Flinn Scholar, nursing graduate ready to serve Arizona families
Netia Unger. Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2025 graduates.
At 16, Netia Unger gave birth. At 17, she was acing AP classes. And by 18, she was a Flinn Scholar, one of the few students in Arizona to earn the highly competitive and prestigious award.
After graduating in the top 2% of her high school class, Unger chose Arizona State University, enrolling in Barrett, The Honors College, and set her sights on a nursing degree.
Now 22, the first-generation student will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in nursing from ASU’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation.
“I’ve always been a very dedicated and determined person,” Unger said, adding, “If I set my mind to something and want to do it, I'm going to make it happen.”
That determination carried into college, but it started long before. When Unger had her son, Mateo, during her sophomore year of high school, she returned to class a week later.
She credits her family for stepping in then and now, making it possible for her to move forward, turning what may have been a setback into a springboard.
“I was still applying for scholarships, doing interviews, working,” she said.
That mindset not only kept her going; it opened doors. As a Flinn Scholar, Unger participated in two study abroad programs — one in France, and another in the United Kingdom.
“We studied water systems in France, so it wasn’t related to my major, but being able to get out of the country and seeing these different environments and interacting with different cultures was so beneficial. The UK experience was really cool, too, because that was more focused on health care and medicine.”
There were also honors-only seminars and eventually the upper-division nursing program on the West Valley campus, which introduced her to nursing in a whole new way and solidified that this was the career for her.
“When I started my clinicals, I finally understood what nurses actually do,” she said. “That’s when I realized, 'OK, I can see myself doing this.' And getting positive feedback from preceptors and professors gave me the confidence to know I can do it.”
Unger plans to stay close to home after graduation. While finishing her final semester and completing her transition to practice, she’s applying for nursing jobs at hospitals throughout Phoenix.
As she prepares to take the next step into caring for Arizona families, she spent some time reflecting on how she got here and what she learned along the way.
Question: What was your “aha” moment, when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
Answer: My initial inspiration was seeing (a) pediatrician. Doctors always intrigued me, and my brother's wife was a certified nursing assistant in the medical field, which helped me know I always wanted to do nursing.
When I had my son, that really motivated me to go into nursing because the nurses who helped me give birth had such an impact on me and truly changed everything I knew, and this encouraged me to go down this path. With graduation coming up, I know I made the right choice and am so glad I chose nursing.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?
A: One, just how inclusive ASU is. And two, they’re really innovative, and there are opportunities for just about anything you can think of. The study abroad programs were amazing.
I was in Barrett, and that helped a lot, too. I got to take some incredible classes that really made you think, especially the more philosophical ones, which I loved. They were kind of a side interest outside of nursing, but I found them really compelling. It’s so important to explore outside of your major.
I also felt really supported. Any time I had a question, there was someone, an advisor or someone else, ready to help. That made a big difference. I love ASU!
Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: Valerie Brady. She was my (fifth-term) professor at the start of the nursing program, teaching the intro courses. She was really personable and cared about you as a person, not just as a nursing student, which was encouraging.
This was the first semester of nursing school, so it was very nerve-racking. You don't know what you're doing; you're learning so much information. Also, the switch from your prerequisites to once you are in the nursing program is very different, because the way they ask you questions on the exams is so different. So, I was having to essentially relearn how to study, and having someone support you and cheer you on was a big motivator.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: Remember why you started. I think that’s the most important thing. Don’t let outside voices influence why you're doing what you're doing or what motivated you in the first place.
Remember who you are, because some people work toward something for years, and then others come in and question it, like, “Why are you going to be a nurse?” That kind of outside noise can really mess with your mindset. In the end, it comes down to your values and staying true to them.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A: The number of underinsured people. It’s a major issue in health care, and it breaks my heart. You see people who need care but are afraid to get it because they don’t have insurance. They avoid procedures and go without necessary prescriptions. That’s really hard to witness as a nurse. We work for these large health systems, but in the end, we’re caring for people who often can’t afford the help they need.
Many of the patients I see are older adults who don’t have anyone to support them at home. If they need to be admitted to care facilities, but their insurance won’t cover the stay, they’re sent home. And then the question is: Who’s going to be there for them? It’s a heartbreaking dilemma.
I also volunteered with the March of Dimes Mom and Baby Mobile Health Unit, which partners with Wesley Community and Health and Edson College. Many of the people who came by didn’t have prenatal care. We gave out vitamins and information, but seeing that kind of gap in access was tough.
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