I want to be a nurse because I’ve seen, felt, and experienced the power of nursing firsthand. When I was three years old, I suffered a traumatic brain injury and spent a month hospitalized at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. As a child, I didn’t fully understand the medical side of what was happening, but what I did understand was how the nurses made me feel. They were kind, patient, and always by my side. Whether it was holding my hand during a difficult moment or just making me smile during recovery, they helped me feel safe in a time of fear and confusion. That experience, even at such a young age, left a deep impression on me. As I got older and began to reflect more on that time in my life, I realized how much those nurses influenced my perspective on care, empathy, and resilience. I didn’t just want to admire them — I wanted to become one of them. I wanted to be that calming presence for someone else, to offer comfort when it’s needed most, and to help children feel supported, seen, and cared for during their most vulnerable moments. To take a step toward that goal, I began volunteering at Mary Bridge last summer — the very same hospital where I was once a patient. The experience has been incredibly meaningful and healing in ways I didn’t expect. I’ve worked alongside nurses, doctors, and child life specialists and have had the opportunity to interact with young patients in a variety of ways. Whether I’m cleaning and organizing play areas, helping create a warm environment, or spending time with children who need a little extra attention, I do my best to make their hospital stay a little easier. Every shift reminds me why I chose this path, and every interaction strengthens my commitment to nursing. Volunteering has also helped me develop skills that are essential for nursing, including communication, adaptability, teamwork, and emotional resilience. More importantly, it has shown me the kind of nurse I want to be: one who leads with compassion, listens closely, and meets each patient where they are. Being able to return to Mary Bridge not as a patient but as a volunteer has brought my journey full circle. It’s a powerful reminder that even painful beginnings can lead to meaningful and hopeful futures. I plan to continue that journey by starting the two-year nursing program at Pacific Lutheran University this Fall to graduate in Spring 2027. After earning my degree, I hope to begin a preceptorship at Mary Bridge to further develop my skills and grow as a pediatric nurse. Eventually, I hope to expand my career by becoming a traveling nurse, combining my passion for care with my love of experiencing different cultures and communities. My life experience — from being a young patient to returning as a volunteer — has shaped me in ways I’ll carry with me forever. I want to be a nurse not just because of what I’ve been through but because I believe in the impact that one person can have on another’s life. I want to be that person for someone else.

From a young age, I’ve felt drawn to helping others, and over time, that instinct evolved into a clear passion for healthcare. I plan to begin the two-year nursing program at Pacific Lutheran University next Fall and graduate in 2027, taking my first major step towards a fulfilling career in nursing. My interest in nursing comes from a desire to combine meaningful work with compassion and purpose. I’m especially drawn to pediatric nursing because of the unique opportunity to support and care for children during some of their most vulnerable moments. After completing my degree, I hope to join a preceptorship program at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. There, I aim to gain hands-on experience as a new grad nurse and grow as a pediatric nurse by learning directly from experienced professionals in a real-world clinical setting. Volunteering at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital was a deeply meaningful experience where I worked alongside doctors, nurses, and child life specialists to support young patients and their families. I assisted with various tasks, from cleaning play areas to comforting infants and engaging with young patients. This experience strengthened my communication, teamwork, and adaptability skills — all of which are essential for my future in nursing. My connection to Mary Bridge runs even deeper. When I was three years old, I suffered a traumatic brain injury and was hospitalized there for a month. The compassion and care I received as a patient left a lasting impression on me. Returning years later as a volunteer allowed me to give back to the same place that once helped me heal. Experiencing that level of care firsthand — both as a patient and later as a volunteer — has fueled my passion for healthcare and solidified my determination to pursue a nursing career. Beyond local practice, my long-term goal is to become a traveling nurse and provide compassionate, high-quality care to children around the world. I believe that healthcare is a universal need, and I want to use my skills to help children in underserved or remote communities while learning from different cultures and healthcare systems. By stepping into unfamiliar places, I hope to grow not just professionally but personally, gaining a deeper understanding of what it means to care for others with empathy and respect. In preparation for this journey, I’ve dedicated time to learning about the demands and responsibilities of the nursing profession. Whether through coursework, volunteering, or shadowing healthcare providers, I’ve worked to build a strong foundation rooted in both academic knowledge and emotional resilience. I understand that nursing requires not just technical skill but also compassion, adaptability, and strong communication — qualities I strive to embody every day. This path isn’t just a career choice; it’s a calling. And as I take my next steps into the nursing program at Pacific Lutheran University, I do so with a deep commitment to growth, service, and making a lasting difference in the lives of children — both at home and across the world.

