Noah Jon Markstrom Student Debt Paydown Grant

How can I feel connected to Noah's story even though I never had the pleasure to meet him? As a cancer survivor myself and now a pediatric oncology nurse, I vividly recall the experience on both sides of this incredibly difficult journey. I recall the moments in my early 20s during surgery and treatments, and how much the healthcare workers caring for me impacted my recovery, and ultimately, the course of my life. It was those experiences that shaped my educational journey and professional path, ultimately leading me to transition careers. From then on I knew I wanted to help people, to care for others, and to share the hope and encouragement that was so generously offered to me. I currently work at a national cancer hospital, and every day that I go to work I have the chance to look into the faces of my patients and their families, reminding them that they are not alone on this journey. As a healthcare team in oncology, we work together tirelessly to bring healing and a cure to our patients who are often racing against the clock. It is easy in many moments to feel overwhelmed and heartbroken. These feelings are often unavoidable. Yet in the same moment I see perseverance and determination in the faces of my patients, many of whom are young children and adolescents walking through confusing situations with humor and optimism. It makes the work that I do as an oncology nurse worth every single difficult moment. I see all of life as an opportunity to experience the grace and goodness of those around you, and then to hopefully pass that on to others. I know without a doubt that the pain and hardships I have gone through are not wasted, and continue to be used to support and encourage my patients and their families. My career has given my life a bigger purpose than I could have imagined, pushing me to pursue further education and learning as much as possible about this field. I plan to use my current professional path to pursue a Master's degree in nursing education, while continuing to learn about cutting-edge cancer research and therapies. Education and the training of future oncology medicine professionals is vitally important, and I look forward to being part of the community that seeks to build them up. Pediatric oncology medicine is a challenging field of work, but those of us on the inside see the immense joy and purpose it can bring to ones life. The work is crucial and the path forward is full of hope. There is so much to be discovered and improved upon in our work, but today I am immensely proud to call myself an oncology nurse.