Teara Young

Many passions lead to nursing career

Teara Young started as a first-generation student at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) with limited financial means. Today, she is a cardiovascular and thoracic surgical registered nurse at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

Tri-C provided her with a supportive and comfortable environment to pursue her educational goals, and with the help of multiple scholarships, she received her Associate of Arts degree in 2007. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in finance in 2010 and a Master of Business Administration in human resources in 2012 from Ashford University.

But a passion for helping others tugged at her heartstrings, and she found her calling in the health care field.

She is currently on track to complete a Master of Science in Family Practice in Nursing at Herzing University in 2024 and plans to complete her doctorate of Nursing Practice as a final capstone of her educational journey.

Her professional background is diverse, ranging from roles in nursing, patient care, licensed cosmetology, hospitality, teaching, culinary arts, consulting, finance and entrepreneurship.

Young is deeply committed to making a global impact through her endeavors. With a strong passion for serving others, she actively pursues volunteer work and has held prominent positions, such as president of the Patient and Family Partnership Council at University Hospitals. Additionally, she is an entrepreneur, a motivational speaker and has worked as a financial advisor.

Throughout her educational journey, several instructors and mentors at Tri-C influenced Young, which profoundly impacted her academic growth.

Young returned to Tri-C in 2015 to pursue an associate degree in nursing. During the 2017-2018 academic year, she served as Tri-C’s Board Student Scholar, representing the student body and communicating its needs, suggestions and concerns to the Board of Trustees. The experience provided her with invaluable insights into organizational governance and leadership. She most enjoyed acting as the “resounding voice” of the students.

With her sights set on further professional growth, Young intends to dedicate the next decade to direct patient care. As she continues along her academic path, she looks forward to combining her diverse educational, professional and volunteer backgrounds to grow her career and maintain the utmost integrity, humility, compassion, empathy, patience and determination. Young hopes to transition into a health care administrator role, combining her expertise in nursing with her passion for organizational leadership. However, she remains open to the possibility that her journey will take unexpected shifts that could support her passions even more.

Young encourages prospective students to consider enrolling at Tri-C as a starting point, continuation or completion of their educational aspirations. She commends Tri-C for its affordable tuition, many resources and inclusive environment while urging students to pursue their passions and go after what they truly desire.