Discovery

    The summer of my senior year, my older brother severely injured his ankle, splitting his tibia lengthwise and shattering his talus into hundreds of tiny pieces. This accident had a big impact on his summer plans and his life plans. However, Taylor was not the only one affected. Taking care of him during the trauma of his surgery, recovery, and physical therapy helped me discover that I find true joy in serving people who need it.


     My brother slept in my room that summer. Thought it surprises some, those months with him in my care are some of the most memorable of my life. They gave me the chance to experience what it would be like to be a nurse, something I’d been planning on for a few years. To me, it felt like real-life practice. Taylor lay on the extra bed all day, trying not to complain to me about how much his leg hurt, and I’d refill his water bottle countless times, bring him food so he could take his medications, and change his gauze and clean his surgical incisions every few days. I had wanted to be a nurse since I was a sophomore in high school, but I did not know how much I enjoyed taking care of someone who truly needed it.
     I liked cleaning his wounds, changing his gauze, adjusting his pillows, and bringing him string cheese. Before I left for work I would give my younger siblings special instructions about  letting him sleep and being careful around his injured bones. The first thing I did when I got home  was go check on him and ask him how his day had been. I stayed up many, many nights listening to him talk about how severe the pain was, how bad his future would be due to his accident, and how much he hated being helpless. It was a heavy burden, hearing these sentiments from my tough older brother, but one I was glad to bear. 


     I’d never realized before how strongly I desire is to help others emotionally and physically. This experience was a journey for me, and the end of the adventure was a discovery of how much I want to care for people. Whether it be a dose of pain medication or just a listening ear, I want to give what I can and help where it is needed. With the passion that I have for this role, I think I can make a difference for those around me. That is why I want to be a nurse.




Guys, I don't know if I've ever wanted anything this much. I feel so strongly that this is the right choice for me. Exhibit A of this feeling: I was riding my bike the other day and stopped next to the Intermountain Hospital. Looking at a hospital, imagining myself working as a nurse one day, brought me to tears right there on the side of the road. Just writing this post is making me cry. I look forward to the day when I can be a valuable worker in the medical field.