When I was 13, I was diagnosed with cancer, and my life changed forever. Before the diagnosis, I was just an ordinary kid—attending school, hanging out with friends, and swimming competitively. However, I sensed something was wrong as I rapidly lost weight and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I researched my symptoms online and came up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words altered my life completely. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. My diagnosis didn't just affect me; it impacted my family as well. My dad coped with the stress by baking bread—a lot of bread. From making the starter to watching it rise, baking, and packaging, it was a process he could control amidst the chaos of my illness. My mom, my unwavering cheerleader, slept with me every night so I wouldn't be alone. We watched TV and movies together, and she did everything she could to distract me from my cancer, though there were still times when the diagnosis consumed me. My younger sister, only nine at the time, was deeply affected too. She knew I was sick and kept to herself, allowing my parents to focus their attention on me. As a family, we had never known such kindness. People created meal trains, I received countless cards and packages, and my aunt started a campaign where people sent me hats from all over the world. I realized that people wanted to help in any way that they could because they were helpless to do anything else. A meal, a hat, a funny card was something they could do, and as much as my parents and grandparents would’ve taken the chemo for me. I had to do that all by myself. Beating cancer is my greatest accomplishment, and it inspired me to become a nurse. My heart is in pediatric care, and after graduating with my BSN, I hope to work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the PICU and/or ER. This past summer I was a Patient Care tech and during one of my shifts, I had the unforgettable opportunity to sit and hold some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse. Ultimately, my goal is to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), specializing in pediatrics. The path to becoming a nurse anesthetist includes at least two to five years of critical care/ICU experience, which I hope to gain while working at CHOP. I received my cancer treatments at CHOP, and I can’t think of a better place for me to start my career and work with the amazing clinical team and staff that cared for me.

When I was 13, I was diagnosed with cancer, and my life changed forever. Before the diagnosis, I was just an ordinary kid—attending school, hanging out with friends, and swimming competitively. However, I sensed something was wrong as I rapidly lost weight and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I researched my symptoms online and came up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words altered my life completely. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. My diagnosis didn't just affect me; it impacted my family as well. My dad coped with the stress by baking bread—a lot of bread. From making the starter to watching it rise, baking, and packaging, it was a process he could control amidst the chaos of my illness. My mom, my unwavering cheerleader, slept with me every night so I wouldn't be alone. We watched TV and movies together, and she did everything she could to distract me from my cancer, though there were still times when the diagnosis consumed me. My younger sister, only nine at the time, was deeply affected too. She knew I was sick and kept to herself, allowing my parents to focus their attention on me. As a family, we had never known such kindness. People created meal trains, I received countless cards and packages, and my aunt started a campaign where people sent me hats from all over the world. I realized that people wanted to help in any way that they could because they were helpless to do anything else. A meal, a hat, a funny card was something they could do, and as much as my parents and grandparents would’ve taken the chemo for me. I had to do that all by myself. Beating cancer is my greatest accomplishment, and it inspired me to become a nurse. My heart is in pediatric care, and after graduating with my BSN, I hope to work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the PICU and/or ER. This past summer I was a Patient Care tech and during one of my shifts, I had the unforgettable opportunity to sit and hold some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse. Ultimately, my goal is to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), specializing in pediatrics. The path to becoming a nurse anesthetist includes at least two to five years of critical care/ICU experience, which I hope to gain while working at CHOP. I received my cancer treatments at CHOP, and I can’t think of a better place for me to start my career and work with the amazing clinical team and staff that cared for me.

When I was 13, I was diagnosed with cancer, and my life changed forever. Before the diagnosis, I was just an ordinary kid—attending school, hanging out with friends, and swimming competitively. However, I sensed something was wrong as I rapidly lost weight and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I researched my symptoms online and came up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words altered my life completely. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. My diagnosis didn't just affect me; it impacted my family as well. My dad coped with the stress by baking bread—a lot of bread. From making the starter to watching it rise, baking, and packaging, it was a process he could control amidst the chaos of my illness. My mom, my unwavering cheerleader, slept with me every night so I wouldn't be alone. We watched TV and movies together, and she did everything she could to distract me from my cancer, though there were still times when the diagnosis consumed me. My younger sister, only nine at the time, was deeply affected too. She knew I was sick and kept to herself, allowing my parents to focus their attention on me. As a family, we had never known such kindness. People created meal trains, I received countless cards and packages, and my aunt started a campaign where people sent me hats from all over the world. I realized that people wanted to help in any way that they could because they were helpless to do anything else. A meal, a hat, a funny card was something they could do, and as much as my parents and grandparents would’ve taken the chemo for me. I had to do that all by myself. Beating cancer is my greatest accomplishment, and it inspired me to become a nurse. My heart is in pediatric care, and after graduating with my BSN, I hope to work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the PICU and/or ER. This past summer I was a Patient Care tech and during one of my shifts, I had the unforgettable opportunity to sit and hold some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse. Ultimately, my goal is to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), specializing in pediatrics. The path to becoming a nurse anesthetist includes at least two to five years of critical care/ICU experience, which I hope to gain while working at CHOP. I received my cancer treatments at CHOP, and I can’t think of a better place for me to start my career and work with the amazing clinical team and staff that cared for me.