My desire to pursue a career in pediatric medicine comes from a deeply personal and transformative experience that has shaped my entire outlook on healthcare. When I was just three years old, I suffered a traumatic brain injury and was hospitalized at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. I spent about a month there, and even though I was so young, the memories I have from that time are vivid and emotional. I remember how scared I was, how unfamiliar everything felt — but I also remember the nurses who were always there. They weren’t just treating me medically; they were making me feel safe, comforted, and seen. In the middle of such a difficult time, they made the hospital feel like a place of healing and care, not just physically, but emotionally as well. That experience left a lasting mark on me. As I grew older, I began to realize just how much of an impact those nurses had made. The compassion and attentiveness they showed me in such a vulnerable time planted the seed of inspiration that eventually grew into a clear calling. I didn’t just admire nurses — I wanted to become one. I wanted to be that presence for other children who are scared, confused, or hurting. The idea of turning a painful personal memory into a driving force for helping others has motivated me ever since. To move closer to that goal, I began volunteering at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in the summer of last year. It felt surreal to return to the same hospital that once cared for me, but this time with a new role and purpose. As a volunteer, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside nurses, doctors, and child life specialists — all while interacting directly with young patients and their families. I take on a variety of tasks, from cleaning playrooms and organizing supplies to comforting babies or simply playing games with kids to lift their spirits. Even in small moments, I’ve seen how much of a difference a warm, supportive presence can make. Volunteering at Mary Bridge has not only allowed me to develop key skills in communication, teamwork, and empathy, but it’s also reaffirmed everything I thought I knew about my passion for pediatric healthcare. Every shift I work reinforces my belief that this is where I belong — in an environment where I can help children feel safe and supported, just like I once was. Looking ahead, I plan to continue building on this foundation by pursuing my nursing degree at Pacific Lutheran University, with the goal of graduating in 2027. After that, I hope to participate in a preceptorship program at Mary Bridge and eventually begin working there as a pediatric nurse. I also dream of taking my skills beyond my local community and working as a traveling nurse, providing care to children around the world and learning from different healthcare systems and cultures. What once felt like a difficult and frightening chapter of my childhood has now become the foundation of my future. I feel incredibly grateful for the experience that inspired me — and even more grateful for the opportunity to turn it into something meaningful. My goal is simple: to give back the same love and care that was once given to me, and to help children feel a little less scared, a little more safe, and a lot more cared for.

From a young age, I’ve felt drawn to helping others, and over time, that instinct evolved into a clear passion for healthcare. I plan to begin the two-year nursing program at Pacific Lutheran University next Fall and graduate in 2027, taking my first major step towards a fulfilling career in nursing. My interest in nursing comes from a desire to combine meaningful work with compassion and purpose. I’m especially drawn to pediatric nursing because of the unique opportunity to support and care for children during some of their most vulnerable moments. After completing my degree, I hope to join a preceptorship program at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. There, I aim to gain hands-on experience as a new grad nurse and grow as a pediatric nurse by learning directly from experienced professionals in a real-world clinical setting. Volunteering at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital was a deeply meaningful experience where I worked alongside doctors, nurses, and child life specialists to support young patients and their families. I assisted with various tasks, from cleaning play areas to comforting infants and engaging with young patients. This experience strengthened my communication, teamwork, and adaptability skills — all of which are essential for my future in nursing. My connection to Mary Bridge runs even deeper. When I was three years old, I suffered a traumatic brain injury and was hospitalized there for a month. The compassion and care I received as a patient left a lasting impression on me. Returning years later as a volunteer allowed me to give back to the same place that once helped me heal. Experiencing that level of care firsthand — both as a patient and later as a volunteer — has fueled my passion for healthcare and solidified my determination to pursue a nursing career. Beyond local practice, my long-term goal is to become a traveling nurse and provide compassionate, high-quality care to children around the world. I believe that healthcare is a universal need, and I want to use my skills to help children in underserved or remote communities while learning from different cultures and healthcare systems. By stepping into unfamiliar places, I hope to grow not just professionally, but personally, gaining a deeper understanding of what it means to care for others with empathy and respect. In preparation for this journey, I’ve dedicated time to learning about the demands and responsibilities of the nursing profession. Whether through coursework, volunteering, or shadowing healthcare providers, I’ve worked to build a strong foundation rooted in both academic knowledge and emotional resilience. I understand that nursing requires not just technical skill, but also compassion, adaptability, and strong communication — qualities I strive to embody every day. This path isn’t just a career choice; it’s a calling. And as I take my next steps into the nursing program at Pacific Lutheran University, I do so with a deep commitment to growth, service, and making a lasting difference in the lives of children — both at home and across the world.

I hope to make the hospital feel more like a home as a nurse.

Resilience, the capacity to recover quickly, is the quality that I value most. Overcoming a brain injury, growing up in a low-income family, and my parents separating. These are all things that require much resilience. I have had to be resilient my whole life if I wanted to achieve the goals that I have achieved today. The thing that brought me the most of this quality is overcoming my traumatic brain injury. This was something tough, I was paralyzed for a while. I went from not being able to speak, or even sit up, to walking, and even running. This is all because of the characteristic I value most, resilience. I worked hard in occupational, physical, speech, and behavioral therapy for more than 5 years. I regained my balance, my ability to eat, and learn like any other kid in school. It was hard, but I recovered rather quickly than any of the doctors would have thought I would. This set me up for success. Now I use resilience every single day of my life, whether I received a bad grade, or I had a disrespectful customer at work. I can always bounce back and improve each time. I would fix that bad grade, do extra credit, or do extra reading to make sure I thoroughly understand the topic. With a rude customer I would not be bothered, I will bounce back and strive to make sure all of my customers are treated with all my respect, no matter how much respect they give me. This is resilience. In the future, and even tomorrow, I will use this quality of mine to help me with each step through my life journey. My goal of becoming a registered nurse is a very difficult journey, but with resilience, I will strive and reach this goal. Working and going into a nursing program are both going to be hard things to do at the same time. I will study, and fit all of it into my schedule. If I miss a step along the way, it will be okay. I will just bounce back. A positive attitude comes with resilience. Sooner than I will ever know I will be a nurse, working at a hospital and helping all of the children I can. I will be able to teach my patients the resilience that I learned while in the hospital. I will be able to give them the most valuable quality of their life.