Nicci - My Academic Inspiration by Rachel

Nicci - My Academic Inspiration by Rachel - September 2013 Scholarship Essay

The question posed before me is “Who is your most inspirational academic role-model and why?” Now that I am older, I have a handful of candidates that can fit that description – My Medical Microbiology teacher, Ms. Beverly, for instance. She made learning fun and interesting, always laughing and coming up with wacky mnemonic devices, yet at the same time stressing academic excellence and not giving in to the student’s favorite pastime of asking for extra credit or putting up with cheating or any such shenanigans. I could also say that my sister, Abi, is an inspirational role-model as she is the first in my family to get any kind of degree, and is still working onwards and upwards towards her Master’s. Through it all she has been diligent in working hard at school and several jobs, making great grades, and slowly but surely paying off any borrowed money.
But I’d have to say that my absolutely most inspirational academic role-model would have to be a good friend I met four or five years ago while working on a surgical step-down ward at our local hospital.  Nicci, was a hardworking, take no crap from anybody sort of person. She was brusque and to the point. Many of our co-workers did not appreciate her manners, but I thought she was great. The first time I met her I thought to myself “I want to be friends with her!”
At the time, Nicci was an RN and acting charge nurse – working nightshift on the weekends and working on her Master’s degree during the week. Not only was she inspirational for her hard working nature, she was invited to graduate with honors.
At work, she was take charge and no nonsense. There were several times I witnessed her saving another nurse’s patient because she was more astute at noticing when things were going awry. She was wicked smart and no one could deny, whether they liked her manners or not, that she was likely smarter and had more medical knowledge than other co-workers or themselves. She understood processes better than several of the other nurses and was a walking resource. She did not accept when somebody didn’t seem to want to learn – especially in the nursing field. For goodness sakes, knowledge could mean life or death in the nursing field! One could not deny her abilities, and as far as I was concerned, I could not deny my respect for her. 
Not only did she work hard at school, she enjoyed it. She loved learning – in fact, even after she received her MSN and became a Nurse Practitioner; she stated that she wanted to go to Paramedic school – not because she needed to, but simply for the fun of it.
She helped to ignite my curiosity even more, and was a pleasure to learn from while I had the chance. I hope one day she understands the scope of her impact on me and my academic career.