When I was young, I was in the world of hospitals
and all of that with my sister having neuroblastoma.
And when she passed away, and when
I saw how the nurses helped my family,
I developed the heart for nursing and the need
to be able to help people in some way.
When I first visited UVA, and I saw the landscapes,
it kind of transported me back to Puerto Rico.
And I fell in love with the idea that I'd
be able to hike the mountains and see sunrises and sunsets.
And it was very difficult for my mom to kind of let me go,
but she wanted me to spread my wings and discover new places.
I realized that I was happiest when I was studying
nursing or helping people.
And I wanted to do that immediately.
Once I was able to be in the nursing school
and start clinicals, the most fascinating,
the most fun was the labor and delivery, OB/GYN clinical.
The first day I felt that I could stay there for hours
and just help laboring women.
I just immediately realized that this
is what I could spend the rest of my life doing.