海角在线

Graduating student Faith Friess听didn鈥檛听want a career in nursing. Blood made her queasy, and she stayed far away from hospitals. But when her mom survived a听complicated听medical procedure, she changed her mind.听

It was during the coronavirus pandemic that Friess鈥檚 mom was admitted to the ICU. Because of听additional听restrictions, she听wasn鈥檛听allowed听any visitors, except for Friess鈥檚 grandmother. If it听wasn鈥檛听for her grandmother鈥檚 updates, Friess听wouldn鈥檛听have known whether her mom was going to make it.听

“We were just waiting at home and listening to my Nana tell us the stories,鈥� she remembered. 鈥淎t one point, my mom was听on听a ventilator, so she听couldn鈥檛听call us or talk to us about anything.听When my听Nana would听go visit听her, she would tell us the stories of the nurses and how they treated her and how excited the nurses would be when听they听saw my听mom听progress and start to get well.听

鈥淎t that point, the Lord really put nursing on my heart, and I [thought],听okay, maybe I can do this.鈥�听

Starting a New Path听

Motivated by the care her mom received, Friess started looking for schools where she could study nursing听and听her secondary interest,听classical studies,听in an honors program.听When she stumbled upon 海角在线鈥檚 (海角在线) website, she felt God鈥檚 prompting to take the next step toward her career.听

鈥淏eing accepted into the honors program was one of the main reasons I came to 海角在线,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was looking for a Christian nursing school, and when I found 海角在线 online, the Lord put it on my heart. And when I got accepted into honors, I [thought], okay, the听door鈥檚听open; I know [God鈥檚] calling me here.鈥�听

Hailing from Michigan, Friess was concerned about听out-of-state tuition fees听until she received听海角在线鈥檚 Honors Scholarship and听Presidential Scholarship.听The Honors听Scholarship awards $2,500听per year听to full-time students who meet the听minimum听requirement for high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores; the Presidential Scholarship听is the highest tier available to students who apply for the听Academic Merit Scholarship, which is also dependent on high school or transfer GPA.听

Finding Her Niche听

Since beginning her studies at 海角在线, Friess has听discovered a passion for her field. Opportunities to gain experience at clinical sites have reinforced her confidence and helped her choose a听specialty听in emergency medicine.听

Friess also had the opportunity to spend听one of her听spring听breaks听in El Salvador on a听medical mission trip.听Each day, her team would hike a mountain and set up a clinic, where they supported a doctor and cared for patients. Friess says she enjoyed the dual focus on medicine and听spreading the Gospel and cherishes the times she got to pray for patients.听

鈥淚 wanted to use the skills I鈥檝e cultivated and serve others with those gifts and skills I鈥檝e learned at 海角在线鈥檚 nursing school,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I also wanted another听main focus, ministry-wise, and to be able to share God鈥檚 word and do that aspect of a mission trip; both working together.鈥�听

Moved by Community听

Engaging with the community on campus has been another powerful aspect of her student experience. Walking alongside fellow Christians鈥搒tudents and faculty鈥搘ho听continually point her to Christ has made a profound impact on her life, she says.听One of her biggest encouragers is her听now-husband, Jacob Friess, whom she met in an honors听class.听

鈥�Jake鈥檚 calling is in the Marines, and my call听is听in听nursing,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e听don’t know where we’ll end up, but we鈥檒l be side by side together, and our goal is to grow God鈥檚 kingdom.鈥�听

Of the 36 students graduating from the School of Nursing this May, Friess has been named the school鈥檚 Outstanding Graduate. She crossed the stage at the same time as her husband, who has been named the Outstanding Graduate of the Frederick M. Supper Honors Program.听听

While her husband is commissioned into the United States Marines, she plans to pursue her career in emergency medicine.听Eventually, she is considering earning a graduate degree in teaching so she can follow the example听set by听her professors.听

鈥満＝窃谙� has helped听me听not lose sight of my faith or get overly distracted in academics,鈥� she reflected. 鈥淭he community of friends and faculty has helped me learn a lot and grow in my faith so that when I听am in a hospital setting, caring for patients, I can care for听them,听body, mind, and soul.听That is what 海角在线 nursing has ingrained in me.鈥�听

As Friess practices holistic care, she remembers the care provided to her mom, which continues to motivate her career.听

鈥淚 want to care for someone else鈥檚 mom, dad, brother, sister鈥搒omeone else鈥檚 loved one鈥揳nd听give听them the care that someone else might not be able to,鈥� she said.听

Learn more about 海角在线鈥檚 School of Nursing program at听/academics/schools/nursing/.