Sara Tassill’s journey through Hillsborough College’s (HC) associate in science nursing program comes from her charisma, tragedy and resilience. As a single mother battling a brain tumor amid her education, Sara never gave herself the option to give up.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sara enrolled at HC to complete her pre-requisites before enrolling full-time in the Dale Mabry Campus nursing program. Sara first toured the University of South Florida, but realized the requirements wouldn’t fit her schedule as a single parent. With her daughter still in high school, HC provided her with a schedule that still allowed her to fulfil her role as a mom while following her passion.
“I knew I wanted to do nursing,” she said. “I didn’t choose nursing for money. I genuinely enjoy taking care of others. It is my purpose and the most fitting career for me.”
Sara explored different units, hoping to find a specialty she fit into, and fell in love with working in the neonatal intensive care unit. This part of the program helped her grow as a person and realize she wants to pursue pediatrics to work with children while connecting with their parents.
Her journey wasn’t without struggle; Sara was diagnosed with a brain tumor in the middle of completing the program. By the time it was discovered, it had grown too large to delay treatment. She required radiation and brain surgery to recover fully. Having told no one of her medical experience, the effects of treatment became her hardest challenge during her time at HC.
“I’ve gone through a lot of traumatic experiences throughout my life,” she said. “When the doctor told me it was a brain tumor, I thought, ‘Of course it is.’ It was another thing I had to get through.”
During recovery from her brain surgery, studying became a challenge when she had previously been excelling.
“I couldn’t recognize the words I was reading. The program is already difficult, and I had to study even harder. I couldn’t have a life outside of that,” she said. “I was struggling with the program, with my daughter’s graduation year, and just trying to keep my head above water.”
During her third semester, Sara was dependent on passing the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) exam. A minimum of 850 points was a requirement to pass—if she failed, she would have to retake the semester. Prevailing, she scored 920 points.
Following her third semester, she underwent two months of radiation therapy while simultaneously working and studying full-time. Treatment concluded one week before her final semester. However, she had to repeat her course due to the treatments’ effects.
Despite her struggles, Sara stayed positive and resumed her academic journey, but with a new cohort. She knew that she would not give up despite the setback and continued to study, connect and thrive.
Her first professor, Joscelyn Richey, noticed that despite Sara’s optimism through treatment, she could see something troubling her in her eyes.
“She said to me, ‘Sara, you always have a smile on your face, and you speak with such passion, I don’t know what you’re going through, but I can see it in your eyes. If you ever need anything, please reach out to me,’ she said. For someone to notice that about you, says a lot about the professors that we have,” she said.
“The people I connected to the most were the professors,” she said. “I enjoyed learning from their experiences. Their passion and commitment to teaching us to become amazing nurses was inspiring. I hope to work with them again someday so that I may continue to pass on the same passion and commitment I have received.”
Sara felt that HC’s education was equal in quality to what she would have received at a four-year university. For an affordable price to pay her way through college without scholarships, she found her HC experience to be fantastic.
“From my experience, this program was amazing,” she said. “I feel I received so much from the professors. Don’t let anyone make you feel your education is less because you went to a two-year college.”
To incoming nurse cohorts Sara recommends to never give up, even when it feels hopeless.
“As long as you do your best, and are committed to expanding your abilities, then you’re doing amazing,” she said. “Your path may not look the same as everyone else’s, don’t be afraid to ask for help or spend extra time in the lab to practice. Build your confidence now while you have the guidance to do it right.”
In May 2025, Sara was asked to give a speech at HC’s annual nursing pinning ceremony. She struggled at first with the decision to make her speech personal and face the fear of telling her story in front of an audience. Associate Dean of Nursing, Dr. Laura Lewicki, offered Sara guidance on writing her speech, encouraging her to share her personal experience and include a memorable lesson for the audience.
“The lesson I wanted everyone to remember is how the care we give to our patients will leave a lasting mark. I met some of the most amazing nurses during my time as a patient. I may not remember their names, but I will never forget the kindness and care they showed me during one of my hardest battles,” she said. “I ask that we never forget why we chose to do nursing and treat patients with empathy and compassion. Waking up in the ICU was scary, but I remember how the nurses made me feel important and that’s what I want to do with my patients. They’re not a body in a bed, they’re a person with feelings and fears, and I want to be there for them.”
Writing this speech transformed how Sara saw herself. From a background character who never imagined giving a speech, she now considers it her greatest honor and a powerful testament to her success and triumph despite physical setbacks.
“The speech would’ve never happened without the nursing program,” she said. “It’s just perseverance. I didn’t give up or give myself the option to give up.”
Sara extends her heartfelt thanks her daughter, Jade, who has always been her reason to stay strong and become the best version of herself.
She also honors her former boss, Cindy Leon, who gifted Sara her first stethoscope when she decided to pursue her dream of nursing—a tool she continues to use today. Cindy was her proxy during treatment and continued to be a solid support through her recovery and education.
“Remember if you had not gone through everything and survived it, you would not be handling everything as gracefully as you are," a message from Cindy Sara believes applies to everyone.
In spring 2025 Sara became the first college graduate in her family. She will return to HC in fall 2026 to pursue her Bachelor of Science in nursing. She plans to take time to hone her skills as a nurse to finalize her career decisions before pursuing her masters.
“I survived a lot of trauma. Everything I’ve gone through; I just kept pushing. I didn’t give up or give myself the option to give up,” she said. “Everything has made me stronger and kinder. People may not remember our names, but they’ll remember how we made them feel.”