The room was dark except for the soft light peeking through the windows which made all the furniture appear grey. As the nurse turned the lights on, it painted the chairs a bright blue color and my anticipation grew as mothers trickled into the room. This was my first glimpse into what my future could hold. I had been volunteering at the hospital for a while, but I would now be introduced to the new mothers and their journey into nurturing their new babies. The nurses gave me instructions to pull the patient’s files as they entered the clinic and weigh the babies after they had been fed. I was eager to learn how to care for these mothers and their babies even though I was only 14 years old. When they placed their newborn babies in my arms, I felt so honored. My memories from that hospital’s breast-feeding clinic are what first inspired me to pursue healthcare. I was also given the opportunity to volunteer on the pediatrics unit where my job was to cheer up the young kids on the floor by bringing in movies, games, or taking them to the playroom. I met so many children, but the one that still burns in my mind was an infant which they asked me to simply hold. Her parents needed to go to work but they did not want her to be alone, so I held her as she slept. It felt inspiring to be given this responsibility and allow the parents peace of mind knowing their baby was safe and cared for. These opportunities are what influenced me to take my first steps into pursuing nursing through going to school for my CNA and CMA certifications in high school. This allowed me to get a job at a local rehab and long-term care center to gain experience in geriatrics for these past five years. Rooted in my love for science and my love for people, my determination to pursue a career in medicine has been strengthened by these treasured experiences. I am now a level 2 nursing student in Washburn University's nursing program. With this recent pandemic, I have had the opportunity to see the full capacity of the healthcare field. I have witnessed the loneliness it brought to my elderly patients as well as the emotional strain it caused, but I was able to work with an incredible team of nurses who were creative in finding ways to cheer up our patients and keep our elderly residents in contact with their families. Covid allowed me to realize that my role as a nurse will not only be to care for my patient’s physical safety and physical health, but to also be there for their mental and emotional health. I strive to be a nurse who brings a heart of servitude filled with compassion for her patients. Following graduation from Washburn’s School of Nursing, I plan to apply for a position in OB. I have been honored to gain experience in these different areas of healthcare and I'm gaining even more experience through nursing school, but my heart continually returns to working with the mothers and their infants. My goal will be to support women on their journey into motherhood and be a part of empowering these new mothers to take on their new role with confidence instead of fear. I will be a nurse who values life and will continually seek to improve this workforce to care for my patients, their families, and our community.

Since I was a child I knew I wanted to be a nurse. They advocate for their patients, they hold strong to their values, they jump in and help no matter what. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic I have realized just how strong nurses truly are. I want to be apart of that. I am driven by my desire to be an advocate for those that cannot advocate for themselves, to be a form of support for individuals during some of the most painful times of their lives, and to be the hand someone can hold when they have nobody else by their side. I understand the very real side of nursing where patients are hurting, not only physically, but emotionally. I have seen the loneliness COVID-19 has brought to my elderly patients. I have consoled them while they cried because they were unable to see their families. I have comforted the family members who have just lost their loved one. I have held the hands of my patients who have had to face death without their family members beside them. I feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment to have the ability to ease at least some of their pain. Since my freshman year of high school, I have been working towards my dream of becoming a nurse. I got my first job with a local small business at the age of 14. At that time, I also began to volunteer at a local hospital where I earned more than 100 hours of volunteer service. I attended a tech school as a high school junior to earn my Healthcare Technology Certification which included Medical Terminology, Health Occupations, Home Health Aide, Nurse Aide, and OSHA 10-Hour Healthcare. I immediately looked for a position to work as a CNA after receiving my certificate. I began working at a local rehab center in 2018. I went back to the same tech school my senior year of high school for my Medication Aide Certification. I began working as a CMA immediately and have now been working as a CNA and CMA for the past three years. This year I was accepted into my dream nursing school! I am currently most passionate about my studies and my future goal of becoming a nurse. I have learned so much about the human body and how amazingly complex it is. Working in the healthcare field has made me certain this is my future. I spend almost all of my time studying or working because my goal of becoming a nurse is my passion today. Reaching my goal requires hard work and remaining diligent. I look forward to starting nursing school because I am so excited to learn more. I am so blessed to get the opportunity to impact so many lives.