An Early Start: Sydney Ellison Finds Her Calling in Nursing at FDTC

For Sydney Ellison, becoming a nurse has been a goal years in the making. At just 17, the Lamar, South Carolina, native is already a nursing student at Florence-Darlington Tech, building on a college education she began while still in high school.

Now in her first semester of FDTC’s Associate in Applied Science in Nursing program, Ellison is gaining hands-on experience, developing clinical skills and preparing for a career centered on helping others.

Her journey to nursing began long before she entered the program.

Ellison’s interest in healthcare was sparked at an early age. Her mother works as an X-ray technician, and spending time around healthcare environments gave Ellison an early glimpse into the field.

As a child, she remembers waiting while her mother worked and wondering what was happening behind the doors she couldn't enter.

“I wonder what they're doing back there,” she remembers thinking.

That curiosity continued to grow as Ellison learned more about the human body in middle school. But her own experiences as a patient eventually helped turn that curiosity into a career goal.

About four years ago, Ellison decided nursing was the right fit.

She remembered nurses who made her feel comfortable during healthcare experiences and recognized the important role they played in helping patients understand what was happening.

“I wanted to go into something where I could also help bridge that gap and make people feel comfort and peace of mind,” she said.

That ability to connect with patients is what appeals to her most about nursing.

Nurses often spend more one-on-one time with patients than other members of the healthcare team, Ellison said. That creates opportunities not only to provide care, but also to explain what's happening, answer questions and help families navigate difficult moments.

For Ellison, that's what nursing is ultimately about: helping people.

Getting an Early Start

Ellison began preparing for college while she was still in high school. In ninth grade, she took the Accuplacer test as she explored dual enrollment. By the summer after ninth grade, she was taking her first college courses.

“It was a new experience,” Ellison said. “Definitely something different getting used to the workflow of college classes versus high school.”

The transition came with a learning curve, but Ellison quickly found her rhythm. She continued taking college courses throughout high school, eventually completing the prerequisites and corequisites required for FDTC’s nursing program before she even applied.

For Ellison, dual enrollment wasn't simply about earning college credit. It gave her a head start on the career she already knew she wanted.

“It allowed me to replace my high school classes with college courses,” she said. “I was able to get a jump on sciences and English and things like that.”

That head start became even more significant when Ellison graduated high school a year early through South Carolina Connections Academy after skipping 10th grade.

Instead of waiting to figure out what would come next after high school, Ellison was already prepared to take the next step toward becoming a nurse.

Finding the Right Fit at FDTC

Choosing FDTC was a natural decision.

Ellison’s father is an FDTC graduate, giving her a personal connection to the college before she ever became a student. She had also heard positive things about the nursing program from people in her community.

Having a parent who had attended FDTC also made the transition to college more comfortable.

“It definitely made me more comfortable to attend because I had somebody who kind of knew where stuff was, the ins and outs a little bit,” she said.

But Ellison said the personal connection was only part of what drew her to FDTC. She was also looking for a college where she could receive support from her instructors and have opportunities to ask questions.

“I don't want to go somewhere where it's just me teaching myself,” she said. “I want to be able to reach out to somebody and get a response and a helpful response.”

That support has become an important part of her FDTC experience.

Ellison describes the college as feeling like a close group of friends, particularly because of the relationships she has developed with her adviser and nursing faculty.

She credits her dual enrollment adviser, Allie Smith, with helping guide her from her first steps into college through the nursing application process.

“She was my person from the start,” Ellison said. “She made it really personalized because she asked me questions as a person to see what classes would be beneficial for me to take at which time. She made sure I wasn’t starting off in a ridiculously hard class, and she always checked in on me, not just academically, but how I was doing as a person.”

That personalized support helped Ellison make the transition from a high school student taking college classes to a nursing student with a clear career goal.

Learning to Care for Patients

Now in her first semester of nursing school, Ellison is getting an early look at what it takes to care for patients.

Her nursing lab experience has already included skills such as bed making and creating a sterile field, with tracheotomy care and suctioning among the skills she is preparing to learn and demonstrate.

For Ellison, the fast pace is exactly what she wants.

“I really appreciate the pace at which we're moving because I feel like it keeps me on my toes,” she said. “I'm coming in always ready to learn something hands-on.”

She also appreciates how her instructors connect classroom lessons to patient care.

Rather than simply memorizing procedures, students learn why those actions matter and how they affect the patient.

“They really make sure they break it down for you so that way you understand how this directly affects the patient,” Ellison said.

For a student who has known for years that she wants to work in healthcare, that connection between classroom learning and real-world patient care is especially meaningful.

A Future Built Around Service

Ellison’s desire to help people extends beyond the classroom.

She regularly volunteers in her community, including participating in door-to-door ministry, offering practical assistance to others and helping maintain places of worship.

For Ellison, service is closely connected to the kind of nurse she hopes to become.

“I've always grown up loving to talk to people, loving to share anything,” she said. “Anything I can do to help; I want to do that.”

That mindset is already shaping how she thinks about patient care.

She wants to be the nurse who notices when someone needs help, takes time to listen and does whatever she can to make a difficult situation a little easier.

Ellison expects to graduate from FDTC’s nursing program in May 2028, but she isn't focused simply on reaching the finish line.

Right now, she's focused on learning as much as she can.

She is especially interested in eventually studying mental health and obstetrics and hopes to expand both her medical knowledge and practical skills before entering the workforce.

Her long-term plan includes transferring to a four-year university. FDTC, she said, provides the foundation she needs to earn her associate degree, gain experience and begin working before continuing her education.

But whatever direction her career ultimately takes, Ellison knows what kind of nurse she wants to be.

“I honestly just hope that I'm able to perform to the best of my abilities to provide care to patients,” she said.

For Ellison, success isn't about having the biggest title or the most impressive résumé.

It's about being knowledgeable, capable and compassionate when someone needs help.

“That's all I want is to be a good nurse,” she said. “To be someone that can help somebody.”

At 17, Ellison is already well on her way. Through an early start, a clear sense of purpose and the support she has found at FDTC, she is building the knowledge, skills and experience needed to turn her longtime interest in healthcare into a career in nursing.