Demetria Coley is an 18-year-old nursing graduate on a fast track to success.

Coley made history in her academic career as Florida State University’s (FSU) youngest College of Nursing graduate.

FSView & Florida Flambeau reports that Coley’s father, Demetrius, works as a science teacher and serves as chair of the science department at R. Frank Nims Middle School in Tallahassee, and he encouraged her to take education seriously from an early age.

Additionally, her late mother, Elicia, who was a NICU nurse, is also an example to her. Elicia passed away from ovarian cancer in 2020, according to Nurse.org.

“I decided to follow [my mother’s] footsteps, make her proud,” Coley told FSView & Florida Flambeau.

By age 15, she simultaneously graduated from Lincoln High School and obtained an associate degree from Tallahassee State College. She made history as its youngest graduate, a record previously held by her sister, D’Aundra, notes the outlet. From there, Coley attended Florida A&M University for two years to complete her prerequisites by spring 2024.

She transferred to FSU with aspirations of becoming a nurse. During her time, she worked for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, volunteered at the Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare’s emergency department, and did a preceptorship at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. Her experience affirmed her decision to become a nurse, as she had also been considering becoming a surgeon.

“Surgeons fix the issue, but they don’t get to really interact with the patients as much and really take care of them as in-depth as a nurse would,” Coley said, according to FSView & Florida Flambeau.

On May 1, Coley officially crossed the stage at FSU. She made history as the youngest graduate of FSU’s College of Nursing at age 18, per Nurse.org.

“I’m just glad that I’m able to walk across the stage,” Coley expressed in an interview with the FSView.

Looking ahead, Coley intends to pursue a career in NICU nursing, following in her mother’s footsteps