Molly Yeo:
The first time I saw a professional ballet performance, I was five years old. I sat on the edge of my seat the whole time. Once I achieved my dream, once I became a professional ballet dancer, it wasn't everything that I ever dreamed it to be.

I was hungry for being known not just for what I could do with my body, but who I was, and my character and my integrity.

I was on the phone with my mom one night, and I said, ‘I don't know why, I just keep thinking about nursing.’ She pulled up the website of the New York State Board of Nursing. The number one criteria was to be of good moral character. It was like, that's it. I'm going to go to nursing school.

UVA really stood out to me because of this culture of excellence, to be both great and good. When I look across Grounds, I really see people, who have chosen to pursue something that they're not only deeply passionate about, but that is useful to our world. And I think that's a really inspiring place to be.

[In the Background: How was your shower? You look so fresh and clean.]

The stakes are so high in the hospital. We have to get it right. As a dancer I certainly was trained to be very detail-oriented and a perfectionist. In nursing school I've been able to apply a lot of those same qualities to my work. But instead of wanting to be perfect, wanting to be excellent.

Being excellent is not only being clinically competent, but it means being culturally sensitive, empathetic, thinking about the whole person. We're constantly reminded that it not only matters what we do, but how we do it. 

[♪ Inspirational music ♪]

I was never supposed to be a nurse. I was supposed to be a ballet dancer. I’ve truly done things here that I never thought I was capable of, and in many ways, I think ballet was almost the kindling, and coming to the University of Virginia really lit the fire.

[♪ Inspirational music ♪]