Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson Says She's 'Proud' of Herself as Nursing School Hasn't 'Been Easy'

Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson is proving she's more than just a reality TV star, even as she admits nursing school has been difficult.

"I know every single day I’m getting a little stronger, a little smarter, and a little closer to the nurse I’ve always dreamed of becoming," Thompson, 20, captioned a video posted via Instagram on Sunday, March 22.

The former reality TV star was seen in a classroom, focused on preparing an IV needle on a mock blood vessel. She wore navy blue medical scrubs, pink gloves and cream-colored cat-eye glasses.

"This journey hasn’t been easy, but my heart is in it, and one day I’m going to be an amazing pediatric nurse," she continued. "And just a reminder I’m still in school and still learning every single day, so I don’t need comments about how I did something wrong or how you would’ve done it differently. This is part of the process, and I’m growing every day."

Fans had nothing but praise for the media personality, who made her reality TV debut on Toddlers & Tiaras in 2012.

"Proud of you, Alana. You are amazing and keep going to fulfil your dream, you will be an awesome pediatric nurse," one fan wrote in the comments section, while another added, "You have so, so many 'Auntie's' that have watched you grow up & that are so very proud of you! 🧡 The babies are going to love you!"

"I really needed to hear this today! Struggling with my last semester of college to become a teacher. Also, so proud of you and love you!" a third added.

The Here Comes Honey Boo Boo alum has faced several challenges in recent years. In December 2023, Thompson's eldest sister, Anna Cardwell, died following her battle with stage 4 carcinoma.

The former beauty pageant contestant later shared how her late sister had always been her biggest cheerleader in pursuing higher education and revealed the promise she had made to her before she passed.

"I consistently remind myself when Anna told me, she was like, 'If I pass and you're not in nursing school, I will haunt you,'" Thompson recalled.

She continued, "I do tell a lot of people that my second semester went a lot better than my first semester. I think my first semester, it was just everything with Anna and also trying to adjust to college and then, I also moved out of state ... So, it was just a whole bunch that was going on in my first semester, but I got through it and my second semester it was a lot more smooth sailing."