At a time when most high school seniors are still deciding what their first semester of college will look like, Addi Sloan already has a year’s worth of credits under her belt. Through a determined mix of dual-credit classes, jumpstart courses, and a full CNA track at Okaw, she will graduate from Vandalia High School this spring with 31 hours toward her nursing degree.

Addi laughs when she recalls how late she found out about the Jumpstart program. “I didn’t even find out about it until my junior year, and I was bummed. I thought, I could have had so many more credits if I would’ve started earlier. But once I knew, I took one every semester.” That persistence means she’ll step into her next chapter already well on her way toward becoming a nurse practitioner.

It isn’t a family legacy that pulled her into healthcare, in fact, no one in her family has worked in medicine. “My mom studied business, and that just bores me,” she admits with a smile.

Instead, her path has been shaped by curiosity, inspiration from a neighbor who works at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, and her own sense that care can be delivered differently.

“I don’t want to be the kind of nurse who just goes through the motions,” Addi says. “I want patients to walk away feeling heard, cared for, and maybe even a little lighter.” That perspective could take her into pediatrics or even the NICU, though she admits those choices come with emotional weight. “I’ve thought about it, but I don’t know if it would be too hard for me. Still, I think about the kids—and wouldn’t they rather have someone on their side who really cares?”

Her favorite teacher, Ms. Reeder at Okaw, has reinforced that same spirit of attentive listening. “She’s the one I can talk to about anything—even if it feels like too much information,” Addi explains. “She just listens, and I always know I can trust her advice.” It’s the kind of mentor who has given Addi both confidence and a safe place to steady herself while stacking up those college credits.

Born in Decatur, Addi moved to Vandalia in third grade. What could have been a difficult transition quickly became a blessing. “I like it here way more than I did there. The small-town feel is just better.” That sense of belonging helped fuel her focus on academics rather than sports or clubs, though she still found her way into leadership through determination in the classroom.

Now, with graduation looming, Addi admits to mixed emotions. “As much as I want to be done, I’m also terrified of growing up—paying bills and all of that. It scares me.” Still, her vision is clear: she wants to move beyond Vandalia into a larger hospital setting where she can encounter the full range of human need. “I’ve thought about Barnes in St. Louis. You see everything there.”

For Addi Sloan, the journey ahead is about much more than collecting credits. It’s about bringing warmth into exam rooms, courage into clinics, and compassion into every corner of care. And it all started here, in Vandalia.