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'I just worked hard' | Lamar student born with one arm, graduates with nursing degree

Hannah Gerald faced her share of obstacles, but says she continued to work hard and earned her bachelor's degree this spring

BEAUMONT, Texas — In a time where nurses are at the forefront of fighting COVID-19, one Lamar University graduate wants to join that team. 

A college degree is the award for hours of studying and hard work, and it's something every senior wants to achieve. 

Hannah Gerald, 22, is no exception. 

"I was born with one arm, that's just how I came into the world," Gerald said. 

Long before the pandemic brought challenges, Gerald was already battling an obstacle of her own. 

"There were hard points, there were struggles. I did have moments where I'm like 'gosh, can I do this'? But, I just worked hard," Gerald said. 

In high school, she decided to pursue nursing. In order to do that, she needed a prosthetic arm.

"I just naturally learned to do everything with one arm," Gerald said.
Four years later, perseverance earned Gerald a bachelor's degree in nursing at Lamar University.

"I don't want someone to feel like they can't do something because they don't have a limb," Gerald said.

She says a Facebook group called 'exceptional nurses' which brings together nurses with disabilities helped provide her with the inspiration she needed. 

"It felt really nice to have that as a support system in a way because I felt like I'm not alone," Gerald said. 

Now her desire is to inspire. She wants to use her resiliency and strength to show others they can overcome as well.

"The only limits we have are the ones we set on ourselves," Gerald said. 

Now that Gerald has graduated she has started to apply locally, eagerly waiting to land her first job.




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