No matter what career path someone chooses, everyone has a reason that drives them forward. At Galen College of Nursing, we call that reason your “why.”

While every student’s why is unique, it serves the same purpose: inspiring perseverance, purpose and passion. Now, we’re taking those whys off the walls and bringing them into the spotlight, because every future nurse has a story worth telling.

For Samantha Ricco, her why began long before she ever stepped into a nursing classroom. Growing up, she watched her mother navigate lupus and other health complications. Many holidays, birthdays and family milestones were spent in hospital rooms, where Ricco witnessed firsthand the impact healthcare professionals can have on patients and their loved ones.

“I definitely remember some of the nurses in the hospital. Some were people that I’m going to remember for a very long time. We actually still keep in touch with a few of them, and they always ask how we’re doing. But then there’s some that maybe weren’t always the kindest,” Ricco said.

Those experiences shaped Ricco’s view of healthcare and inspired her to pursue a career in nursing. From an early age, she saw how leading with compassion and empathy could make a difficult situation a little easier for patients and families.

Today, Ricco hopes to provide that same level of care to others.

“I want to be the kind of nurse someone can open up to. I like listening to people’s stories, I like learning about people, and I want them to feel like they’re heard,” Ricco said.

The importance of making patients feel heard became even more personal when Ricco was diagnosed with lupus herself, nearly six years ago. Before receiving answers, she spent months feeling as though her concerns were being dismissed.

“I just felt like they weren’t taking me seriously. For months they said maybe it’s growing up, you’re under a lot of stress, a teenager, and stuff like that. I had to advocate for myself,” Ricco said.

While the diagnosis provided answers, it also brought uncertainty. Ricco began to wonder whether nursing was still the right path for her. Knowing the physical demands of the profession and the challenges of nursing school, she questioned whether she could balance it all.

“I was like, can I really do this? Can I really become a nurse with lupus? Like, how is this really going to work? This is what I want to do,” Ricco said.

Even on difficult days, Ricco remained committed to her goal. Working in healthcare while navigating nursing school and lupus has not always been easy, but it has proven her determination.

“I’m going to have some hard days, and it’s going to suck, but this is what I want to do. And I’m going to push and get it done,” said Ricco.

Along the way, Ricco has leaned on a strong support system. Her mother, who knows the struggles with lupus all too well, has been a source of guidance and encouragement throughout her journey.

“She’s kind of like my backbone, because she’s someone that can understand exactly what I’m going through,” Ricco said.

As she looks ahead to her nursing career, Ricco is interested in pursuing pediatrics, a field where she can combine her passion for caring for others with the compassion she developed through her own experiences. More than anything, she hopes to be the kind of nurse patients remember long after they leave the hospital, just as she remembers the nurses who made a difference in her life.

For others facing health challenges or personal obstacles of their own, Ricco hopes her story serves as a reminder that difficult circumstances do not have to define the future.

“I would say definitely listen to your body first,” Ricco said. “There’s going to be hard days, there’s going to be great days where you’re going to feel good, and there’s going to be days when you’re like, I don’t know if I could do this. But you can do anything you put your mind to.”