I decided I wanted to pursue a healthcare career when I was in my adolescence. I have a deep sense of empathy, and I would often be the ‘mom’ of the friend group. I enjoyed being a shoulder for my friends, and the voice for those being bullied. I knew I had a calling to help people, whether that be emotional or physical. The moment I realized I wanted to be in healthcare was when my grandmother, the woman that raised me, was being admitted into the hospital. My freshman year of high school my grandmother was having a medical emergency. I called the ambulance, I made sure my grandmother was safe until the ambulance arrived, I prepared her medications to take with us to the hospital. Once the ambulance arrived, I knew she was in safe hands. Before heading to the hospital, I was able to fully reflect on what happened. Though I was worried about my grandmother, I knew not to show that on my exterior as that would make my grandmother feel uneasy. I realized I had handled an emergency situation quickly and calmly. Once my grandfather and I arrived at the hospital we were walking to my grandmother's room in the emergency room. While we were walking in the hallway, we saw a nurse talking disrespectfully outside of a patient's room. I thought to myself “Please don’t be my grandmother's room.” As we walked closer, we realized this was my grandmother's room, and this was her nurse. I quickly confronted this nurse, as the comments she had made were not professional, but also extremely hurtful. I felt a wave of disbelief overcome me. Somebody who is supposed to make the patient feel safe and heard was doing the exact opposite. I realized I needed to make a change. This is why I chose to pursue a career in healthcare. I love helping people, whether it is emotional or physical healing. I also want to make a change; even if it is just by me doing the best that I can, to ensure every patient I come across feels safe and heard in my care. Now that I am an adult, I know I am exactly where I need to be. I have experience as an in-home caregiver. I loved every day I had work; I thoroughly enjoyed my work with my clients. As an in-home caregiver I would assist my clients with daily living activities, housekeeping, and outings such as grocery shopping. Spending time with my clients gave me a push to pursue further education. I know I will love my future career in healthcare.

The Key Peninsula, a rural town in Washington State. Surrounded by miles and miles of forests, rocky beaches and the freezing waters of the Puget Sound. This is where I grew up, and where most of my favorite memories are from. My love for nature and appreciating all forms of life came naturally. For generations the women in my family found comfort in the beaches and forest of the Pacific Northwest. My memories of growing up on the Puget Sound bring comfort. It is hard to pick only one memory, yet I do have one I think of the most. Digging clams with my Father. My Father, Steven taught me how to clam when I was just a little girl. It started with me just following him down to the beach so that I could explore on the beach. It soon turned into me wondering what he was doing, and how he did it. I would watch attentively, how he dug for the clams, move spot to spot to find more, carry a bucket of clams to the Sound to wash them off, then finally bring them home where we would cook together and share a meal together. This memory sits with me, even in my adulthood because of the time we shared, the skills he taught me. From digging the clams, cleaning them, and serving them. Now that I am a Mother, this memory sits even closer to my heart. My Father taught me how to dig clams, how to harvest them. Yet he unknowingly taught me patience and showed kindness in teaching something new, along with getting dirty is just a part of the outdoors! The outdoors is my favorite place to be, yet the Puget Sound has a deep fondness in my heart. I now practice this tradition with my two son’s and my Father. A tradition I did not know we needed. It is easy to be hung up in the everyday routine, or nonstop to do lists. To go outside, even just for a walk to clear your head and reflect on your day. It brings a sense of calm and grounding. For myself it brings me back into the moment; to appreciate the now, to be in the moment with myself and my loved ones. I now live in Colorado, the outdoors is different here. I often miss home, being surrounded by forests and taking walks along the Puget Sound. There is beauty here that I have yet to explore, along with another lesson somewhere in the Rockies. A lesson like the one I learned long ago on the beach clamming with my Father… Patience, kindness when learning something new, and appreciation of the present.