When you're thirteen and diagnosed with cancer, your future is questionable. Before my diagnosis, I was just a regular kid—going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my swim team. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I was losing weight rapidly and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I started researching my symptoms online, coming up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. I admit I was terrified, but I was being treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and even at thirteen, I knew I was getting the best care possible. Although my future was uncertain, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the medical field. Initially, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but my perspective shifted towards nursing after an overnight hospital stay. At the end of my first round of chemo, I developed cellulitis and was admitted overnight. It was during that stay that I met the only male nurse I would encounter during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him was a game changer. I really appreciated all my female nurses, but I felt a special connection with Adam because we were both guys. We chatted about sports, movies, girls, and just typical guy stuff. Adam became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been turned upside down, but he talked to me like I was just a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. That connection made me want to give back the same positivity and encouragement he gave me to other kids, especially young men, going through a health scare. I understand that the nurse/patient connection goes beyond just shots and medications. My nurses left a lasting impression on me, especially Adam, and I want to have that same effect on someone else. I want to help sick children take their minds off their circumstances and give them a chance to feel like kids, even if it’s just for a little while. As the years have passed and I have moved further away from my treatment, my life no longer revolves around my cancer. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN junior at West Virginia University, proudly holding a 3.75 GPA. I've been on the President’s List and Dean’s List since freshman year. I am an active member of the Student Nurse Association and volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. My heart is deeply rooted in pediatric care. Last summer, I worked as a Patient Care Tech and had the unforgettable experience of holding some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. And this summer, I have the incredible opportunity to participate in a pediatric externship at CHOP. After graduating with my BSN, I aspire to work at CHOP in the PICU and/or ER. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When I was 13, I was diagnosed with cancer, and my life changed forever. Before the diagnosis, I was just an ordinary kid—attending school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my team. However, I sensed something was wrong as I rapidly lost weight and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I researched my symptoms online and came up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words altered my life completely. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. My diagnosis didn't just affect me; it impacted my family and friends as well. My dad coped with the stress by baking bread—a lot of bread. From making the starter to watching it rise, baking, and packaging, it was a process he could control amidst the chaos of my illness. My mom, my unwavering cheerleader, slept with me every night so I wouldn't be alone. We watched TV and movies together, and she did everything she could to distract me from my cancer, though there were still times when the diagnosis consumed me. My younger sister, only nine at the time, was deeply affected too. She knew I was sick and kept to herself, allowing my parents to focus their attention on me. As for my extended family, friends and neighbors, my family had never known such kindness. People created meal trains, I received countless cards and packages, and my aunt started a campaign where people sent me hats from all over the world. I realized that people wanted to help in any way that they could because they were helpless to do anything else. A meal, a hat, a funny card was something they could do, and as much as my parents and grandparents would’ve taken the chemo for me. I had to do that all by myself. As time has passed, my life no longer revolves around my cancer diagnosis, but it remains a significant part of our family's life. We are more attentive to our health and make sure to see the doctor when we aren't feeling well. We have developed empathy for others facing similar situations, and not a day goes by that I don't appreciate how fortunate I am to be alive. Beating cancer is my greatest accomplishment, and it inspired me to become a nurse. My heart is in pediatric care, and after graduating with my BSN, I hope to work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the PICU and/or ER. This past summer I was a Patient Care tech and during one of my shifts, I had the unforgettable opportunity to sit and hold some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse. Ultimately, my goal is to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), specializing in pediatrics. The path to becoming a nurse anesthetist includes at least two to five years of critical care/ICU experience, which I hope to gain while working at CHOP. I received my cancer treatments at CHOP, and I can’t think of a better place for me to start my career and work with the amazing clinical team and staff that cared for me.

At 13, I was diagnosed with Stage III Hodgkin Lymphoma. Before my diagnosis, I was a regular kid, but I knew something was wrong. I had been losing weight and had a persistent cough. Although I researched my symptoms online, I never expected to hear, "You have cancer." Those words changed my life forever. I went through five aggressive rounds of chemo and am now nearly 7 years in remission. Cancer has changed me, but it is just a chapter in my story, not the whole book. As time has passed, my life no longer revolves around my cancer diagnosis. Beating cancer is my greatest accomplishment, and it inspired me to become a nurse. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN junior at West Virginia University (WVU), proudly holding a 3.75 GPA. I've been on the President’s List and Dean’s List since freshman year. I am an active member of the Student Nurse Association and volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. I also work 16-20 hours a week as a Pool Resource Clinical Associate at WVU Ruby Memorial Hospital. This summer I have a pediatric externship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and upon graduation I hope to work at CHOP in the PICU and/or ER to gain the necessary experience to become a nurse anesthetist, specializing in pediatrics. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is because of the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. It overlooks the football stadium and offers specialized, high-level care in areas like cancer, heart, pulmonary, neuro, surgical, and trauma. Before home games, the football team and tailgaters turn and wave at the Children’s Hospital. This gesture shows the community's support and love for the young patients fighting their battles inside. The hospital understands how important it is to treat pediatric patients in a caring environment and has dedicated an entire floor for families to come together and relax. This floor includes a seating area that looks like the football team’s locker room, a kitchen, a laundry room, a computer room, multiple video game consoles/TVs, and a projector screen. I really appreciate WVU’s effort to make kids and their families feel normal in abnormal circumstances. My heart is in pediatric care, and after graduating with my BSN, I hope to work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the PICU and/or ER. This past summer I was a Patient Care tech and during one of my shifts, I had the unforgettable opportunity to sit and hold some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse. Ultimately, my goal is to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), specializing in pediatrics. The path to becoming a nurse anesthetist includes at least two to five years of critical care/ICU experience, which I hope to gain while working at CHOP. I received my cancer treatments at CHOP, and I can’t think of a better place for me to start my career and work with the amazing clinical team and staff that cared for me.

