Nurse aide student focuses on community

Shahadah Lloyd, nurse aide student at Tri-County Community College, poses at the Center for Applied Technology in Marble.

​When Shahadah Lloyd, 36, decided to return to school at Tri-County Community College, she knew the ultimate goal in furthering her education was to benefit her community.  
 
“After spending 15 years as a restaurant manager, there simply wasn’t any room for me to grow,” Lloyd said. “I’m a people person in a limited job market, and becoming a nurse aide would give me the ability to do some good.”
 
According to Lloyd, who has served as a board member for Family Resources of Cherokee County for five years, furthering her education was another avenue for her to give back.
 
“Whatever you choose to do with your life, you have to be proud of it,” Lloyd said. “You have to ask yourself, ‘What am I doing to better my community?’ For me, Tri-County was an opportunity to further my education and to give to my community.”
 
Lloyd also said the draw of the nurse aide training program stemmed from her interest in helping senior citizens.
 
“I care deeply for the elderly,” Lloyd said. “I worked at the Senior Center when I was a junior in high school and it really opened my eyes to the struggles and vulnerabilities the elderly face.”
 
Lloyd said she plans to complete the second nurse aide class before looking at whether she wants to continue her education or begin working in the health care industry.
 
“I’m very rooted in this community,” Lloyd said. “I want to do something meaningful with my life. By gaining my nurse aide certification, I can continue working toward my constant goal of doing what I can to benefit someone else’s life.”
 
For Lloyd, returning to school at Tri-County Community College has allowed her to not only gain a credential to find a job, but also gave her the opportunity to exercise her deep love of learning.
 
“For future or younger students, I would encourage them to always ask questions,” Lloyd said. “The best way to gain knowledge is to seek it.”
 
For more information about the nurse aide training program at Tri-County Community College, contact Deborah Raper at 835-9564.