About Shawnee

The second oldest of 5 children, Shawnee spent her younger years as the built-in babysitter of her younger siblings. Her days were often filled with drawing, daydreaming, competing in cheerleading and dance, practicing gymnastics, and singing in her competitive ensemble group. Her favorite hobbies were, and still are, reading, singing, dancing (sometimes well, sometimes badly), drawing, cooking, writing, painting, hiking, mountain-biking, and snuggling all types of critters.

Athletic and energetic, she continued to be involved in sports and dance in high school and coached Pop-Warner cheer for her little sister's pee-wee squad. Also a self-proclaimed nerd and lover of fantasy novels and comics, Shawnee created her own cosplay costumes which she proudly displayed outside of San Diego's Comic-Con, where she busked with friends. However, the arts, while diverting, did not stop her from continuing her education. Originally inspired to work as a highway patrol officer, she soon discovered that her passion for the sciences extended beyond episodes of Bill Nye the Science Guy and Forensic Files. 

It's debatable when Shawnee was bitten by the nursing bug, but by her late 20's her dabbling at a college career shifted into a drive to help and care for others who could not care for themselves. In 2021, Shawnee received a full scholarship from Pathways to Independence to nursing school where she finally found her calling. She enrolled at Golden West College in Huntington Beach where her education and personal growth started to gain real traction. She became an example to follow as the building manager and speaker at Pathways to Independence events, where she shared her trials and tribulations to raise awareness for women in need of educational and emotional support. Shawnee also became a mentor for new nursing students and often offered to stay after class and in lab to give advice and share books and study materials. Her life motto, one adopted in her early days in Pathways, is "If not now, WHEN?"

It was in her second year of Pathways and her first semester of nursing school at Golden West College that Shawnee met James and quickly discovered the joys of being part of a blended family. Shawnee had always loved children and had hoped for a family but had been focused on her future career and education. From the moment she snuggled James’s dog Shiloh to the second she asked James's son if he wanted to learn how to turn a cartwheel, Shawnee was in love. Cuddling on the couch with James, Bubba (Bubs), and Shiloh became the highlight of her week when she got the occasional day off. From the beginning, James was endlessly supportive of her education, career goals, and hobbies, and his love and support made the long hours of nursing school worth it. Shawnee has since graduated with honors with her ASN and RN in 2025 at GWC and her BSN in 2026 from CSU San Bernardino.

Shawnee's current goals include pursuing additional nursing certifications, reading as many books as she can get her hands on, staying active, being the best stepmom she can be to Bubs, traveling with her family, paying forward all of the joy and gratitude she feels for the opportunities she has been given, and making the best of every bit of every day.