To me, selflessness means choosing to put the needs of others before my own, even when no one is watching. It is not defined by one extraordinary act, but by the countless intentional choices to serve with compassion, advocate for those without a voice, and create moments of hope during life's most difficult circumstances. As a pediatric cardiovascular intensive care registered nurse, I have learned that healing extends far beyond medications and procedures. The greatest impact often comes from offering my time, patience, and presence to children and families who need someone to walk beside them. One patient reminded me that meaningful care is built through trust. After a prolonged hospitalization, he struggled with the emotional toll of his illness and often refused therapies out of frustration with his limitations. Rather than focusing solely on completing tasks, I chose to meet him where he was emotionally. I patiently listened without judgment, sat beside him building Lego sets, and talked with him about his favorite Final Destination movies while waiting for his grandmother to arrive. Those moments could have been spent charting or catching up on other responsibilities, but investing that time strengthened our relationship and encouraged him to participate more willingly in his care. I learned that sometimes the most therapeutic intervention is simply being present. Selflessness also means caring for the entire family. In pediatric intensive care, parents and caregivers are my patients as much as the child. One grandparent caring for a critically ill child had limited health literacy and felt overwhelmed by the complexity of the medical plan. While their anxiety occasionally presented as frustration, I recognized fear beneath those emotions. I spent extra time answering every question, explaining procedures in understandable language, and creating a safe space for them to express concerns. Although I did not personally agree with every decision surrounding the patient's care, I respected the family's wishes while advocating for the child's best interests by participating in ethical discussions with my multidisciplinary team. Compassion requires humility, empathy, and the willingness to understand another person's perspective. Beyond the bedside, I strive to serve my community through volunteering. At Ronald McDonald House, I donated meals and volunteered to prepare and serve dinner for families staying near their hospitalized children, providing one small source of comfort during unimaginable hardship. Through Charlotte Wildlife Stewards, I participated in river and street cleanups, fundraising events, and educational programs that taught children and young families how to protect their local environment. Supporting healthy communities means caring for future generations beyond the hospital walls. I also proudly support The Children's Heart Foundation by participating in the Charlotte Congenital Heart Walk, last year I raised over $400 to advance research for children with congenital heart disease. These experiences have reinforced that selflessness is not about recognition or sacrifice for its own sake. It is about consistently choosing kindness, advocacy, and service wherever there is a need. Whether I am comforting a frightened child, empowering an anxious family, preparing a warm meal for parents far from home, or raising awareness for congenital heart disease, I strive to leave every person feeling seen, supported, and never alone.

As a new grad nurse who started in the Pediatric CVICU, I am constantly in awe of the amazing people I get to call coworkers. Towards the start of my career, one PICU nurse said to us while he was walking out to start his shift, “be careful not to trip on your capes, you are superheroes now.” Each day, I strive to continually improve my knowledge and skills to be worthy of that comparison. It is also imperative to incorporate the basics of what nursing is, to care for patients and make a positive difference in people’s lives. While giving CPR and emergency interventions are life-saving, it is easy to forget how impactful our presence, communication, and care can be to patients and their families. My initial draw to nursing was nonlinear to say the least. My experience is unique in that I left my lucrative job in sales and management to heed a higher calling in nursing. I am so thankful every day that I did not shy away from the challenge but instead jumped right in. As an adult, I went back to community college to get the necessary prerequisites before applying to an accelerated nursing program. Fast forward to today and I have been a Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Registered Nurse for 3 years and am about to start Wake Forest's Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia program. In reflecting on patients I have cared for, one stands out, a 150kg 17-year-old with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy requiring ECMO cannulation, and ultimately listed 1A for a heart transplant. Throughout this process, I recognized the knowledge gap, underlined by shock and grief, in this family. By involving them in the patient’s care, explaining my clinical reasoning, and listening to their concerns, I bridged this gap. As nurse, I continue to honor patient and family choices and advocate for them, earning their trust before surgery. In pediatrics, both the child and their parents are my patients. For example, this patient’s grandparent had low health literacy and were frustrated with care and extremely anxious. When others grappled by their sometimes-frustrated demeanor, I attempted to bridge the knowledge gap by sitting with them and answering all their questions. I tried to give them the time and space to voice their