All of our lives we are taught to find our purpose: to pick a career that will make us happy and showcase our talents. The beginning of my junior year of high school is when I had a realization, one that lead to me to go into nursing. I attended a leadership conference where I sat in on a presentation hosted by a Neonatal/Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Nurse. My decision to study nursing was rather epiphanic. Listening to her stories caused me to stop and think and in that moment, it hit me like a brick wall: I wanted to become a nurse. I wanted to serve people and be a part of something bigger than myself. I truly believe this profession brings me to life; it gives me purpose.
I believe my purpose in life is to become a nurse because I have a burning passion to touch people’s lives. I want a job that will never become ‘business as usual.’ The profession of nursing allows for so many opportunities and is continuously changing which makes every day a new day. I want a career that is challenging, exciting, and rewarding. I prosper when presented with challenges and I always have new goals to attain, so I believe nursing calls to me as few other careers offer as much diversity and learning opportunities. Another aspect that drew me to the profession is the holistic approach to medicine that nursing care provides. I appreciate the chance to not only treat someone’s physical needs, but to satisfy their emotional, social, and spiritual health as well. I whole-heartedly believe that a person cannot be their healthiest self unless all of these aspects are returned to harmony. To that end, I love to learn and this profession would allow me to be inspired by both my patients and my coworkers daily. Ultimately, having the opportunity to positively impact people’s lives every single day would be the greatest reward in my life.
While I realize that many individuals hold these same desires and attributes, I feel that I am especially talented and prepared for this career. My communication skills, especially speaking and listening, are qualities that make me a sounding board and ultimately an eminent advocate for my patients. Working as a team is one of my strong-suits. Throughout high school, I was on the dance team and was chosen to be a captain my senior year. From this, I learned how to handle conflicts with patience and resolve differences in ways that allowed for the building of trust and confidence. I have also enhanced my capacity to stay relaxed and focused in tense situations which remains a vital aspect of nursing care. I am an empathetic person and I am always trying to put myself in other people’s shoes which has allowed me to be compassionate and provide comfort. I have a great attention to detail which will serve me well in becoming a nurse as every step in the medical field can have great consequences. I can think on my toes and do very well under pressure, this allows me to be quick yet thorough with my responses in unanticipated situations. Overall, I am optimistic that the talents I hold will allow me to prosper in this career.
If granted the opportunity, I am confident that I will be an invaluable addition to the UW Oshkosh College Of Nursing. I am hard-working, determined, and have a real passion for this line of work. I love the idea of being able to make a lifelong career out of serving people at their worst of times and to ignite hope within them. The profession of nursing is a true calling and I am ready to answer that call.
