I thought it would be different to write a letter my freshman year of nursing school to the “nurse I hope to become” and look back on it to see if I fulfilled all I had said I wanted to be. I know there is no such thing as the perfect nurse, or perfect surgeon, and there never will be; however, I chose to write this letter in hopes of trying to determine the type of nurse I do hope to someday be. So here it goes.

To the nurse I hope to become,

I first off want to say how excited I am to begin this journey. I want to let you know I will do everything I can to be as great as you and I truly hope to become all I mention you to be.

You are the nurse who keeps a smile on her face even when it is the hardest of days. One who understands that someone is going through much more than what you are going through, and whom chooses to change their attitude to appreciate the difficult days even when they hurt your heart the most. I hope to become the nurse who accepts their patients when they say hurtful things — understanding that they only say the malicious words out of pain and struggle.

You place others before yourself, and understand that you are a part of someone’s healing process and will see people at their lowest points but will do everything you can to alleviate the pain they are going through. You choose acceptance over judgment, and affection over dislike. Everything you do, you do with passion and dedication.

You cooperate with others — contributing to a positive environment with a genuine attitude. You uphold your responsibilities and try your best to always better yourself. You are a teacher, who educates patients and families through proper communication and remain calm in the times of distress.

You choose to have balance between your personal life and occupation. Making time for your family and friends even when it seems hard to.

You smile when you are on call and get called in because you know you are making a difference and are needed. You don’t know what it is to be lazy, because you never settle for that. You come to each shift with more devotion and joy than the last; and you go out of your way to better a patient’s day.

You remain humble after a long day of work, and content with the effort you gave. You love what you do, and wouldn’t wish for anything else.

You are strong and special. One who knows that at the end of the day, you were there to sit beside your patients, reassuring them it was going to be ok.

You didn’t choose this profession for the money, you chose it for the happiness it brings everyday.

I only hope to become as great as you. You are more than everything I hope to be.