LaToya Kennedy
Compton College alumna LaToya Kennedy is one of three generations of family members
who were educated at Compton College, several of whom have selected careers in healthcare.
“Compton College is like a legacy for me and my family,” she said. “I estimate more
than 10 family members have attended Compton College including my mother, aunts, several
cousins, and my twin daughters.”
Kennedy graduated from Compton College in June 2023 with an associate degree in nursing,
passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on the first attempt in
August 2023 despite testing anxiety, and now works as a registered nurse in the emergency
room at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in Los Angeles.
A non-traditional student and mother of three who had enrolled in college four or
five times over the years says that life circumstances always seemed to interrupt
her studies. She first enrolled at Compton College in 2008 and was excited to be accepted
to the nursing program. “I had a dream of becoming a nurse since I was a teenager,
but circumstances over the years would not allow me to do it. Even when I tried to
push through, I’d get knocked down,” said Kennedy. “The year 2020 was the true starting
point where I told myself no matter what is going on around me, this is it, I’m going
to complete my education. My determination paid off.”
Kennedy chose to become a nurse because she has a genuine passion for helping others
and cares about those in her community. “When I was a teenager, I unfortunately witnessed
my grandfather not being treated very well from a patient care perspective when he
had complications after a surgery,” Kennedy said. “I have other family members that
were nurses and were very caring. I remember thinking at the time, maybe I can do
that and be a compassionate, caring medical professional.” In the early 1990s, she
worked as a certified nursing assistant. She later attended adult school and became
a licensed vocational nurse. In 2010, she secured a position working in the emergency
room at Memorial Hospital in Gardena. In 2022, she moved to the infection control
department at Memorial Hospital, while also completing the nursing program at Compton
College.
“Growing up in Lynwood, I’ve always felt Compton College is where I belong; it’s my
foundation,” said Kennedy. “After a chance reconnection in 2020, Interim Associate
Dean of Nursing Dr. Shirley Thomas, who has always been an inspiration to me, encouraged
me to re-enroll in Compton College’s nursing program. I was thrilled to be accepted!”
Once fully immersed in the nursing program, she took advantage of Compton College’s
student support services and resources. She enrolled in Extended Opportunity Programs
and Services (EOPS) – a state-funded program with many benefits for eligible students
to aid in college completion, had regular appointments with her counselors to stay
on track, signed up for tutoring services, and visited the Writing Center, which she
said helped vastly improve her writing skills. “The staff are very helpful and make
you feel comfortable,” she said. “Compton College is home to me. I always felt that
if I can make it here, I can make it anywhere.”
Kennedy is currently applying to private colleges/universities that offer a bachelor’s
degree in nursing via distance learning and hopes to be accepted for fall 2024. She
has set a future goal of becoming a clinical nursing instructor at Compton College.
“The hands-on learning experience in nursing is very important,” she said. “I believe
that the clinical instructor also serves as a mentor and helps instill confidence
in nursing students. I feel like I can be a good mentor and clinical instructor.”
