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Alumni Interview: Five Things That Matter with Ada-Grace Perry '22
Not every road is meant to be straight. After high school, Ada-Grace Perry ’22 did what many students feel expected to do: she enrolled in a four-year college, joined a team, and stepped into a traditional nursing program. But something didn’t feel right. Instead of pushing through, she made the courageous decision to step away.
What followed wasn’t a detour but clarity. She chose an approach that allowed her to learn and work simultaneously, and she is now ahead of her original timeline. Today, she is a practicing nurse, graduating without student debt, and preparing to begin her dream role in cardiac care, all at the age of 22. She credits her parents, Sarah (‘89) and Eric, as her constant source of encouragement and stability. They are not the only ones who believe in her; this past year, she was one of only two nursing students from Vermont State University to receive a DAISY Award nomination for above-and-beyond compassionate care.
1. Where are you now and what are you up to?
Right now, I’m living in Manchester with my parents and working as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at Manchester Urgent Care while finishing my Associate Degree in Nursing at Vermont State University.
My path here wasn’t linear. After high school, I went to Castleton to play soccer and start their nursing program because I thought that was what I was supposed to do. But pretty quickly, I realized the program wasn’t as hands-on as I expected. I’m someone who likes to move. I’m always looking for how to get somewhere faster and get things done, and I wanted a program that felt the same way.
So I made the decision to leave and come home. In May 2023, I completed a nursing assistant course at Southwest Tech and started working in the ICU in Bennington. I loved critical care. It’s incredibly satisfying to see someone come in really sick and then be able to walk out of there in an improved state. That experience confirmed for me that I definitely wanted to be a nurse.
Now I’m on an LPN-to-RN track. I work three days a week and go to school three days a week, which means I’ll have a full year of experience as a nurse before I even become a Registered Nurse (RN). That hands-on experience has put me ahead in so many ways.
At the end of this school year, I’ll earn my RN and begin working in the Cardiac Post-Surgical Unit at the UVM Medical Center. I’ve also joined their year-long nurse residency program and will start full-time on the night shift while building advanced certifications like ACLS. Long term, I want to become a flight nurse. I’ll need several years in critical care first, but that’s part of what excites me.
2. How did your experience at Burr and Burton help set you on your path?
When I was at BBA, there was definitely a push toward going to a four-year college. Looking back, I wish I had known a different route like mine existed. I might have chosen it sooner.
At the same time, BBA shaped me in ways I value every day. I was involved in so many different circles (sports, clubs, different friend groups) and I never felt boxed into just one identity. BBA made that possible. I learned how to connect with lots of different types of people, and that’s something I use constantly now.
I’m by far the youngest person in my nursing class, but I feel completely comfortable. I don’t need one core group to feel grounded. I built deep friendships in high school, but I also learned independence and adaptability, and that has carried into my work life.
3. Which teachers especially impacted you as a student?
Amy Newbold is number one on my list. She’s my ride or die. I took CP Biology with her during COVID (half virtual, half in-person) and I became her classroom helper. I was in her room every week. She became such a core part of my BBA experience. She’s chill, warm, and genuinely loves people. She’s very similar to my mom, which is probably why I connected with her so much.
Tom Collins also had a huge impact on me. His Anatomy and Physiology class prepared me for the reality of a college course. He had high expectations, and that shaped how I approached academics afterward.
4. Favorite memory of Burr and Burton?
Definitely hockey. I had never played competitively before BBA, but I joined freshman year and ended up being captain by senior year. It introduced me to people I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise. Practicing at 4am in below-zero temperatures sounds miserable, but I loved it. Hockey is the best sport ever. I’ll play hockey for the rest of my life.
I still skate at the Peru Rink with my dad on Sundays, and I stay connected with my teammates. Hockey taught me discipline, time management, and resilience, skills I use every single day.
5. What advice would you give to current students?
You know yourself better than you think you do. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t work out the first time, that’s okay. I tried two different colleges, realized they were not a fit, and made a different decision for myself. There is always another path.
If you’re interested in nursing, get hands-on experience early. That’s been the biggest advantage of my nontraditional route. I work 36 hours a week while in school, and I’m constantly applying what I’m learning in real time. Because of that experience, I’m already a Tier 2 nurse and earning more, before even becoming an RN.
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