My name is Erin Rasbach and I am a senior at Ludington High School in Ludington, Michigan. Some of my favorite things to do are read, go on walks, and take care of aminals. I've never seen myself in any other job besides nursing. I have found such a passion in taking care of others throughout my life, by getting to make sure my family and friends are okay when they are either sad or sick. Knowing that I am protecting the ones I love from pain is the most rewarding feeling, and I want to be able to be that person who protects others in times when they need it most. This is one big reason that I would want to go into nursing, however, I also love the science behind the medical system. The ability to heal a body and return it to homeostasis is incredibly interesting. I would like to be able to see this in person and take part in the process. I currently work at a kennel and have been working there for three years. I love getting to take care of the animals and getting to give them love while they are staying with us. Another thing I love about this job is that I feel like it helps me prepare to become a nurse. I am responsible to make sure that I empathize with the dogs and cats so that they feel loved and comfortable, and also that they receive their medicine. It was a learning curve at first to remember to give them their meds, and I made some mistakes. However, I have learned how to check my work and recheck because of how important doing it correctly is. This is an extremely important skill for a nurse that I have learned, because messing up medication can be fatal. I would have people's lives on my hands, and I'm glad I've had the chance to practice, ensuring I am ready forfor the responsibility of it. I would want to specialize in either pediatrics or neonatal care. I love the idea of being able to care for the little ones and become someone they feel safe with. I know that this would be incredibly rewarding to me. Additionally, I would have the big responsibility of not only taking care of the children or infants but also making sure that the parents trust me and the other nurses helping them. These parents are watching their babies go through medical issues, which is going to cause them to be incredibly worried and stressed out. Helping them feel more comfortable with their situation is a big task that I would want to take on. I am extremely excited about my future, and I'm so glad that I know my niche and get to spend my working years doing something I love.

I try to be somebody that people can always depend on when they need help. Helping others is something that I love to do, because of how good I feel after knowing that I had a part in helping them have a better day. One program I have participated in is the Rotary interact club at my school. Rotary’s main goal is to “[P]rovide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.” I and twelve other students have worked to live out this goal in our school. We recently sold bracelets with the word “unconditional” on them, representing the willingness of people to help others in times when they are struggling. This was a fundraising event to help support our community's mental health organization, the SMILE Foundation. We also had a candy gram fundraiser during valentines week to support the Samuel Omogo Foundation and help fund a water well in Nigeria. I worked the booths selling the bracelets and the candy grams and helped set up the fundraisers. I also have been a member of the choir program for four years, and during this senior year, I have come into a leadership role. I am now the teacher’s assistant and I help out with whatever he needs. A big problem in the choir program at my school is maintaining members through senior year. A lot of the time, they quit to fit in their other classes. This leads to the numbers, especially with the boys, dwindling. This year I have worked to make a positive and familial atmosphere and have done my best to make sure people feel as if they belong in the classroom and that they feel loved by all the others in the room. I feel that we have become closer as a choir throughout the year. I know that I will miss all of them when I graduate and I hope to continue to stay in touch with a lot of them. I also work to help out my teacher Mr. Plummer in any way I can. Our school is going to be renovated, which is very exciting, however it also means that teachers have to box up all of their stuff to be moved. Mr. Plummer had a very steep task in boxing up all of the music in the room. So to do what I could to help, I came in on a Saturday so that I could help lighten his load. Together we got all of his music packed up in one day and got that problem off his plate. One thing that is very needed nowadays is community. People need help and a lot of the time they don’t receive it. I have worked, even in the small ways I can, to help others and create a community where people seek out ways that they can be a friend that others need.

