If you ask anyone at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, people would think I’m just your average, white male student athlete. I may not look like someone who has had a difficult journey thus far, but that is because the challenges I have faced are hidden from people in my everyday life. Most people would not know that I have been through over seven surgeries while growing up with Bladder Exstrophy – a rare birth defect that affects the urinary tract and kidneys. They wouldn’t know I continue to receive medical care for chronic kidney disease and that some of the medical management requires special care every day. The lessons I have learned growing up with an invisible disability have made me want to help others who may be going through a similar experience. I have decided to pursue nursing as a vocation, and that is directly related to growing up as a kid who was often in the hospital. One extended hospital stay, I was playing a Star Wars video game on Playstation in my hospital bed and one of the male nurses came and checked on me. He saw what I was playing and promised that after his shift he would come back to my room and play with me, and he did…on his own time! That was such a cool gesture and I want to be THAT kind of guy for my future patients. I hope that I can give back to my community a piece of what my nurses have done for me. And I am specifically interested n pediatric nursing so I can provide hope for these kids who spend some of their childhood in the hospital like I did. Amidst my many hospital experiences, I can recall specific nurses who connected with me on a deeper level…more than taking my vitals or changing my bed sheets. These people have planted a seed in me – that feeling of purpose for my future that starts with pursuing this nursing degree at Carroll University. And specifically being a pediatric nurse will help me be able to give back to kids in this very specific way that I have been blessed in the past. In a time when so much of society is at odds and disagreeing, healthcare is a basic human need, and being a nurse who can lead with compassion and understanding will no doubt make each patient’s day better and their recovery a little less difficult.

If you ask anyone at Stagg, people would think I’m just your average, white male student athlete. I may not look like someone who has had a difficult journey thus far, but that is because the challenges I have faced are hidden from people in my everyday life. Most people would not know that I have been through over seven surgeries while growing up with Bladder Exstrophy – a rare birth defect that affects the urinary tract and kidneys. They wouldn’t know I continue to receive medical care for chronic kidney disease and that some of the medical management requires special care every day. Despite my somewhat difficult circumstances, I always have a smile on my face and choose remain optimistic. Instead of my medical challenges getting me down, they help me to live in the moment. I am often told I am “wise beyond my years,” and I think that has a lot to do with growing up in and out of the hospital and having to be more mature than many of my peers. I am grateful that I have been able to turn these adversities into opportunities to grow as a person. The lessons I have learned growing up with an invisible disability have made me want to help others who may be going through a similar experience. I have decided to pursue nursing as a vocation, and that is directly related to growing up as a kid who was often in the hospital. One extended hospital stay, I was playing a Star Wars video game on Playstation in my hospital bed and one of the male nurses came and checked on me. He saw what I was playing and promised that after his shift he would come back to my room and play with me, and he did…on his own time! That was such a cool gesture and I want to be THAT kind of guy for my future patients. I hope that I can give back to my community a piece of what my nurses have done for me. Amidst my many hospital experiences, I can recall specific nurses who connected with me on a deeper level…more than taking my vitals or changing my bed sheets. These people have planted a seed in me – that feeling of purpose for my future that starts with pursuing this nursing degree at Carroll University. And specifically being a pediatric nurse will help me be able to give back to kids in this very specific way that I have been blessed in the past. In a time when so much of society is at odds and disagreeing, healthcare is a basic human need, and being a nurse who can lead with compassion and understanding will no doubt make each patient’s day better and their recovery a little less difficult.

If you ask anyone at Stagg, people would think I’m just your average, white male student athlete. I may not look like someone who has had a difficult journey thus far, but that is because the challenges I have faced are hidden from people in my everyday life. Most people would not know that I have been through over seven surgeries while growing up with Bladder Exstrophy – a rare birth defect that affects the urinary tract and kidneys. They wouldn’t know I continue to receive medical care for chronic kidney disease and that some of the medical management requires special care every day. The lessons I have learned growing up with an invisible disability have made me want to help others who may be going through a similar experience. I have decided to pursue nursing as a vocation, and that is directly related to growing up as a kid who was often in the hospital. One extended hospital stay, I was playing a Star Wars video game on Playstation in my hospital bed and one of the male nurses came and checked on me. He saw what I was playing and promised that after his shift he would come back to my room and play with me, and he did…on his own time! That was such a cool gesture and I want to be THAT kind of guy for my future patients. I hope that I can give back to my community a piece of what my nurses have done for me. Amidst my many hospital experiences, I can recall specific nurses who connected with me on a deeper level…more than taking my vitals or changing my bed sheets. These people have planted a seed in me – that feeling of purpose for my future that starts with pursuing this nursing degree at Carroll University. And specifically being a pediatric nurse will help me be able to give back to kids in this very specific way that I have been blessed in the past. In a time when so much of society is at odds and disagreeing, healthcare is a basic human need, and being a nurse who can lead with compassion and understanding will no doubt make each patient’s day better and their recovery a little less difficult. My own medical journey is not over. There will be more surgeries, daily medical supplies needed, and many more doctor’s appointments in my future. But, my future is still bright. And I hope to leave my college education with as little debt as possible so I can focus on doing my job well, and not worrying about repaying student loans.

Last summer my family went to Zion National Park, and we had the incredible experience to hike the Narrows. I have always loved hiking and being outdoors in nature. National and State Parks are very special to me, as my family always tried to revolve our summer vacations around visiting at least one park. We have been to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, the Smoky Mountains, Custer State Park, and more. They might not be the most glamorous trips, but they are special because we are spending time together outside, testing our limits, and making memories that I will have forever. This particular hike through the Narrows involved trekking through water levels that would vary from a few inches to as deep as six feet, where I could no longer touch the bottom and was forced to swim. We had to rent special socks and shoes so that we would not get “trench foot” from all the water! We also had to rent hiking sticks to keep our balance amid the flowing water. This was the most rigorous but also the most fun hike I have ever been on. Being at the bottom of a canyon and looking up to see a sliver of sky more than 200 feet up in the air was a truly surreal and life changing experience. I remember at one point in the hike, we could no longer touch the bottom and we had to decide whether we would go forward or turn around. We didn’t make the decision lightly, and we used our resources wisely to decide whether or not it was the right thing to continue. We talked to people that had gone through and come back, we tested the waters, we went slowly and put our best swimmer first. It was all a part of the journey, and we were able to have fun while also making smart, educated decisions along the way. Hiking the narrows and making those in-game decisions taught me that the goal you are reaching for is always worth the journey. There are going to be ups and downs and hardships that you will have to overcome, but it will all be worth it in the end. I plan to take these lessons with me into college and use them to help me pursue a career in nursing. Whenever times get tough and class work is piling up or I have a big test, I won't back down from the challenge! Instead, I will dig in and fight for my goals and future so that I may achieve my dream of being a nurse. The difficulty of hiking the Narrows made a profound impact on me and is something I will remember for the rest of my life. I look forward to more time spent outdoors, appreciating our great National Parks and catching some life lessons along the way.