I often get asked the question, "What do you want to be when you are older?'', and I have known the answer to that question since I was eight years old. The reason I knew that answer at such a young age came from me working with Child Life Specialists in my first eight years of my life. The Child Life Specialists were the ''good guys'' in my mind since I knew they were not going to hurt me. The Child Life Specialists got me through hospitalizations, 18 surgeries, and countless tests & procedures.

People often wonder what a Child Life Specialist is when I tell someone that is what I want to be when I am older. If you are wondering, let me tell you — A Child Life Specialist is a health care professional who helps children understand what they are going through. A Child Life Specialist helps children understand by age-appropriate explanations, play and self-expression activities such as art.

The Child Life Specialists that walked into my hospital room made a huge impact on me. I want to hopefully impact my future patients as much as the Child Life Specialists made on me. I want to be an advocate for my future patients just like how my Child Life Specialists were for me. The Child Life Specialists really focused on my mental and emotional health which I appreciated. I want to make sure my future patients' emotional and mental health are being treated along with their physical health. I remember making bracelets and doing art activities in the hospital with my Child Life Specialist. I look forward to helping my future patients express themselves in a creative way. I remember telling my Child Life Specialist when I would be scared or anxious about the upcoming procedure, and my Child Life Specialist would help ease my anxiety. I hope that I can help my future patients' anxiety ease ,and not be as scared as they were before.

The number one reason why I want to become a Child Life Specialist is that I know how they are feeling. Being away from your family and friends while being in an unknown place is scary. My Child Life Specialists made my hospital experiences 100x better, and I hope to do the same for my future patients.

Thank you, Child Life Specialists, for inspiring me to become one too. You all rock.

Love,

A Future Child Life Specialist