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When Achante Pascute stepped to the podium as �Ը������� University at Trumbull’s student commencement speaker in May, she shared a story of determination, sacrifice and the power of having someone believe in you.

A first-generation student, nontraditional graduate and woman of color, Pascute earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree summa cum laude, graduating at the top of her class after navigating years of financial challenges and living in an aging camper with her husband, Jesse Pasek.

Now, just months after graduation, she is beginning the next chapter of that journey as an operating room nurse at Cleveland Clinic.

For Pascute, the transition from nursing student to full-time professional represents more than the start of a career. It is another milestone in a journey that required perseverance, sacrifice and a willingness to keep moving forward, even when circumstances were far from ideal.

From the Classroom to the Operating Room

Pascute recently began her nursing career at Cleveland Clinic, working in the operating room as both a scrub nurse and a circulating nurse. The two roles require precision, teamwork and a constant focus on patient safety.

As a scrub nurse, she helps maintain the sterile environment during surgery, passes instruments to the surgeon and participates in instrument counts to ensure nothing is missing or inadvertently left inside a patient. As a circulating nurse, she documents the procedure and tracks the instruments and supplies used throughout the operation.

The work has been a positive fit as she continues to grow into her new profession.

“It is going well so far! I like it,” Pascute said. “I think it is exactly where I need to be right now while I get ready for my next move.”

The transition from student to working professional has taken some adjustment. After years of balancing demanding nursing coursework, clinical rotations, research and other responsibilities, she is getting accustomed to the rhythms of working full time.

“It's a little weird transitioning back to working full time from being a student, but I'm starting to get used to it,” she said.

Her time at �Ը������� Trumbull helped prepare her for the responsibilities of nursing, but the learning continues as she gains hands-on experience in the operating room and considers the next steps in her career.

A New Home and a Fresh Start

Pascute and Pasek have also made a significant change outside the hospital: They have moved to downtown Cleveland, leaving behind the difficult living conditions that became such a defining part of their college years.

Their new home is in the historic Halle Building in Playhouse Square, Cleveland's theater district. After starting from scratch with furniture and other household necessities, the couple is settling into their new space.

For two people who once lived in a camper without heat, air conditioning or running water, the comforts of their new home are especially meaningful.

They now have a kitchen where they can cook, a bedroom, a spacious bathroom and the everyday conveniences that were once difficult to take for granted. With the major furniture purchases nearly complete, they are looking forward to making the apartment feel more like home.

One of their next plans is to get a Christmas tree and decorate for the holidays, a simple pleasure that marks another step toward the stability they worked so hard to achieve.

Their move to Cleveland is not just a change of address. It represents the opportunity to build a new life together as they pursue their professional goals.

Supporting Each Other's Dreams

Throughout her nursing education, Pascute frequently credited Pasek with helping her reach graduation. During her commencement address, she invited him onstage for a humorous reenactment of their years living in the camper, but the moment also underscored the sacrifices they made together.

“It would be easy to make this sound like a story about determination,” she told graduates, “but the truth is, I didn’t do any of this alone.”

That partnership continues as Pasek pursues his own nursing education.

He began his first in-person class this semester and is making progress toward entering a nursing program. After completing one additional prerequisite course in anatomy and physiology next semester, he is scheduled to begin the nursing program next summer. 

For Pascute, who knows firsthand the demands of nursing school, his journey is a continuation of the shared commitment that helped carry them through her education.

Their paths are now unfolding in a new city, with Pascute building experience at Cleveland Clinic and Pasek preparing for the next stage of his studies.

A Future Built on Resilience

Looking back on her time at �Ը������� Trumbull, Pascute said the nursing program challenged her academically while helping her develop resilience, independence and confidence. She also credited the faculty members and mentors who supported her along the way.

Her story of living in a camper while working toward a nursing degree resonated with the Class of 2026 because it demonstrated that difficult circumstances do not have to determine a person's future.

Now, as she settles into her new role and home, that message has taken on a new meaning. The challenges she and Pasek faced remain part of their story, but they no longer define the circumstances of their daily lives.

Pascute's journey is still unfolding. She is gaining experience in a demanding clinical environment, adjusting to life after college and preparing for whatever comes next in her nursing career. At the same time, she and Pasek are continuing to support each other's ambitions.

Her commencement message remains an apt description of the road that brought her here: Progress does not require perfect conditions. Sometimes, it begins with showing up, taking the next step and believing that a better future is possible.

For Pascute, that next step has taken her from an aging camper to the operating rooms of Cleveland Clinic — and into a new chapter she and her husband are building together.

For more information about �Ը�������'s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, offered at Geauga, Kent, Salem, Stark and Trumbull campuses, visit .