Becoming an RN Through Balance
Bergen Community College nursing student Zeinab Osman, ‘25, was determined to reach her professional goals through education. As a mother of three children, Osman, had to balance work, family, and school to earn her degree to become a registered nurse (RN) to fulfill her dreams.
Finding a Path: Balancing Family, Work, and Education
When Osman moved from New York to New Jersey, she wasn’t sure how she would attend college while raising her children, but she knew she wanted to pursue her educational goals. One day she saw a small flyer that read “Open House at Bergen — Take day, night, weekend, and online classes.”
“When I saw that Bergen provided day, night, weekend, and online classes, I finally felt that earning a nursing degree was possible,”
Support That Made a Difference
Osman believed that she could make schooling work around her family’s schedule. Although it worked, she faced the impossible cost of childcare. Through the support and guidance of Bergen professor of education Melissa Krieger, Osman was able to enroll her children in Bergen’s Child Development Center (CDC) under the CCAMPIS program. Bergen’s supportive faculty and the CCAMPIS tuition assistance program for student-parents like Osman really made an impact in her educational journey. “Having my children close by while I attended class brought me peace in the most chaotic time of my life,” said Osman. “The CDC staff became part of my family. They didn’t just care for my children, they nurtured them, taught them, and surrounded them with love while I built a better future for us. Discovering the CCAMPIS program and the Child Development Center with the help of Professor Krieger, made all the difference,” said Osman.
“Bergen wasn’t just convenient—it became a place where I felt supported, seen, and able to build a future for my family.”
Academic and Leadership Growth
Crediting Krieger, Osman said, “She is the reason I stayed, the reason I applied to the nursing program, and the reason I believed I could do this at all.” Through Krieger’s support, Osman was able to fully focus on her studies and even serve as president of Students with Children Alliance Club knowing that her children were taken care of in the CDC. “Zeinab somehow managed to juggle a job, her family, and academic responsibilities with both grace and strength, as she worked toward her dream of becoming a nurse,” said Krieger. “I am always inspired by her determination and intelligence and, as she is about to graduate, I am honored to have been a part of her journey at Bergen.”
Bergen’s Associate Dean of Nursing, Carmen Cruz-Torres, shared her own experience of completing nursing school while working and raising a family. Hearing her story helped Zeinab realize that her own journey was not only relatable, but that her dream was truly attainable.
“My success at Bergen has been shaped by the incredible people who believed in me before I believed in myself.”
“Zeinab is a hard-working nursing student who tackled responsibilities of family and the rigorous nursing program,” said Bergen professor of nursing Joana Constantino, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, RN. “She excelled in class and clinical, providing compassionate care to patients in acute care settings, and well-versed in skills of a great nurse.”
Referencing the founder of modern-day nursing, Bergen professor of nursing Diana Constantino, DNP-c, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, RN-BC, said, “Through mentorship, guidance, and encouragement, Zeinab epitomized Florence Nightingale’s quote, ‘I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.’”
Lessons in Resilience and Community
“I feel incredibly lucky that my path crossed with them as they truly embody what Bergen represents: graduates who returned home to uplift the next generation because of the impact Bergen had on them and the doors it opened,” said Osman about the Constantino nursing professor sisters who are also Bergen graduates. “Their story is a perfect example of what this school can do for its students, and I hope that one day I can give back to the community in the same way they both have.”
“The support of Dr. Melissa Krieger, the care my children received at the CDC, and the encouragement of faculty like Professors Joana and Diana Constantino gave me the strength to keep going through every challenge,” said Osman. “Their guidance, patience, and genuine compassion helped me grow academically, professionally, and personally. In today’s world, where leadership is often judged by ratings or online reviews, it’s hard to truly see the heart, character, and dedication of the people who teach, guide, and lead us,” said Osman. “I want you to know firsthand what Bergen and its people have meant to me.”
“I can finally say that I’m leaving Bergen with a true sense of community – I built it brick by brick, but Bergen gave me the foundation. It gave me community, confidence, and the tools to succeed—not only in school, but in life.”
In anticipation of her graduation, Osman will be recognized at the Nurse Pinning Ceremony in December 2025. “As I finally let the reality of graduation sink in, I am overwhelmed with gratitude,” she wrote in a letter to Bergen President Eric Friedman, Ph.D. “Thank you for creating an environment where people like me can not only survive but thrive.” Two of Osman’s daughters have graduated from the CDC. She is looking forward to when her youngest daughter will follow and attend the CDC in a few years.