I grew up as the only daughter in a vibrant home with five children. Not only did this turn me into a tomboy, but I was always known as one of the most competitive people among my peers. While my competitive nature might be seen as intense during a backyard volleyball game with friends, it was one of the reasons I excelled in my education and role as a professional nurse. I always try to find a new challenge. I was proud to graduate with honors from the University of Detroit Mercy and work as a mentor to other nursing students. After graduation, I started as a new graduate nurse in the cardiothoracic progressive care unit at Spectrum Health and eventually became a preceptor for new nurses. After a year and a half, I accepted a position in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit to expand my critical thinking and experience. I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and autonomy from this step in my career. I became a preceptor on this unit as well as a charge nurse and code responder. I also recently joined my unit's education committee. Together with my colleagues, I will identify gaps in our unit's clinical knowledge and work to fill them