When you're thirteen and diagnosed with cancer, your future is questionable. Before my diagnosis, I was just a regular kid—going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my swim team. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I was losing weight rapidly and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I started researching my symptoms online, coming up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. I admit I was terrified, but I was being treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and even at thirteen, I knew I was getting the best care possible. Although my future was uncertain, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the medical field. Initially, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but my perspective shifted towards nursing after an overnight hospital stay. At the end of my first round of chemo, I developed cellulitis and was admitted overnight. It was during that stay that I met the only male nurse I would encounter during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him was a game changer. I really appreciated all my female nurses, but I felt a special connection with Adam because we were both guys. We chatted about sports, movies, girls, and just typical guy stuff. Adam became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been turned upside down, but he talked to me like I was just a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. That connection made me want to give back the same positivity and encouragement he gave me to other kids, especially young men, going through a health scare. I understand that the nurse/patient connection goes beyond just shots and medications. My nurses left a lasting impression on me, especially Adam, and I want to have that same effect on someone else. I want to help sick children take their minds off their circumstances and give them a chance to feel like kids, even if it’s just for a little while. As the years have passed and I have moved further away from my treatment, my life no longer revolves around my cancer. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN junior at West Virginia University, proudly holding a 3.75 GPA. I've been on the President’s List and Dean’s List since freshman year. I am an active member of the Student Nurse Association and volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. My heart is deeply rooted in pediatric care. Last summer, I worked as a Patient Care Tech and had the unforgettable experience of holding some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. And this summer, I have the incredible opportunity to participate in a pediatric externship at CHOP. After graduating with my BSN, I aspire to work at CHOP in the PICU and/or ER. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When you're thirteen and diagnosed with cancer, your future is questionable. Before my diagnosis, I was just a regular kid—going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my swim team. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I was losing weight rapidly and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I started researching my symptoms online, coming up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. I admit I was terrified, but I was being treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and even at thirteen, I knew I was getting the best care possible. Although my future was uncertain, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the medical field. Initially, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but my perspective shifted towards nursing after an overnight hospital stay. At the end of my first round of chemo, I developed cellulitis and was admitted overnight. It was during that stay that I met the only male nurse I would encounter during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him was a game changer. I really appreciated all my female nurses, but I felt a special connection with Adam because we were both guys. We chatted about sports, movies, girls, and just typical guy stuff. Adam became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been turned upside down, but he talked to me like I was just a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. That connection made me want to give back the same positivity and encouragement he gave me to other kids, especially young men, going through a health scare. I understand that the nurse/patient connection goes beyond just shots and medications. My nurses left a lasting impression on me, especially Adam, and I want to have that same effect on someone else. I want to help sick children take their minds off their circumstances and give them a chance to feel like kids, even if it’s just for a little while. As the years have passed and I have moved further away from my treatment, my life no longer revolves around my cancer. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN junior at West Virginia University, proudly holding a 3.75 GPA. I've been on the President’s List and Dean’s List since freshman year. I am an active member of the Student Nurse Association and volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. My heart is deeply rooted in pediatric care. Last summer, I worked as a Patient Care Tech and had the unforgettable experience of holding some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. And this summer, I have the incredible opportunity to participate in a pediatric externship at CHOP. After graduating with my BSN, I aspire to work at CHOP in the PICU and/or ER. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When you're thirteen and diagnosed with cancer, your future is questionable. Before my diagnosis, I was just a regular kid—going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my swim team. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I was losing weight rapidly and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I started researching my symptoms online, coming up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. I admit I was terrified, but I was being treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and even at thirteen, I knew I was getting the best care possible. Although my future was uncertain, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the medical field. Initially, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but my perspective shifted towards nursing after an overnight hospital stay. At the end of my first round of chemo, I developed cellulitis and was admitted overnight. It was during that stay that I met the only male nurse I would encounter during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him was a game changer. I really appreciated all my female nurses, but I felt a special connection with Adam because we were both guys. We chatted about sports, movies, girls, and just typical guy stuff. Adam became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been turned upside down, but he talked to me like I was just a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. That connection made me want to give back the same positivity and encouragement he gave me to other kids, especially young men, going through a health scare. I understand that the nurse/patient connection goes beyond just shots and medications. My nurses left a lasting impression on me, especially Adam, and I want to have that same effect on someone else. I want to help sick children take their minds off their circumstances and give them a chance to feel like kids, even if it’s just for a little while. As the years have passed and I have moved further away from my treatment, my life no longer revolves around my cancer. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN junior at West Virginia University, proudly holding a 3.75 GPA. I've been on the President’s List and Dean’s List since freshman year. I am an active member of the Student Nurse Association and volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. My heart is deeply rooted in pediatric care. Last summer, I worked as a Patient Care Tech and had the unforgettable experience of holding some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. And this summer, I have the incredible opportunity to participate in a pediatric externship at CHOP. After graduating with my BSN, I aspire to work at CHOP in the PICU and/or ER. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When you're thirteen and diagnosed with cancer, your future is questionable. Before my diagnosis, I was just a regular kid—going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my swim team. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I was losing weight rapidly and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I started researching my symptoms online, coming up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. I admit I was terrified, but I was being treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and even at thirteen, I knew I was getting the best care possible. Although my future was uncertain, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the medical field. Initially, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but my perspective shifted towards nursing after an overnight hospital stay. At the end of my first round of chemo, I developed cellulitis and was admitted overnight. It was during that stay that I met the only male nurse I would encounter during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him was a game changer. I really appreciated all my female nurses, but I felt a special connection with Adam because we were both guys. We chatted about sports, movies, girls, and just typical guy stuff. Adam became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been turned upside down, but he talked to me like I was just a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. That connection made me want to give back the same positivity and encouragement he gave me to other kids, especially young men, going through a health scare. I understand that the nurse/patient connection goes beyond just shots and medications. My nurses left a lasting impression on me, especially Adam, and I want to have that same effect on someone else. I want to help sick children take their minds off their circumstances and give them a chance to feel like kids, even if it’s just for a little while. As the years have passed and I have moved further away from my treatment, my life no longer revolves around my cancer. