Choosing my degree was never a hard choice because I've always known in my heart that nursing was my passion and that I embodied everything that a true nurse is. To be a nurse is to be compassionate, kind, nurturing, and warm. To be a nurse is to be understanding, reliant, hard-working, determined, and so much more. To be a nurse, you must be ready to put others and their priorities first no matter how you feel about them or a particular situation. For me, being a nurse was never in question, it was always a destination; which is why it is my intended major. To begin, throughout my mom's life, she struggled with Crohn's disease and thyroid problems. And as I grew, I watched as she would later be diagnosed and struggle with multiple other illnesses. When I was about eight years old, my mom had surgery that required her to wear a colostomy bag for half a year. Within those six months, I would help my mom clean the stoma, empty the bag, and reapply it to the stoma. Yes, it was nasty and yes it was hard; but I never told her no when she asked for my help, and I never let my uncomfortableness show. At that moment, I put all my priorities and feelings aside to make my mother as comfortable as I could. Eventually, I overcame my uncomfortableness and learned to love what I was doing. Caring for my momma at a young age and seeing her smile after made me want to become a nurse. She is my inspiration. Furthermore, I will strive to make a positive impact by always showing compassion, empathy, and professionalism. I will do this by putting myself in my patient's shoes and acknowledging that this is not easy for them just like it is not always easy for me. Many times as caregivers, nurses, and doctors, it is forgotten that the family is impacted as well, not just the patient. So, they must understand, I am not just their loved one's nurse but also theirs. I know that I may not be able to make an impact on each individual that I care for, but my goal is to care for each person as if they were my mom. I wish to leave each patient with a smile on both their faces and their family's faces. I pray that the warmness of my personality, my kindness, and my determination would be seen not just by my patients but also by their loved ones. Lastly, obtaining my degree will allow me the opportunity to do the above things mentioned. With it, I will take what I have learned, not just in classes but from my peers, and place them in the workplace. It is important to remember that learning does not just stop in the classroom; after I obtain my degree, I will continue to gain knowledge in the field of my choice. The degree, in my eyes, simply allows me the opportunity to continue my education in the workplace and meet my career goals. In conclusion, many things come with being a nurse. But, it should never be looked at as a job that you have to do but instead as a job that you want to do. Showing compassion, professionalism, empathy, dedication, and most of all love is what I want to accomplish as a nurse. My overall career goal is to treat everyone as if they were my mom, something I know I can achieve with the knowledge and degree I can obtain at a university.

To be a nurse is to be compassionate, kind, nurturing, and warm. To be a nurse is to be understanding, reliant, hard-working, determined, and so much more. To be a nurse, you have to be ready to put others and their priorities first no matter how you may feel about them or a particular situation. For me, being a nurse was never in question. To begin, throughout my mom's life, she struggled with Crohn's disease and thyroid problems. And as I grew, I watched as she would later be diagnosed and struggle with many other illnesses. When I was about eight years old, my mom had surgery that required her to wear a colostomy bag for half a year. Within those six months, I would help my mom clean the stoma, empty the bag, and reapply the bag to the stoma. Yes, it was nasty, and yes it was hard; but I never told her no when she asked for my help and I never let my uncomfortableness show. At that moment, I put all my priories and feelings to the side to make my mother as comfortable as I could. Eventually, I got over my uncomfortableness and learned to love what I was doing. Caring for my momma at a young age and seeing her smile after the care I provided was finished, made me want to become a nurse. My mom was my inspiration. To continue, throughout my career, I hope to make everyone feel the way I made my momma feel after giving care: at peace, comfortable, safe, and happy. I want to leave each patient with a smile on both their face and their family's face. I hope that the warmness of my personality, my kindness, and my determination would be seen not just by my patients but also by their loved ones. Lastly, as a nurse, I will strive to always be more like Cindy, showing compassion, empathy, and professionalism. I will do this by putting myself in my patient's shoes and understanding that this is not easy for them just like it is not always easy for me. I will also continue to carry on her values by showing compassion and empathy for the family as well. Many times as caregivers, nurses, and doctors, it is forgotten that the family is also impacted not just the patient. So, it is important to me that they understand, that I am not just their loved one's nurse but also theirs; meaning, I will care for their needs as well. I know that I may not be able to make an impact on each individual that I care for, but my goal is to care for each person as if they were my mom. In conclusion, many things that come with being a nurse. But, it should never be looked at as a job that you have to do but instead as a job that you want to do. When you want to do something you will always be better at it. As mentioned, I have always wanted to be a nurse, therefore, I will always strive to be better at my profession by being more like Cindy. Showing compassion, professionalism, empathy, dedication, and most of all love is what I believe being a nurse is all about.

To be a nurse is to be compassionate, kind, nurturing, and warm. To be a nurse is to be understanding, reliant, hard-working, determined, and so much more. To be a nurse, you have to be ready to put others and their priorities first no matter how you may feel about them or a particular situation. For me, being a nurse was never in question. To begin, throughout my mom's life, she struggled with Crohn's disease and thyroid problems. And as I grew, I watched as she would later be diagnosed and struggle with many other illnesses. When I was about eight years old, my mom had surgery that required her to wear a colostomy bag for half a year. Within those six months, I would help my mom clean the stoma, empty the bag, and reapply the bag to the stoma. Yes, it was nasty, and yes it was hard; but I never told her no when she asked for my help and I never let my uncomfortableness show. At that moment, I put all my priories and feelings to the side to make my mother as comfortable as I could. Eventually, I got over my uncomfortableness and learned to love what I was doing. Caring for my momma at a young age and seeing her smile after the care I provided was finished, made me want to become a nurse. My mom was my inspiration. To continue, throughout my career, I hope to make everyone feel the way I made my momma feel after giving care: at peace, comfortable, safe, and happy. I want to leave each patient with a smile on both their face and their family's face. I hope that the warmness of my personality, my kindness, and my determination would be seen not just by my patients but also by their loved ones. Lastly, as a nurse, I will strive to always be more like Cindy, showing compassion, empathy, and professionalism. I will do this by putting myself in my patient's shoes and understanding that this is not easy for them just like it is not always easy for me. I will also continue to carry on her values by showing compassion and empathy for the family as well. Many times as caregivers, nurses, and doctors, it is forgotten that the family is also impacted not just the patient. So, it is important to me that they understand, that I am not just their loved one's nurse but also theirs; meaning, I will care for their needs as well. I know that I may not be able to make an impact on each individual that I care for, but my goal is to care for each person as if they were my mom. In conclusion, many things that come with being a nurse. But, it should never be looked at as a job that you have to do but instead as a job that you want to do. When you want to do something you will always be better at it. As mentioned, I have always wanted to be a nurse, therefore, I will always strive to be better at my profession by being more like Cindy. Showing compassion, professionalism, empathy, dedication, and most of all love is what I believe being a nurse is all about.