Dreams deferred are not dreams denied.
For Sina Mushtaq, the path to becoming a nurse took years and included motherhood, career changes (including a stint as a pharmacy technician), and quiet moments of wondering "what if?" But sometimes the most powerful force in pursuing our aspirations comes from those who believe in us before we believe in ourselves.
When Mushtaq received her acceptance letter to the Accelerated (UCAN) BS in Nursing program at the University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus, she faced a crossroads that many women know well: balancing personal dreams with family responsibilities. She had just been offered a job as a case worker—work that aligned with her passion for helping underserved populations—but nursing had been calling to her for decades.
“When I got accepted to CU Nursing, I was thinking that becoming a nurse could be my way to help people,” she says.
That calling had been put on hold by life's demands years earlier. At 19, Mushtaq became a mother, and her daughter's needs took precedence over her own educational goals.
“I had my daughter when I was 19, so it was hard to go to school and take care of her,” she says. “I earned my bachelor’s degree and worked as a pharmacy tech for about ten years, and then stopped working when I had my son.”
For years, Mushtaq devoted herself to raising her 16-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son as a stay-at-home mom. But her family recognized her potential to transform not just her own life, but the lives of countless others.
Earning Her Second Degree
The encouragement came consistently, lovingly, and persistently from those who knew her best.
“They kept telling me ‘You should go back to school and become a nurse, because that’s what you want to do,’” she says. “And I feel like because of their encouragement, I was able to do it. I didn’t think I could, but they gave me the confidence to earn my nursing degree.”
The year-long accelerated program demanded everything—early mornings, late nights, and the delicate dance of balancing intensive coursework and clinical rotations with family life. Mushtaq says it was hard at first, juggling family life and school, especially since the year-long program can be intense with classes and clinicals.
“Without my family, I would probably still be working as a pharmacy tech,” she says. “But they gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams and not give up.”
“I would get up early and go to bed really late, but then I realized it’s only a year-long program and I knew I could get through this,” she says.
Her husband became more than just a supporter; he became a willing participant in her education, allowing Mushtaq to practice IVs and other nursing skills on him. The entire family invested in her success.
“My family is so excited for me, they always tell me people are going to come to me for advice,” she says.
Inspiring Women and Girls in Afghanistan
Mushtaq's motivation extends far beyond personal achievement. Born in Afghanistan and raised in Erie, Colorado, since she was a toddler, she carries with her the weight of knowing what educational opportunity means—and what it looks like when it's stripped away. Since the Taliban took over, girls are not allowed to go to school, their futures dimmed by forces beyond their control.
“I knew I wanted to become a nurse to show those girls that they can aspire to do something and not give up on their dreams,” she says.
While Mushtaq hesitates to call herself a role model, her story speaks to women everywhere who wonder if it's too late to chase their dreams—especially those who don't fit the traditional student mold.
“If I can do it, as someone who’s older and a non-traditional student, it can show other women that they can do it too,” she says. “I want to give them the courage and confidence, so they don’t give up on themselves. If they can’t do it in the country where they live, maybe in the future, they can.”