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN junior at West Virginia University, proudly holding a 3.75 GPA. I've been on the President’s List and Dean’s List since freshman year. I am an active member of the Student Nurse Association and volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. My heart is deeply rooted in pediatric care. Last summer, I worked as a Patient Care Tech and had the unforgettable experience of holding some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. And this summer, I have the incredible opportunity to participate in a pediatric externship at CHOP. After graduating with my BSN, I aspire to work at CHOP in the PICU and/or ER. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When you're thirteen and diagnosed with cancer, your future is questionable. Before my diagnosis, I was just a regular kid—going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my swim team. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I was losing weight rapidly and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I started researching my symptoms online, coming up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. I admit I was terrified, but I was being treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and even at thirteen, I knew I was getting the best care possible. Although my future was uncertain, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the medical field. Initially, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but my perspective shifted towards nursing after an overnight hospital stay. At the end of my first round of chemo, I developed cellulitis and was admitted overnight. It was during that stay that I met the only male nurse I would encounter during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him was a game changer. I really appreciated all my female nurses, but I felt a special connection with Adam because we were both guys. We chatted about sports, movies, girls, and just typical guy stuff. Adam became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been turned upside down, but he talked to me like I was just a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. That connection made me want to give back the same positivity and encouragement he gave me to other kids, especially young men, going through a health scare. I understand that the nurse/patient connection goes beyond just shots and medications. My nurses left a lasting impression on me, especially Adam, and I want to have that same effect on someone else. I want to help sick children take their minds off their circumstances and give them a chance to feel like kids, even if it’s just for a little while. As the years have passed and I have moved further away from my treatment, my life no longer revolves around my cancer. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN junior at West Virginia University, proudly holding a 3.75 GPA. I've been on the President’s List and Dean’s List since freshman year. I am an active member of the Student Nurse Association and volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. My heart is deeply rooted in pediatric care. Last summer, I worked as a Patient Care Tech and had the unforgettable experience of holding some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. And this summer, I have the incredible opportunity to participate in a pediatric externship at CHOP. After graduating with my BSN, I aspire to work at CHOP in the PICU and/or ER. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When you're thirteen and diagnosed with cancer, your future is questionable. Before my diagnosis, I was just a regular kid—going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my swim team. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I was losing weight rapidly and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I started researching my symptoms online, coming up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. I admit I was terrified, but I was being treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and even at thirteen, I knew I was getting the best care possible. Although my future was uncertain, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the medical field. Initially, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but my perspective shifted towards nursing after an overnight hospital stay. At the end of my first round of chemo, I developed cellulitis and was admitted overnight. It was during that stay that I met the only male nurse I would encounter during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him was a game changer. I really appreciated all my female nurses, but I felt a special connection with Adam because we were both guys. We chatted about sports, movies, girls, and just typical guy stuff. Adam became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been turned upside down, but he talked to me like I was just a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. That connection made me want to give back the same positivity and encouragement he gave me to other kids, especially young men, going through a health scare. I understand that the nurse/patient connection goes beyond just shots and medications. My nurses left a lasting impression on me, especially Adam, and I want to have that same effect on someone else. I want to help sick children take their minds off their circumstances and give them a chance to feel like kids, even if it’s just for a little while. As the years have passed and I have moved further away from my treatment, my life no longer revolves around my cancer. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN junior at West Virginia University, proudly holding a 3.75 GPA. I've been on the President’s List and Dean’s List since freshman year. I am an active member of the Student Nurse Association and volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. My heart is deeply rooted in pediatric care. Last summer, I worked as a Patient Care Tech and had the unforgettable experience of holding some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. And this summer, I have the incredible opportunity to participate in a pediatric externship at CHOP. After graduating with my BSN, I aspire to work at CHOP in the PICU and/or ER. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When you're thirteen and diagnosed with cancer, your future is questionable. Before my diagnosis, I was just a regular kid—going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my swim team. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I was losing weight rapidly and had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. I started researching my symptoms online, coming up with several possible diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words "You have cancer." Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet, and two days later, I was diagnosed with cancer. I admit I was terrified, but I was being treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and even at thirteen, I knew I was getting the best care possible. Although my future was uncertain, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the medical field. Initially, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but my perspective shifted towards nursing after an overnight hospital stay. At the end of my first round of chemo, I developed cellulitis and was admitted overnight. It was during that stay that I met the only male nurse I would encounter during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him was a game changer. I really appreciated all my female nurses, but I felt a special connection with Adam because we were both guys. We chatted about sports, movies, girls, and just typical guy stuff. Adam became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been turned upside down, but he talked to me like I was just a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. That connection made me want to give back the same positivity and encouragement he gave me to other kids, especially young men, going through a health scare. I understand that the nurse/patient connection goes beyond just shots and medications. My nurses left a lasting impression on me, especially Adam, and I want to have that same effect on someone else. I want to help sick children take their minds off their circumstances and give them a chance to feel like kids, even if it’s just for a little while. As the years have passed and I have moved further away from my treatment, my life no longer revolves around my cancer. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN junior at West Virginia University, proudly holding a 3.75 GPA. I've been on the President’s List and Dean’s List since freshman year. I am an active member of the Student Nurse Association and volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. My heart is deeply rooted in pediatric care. Last summer, I worked as a Patient Care Tech and had the unforgettable experience of holding some of the preemie babies. The tiniest patients leave the biggest impressions. And this summer, I have the incredible opportunity to participate in a pediatric externship at CHOP. After graduating with my BSN, I aspire to work at CHOP in the PICU and/or ER. Children are at their most vulnerable in the PICU and ER, and if I can help just one pediatric warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When you are thirteen and diagnosed with Stage III Hodgkin Lymphoma, the future is not guaranteed. Leading up to my diagnosis I was just a regular kid, going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my club swim team but I knew something was wrong. I had been losing weight and I had a cough I couldn’t get rid of. I started researching my symptoms on the internet and came up with several different diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words “You have cancer”. Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet and two days later I was diagnosed with cancer. I went through five aggressive rounds of chemo, and I am now five years in remission. My cancer has forever changed me as a person and the trajectory of my life, but it is just a chapter in my story, not the whole book. As the years have passed and I am further out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is the greatest accomplishment of my life, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse. I loved all my nurses, but I only had one male nurse during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him changed my life. I was able to connect with Adam on a deeper level because we were both guys. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been flipped upside down and he talked to me like a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. I felt such a connection with him, and I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a nurse like Adam. Being a cancer survivor puts me in a unique position to relate to patients, pediatric patients especially. I understand the importance of the nurse/patient connection and it goes beyond shots and medications. Sick kids are still just kids and I appreciated that my nurses never forgot that. They would ask me about school and my swim team, we would talk about books or TV shows or movies I was watching. We would laugh and honestly, except for my mom, there were very few tears. The nurses went above and beyond to help me forget I was sitting in a chair with chemotherapy running through my veins. My nurses have left a lasting impression on me, Adam in particular, and I want to be that person for someone else. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN sophomore at West Virginia University. I hold a 3.87 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters freshman year and named to the Dean’s List fall of sophomore year. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association and I volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. Upon graduation I hope to work at WVU Children’s Hospital in oncology, I want to be that nurse who inspires others to go into the nursing field like Adam did for me. If I can help just one cancer warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When you are thirteen and diagnosed with Stage III Hodgkin Lymphoma, the future is not guaranteed. Leading up to my diagnosis I was just a regular kid, going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my club swim team but I knew something was wrong. I had been losing weight and I had a cough I couldn’t get rid of. I started researching my symptoms on the internet and came up with several different diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words “You have cancer”. Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet and two days later I was diagnosed with cancer. I went through five aggressive rounds of chemo, and I am now five years in remission. My cancer has forever changed me as a person and the trajectory of my life, but it is just a chapter in my story, not the whole book. As the years have passed and I am further out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is the greatest accomplishment of my life, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse. I loved all my nurses, but I only had one male nurse during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him changed my life. I was able to connect with Adam on a deeper level because we were both guys. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been flipped upside down and he talked to me like a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. I felt such a connection with him, and I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a nurse like Adam. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN sophomore at West Virginia University. I hold a 3.87 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters freshman year and named to the Dean’s List fall of sophomore year. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association and I volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. I realize attending college is a privilege and unfortunately not everyone can afford to go. With my ongoing medical expenses, the ability to save has been limited, and despite what my parents have put aside and what I earned waiting tables throughout high school and summer vacations, it is not enough for me to receive a four-year education without taking on significant debt. While I am at college my family will continue to save what they can but they are also putting money aside for my sisters education. Over the breaks and summer, I worked at my local diner, and I was also a swim team coach, working these jobs is helping me to pay for some of my college expenses. I also work while I am at school; I am a lifeguard and I work between six and twelve hours a week. This summer I plan on coaching again and working at a hospital as a Clinical Assistant (CA). Receiving the Morgan Levine Dolan Community Service Scholarship would allow me to offset some of the expenses of college so I can focus on my education and not worry so much about a large student loan debt once I graduate.

When you are thirteen and diagnosed with Stage III Hodgkin Lymphoma, the future is not guaranteed. Leading up to my diagnosis I was just a regular kid, going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my club swim team but I knew something was wrong. I had been losing weight and I had a cough I couldn’t get rid of. I started researching my symptoms on the internet and came up with several different diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words “You have cancer”. Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet and two days later I was diagnosed with cancer. I went through five aggressive rounds of chemo, and I am now five years in remission. My cancer has forever changed me as a person and the trajectory of my life, but it is just a chapter in my story, not the whole book. As the years have passed and I am further out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is the greatest accomplishment of my life, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse. I loved all my nurses, but I only had one male nurse during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him changed my life. I was able to connect with Adam on a deeper level because we were both guys. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been flipped upside down and he talked to me like a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. I felt such a connection with him, and I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a nurse like Adam. Being a cancer survivor puts me in a unique position to relate to patients, pediatric patients especially. I understand the importance of the nurse/patient connection and it goes beyond shots and medications. Sick kids are still just kids and I appreciated that my nurses never forgot that. They would ask me about school and my swim team, we would talk about books or TV shows or movies I was watching. We would laugh and honestly, except for my mom, there were very few tears. The nurses went above and beyond to help me forget I was sitting in a chair with chemotherapy running through my veins. My nurses have left a lasting impression on me, Adam in particular, and I want to be that person for someone else. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN sophomore at West Virginia University. I hold a 3.87 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters freshman year and named to the Dean’s List fall of sophomore year. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association and I volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. Upon graduation I hope to work at WVU Children’s Hospital in oncology, I want to be that nurse who inspires others to go into the nursing field like Adam did for me. If I can help just one cancer warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When you are thirteen and diagnosed with Stage III Hodgkin Lymphoma, the future is not guaranteed. Leading up to my diagnosis I was just a regular kid, going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my club swim team but I knew something was wrong. I had been losing weight and I had a cough I couldn’t get rid of. I started researching my symptoms on the internet and came up with several different diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words “You have cancer”. Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet and two days later I was diagnosed with cancer. I went through five aggressive rounds of chemo, and I am now five years in remission. My cancer has forever changed me as a person and the trajectory of my life, but it is just a chapter in my story, not the whole book. As the years have passed and I am further out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is the greatest accomplishment of my life, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse. I loved all my nurses, but I only had one male nurse during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him changed my life. I was able to connect with Adam on a deeper level because we were both guys. