Meet Paris.

Why do you want to be a nurse?

Many experiences tie into my desire to be a nurse, from seeing them in the hospital when I or other family members got sick to hearing stories of my grandma through her own career in nursing. Recently, though, I have really defined what it means to be a nurse to me. I want to be an advocate for my patients and be their friendly face during scary moments. So many people are ignored, overlooked, and alone while in the hospital, and I want to be a nurse who changes that.

What does the Pledge Ceremony mean to you?

The Pledge Ceremony to me is my transition from desire to reality with being a nurse. There is so much change I want to accomplish with nursing, and this is my promise that I will do it. Not only to myself but to the rest of my community.

Why did you choose WVU School of Nursing?

I had considered multiple different universities, both in and out of the state of WV, but WVU was different. From the first tour I took of the campus, it felt like home. By attending the WVU School of Nursing, I would have access to the No. 1 hospital in the state and exposure to the facility where I intend to kick-start my career. WVU School of Nursing also provides such a unique and comprehensive learning experience that will allow me to have the most success in nursing.

What do you hope to do after graduation?

After graduation, I intend to try to get a position in a unit at Ruby in a specialty I am interested in, which is currently undecided, so that I can go back to school after a couple of years of experience to earn my Nurse Practitioner.