As a woman who has always had a dream of growing up, I take pride in knowing that I have accomplished some of what I set out to accomplish. I often hear phrases like “Are you crazy to keep going back to school” and “Who does that?” Now, however, I find myself on a higher playing field: let's go back to square one. I'm about to take an academic detour from my prescribed path, but in my opinion it's worth it. One day, years from now, when I am dead and gone, I want my children's children to be able to tell their grandmother's story and mention how educated and career-driven she was. I am grateful to have been introduced to the University of Phoenix by a previous friend I met in undergraduate school. He encouraged me and I began to investigate why I should choose the online program at the University of Phoenix. Four years later, I am proud to graduate from this university and I can honestly say that the skills I acquired while enrolled in my graduate program have made me the great woman I once dreamed of. Trust, leadership and communication are the three main skills I acquired during my university studies. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Nursing is not an easy career path, and many know that as a first-time nursing student attending clinical rotations can be intimidating. I wish my confidence level was as high then as it is now. If I had not chosen this particular educational institution, I don't think I would have acquired this skill to this level. One thing I tell every mentor I come in contact with is: be confident. Confidence is knowing yourself.” Many fear the unknown, which is natural as human beings; however, the key to gaining confidence is knowing that there is always a solution to the problem and being able to solve it means knowing how you will behave in a given situation. Overall, this is the foundation for having confidence. As a nurse with a career in corporate America, there was a lot I hadn't been exposed to previously. Most nurses work 12-hour shifts, three days a week. If you're a night nurse, you typically don't associate with the COO, DON, or presidents of the company. This concept is totally different in corporate America. Most would think that to lead you need to have charisma and positional power in order to lead. I believe this statement is not 100% correct at all. In fact, I will go so far as to say that the best form of leadership is silent, internal, autonomous leadership. In other words, if you aren't living up to your own standards and values, how can you expect anyone else to be? Positivity is essential in leadership. Empower your thoughts and then you will naturally enhance the thoughts of others. The ability to encourage others to do things they may not have done is leadership. Lead by example, inspire yourself first and being a leader to others will come naturally. I especially remember a particular conversation with one of my previous graduate instructors. The conversation didn't start out friendly, we didn't get along on an article I had written and I felt his feedback was quite harsh. I remember mentioning the importance of communication, especially when the course is online. He agreed and then said something so profound that it never left me. He simply told me: you're right, communication is the foundation of all relationships." Then he explained to me that as I advance in my career, communication.