I was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and have lived here my entire life. It’s a little on the chill side, but when it came to school I wanted to stay in the Midwest and figured that the cold you know is better than the cold you don’t know!

I decided that I wanted to be in ROTC when I was a junior in high school, so it was a little bit of a scramble for me to get everything together and be ready to present myself as a candidate for the University of Michigan ROTC. However, I am living proof that it can be done. I pretty much worked around the clock since I was 16, but I am very happy to say that all of my effort has paid off; I am loving this program.

The reason I joined the program was because I wanted to help out. Once I figured out that I wanted to be a nurse, the decision to join the Army came naturally. I was interested in helping people, but I didn’t really want to spend my life cooped up in a hospital doing the same thing day after day. I realized that the Army offered me the ideal position; I could use my skills as a nurse to their fullest potential, and also enjoy a fast-paced career that requires quick-thinking, leadership, and physical (as well as mental) strength.

This is my first year in the Honors Nursing School, and I am loving it. The Honors program provides me with extra opportunities to listen to researchers give presentations on their latest studies and take classes that will eventually lead me to completing research of my own. It also has created a support group for me of other dedicated students who share my dream of going to graduate school. If you get the chance to participate in one of the many programs like this one that the University offers I would highly encourage you to take the opportunity!