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been flipped upside down and he talked to me like a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. I felt such a connection with him, and I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a nurse like Adam. Being a cancer survivor puts me in a unique position to relate to patients, pediatric patients especially. I understand the importance of the nurse/patient connection and it goes beyond shots and medications. Sick kids are still just kids and I appreciated that my nurses never forgot that. They would ask me about school and my swim team, we would talk about books or TV shows or movies I was watching. We would laugh and honestly, except for my mom, there were very few tears. The nurses went above and beyond to help me forget I was sitting in a chair with chemotherapy running through my veins. My nurses have left a lasting impression on me, Adam in particular, and I want to be that person for someone else. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN sophomore at West Virginia University. I hold a 4.0 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters freshman year. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association and I volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. Upon graduation I hope to work at WVU Children’s Hospital in oncology, I want to be that nurse who inspires others to go into the nursing field like Adam did for me. If I can help just one cancer warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When you are thirteen and diagnosed with Stage III Hodgkin Lymphoma, the future is not guaranteed. Leading up to my diagnosis I was just a regular kid, going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my club swim team but I knew something was wrong. I had been losing weight and I had a cough I couldn’t get rid of. I started researching my symptoms on the internet and came up with several different diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words “You have cancer”. Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet and two days later I was diagnosed with cancer. I went through five aggressive rounds of chemo, and I am now five years in remission. My cancer has forever changed me as a person and the trajectory of my life, but it is just a chapter in my story, not the whole book. As the years have passed and I am further out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is the greatest accomplishment of my life, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse. I loved all my nurses, but I only had one male nurse during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him changed my life. I was able to connect with Adam on a deeper level because we were both guys. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been flipped upside down and he talked to me like a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. I felt such a connection with him, and I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a nurse like Adam. Being a cancer survivor puts me in a unique position to relate to patients, pediatric patients especially. I understand the importance of the nurse/patient connection and it goes beyond shots and medications. Sick kids are still just kids and I appreciated that my nurses never forgot that. They would ask me about school and my swim team, we would talk about books or TV shows or movies I was watching. We would laugh and honestly, except for my mom, there were very few tears. The nurses went above and beyond to help me forget I was sitting in a chair with chemotherapy running through my veins. My nurses have left a lasting impression on me, Adam in particular, and I want to be that person for someone else. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN sophomore at West Virginia University. I hold a 4.0 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters freshman year. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association and I volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. Upon graduation I hope to work at WVU Children’s Hospital in oncology, I want to be that nurse who inspires others to go into the nursing field like Adam did for me. If I can help just one cancer warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

When you are thirteen and diagnosed with Stage III Hodgkin Lymphoma, the future is not guaranteed. Leading up to my diagnosis I was just a regular kid, going to school, hanging out with friends, and swimming on my club swim team but I knew something was wrong. I had been losing weight and I had a cough I couldn’t get rid of. I started researching my symptoms on the internet and came up with several different diagnoses, but I never expected to hear the words “You have cancer”. Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet and two days later I was diagnosed with cancer. I went through five aggressive rounds of chemo, and I am now five years in remission. My cancer has forever changed me as a person and the trajectory of my life, but it is just a chapter in my story, not the whole book. As the years have passed and I am further out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is the greatest accomplishment of my life, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse. I loved all my nurses, but I only had one male nurse during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him changed my life. I was able to connect with Adam on a deeper level because we were both guys. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been flipped upside down and he talked to me like a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. I felt such a connection with him, and I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a nurse like Adam. Being a cancer survivor puts me in a unique position to relate to patients, pediatric patients especially. I understand the importance of the nurse/patient connection and it goes beyond shots and medications. Sick kids are still just kids and I appreciated that my nurses never forgot that. They would ask me about school and my swim team, we would talk about books or TV shows or movies I was watching. We would laugh and honestly, except for my mom, there were very few tears. The nurses went above and beyond to help me forget I was sitting in a chair with chemotherapy running through my veins. My nurses have left a lasting impression on me, Adam in particular, and I want to be that person for someone else. Currently, I am a direct-admit BSN sophomore at West Virginia University. I hold a 4.0 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters freshman year. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association and I volunteer for Kisses for Kyle, a childhood cancer foundation. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. Upon graduation I hope to work at WVU Children’s Hospital in oncology, I want to be that nurse who inspires others to go into the nursing field like Adam did for me. If I can help just one cancer warrior not feel so scared and alone, I will consider myself a successful nurse.

Most people want to make a positive impact on the world, what type of person would I be if I wanted otherwise, but for me, it will be enough if I make an impact on just one person, a teenage boy with cancer. When you are thirteen, you never expect to hear “You have cancer”. Those three words changed me. As the years have passed and I am farther out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is my greatest achievement, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse and care for other kids as my nurses cared for me. Now I loved all my female nurses, but I only met one male nurse, Adam, during my entire course of treatment, and it occurred to me, why aren’t there more male nurses? As a teenage guy, I was able to connect with Adam in a different way than my female nurses. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He was relatable and funny and he took my mind off being sick. Adam made me feel like we were just two dudes hanging out and I knew I couldn’t be the only young male patient that could benefit from having a male nurse like him. Currently, I am a direct admit BSN second-semester freshman at West Virginia University. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association, and I finished my freshman year with a cumulative 4.0 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital which overlooks the WVU football stadium and provides specialized, high-level care in numerous areas including heart, pulmonary, neuro, cancer, surgical, and trauma. On days of home games, the WVU football team and tailgaters turn towards the Children’s Hospital and wave to the patients and their families. The hospital even devoted an entire floor for families to come together and relax in a less clinical setting. The area includes a seating area that resembles the football team’s locker room, plus a kitchen, laundry room, computer room, multiple video game consoles and TVs, and a retractable projector screen. As someone that spent a fair amount of time in a hospital, I’m moved by WVU’s effort into making patients and their families feel comfortable, special, and normal. I have already begun taking nursing classes and I begin my clinicals in the fall. One of the reasons I think I am doing so well academically is because I am excited to become a nurse and I want to learn everything possible that will make me an exceptional nurse. I know how important my education is but I also know that my interpersonal skills such as kindness, patience, sense of humor, and empathy are just as important. I don’t think being a cancer survivor will make me a better nurse than someone else, but I do believe my experience provides me with a perspective that cannot be taught. Adam is the reason I want to become a nurse. I want to help sick kids manage their diagnosis and take their minds off their situation. I want to give them a chance to feel like a regular kid and if I can do that, even for just one kid, then I will feel I am a success.

