While she has lived in Caswell County all of her life, she was born in Alamance County and attended Alamance Community College. Shannon has held several positions in Alamance County including her current position as Community Educator for Hospice & Palliative Care Center of Alamance-Caswell. She is passionate about her work striving to help patients and their families with accessing the right care, at the right time, in the right way.
Shannon Pointer has had over 17 years of nursing experience working in a variety of clinical and community settings. She completed a graduate certificate in Nursing Education and a Master of Science in Nursing with a major in Nursing Systems/Populations and concentration in Community and Public Health Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She obtained her undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her ADN from Alamance Community College.
When asked why she cares about her community and why it is important to be involved, Shannon mentions her personal mission, “to empower and support all to be successful in spite of any difficulties they may encounter”. She supports this community professionally as well as personally, through helping connect others to available resources that may help all along their journey. Her passion comes through loud and clear! “I feel it is important for people to know that they can accomplish anything. While the road may be difficult and barriers may be in the way, we must succeed in spite of our difficulties, not fail because of them. My motto is: “She did all she could…and she did it”. I want to leave this world knowing I did everything I could for myself, my family and my community, with the time I had.”
Shannon says that life itself has had the biggest influence on her because it isn’t always easy. “What we think will happen may not happen, and what we think will continue to exist may stop and we have to find ways to deal with the changing waves and paths of life.” She learns from others who have mentored her to be her best self, to be flexible and to be a great listener. “We learn more by listening than by talking. Also, try to see the good in all. While we may not agree with each other all the time, working together through effective communication and collaboration, we can accomplish so much more than working in division and negativity.” Shannon states that her husband of 17 years is a constant source of her support with encouragement through good and bad times. “Having that person in your corner makes the rough days a little better. He constantly tells me that there is nothing that I cannot do and that helps give me the strength to continue making a difference in the world.”
If you know Shannon at all, you know she makes time for physical activity. “I must make time for myself in order to give my best to others in my life. My one hour of time a day in the gym reduces the stress of the day and helps me to feel a better sense of overall wellness.” Her special interests are triathlon training, golf, inshore and offshore fishing. “I always set goals for myself and try to achieve them. Goals help to keep me motivated. I set a goal to complete a full marathon and did it! I set a goal to complete a triathlon and did it! Who knows what will be next?” I don’t think we will be surprised.
What is her advice to her younger self? “Take time for YOU, so you can be your best for others. Rise above the struggles and succeed in spite of them. Make the most of your talents, abilities and each day that you are given. What you have planned may not be where you end up, but do believe everything happens for a reason and a specific purpose. Set goals, but also be flexible when the path takes you in a direction you least expected because it may be right where you were meant to be.”
Her biggest excitement is what the future holds for her daughter. “She wants to be a large animal veterinarian and I am so proud of what she has accomplished so far and what she will continue to do in the future. I enjoy watching her grow! There is so much more to do and many ways I can continue to make a difference so I cannot wait to see what lies ahead!”