concerns, grievances, and feelings. While I did not personally agree with some choices, it is my responsibility to not only honor the patient and family’s wishes for care but to advocate for them with the rest of my team. As I continue my journey as a healthcare professional, I strive to be the comforting and confident presence that must elicit complete trust from a patient and their families during some of the hardest moments in their lives. The lesson this patient taught me is to see past the anger and pain and remember to honor the patient’s dignity. Throughout my nursing career working in pediatrics, one lesson I had to learn for myself was resilience as well as self care. In order to continue caring for this population, I had to develop a meaningful life outside of work so that I could keep coming back each day. The support system of my family, friends, and pets, are what shine a light in my life on the darkest days I see at work. I also love to paint, read, and bake in my spare time. Last year I read 30 books and made macarons. I also love volunteering. While I volunteer with the Congenital Heart Center outside of work to benefit the population I work with, I also volunteer with the Charlotte Wildlife Stewards. Through this organization, I participated in educational and interactive events for children and young families to learn about their local flora and fauna and how to protect and preserve it. I have been involved with River Clean ups, Street Clean Ups, Fundraising, and Educational events across Mecklenburg county. I have also recommitted myself to barre classes, recognizing how important physical exercise is in stress-relief for me. Entering a doctoral program will again be challenging and demanding, but I am confident in my ability to not only rise to the occasion academically but in being more attentive in self-care and utilizing my resources. Being a nurse is what I was meant to do, and finding the positive perspective in a unit that sees a lot of loss is how I will be able to continue to advance my practice and provide the best possible care for my patients.

Shortly after being hired on the Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, a seasoned nurse said to me, “be careful not to trip on your cape, you are a superhero now.” At first, I laughed. Over time, I realized that the true “superpower” of pediatric medicine is not performing CPR, managing ECMO, or titrating lifesaving medications. It is the privilege of helping children and families endure the most terrifying moments of their lives with compassion, honesty, and hope. Working in the CVICU has shown me that pediatric medicine is unlike any other specialty. Every child is more than a diagnosis, and every family becomes part of the care team. While maintaining hemodynamic stability and patient safety is always my priority, I have learned that the relationships I build often become just as healing as the interventions I provide. One family forever changed my perspective. Their infant had survived a prolonged NICU stay, multiple cardiac surgeries, VA ECMO, and was ultimately listed for heart transplantation. Months of uncertainty had left the parents exhausted, fearful, and understandably distrustful of the healthcare system. Many viewed their repeated questions as challenging, but I recognized something deeper: parents desperately trying to regain control in a situation where they had none. Rather than becoming defensive, I focused on earning their trust. I involved them in daily care, explained my clinical reasoning, listened to their concerns, and advocated for their wishes during rounds. By seeing them not simply as anxious parents but as partners who loved their child fiercely, our relationship transformed. That experience taught me that empathy is not simply being kind—it is understanding the emotions beneath a family's behavior and allowing that understanding to shape your care. Another patient reinforced why I chose pediatrics. A 10-year-old girl developed cardiogenic shock from suspected myocarditis, requiring ECMO, continuous renal replacement therapy, and ultimately a ventricular assist device while awaiting heart transplantation. Once active and independent, she suddenly could not walk, speak normally, or even enjoy her favorite treat—a Cinnabon. Her frustration often appeared as impatience or anger, but beneath it was grief for the childhood she had temporarily lost. Some of the most meaningful moments were not during emergencies but during quiet acts of care. I brushed her hair, performed range-of-motion exercises, helped her communicate through a letter board, and simply sat beside her when she was waiting for her mother. Before every task, I asked for her permission, giving her choices in a world where so much had been taken away. Those moments reminded me that preserving a child's dignity can be just as important as preserving their physiology. These experiences inspired me to pursue pediatric medicine because children possess extraordinary resilience, and families demonstrate unimaginable strength. They have taught me that healing extends beyond procedures and medications—it is built through trust, communication, advocacy, and human connection. Pediatric medicine challenges me to combine advanced critical care with genuine compassion, treating not only complex cardiac disease but also the emotional needs of children and those who love them. Every shift reinforces that I chose the right profession. I may not always be able to change a diagnosis, but I can ensure every child feels seen, every family feels heard, and every patient is treated with dignity. That privilege is what inspires me to continue growing as a pediatric cardiovascular intensive care nurse and ultimately dedicate my career to pediatric medicine.