Who or what was your inspiration to go into the medical field?

Photos and interviews by Sam Campbell

“I had a couple of family members who struggled with mental health issues. I saw the difficulty they had accessing care and feeling like they weren’t supported all the time.

I really wanted to give back in a way and make a difference in peoples’ lives. I really enjoy celebrating the little victories with my patients. I think that’s my favorite part of my job — when I can see someone making progress even if it’s just being able to sleep through the night.”

“I couldn’t stand being in a cubicle in an office. My mom happens to be a nurse, and she was a nurse for over 30 years. So I asked her, ‘you’ve been doing this so long, how do you like it?’ She talked to me a little bit about it and it just snowballed from there. Nursing actually paved the way for me to serve in the Army.

The time came and I wanted to go back to school, and the Army — I talked to my parents about it, told them they’re going to pay for my degree and it’s all going to be for free. My parents gave me their full support.”

“My mom is my inspiration. My mom’s a nurse as well.

She’s a very caring and compassionate individual and I just saw her continuously go above and beyond for people, and show love and care in that way.”

“I went down a different path. I was in physical therapy school and my mom became sick with cancer. I quit school to help her and be there for her.

Through the treatments, the appointments, the struggles, I decided nursing was what I wanted to do, because she had such great nurses who took care of her. What affirmed the fact that I wanted to be a nurse was when she was passing away, the nurses took such wonderful care of my mom.

They went above and beyond and brought my family food so we didn’t have to leave my mom’s side. That’s when I just knew this is for me.”