Bailey Zipp

Junior from Chapin, South Carolina

What inspired you to pursue nursing?

I knew I wanted to be in the medical field for my whole life. I ended up choosing nursing because I wanted to be able to work with patients directly and hopefully be the person that gives them comfort on their darkest days. Additionally, I have always been passionate for advocacy, and I felt that nursing would be a perfect opportunity to be the voice for the voiceless in an environment that many find foreign.

Was there a moment or person that shaped your “why”?

When I originally came in to college, I was a Neuroscience major, but I found that the ethics classes I was taking for college credits were of great interest to me, as well as the psychology classes for my major. I knew I wanted to continue in the medical field, but I realized that nursing would align more greatly with my goals to be a caregiver that provides support, works closely with patients, and advocates for those who do not get heard in medical centers.

What keeps you going on the hard days?

I keep going on hard days because I know there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Especially with school, I know that without hardships, the successes will not be as rewarding. When I am studying for a test that I'm nervous for, or I get a grade back that isn't what I wanted, I know that the next success will be that much more satisfying, and it pushes me to work harder towards my goals. Additionally, my family has always made me feel like a superstar, like I could do anything I wanted and that my opportunities are limitless. I know that one hard day or failure does not mean my goals are out of reach, and that I must remain confident in my abilities to work hard and stay determined.

What has been the most rewarding part of nursing school so far?

The most rewarding part of nursing school for me has truly been just joining it. When I started in Neuroscience, I wasn't feeling connected with the content and found myself struggling to find motivation, which was really unusual for me as someone who has always been passionate about school and has enjoyed learning. When I switched into nursing, I was nervous, but I found immediately that I felt drawn to the content and knew that this would be the right path for me to make a positive change in the world.

What kind of nurse do you hope to be?

I hope to be a nurse that makes patients feel comfortable and heard, and a nurse who advocates for the rights of patients. More field specific, I feel drawn to Mother-Baby nursing, Psych nursing, or Dermatology nursing.

What advice would you give to another nursing student?

I would tell other nursing students to find study methods that work for you and stick to it. When coming into nursing, I heard so many recommendations about how you should go about it, ways to study, how you should set up your schedule, and so forth. A lot of times, I felt like the habits that helped me succeed were not what others did, and it made me wonder if I was doing something wrong, and that this was the reason I did not succeed in certain instances. However, the way you learn is entirely up to you and sometimes you might have a different schedule for life compared to others.