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A report published by The 74 on Oct. 27, 2026, recounts how Damien Fox worked two nursing assistant jobs while attending vocational high school, often missing social and family events and sleeping only a few hours. Fox later said he burned out and failed a registered nursing program by less than half a point, then returned to school and earned his RN degree in 2025.
Damien Fox says he worked two nursing assistant jobs while attending vocational high school, a schedule that left him missing family gatherings, time with friends and events such as prom. In an account published by The 74 on Oct. 27, 2026, Fox said the pace helped him gain work experience but also brought exhaustion and pressure that later contributed to burnout in college.
Fox began training to become a certified nursing assistant at 15 through his vocational high school and was certified the following year, according to The 74’s report by Jessika Harkay. Alongside school, he took two nursing assistant jobs: one full-time and one per-diem. He said his weekday shifts typically ran from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., while weekend work could include a second shift from midnight to 7 a.m.
Fox said he often completed homework after work, then slept for only a few hours before getting up at 5 a.m. to catch a bus for a commute of more than 1.5 hours. He described missing school occasionally because he was too tired and said the work schedule kept him away from friends’ activities and family day trips. Despite that strain, he maintained high honors and graduated at the top of his class, the report said.
The difficulties intensified after high school. Fox told The 74 he failed out of a four-year registered nursing program at Worcester State University by less than half a point, after his grades slipped and he became burned out. He later attended a local community college, studied to become a licensed practical nurse and gained experience, including nursing assistant contracts in Boston and work in an intensive care unit. He returned to a registered nursing program, graduated in 2025, became a director of nursing in July, and enrolled in another nursing program, according to the report.
The Cost of Working Through High School
Fox’s account shows the trade-offs he says came with trying to advance his career while still a teenager: income and early experience on one side, time, rest and social connection on the other. His story also complicates a simple account of hard work leading directly to success. He says the pace helped him build skills, but that pushing himself too fast preceded a serious academic setback.
The report is a personal account, not evidence that every student who works long hours will face the same outcome. It does, however, put a specific example before students, families and educators of how school, paid work, long commutes and insufficient sleep can collide. Fox’s own advice is to pursue goals without pushing so hard that exhaustion makes it difficult to continue.
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From CNA Training to RN Degree
Fox told The 74 that his approach was shaped partly by his father, who dropped out of high school, later earned a GED and pursued a career in engineering. Fox recalled his father’s message that “if you want to be successful, no one holds your hand.” He said he took that lesson to heart and felt he had little time to fall behind academically.
That drive helped Fox complete high school with strong grades, but his first attempt at a registered nursing degree did not succeed. After leaving Worcester State University, he used community college coursework and practical nursing work as a route back toward an RN program. His later graduation in 2025 followed a changed path rather than the accelerated route he had initially tried to take.
““I was just pushing myself to the limit and I was saying ‘This is for my future. I need to get this done.’””
— Damien Fox, speaking to The 74
What the Account Does Not Establish
The report presents Fox’s personal recollections; it does not provide independent records of his work hours, grades or the circumstances of his departure from Worcester State. It also does not identify the exact dates of his high school jobs, the duration of the schedule, or how often he missed school because of fatigue.
The account does not establish that his workload alone caused his college failure. Fox said he became burned out and was moving too fast, but the report does not detail other factors that may have affected his grades. The source also gives limited information about his current nursing program or the timing and responsibilities of his director of nursing role.
Fox’s Continued Nursing Studies
Fox has enrolled in another nursing program, The 74 reported, as he seeks to continue advancing in the field. The report does not give the program’s name, his expected completion date or what role he plans to pursue afterward.
For now, the next step described is his continued study alongside his nursing career. Fox’s closing message to students is to make room for meaningful events, including prom, graduations and family celebrations, rather than allowing work to consume every available hour.
Key Questions
What happened to Damien Fox while he was in high school?
According to The 74, Fox trained as a nursing assistant through vocational school and worked two nursing assistant jobs while attending classes. He said the schedule caused him to miss social and family events and sometimes left him too tired for school.
Did Fox graduate from high school?
Yes. The report says Fox graduated at the top of his class and maintained high honors despite his work schedule.
Why did Fox leave his first registered nursing program?
Fox told The 74 he failed out of the four-year program at Worcester State University by less than half a point. He said his grades had slipped and he had become burned out; the report does not establish that workload was the only factor.
Did Fox later earn a registered nursing degree?
Yes. After studying at a local community college and gaining nursing experience, Fox re-enrolled in an RN program and graduated in 2025, according to The 74.
What advice does Fox give students?
Fox says students can work hard toward their goals without pushing themselves to the point of exhaustion. He specifically advises making time for major events such as prom, graduations and family celebrations.
Source: rss