Most people want to make a positive impact on the world, what type of person would I be if I wanted otherwise, but for me, it will be enough if I make an impact on just one person, a teenage boy with cancer. When you are thirteen, you never expect to hear “You have cancer”. Those three words changed me. As the years have passed and I am farther out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is my greatest achievement, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse and care for other kids as my nurses cared for me. Now I loved all my female nurses, but I only met one male nurse, Adam, during my entire course of treatment, and it occurred to me, why aren’t there more male nurses? As a teenage guy, I was able to connect with Adam in a different way than my female nurses. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He was relatable and funny and he took my mind off being sick. Adam made me feel like we were just two dudes hanging out and I knew I couldn’t be the only young male patient that could benefit from having a male nurse like him. Currently, I am a direct admit BSN second-semester freshman at West Virginia University. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association, and I finished my freshman year with a cumulative 4.0 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital which overlooks the WVU football stadium and provides specialized, high-level care in numerous areas including heart, pulmonary, neuro, cancer, surgical, and trauma. On days of home games, the WVU football team and tailgaters turn towards the Children’s Hospital and wave to the patients and their families. The hospital even devoted an entire floor for families to come together and relax in a less clinical setting. The area includes a seating area that resembles the football team’s locker room, plus a kitchen, laundry room, computer room, multiple video game consoles and TVs, and a retractable projector screen. As someone that spent a fair amount of time in a hospital, I’m moved by WVU’s effort into making patients and their families feel comfortable, special, and normal. I have already begun taking nursing classes and I begin my clinicals in the fall. One of the reasons I think I am doing so well academically is because I am excited to become a nurse and I want to learn everything possible that will make me an exceptional nurse. I know how important my education is but I also know that my interpersonal skills such as kindness, patience, sense of humor, and empathy are just as important. I don’t think being a cancer survivor will make me a better nurse than someone else, but I do believe my experience provides me with a perspective that cannot be taught. Adam is the reason I want to become a nurse. I want to help sick kids manage their diagnosis and take their minds off their situation. I want to give them a chance to feel like a regular kid and if I can do that, even for just one kid, then I will feel I am a success.

Most people want to make a positive impact on the world, what type of person would I be if I wanted otherwise, but for me, it will be enough if I make an impact on just one person, a teenage boy with cancer. When you are thirteen, you never expect to hear “You have cancer”. Those three words changed me. As the years have passed and I am farther out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is my greatest achievement, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse and care for other kids as my nurses cared for me. Now I loved all my female nurses, but I only met one male nurse, Adam, during my entire course of treatment, and it occurred to me, why aren’t there more male nurses? As a teenage guy, I was able to connect with Adam in a different way than my female nurses. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He was relatable and funny and he took my mind off being sick. Adam made me feel like we were just two dudes hanging out and I knew I couldn’t be the only young male patient that could benefit from having a male nurse like him. Currently, I am a direct admit BSN second-semester freshman at West Virginia University. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association, and I finished my freshman year with a cumulative 4.0 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital which overlooks the WVU football stadium and provides specialized, high-level care in numerous areas including heart, pulmonary, neuro, cancer, surgical, and trauma. On days of home games, the WVU football team and tailgaters turn towards the Children’s Hospital and wave to the patients and their families. The hospital even devoted an entire floor for families to come together and relax in a less clinical setting. The area includes a seating area that resembles the football team’s locker room, plus a kitchen, laundry room, computer room, multiple video game consoles and TVs, and a retractable projector screen. As someone that spent a fair amount of time in a hospital, I’m moved by WVU’s effort into making patients and their families feel comfortable, special, and normal. I have already begun taking nursing classes and I begin my clinicals in the fall. One of the reasons I think I am doing so well academically is because I am excited to become a nurse and I want to learn everything possible that will make me an exceptional nurse. I know how important my education is but I also know that my interpersonal skills such as kindness, patience, sense of humor, and empathy are just as important. I don’t think being a cancer survivor will make me a better nurse than someone else, but I do believe my experience provides me with a perspective that cannot be taught. Adam is the reason I want to become a nurse. I want to help sick kids manage their diagnosis and take their minds off their situation. I want to give them a chance to feel like a regular kid and if I can do that, even for just one kid, then I will feel I am a success.

