Beyond the classroom: Two student nurses redefining what’s possible

The path to becoming a Spartan Nurse is no easy feat. Between rigorous coursework, clinical rotations, and the demands of everyday life, nursing students are consistently learning how to balance it all. 

For junior Kendall Abney and senior Jessica Yang, success in nursing school comes alongside equally demanding commitments outside of healthcare. For Abney, it is competing as a member of the MSU gymnastics teams and, for Yang, leading as a concertmaster of the MSU Concert Orchestra. 

Finding balance is essential to succeeding in nursing school and a daily necessity for Abney. 

When people first learn that Abney is both a nursing student and a member of the Michigan State University gymnastics team, their reaction is almost always the same. 

“They’re like, ‘Really? You do both of those?’” Abney says. “’How do you balance that?’” 

For Abney, a junior nursing student, the answer isn’t complicated; it’s intentional. She approaches each semester, and each day, one step at a time, embracing the discipline required to succeed in both the classroom and the gym. 

Abney’s journey into nursing began long before arriving at MSU. After breaking her arm as a child, she became fascinated with the human body and the care that supports recovery. 

“That’s kind of when I knew I wanted to do something in the medical field,” Abney says. “I feel like I’m very in tune, and I like learning about the body and how things work.” 

Now, as a student-athlete balancing clinicals and competition, she relies on a strong support system that spans both athletics and academics. 

“It’s a balancing act,” Abney says. “My coaches help me, my academic coordinators help me, and my nursing professors do too-it’s both sides supporting me.” 

That balance has not only helped her succeed but has also shaped her outlook for herself for other students seeing herself as an example of student athletes going into nursing school 

“I feel like I’m creating a path for future student athletes … showing that it’s possible” 

Like Abney, Yang is no stranger to managing two demanding passions. A concertmaster of the MSU Concert Orchestra, Yang leads with both precision and purpose-whether she’s in rehearsal or in a clinical setting. 

“When people find out that I do music and nursing school, usually their first reaction is, ‘How do you find the time to do both?’” Yang says. “If you want it bad enough, you’ll find time to do it.” 

Yang’s connection to music began early, inspired by her family and nurtured through years of dedication. 

“I was first introduced to music by my parents,” she says. “My mom loves anything music.” 

After picking up the violin in third grade, Yang quickly found a passion that would stay with her through college and beyond. As concertmaster, her role extends beyond performance, requiring leadership, communication, and hours of independent preparation. 

“It is a big-time commitment,” Yang says. “You have to teach yourself the music and practice it on your own, but it’s worth it.” 

Her path to nursing was equally personal. After spending time in the hospital as a child, Yang remembers the impact of a nurse who helped her feel at ease during a difficult experience. 

“There was this one nurse that would always hang out with me and make me feel better,” Yang says. “I think that’s when I first wanted to be a nurse.” 

Now preparing to begin her career on a cardiac progressive care unit, Yang is focused on continuing her education and exploring the many paths within the profession. 

“I want to achieve higher education,” she says. “I’ve already worked this hard — why not go the distance?” 

 

Published April 28, 2026.