From her children to her patients and classmates, nursing student Khalia Hopson brings leadership and care to every part of her life. 

For Khalia Hopson, caring for others has always been a constant.

It shows up in her work as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
It shows up at home as a mom of three.  
It shows up in a middle school gym, where she coaches cheer with her sister.

And now, as a second-year nursing student at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ Clinton campus, that same instinct to care is guiding her through the final stretch toward graduation. 

A Longstanding Commitment to Healthcare 

Hopson has worked as a CNA for 13 years, a career she first started in Chicago, not long after graduating high school. 

“I had my son when I was 17,” she said. “But I still graduated high school and finished in the top 50 of my class. I always knew I wanted to be in healthcare.” 

In 2018, Hopson decided it was time for a change. Her mother had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, and Hopson wanted a fresh start somewhere that felt different while still being close enough to home. 

“I wanted somewhere far enough that it felt like a new environment, but close enough that I could still go back home,” she said. 

After hearing about eastern Iowa from friends, she made a trip to explore the area. 

“I came out here, drove around, got a hotel room for a couple of days, and checked everything out,” she said. "Someone told me about Clinton and said it was a smaller town. And I thought slower might be exactly what I need.” 

Hopson moved to Clinton and continued working as a CNA while raising her children—now ages 13, 7, and 2. 

Balancing Nursing School, Family, and Coaching 

Like many parents, much of Hopson’s free time revolves around her children’s activities. Her oldest son participates in sports, including swimming, and her daughters stay busy with activities like gymnastics. 

She also spends time on the sidelines herself, coaching middle school cheer with her sister, who teaches at the local high school. When they realized the middle school didn’t have a cheer program, they decided to help create one. 

“We donated old uniforms at first,” Hopson said. “Then we worked together to get new uniforms and build the program so the kids would have something else to do.” 

This year marks the first full school year for the team. 

While Hopson always planned to pursue nursing, getting back into school didn’t happen all at once. Over the years, she started taking prerequisite courses, paused, and then returned again—balancing work, family, and life along the way. 

In August 2023, shortly after having her youngest child, she found herself back at EICC.  

“I came to campus with my sister because she had some financial aid things to take care of,” Hopson said. “While we were there, I ran into Justin in the Business Office, and he asked if I was coming back.” 

She wasn’t sure yet. 

But her sister gave her advice that stuck. 

“She told me, ‘You’re never going to be ready.’” 

Hopson enrolled and said it turned out to be one of the best decisions she’s made. She is now set to graduate in May with her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). 

Nursing Club Leadership and a Meaningful Fundraiser 

Even with a full schedule, Hopson found herself stepping into a leadership role with the nursing club. At first, she didn’t plan to get involved. 

“Honestly, I had zero interest,” she said with a laugh. “Between coaching, being a mom, work, studying, and homework, I thought maybe I’d go to a meeting here and there.” 

But when the vice president position opened and no one volunteered, the club’s president encouraged her to consider it. 
“She kept running ideas by me and asking what I thought,” Hopson said. “Then she said, ‘You’re very assertive and confident. You should do this.’” 

After being asked a few more times—complete with a “pretty please”—Hopson agreed. 

One of the group’s goals this year is raising money for the nursing pinning ceremony. Unlike graduation, pinning ceremonies are smaller and more personal, giving nursing students a chance to celebrate the moment with the people who helped them get there. 

“Our class is small, only about 14 of us,” Hopson said. “A lot of us have kids, big families, and people who have supported us through this.” 

The nursing club is raising funds for food, decorations, and refreshments for the ceremony so families can celebrate alongside the graduates.

“Our families are our village,” Hopson said. “Pinning is that moment where they get to see us achieve our goals and we get to celebrate with them.”  

The first fundraiser is a nursing apparel sale, with shirts available online through March 20. In April, the group will partner with SKelly’s Design in Clinton, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Clinton nursing class. 

A Message for Future Nursing Students 

For Hopson, nursing school has been demanding, but also deeply meaningful. 

“Nursing school comes with a lot of tears,” she said. “But it also comes with so many new friendships, you meet new people and gain new experiences. Overall, it’s been amazing.”  

Her message for others considering returning to school is simple. 

“It’s never too late,” she said. “You don’t have to wait for the perfect time. Sometimes you just have to start.” 

And for Hopson, caring for others, her family, her patients, her cheerleaders, and her classmates, continues to guide the path forward.