As kids, we start getting ideas about what we want to be when we get older. Whether it be a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, a model, or a police officer; we all remember that one person we wanted to become as a child.

As I feel that all of these dreams are great and ambitious, I was the kid that always dreamed about helping people. I wanted to be all sorts of “people.” I wanted to be a dancer and a singer. I wanted to be a cheerleader. I wanted to be a teacher and a therapist. I began volunteering at St. Clare’s, the local hospital in my area, my freshman year of high school and all of those dreams went out the back door. I knew from the moment I stepped foot into that hospital that I wanted to become a nurse and help patients. I wanted to work in the hospital. I spent most of my summer volunteering. I would spend my day from 8 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon there. I met a lot of new friends; my mom calls me the “40-year-old-midget” because I would sit and talk with my new friends yet I was half their age, but I didn't mind. I enjoyed being with the adults more than the teenagers. Working in the hospital is nothing like Grey's Anatomy presents it to be, but I am totally okay with that. I will always dream and fantasize over Grey Sloan Memorial, but I need to face reality. I realized that the best fit for me was to become a nurse. I want to become a nurse because I truly have a passion for helping others. People make fun of me or laugh at me because I am a total germaphobe and I am very VERY squeamish and I hit the floor when I see blood, yet for some reason, I want to be a nurse. I have a major fear of needles and getting my blood drawn. I know I have to overcome these fears before I can become a nurse but I won’t let others stop me from pursuing my ultimate dream.

1. There is absolutely no better feeling than helping others.

I have always been a selfless individual who enjoys giving more than receiving. I choose to be kind to everyone I meet because everyone you meet is fighting a battle that you know nothing about. That person you just had an attitude with at the supermarket could be watching their mother fighting for her life or that person you rolled your eyes at when you went to the movies could be an outpatient at a psychiatric hospital dealing with depression. I truly believe that being genuinely nice to everyone will make a difference in the world and eventually bring kindness and love back to you.

2. You have a multitude of career paths to choose from.

You can be an ER nurse, an oncology nurse, a pediatric or geriatric nurse, a neonatal nurse, or even a psychiatric nurse. There are so many more, too! There is a place for everyone.

3. You can make a difference in this world.

It is very fulfilling to know that no matter what specialty or department I choose to work in, my job as a nurse will be making a difference in this world. Making a difference in this world is all that counts and is one of the major reasons why I choose to become a nurse.

4. Every day will be different.

You will be running from patient to patient. You will have a new patient each day and will learn so many different things. There will always be a challenge to face. Nursing is intriguing, constantly changing and inspiring. Nursing, for sure, is never a dull moment. No day will ever be the same.

5. There is no job that gives you more of a rewarding feeling.

At the end of the day, you have saved a life, helped someone get out of bed, or make someone laugh or smile. I can't think of a better feeling than being able to go home at the end of your shift and think of all the lives you changed.

I want to be nurse because I want to help people. But really, being a nurse is so much more than just helping people, even though that is the overall goal of nurse; I think it can be defined in a much more detailed explanation. Nurses are strong, yet compassionate. Nurses have much determination, yet they have the softest, sweetest touch. Nurses are educators: always willing to teach and learn. Nurses are good listeners, who always seem to have the right words to say. Nurses are basically the "mothers/fathers of a hospital."

There are many things about a hospital that can terrifying: the sight of needles, the sound of monitors beeping through the hallways, seeing nurses and doctors rushing a patient into surgery, the smell of medicines and fluids drifting in the air, or the touch of your loved one's hand as they worry if things will be okay. I want to become a nurse because none of these things scare me at all. When a child is scared to get an IV or a shot, I want to be the one that calms them, talks to them, and helps them overcome their fears. I am that “child” now, so I know exactly what it is like. When loud beeps coming from the patient monitors rage throughout out the nurses station, I want to be able to walk into a patient's room and turn the monitor off, while also checking to make sure they don't need more fluids. When someone needs to be rushed into surgery, I want to be the nurse that patient trusts enough to hold their hand once their mother or father cannot go beyond the double doors. I don't mind the smell of medicine or oxygen because it is something thing that is helping my patient. Lastly, I want to be the one who can give a patient and their family comfort, compassion, and hope, regardless if something is wrong, because I have enough faith in God, that no matter what, things will be okay.

Being a nurse is a beautiful thing. I am meant to be a nurse because I am compassionate, I am willing, I am hopeful, and I am strong. When someone needs a leap of faith, I am willing to leap with them. When someone is scared, I am willing to do what it takes to throw that fear out the window. I am willing to teach others and fill their minds with the knowledge that my brain holds. I am determined to do what needs to be done to make my patient feel comfortable. I want my patients to know in every way possible, that they are in good hands. Nurses are important, nurses do care, and nurses are determined, because helping others is what nurses thrive on. They wake up every morning for a 12+ hour shift to watch over you or your loved one. Nurses are the "mothers/fathers of a hospital" and that, to me, is becoming a part of something that is way bigger than myself. I cannot wait to venture out in the interesting world of healthcare.