Madelynn Rouh Memorial Scholarship

Growing up, healthcare was always a big part of my life. Both of my grandmothers were nurses, and my mom is a pharmacist, so stories about hospital life and patient interactions were common in our house. I understood at a young age how meaningful careers in healthcare can be. What always stood out most to me was that the careers not only required a substantial amount of scientific knowledge, but also a great deal of compassion to care for patients. My maternal grandmother was a mother-baby nurse, and my paternal grandmother worked for years as a rehab nurse. After years of serving others, they have so many stories about the patients they interacted with daily. Their stories always spoke of building trust and relationships with patients and making sure they feel seen and comfortable showed me that nursing is not just about treating an illness, but it is about caring for the person behind the diagnosis. The kindness, empathy, and patience that they showed to their patients and to me shaped the way I interact with others. They instilled in me a desire to pursue a similar path in nursing. As I grew older, I realized what I like most about the field of nursing is the opportunity to connect with people during their most vulnerable times; a nurse can be someone's only source of comfort and reassurance. I want to be a nurse who makes her patients feel safe, heard, and, most importantly, makes them feel as though they are never alone, no matter what they are facing. My experiences working with children at church programs and volunteering also reinforced my desire to pursue nursing. In those times, I saw how much a calm presence, a kind act, or even a listening ear can greatly impact someone. Through these experiences, I now believe that compassion and attentiveness are just as important as clinical skills are in healthcare. The moment I truly realized that I wanted to be a nurse came from remembering the examples of the women in my family. Seeing the dedication my grandmothers had to the profession and to their patients for decades helped me understand the impact nurses can have on a daily basis. Being a nurse will allow me to combine my interest in science and my passion for helping others. Just as my grandmothers did, I hope to bring kindness and compassion into every interaction I have with patients, making a positive difference in the lives I care for.