The field of nursing is filled with such strong and brave people. To take on the responsibility of caring for patients, who are often in some of their most vulnerable moments, is a task that can never be taken lightly. All of the nurses I have met in my life have held common traits. They are caring, motivated, hardworking, and incredible people. Every day, I strive to exemplify these same characteristics, so that in the future, I can proudly know that I am like these people I look up to so much. I love to care for people; it is the one thing that brings me the most peace in this world. When I have a sick friend or family member, all I want to do is make them feel comfortable and ensure that they know that they are loved. This is why the idea of being a nurse is so thrilling to me. Every day I would be able to show up and give my love to those who need it most. The pediatric unit is an area of nursing that I feel most called to. I want to be trusted by the parents and have a relationship with the kids so that, even though they are in a hospital, they will feel at ease knowing that I will make sure that they are in good hands. Though I haven't yet gotten the chance to intern in a medical setting due to a lack of opportunities, I have experience distributing medicine. I have worked at a kennel in my town for the last three years, and have had the responsibility of ensuring that the dogs receive their medication daily. This has been great practice in being thorough, because forgetting even one pill, could have catastrophic effects on the animals. I also have learned to give a shot of insulin, to a dog named Bella. This is a case in which forgetting could lead to extreme consequences for the dog. Working at the kennel has not only given me a lesson in responsibility but has also given me a glimpse into what it is like to be a nurse. Even though the dogs are not sick patients, I owe these dogs the best, and most empathetic care I can give them. They are away from their parents and can become very sad if they aren't given proper attention and love. I love my job because of this, like I would be able to experience as a nurse, I get to be there for them at a time in which they are most vulnerable and need love most. I cannot wait to begin working as a nurse and participate in what I know is my purpose in life. Every day I wake up, I know that I am one day closer to this dream of mine, and this is one of the best motivations I could ever have.

My name is Erin Rasbach and I am a high school senior in Michigan. I enjoy reading, going on walks, and the outdoors in general. My favorite time of year, summertime, is quickly approaching and I am very excited to spend more time at my current job, working at a kennel. I always was passionate about the idea of helping to take care of people, and this job helped affirm how much I love to do it. I get to show up to work and play, walk and love on dogs who are missing their families. So far I have worked at this job for two years and I plan to come back to it each summer while I'm in college. I am going to study at Michigan State University to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing. Once I have completed my education, I am going to join the Air Force as a field nurse. My current plan would be to serve for six years, but I won't limit myself to a certain length of time if I do not feel like I have completed my calling. Once I leave the military, I hope to become a traveling nurse and see different parts of the country until I find the place where I belong. One path that calls to me in the future is volunteering at a free or low-cost clinic. I can't imagine having gotten the blessing to be able to learn at an amazing college and gain the training to become a nurse, and then keep this gift to myself. I am so grateful to have a family that has access to health insurance because I know how lucky I am to not have to worry about being able to get help when I'm sick or hurt. so many people have to go without medicine or proper medical treatment purely because they are worried about not being able to afford it. Knowing that in the future I will be able to help people who aren't able to receive this treatment, only by giving some of my time is incredible. Even by volunteering for a few hours a week or a couple of times each month, I will be able to bless people at a time when they need a helping hand the most. This thought motivates me to continue to work hard in school and will motivate me in college too.

When I think about my future, I never see myself in any other job besides nursing. I have found such a great passion in taking care of others throughout my life, by getting the chance to make sure my family and friends are okay when they are either sad or sick. Knowing that I am protecting the ones I love from pain is the most rewarding feeling, and I want to be able to be that person to others in times when they need it most. Not only will I be able to do that in nursing, as a field nurse in the military, more specifically in the Air Force, I will also be able to be helping those putting themselves in harm's way to protect the country and the people in it. These people deserve the best treatment possible and helping ensure they will be able to go home to their families is a huge responsibility, but one that I whole-heartedly believe I will be able to take on. At this point I plan on serving six years, possibly becoming a pediatric nurse on a base at a certain point, so that I can apply another part of my passion, caring for children. Once I feel that I have fulfilled my calling in the military, I would love to become a traveling nurse. This way, I would be able to see many different places in the country and find where I belong most. Some of the places I hope I will be able to work in are South Carolina and Oregon. Through travel nursing, I will be able to experience different specialties and find where my heart most belongs. I will be able to find the place I belong both in location and the hospital, making it so that I enjoy every day I go to work, and never lose my zeal for being a caring figure in patients’ stays. A way that I hope to help my community is to volunteer at a local free clinic. Being able to help those who cannot otherwise afford to access healthcare because of their current situation, is a gift that I would not be able to keep to myself. Knowing that I could help someone in such a massive way, just by donating some of my time, is such an exciting thought. I look forward to my future and I can’t wait to spend my days doing something I am so passionate about.