Jessica DeLuca
Footsteps can guide us through our journey in life. Jessica DeLuca, a recipient of the Barbara Rood Student Choice Award in Nursing, followed in her mother’s nursing footsteps and followed her own footsteps back to Owens Community College.
Growing up in Toledo, DeLuca knew she wanted to work in the medical field. In elementary school, she would tell her mom she wanted to be a “baby doctor” and her mom told her they are actually called pediatricians. When she learned becoming a doctor would take many years of school, she turned to nursing.
After graduating from Start High School in 2010, she attended Owens but transferred to another institution and then a third. In January 2016, DeLuca’s mother unexpectedly passed away. She continued her schooling but ended up failing out of her program in 2019. DeLuca took three years off and in Spring 2022, the mother of two decided she wanted to come back to school to finish her degree not only for herself, but her family.
When she came back to Owens, DeLuca loved the flexibility of the schedules, especially as a non-traditional student. “I worked full time while going through the program and being a wife and mother of two,” she said. She was able to find her school-work-life balance through the support of the faculty. “They truly care and want to ensure your success.”
After graduating, DeLuca plans to continue working at Regency Hospital of Toledo.
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Published May 2024