Lydia Ste Marie's close-knit family inspired her to pursue a future in nursing

The youngest of seven, Lydia Ste. Marie describes her family as loving, full of energy, and busy. She learned early the value of care, connection, and responsibility—lessons that ultimately led her to pursue a degree in nursing.

“I’ve always known I was meant to help people,” she said. Initially, that interest showed up as an interest in teaching. Her mother, Cathi, works as a childcare provider, and two of Lydia’s sisters are teachers. It’s clear Lydia admires them as well as their dedication as educators and caregivers.  

In high school, Lydia worked in the Encore program at Newport City Elementary School, a skill-building program that introduces students to careers, including health care. It’s a job she’s still engaged with. “I love it,” she said. “But then I realized I wanted to go one step further and really explore my curiosity in medicine, and my need to understand how things work.”

Lydia briefly considered medical school, but nursing felt like a better fit. “I really want to care for people, build relationships, and advocate for people,” she said. Nursing offered the balance she was looking for, combining science with hands-on care.

Lydia graduated from North Country Union High School in 2023 and is now a junior at the University of Vermont, where she is majoring in nursing and working toward her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

“They supported me in every way they could”

As Lydia contemplated how she might achieve these dreams, she knew she would need a college degree. “It’s funny,” Lydia said. “I never felt like I had to go to college. It wasn’t an expectation of my parents, but I also never felt personally like there was another option for me, especially with my dreams.”  

Lydia’s three sisters attended college, and her mom took night classes over a ten-year period to earn her associate degree. And her mom worked incredibly hard to make sure she didn’t accrue debt while she pursued her education. She was always clear with Lydia that attending college was not out of reach.  

Lydia’s support network grew when she connected with VSAC through its GEAR UP college and career readiness program. As a first-generation college student, she was offered some additional assistance with the college application process, which for Lydia, started in her junior year of high school.  

When Lydia decided during her senior year of high school to pursue nursing, her parents’ interest in her future didn’t waver. “They helped me in every way they could. Applications, everything,” Lydia said. Lydia’s dad, Peter Ste. Marie, Sr., recently passed away—which has only furthered her desire to help people. “I want to make him proud,” she shares.

“VSAC found me,” she said. “They supported me in the application process and there were even people who would help us with feedback on our essays,” she said. “Without VSAC, I wouldn’t have known where to start, so I tried to take advantage of all of it.”

Making a data-based decision

Help with her applications and the associated fees enabled Lydia to apply widely. “I applied to every school I could think of with a nursing program,” she said. “The help with the application fees made it possible because it would have been a financial challenge otherwise.”

At first, Lydia imagined going far from home for school. But as she began to focus on finding the right nursing program for her, she began to think a little differently. She researched the pass rates of nursing licensure exams for the graduates of schools she was considering. She also sought schools that had a strong sense of community. And then as decision time approached, she considered the long-term financial impact of her choice. “I stopped and thought about if I really wanted to be paying for school the rest of my life,” she said.

That thought process sealed it for her. Lydia was offered enough financial aid and scholarships to be able to attend the University of Vermont (UVM) debt-free. “My tuition, my room and board, everything is covered,” she said. At UVM, Lydia has found community through UVM First, a program for first-generation students, and the UVM Nurses Association. During her first two years in college, she worked at UVM’s Royall Tyler Theatre through work-study, a job that allowed her to stay connected to another passion, performing arts.  

Starting close to home, open to the world

Looking ahead, Lydia hopes to begin her nursing career close to home. “I’d like to work locally for a few years to get my footing and to feel more confident,” she said. Eventually, she wants to follow her urge to travel far and wide. “The idea of traveling and experiencing the world really appeals to me. It’s possible I’ll choose travel nursing so I can experience living in different cultures and environments.”

Family also continues to play a central role in Lydia’s future. Close with her siblings, mother, and nieces and nephews, she brings values shaped by her family into her education. Additionally, Lydia recently got engaged to her high school sweetheart, Mason, who is also from the Newport area. Like her family, Mason is deeply supportive of her dreams and aspirations, whether she stays in Vermont or stretches her wings.

For Lydia, nursing is more than a career choice—it’s a reflection of her true nature. Rooted in care, community, and service, her path forward is a natural continuation of the values that have shaped her from the beginning.