Check out the latest episode of the Wave Makers podcast!
By Mira Radovich, Senior Contributing Writer
What does it take to change careers, care for a family, and return to college— not once, but multiple times— over nearly two decades? For Rio Salado alum Alysa Call, the answer is flexibility, careful planning, and the courage to move forward even when the path ahead feels uncertain.
In the latest episode of the Wave Makers podcast, host Michelle Reese sits down with Call to talk about her long-standing relationship with Rio Salado College and how its online courses supported her evolving goals— from maintaining a teaching license to completing nursing school prerequisites and launching a new career in healthcare.
Call first enrolled at Rio Salado in 2006 while working as a Spanish teacher and raising young children. She needed coursework to keep her teaching license active, and Rio’s online format made it possible to continue learning on her own schedule.
“I was a new mom and had little ones at home, and Rio Salado was perfect for me to be able to complete the courses and keep learning and growing and maintaining my teaching license while they were sleeping,” Call said.
Years later, after exploring medical Spanish interpretation and re-evaluating her career path, Call made the decision to pursue nursing. When it came time to complete the rigorous prerequisites required for nursing school, she didn’t hesitate about where to start.
“It was not even a question of where I was going to do the prerequisites,” Call said. “I knew that the only way I could get all of these very difficult courses done and still take care of my family and keep working was with the flexibility that Rio Salado gives.”
That flexibility went beyond online learning. Frequent start dates allowed Call to carefully pace and layer her coursework around family life, travel, and work responsibilities— sometimes completing four courses in a semester without taking on more than she could manage at once.
“It’s kind of like Tetris,” she explained. “I could time everything exactly to fit my life.”
Returning to school wasn’t without fear. Call openly discussed doubts about managing family responsibilities, tackling challenging science courses, and choosing the right career path. What helped her move forward was preparation, support, and a shift in mindset.
“Being courageous is when you’re scared and you do it anyway,” she said. “The worst thing I could do was stay in the same spot because I was scared.”
With support from her husband and children, and creating systems that helped keep daily life organized, Call successfully completed her prerequisites. Her credits transferred smoothly, and she felt well prepared for the demands of nursing school.
Today, Call is working as a nurse and using her Spanish medical interpretation skills every day when interacting with patients.
“There’s a deeper connection when you can communicate directly,” Call said. “And I think you can see it on people's faces that they're just so grateful to be understood. That's what we all want. We all want to be understood and to have people see us.”
Call offers encouragement to anyone unsure about juggling school, work, and family.
“You can do it,” she said. “It’s a matter of what adjustments need to be made—and taking it one step at a time.”
Get ready to meet Alysa Call and hear a powerful story about courage, flexibility, and finding your way forward—one brave step at a time.
Listen now on Podbean or find Wave Makers on your favorite podcast channel: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube.
Learn more about Rio Salado College’s nursing prerequisite courses on the website.