Most people want to make a positive impact on the world, what type of person would I be if I wanted otherwise, but for me, it will be enough if I make an impact on just one person, a teenage boy with cancer. When you are thirteen, you never expect to hear “You have cancer”. Those three words changed me. As the years have passed and I am farther out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is my greatest achievement, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse and care for other kids as my nurses cared for me. Now I loved all my female nurses, but I only met one male nurse, Adam, during my entire course of treatment, and it occurred to me, why aren’t there more male nurses? As a teenage guy, I was able to connect with Adam in a different way than my female nurses. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He was relatable and funny and he took my mind off being sick. Adam made me feel like we were just two dudes hanging out and I knew I couldn’t be the only young male patient that could benefit from having a male nurse like him. Currently, I am a direct admit BSN second-semester freshman at West Virginia University. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association, and I finished my freshman year with a cumulative 4.0 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital which overlooks the WVU football stadium and provides specialized, high-level care in numerous areas including heart, pulmonary, neuro, cancer, surgical, and trauma. On days of home games, the WVU football team and tailgaters turn towards the Children’s Hospital and wave to the patients and their families. The hospital even devoted an entire floor for families to come together and relax in a less clinical setting. The area includes a seating area that resembles the football team’s locker room, plus a kitchen, laundry room, computer room, multiple video game consoles and TVs, and a retractable projector screen. As someone that spent a fair amount of time in a hospital, I’m moved by WVU’s effort into making patients and their families feel comfortable, special, and normal. I have already begun taking nursing classes and I begin my clinicals in the fall. One of the reasons I think I am doing so well academically is because I am excited to become a nurse and I want to learn everything possible that will make me an exceptional nurse. I know how important my education is but I also know that my interpersonal skills such as kindness, patience, sense of humor, and empathy are just as important. I don’t think being a cancer survivor will make me a better nurse than someone else, but I do believe my experience provides me with a perspective that cannot be taught. Adam is the reason I want to become a nurse. I want to help sick kids manage their diagnosis and take their minds off their situation. I want to give them a chance to feel like a regular kid and if I can do that, even for just one kid, then I will feel I am a success.

Most people want to make a positive impact on the world, what type of person would I be if I wanted otherwise, but for me, it will be enough if I make an impact on just one person, a teenage boy with cancer. When you are thirteen, you never expect to hear “You have cancer”. Those three words changed me. As the years have passed and I am farther out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is my greatest achievement, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse and care for other kids as my nurses cared for me. Now I loved all my female nurses, but I only met one male nurse, Adam, during my entire course of treatment, and it occurred to me, why aren’t there more male nurses? As a teenage guy, I was able to connect with Adam in a different way than my female nurses. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He was relatable and funny and he took my mind off being sick. Adam made me feel like we were just two dudes hanging out and I knew I couldn’t be the only young male patient that could benefit from having a male nurse like him. Currently, I am a direct admit BSN second-semester freshman at West Virginia University. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association, and I finished my freshman year with a cumulative 4.0 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital which overlooks the WVU football stadium and provides specialized, high-level care in numerous areas including heart, pulmonary, neuro, cancer, surgical, and trauma. On days of home games, the WVU football team and tailgaters turn towards the Children’s Hospital and wave to the patients and their families. The hospital even devoted an entire floor for families to come together and relax in a less clinical setting. The area includes a seating area that resembles the football team’s locker room, plus a kitchen, laundry room, computer room, multiple video game consoles and TVs, and a retractable projector screen. As someone that spent a fair amount of time in a hospital, I’m moved by WVU’s effort into making patients and their families feel comfortable, special, and normal. I have already begun taking nursing classes and I begin my clinicals in the fall. One of the reasons I think I am doing so well academically is because I am excited to become a nurse and I want to learn everything possible that will make me an exceptional nurse. I know how important my education is but I also know that my interpersonal skills such as kindness, patience, sense of humor, and empathy are just as important. I don’t think being a cancer survivor will make me a better nurse than someone else, but I do believe my experience provides me with a perspective that cannot be taught. Adam is the reason I want to become a nurse. I want to help sick kids manage their diagnosis and take their minds off their situation. I want to give them a chance to feel like a regular kid and if I can do that, even for just one kid, then I will feel I am a success.

Most people want to make a positive impact on the world, what type of person would I be if I wanted otherwise, but for me, it will be enough if I make an impact on just one person, a teenage boy with cancer. When you are thirteen, you never expect to hear “You have cancer”. Those three words changed me. As the years have passed and I am farther out from treatment, my life isn’t doesn’t revolve around my cancer anymore. My diagnosis is no longer the first thing I think about when I wake up or the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. Beating cancer is my greatest achievement, and because of my experience, I intend to become a pediatric oncology nurse and care for other kids as my nurses cared for me. Now I loved all my female nurses, but I only met one male nurse, Adam, during my entire course of treatment, and it occurred to me, why aren’t there more male nurses? As a teenage guy, I was able to connect with Adam in a different way than my female nurses. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He was relatable and funny and he took my mind off being sick. Adam made me feel like we were just two dudes hanging out and I knew I couldn’t be the only young male patient that could benefit from having a male nurse like him. Currently, I am a direct admit BSN second-semester freshman at West Virginia University. I am a member of the Student Nurse Association, and I finished my freshman year with a cumulative 4.0 and I was named to the President’s List both semesters. One of the reasons I applied to WVU is the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital which overlooks the WVU football stadium and provides specialized, high-level care in numerous areas including heart, pulmonary, neuro, cancer, surgical, and trauma. On days of home games, the WVU football team and tailgaters turn towards the Children’s Hospital and wave to the patients and their families. The hospital even devoted an entire floor for families to come together and relax in a less clinical setting. The area includes a seating area that resembles the football team’s locker room, plus a kitchen, laundry room, computer room, multiple video game consoles and TVs, and a retractable projector screen. As someone that spent a fair amount of time in a hospital, I’m moved by WVU’s effort into making patients and their families feel comfortable, special, and normal. I have already begun taking nursing classes and I begin my clinicals in the fall. One of the reasons I think I am doing so well academically is because I am excited to become a nurse and I want to learn everything possible that will make me an exceptional nurse. I know how important my education is but I also know that my interpersonal skills such as kindness, patience, sense of humor, and empathy are just as important. I don’t think being a cancer survivor will make me a better nurse than someone else, but I do believe my experience provides me with a perspective that cannot be taught. Adam is the reason I want to become a nurse. I want to help sick kids manage their diagnosis and take their minds off their situation. I want to give them a chance to feel like a regular kid and if I can do that, even for just one kid, then I will feel I am a success.