During nursing school, I fell in love with public health and the importance it plays in primary care and patient education. In December 2012, we engaged in a medical mission to Nigeria, where we conducted blood pressure and blood glucose testing and screenings, HIV testing, general physical exams and of course lots of patient education to go along with everything else. Seeing the smiling faces and wonderful display of gratitude makes me more motivated to continue to focus on LabakCare's mission of providing free services to and improving the health of underserved communities, both locally and globally.

In December 2012, my life changed. I accompanied the LabakCare team on a medical mission to serve the people of Nigeria, only to find the experience mutually benefiting. As one of the many registered nurses on the team, caring for this population confirmed that an advanced practice degree is most likely in my future. Also as a believer whose faith motivate most, if not all of what I do, I gained a new passion to eventually serve elsewhere in the developing world full-time. I learned the invaluable lesson of how beautiful a life simplified from excessive material possessions can be.