s enough. Don’t be sad or afraid anymore. Just do it.”

When she stepped out of the shower, Ariel grabbed her phone and applied to the pre-nursing program at Raritan Valley Community College. Today, she is working toward her Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), with plans to graduate in May 2028. She’s also a mother of two, balancing school alongside family life and her ongoing medical care.

A Return to College, Years in the Making

This wasn’t Ariel’s first experience at RVCC. After graduating from Somerville High School in 2009, she enrolled at The College a few years later, completing one semester in 2012. She returned briefly again in 2015. Each experience gave her insight into what college could be, even if the timing wasn’t quite right yet.

As the years passed, the idea of returning to school stayed with her. RVCC remained on her radar—not just because it was close to home, but because it represented something she still wanted for herself.

“It was on my mind heavy,” Ariel explains. “I realized it was something I really wanted and was ready for, so why not just do it?”

Around that same time, Ariel’s life was changing in other significant ways. In 2022, she began home peritoneal dialysis after being diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. As she adjusted to treatment and remained on the waitlist for a kidney transplant, she began to think more intentionally about how she wanted to use that time.

School offered structure, focus, and a tangible goal during a period of uncertainty—and this time, she fully committed.

Where Her Passion for Care Began

Long before she decided to return to college, Ariel spent more than a decade working in a group home supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. From 2013 to 2024, she cared for residents who relied on her patience, presence, and compassion every day.

“I just enjoyed the smile on the residents’ faces when I helped them,” she says. “Many were nonverbal, but I knew they were happy and appreciated everything I did.”

That experience shaped the kind of work she wants to continue.

“Becoming a nurse would allow me to be more hands-on and help with medical needs,” Ariel says. “Caring for people is just something that comes natural to me.”

After graduating, Ariel hopes to return to a group home setting as a registered nurse—continuing to support individuals who need care the most, with the clinical training to do even more for them.

Balancing It All—and Finding Her Place at RVCC

Today, Ariel balances full-time coursework with family life and dialysis treatments five nights a week. She completes her treatments overnight, creating space during the day for classes, studying, and time with her children.

“I’ve learned how to manage my school life alongside everything else,” she says. “I’m blessed and beyond grateful.”

She’s also active on campus through volunteer initiatives, including Thanksgiving and Christmas drives and events focused on inclusion and disability awareness. Her dedication shows academically as well—Ariel earned a place on the President’s List in the fall semester and is working toward the same this spring.

For Ariel, returning to campus as an adult learner has been energizing. “It makes me feel young again,” she says.

She points to the sense of shared purpose she sees around her every day. “The professors are great, and the other students are great,” says Ariel. “Everyone is here for the same reason—to further their education.”

“Honestly, coming back to school was the best decision I’ve made,” she says. “I’m making myself proud, and I’m making my children proud. This path just feels right.”

Interested in Nursing? Become the Next RVCC Success Story!

If you’ve found yourself Googling phrases like “how to become an RN in NJ near me,” you’ve probably seen just how many nursing programs New Jersey has to offer.

Among the many nursing school New Jersey options, Raritan Valley Community College stands out for its strong academic foundation and clear, supportive pathway to licensure. RVCC is home to one of the most respected 2 year nursing programs in NJ, designed to help students move efficiently toward becoming an RN. For those with prior healthcare experience, the College also offers LPN to RN bridge programs, allowing students to build on what they already know.

Whether you’re comparing schools, returning to a community college, changing careers, or taking your first step into the healthcare field, RVCC provides the structure, flexibility, and support students are looking for.

Ready to start building your future in nursing at RVCC? Apply today—the late deadline for the Fall 2026 RN program is May 1, 2026.