Going to school with your parents might seem far-fetched, but it’s reality for two Collin College students.
Yoli Palfreyman and her daughter Teresa Flores are both in the nursing program at Collin. Palfreyman, who lives in McKinney and began at Collin in January of 2013, says choosing Collin was easy.
“I had heard that Collin was the best nursing school in Texas and one of the best in the nation,” she said. “It’s really lucky for me that I’m only a couple of miles a way.”
Flores lives in Anna and made the decision to go back to school after having her own children.
“I had always been interested in the medical programs. And now, there’s so many different options,” she said.
Palfreyman is slightly ahead of her daughter, who began attending Collin College in August and will start the nursing program in the spring semester. Flores said that having her mother farther ahead in the program is advantageous.
“She’s really been able to show me the ropes,” Flores said. “For example, there are so many things that you need to do to be accepted into the program. She’s really helped me with finding the best ways to study and figuring out what are good classes to take.”
For Palfreyman, the skills she’s acquired through Collin have proved invaluable.
“I love getting to go to different hospitals and meeting real patients,” she said. “I’m really getting to use my nursing skills that I’ve learned.”
Both Flores and Palfreyman have discussed eventually working as emergency room nurses but are keeping their options open. The best part for them is learning together.
“It’s something we will share for the rest of our lives,” Palfreyman said.