Julia Vesely is a second year student at the Uuniversity of Iowa. She was a direct admit into the nursing program her freshmen year and aspires to be a nurse after graduation.
Name: Julia Vesely
Age: 20
Hometown: Elmhurst, IL
Major: Nursing
What is your favorite thing about the University of Iowa?
The environment. Everyone here is so friendly and genuine. I love being able to say that I am a Hawkeye. During my first visit to this campus, every student walking around wore Hawkeye clothes to support their school. I loved the school spirit!
What are you involved with at the University of Iowa?
I am a part of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Being a part of Greek life has given me the opportunity to meet many new people. I am also a part of the nursing program here. Although it is challenging and time consuming, I love learning and working my way towards an amazing career.
What are your career goals?
After graduation, I want to move back to Illinois. My dream job would be at either Rush Hospital or Northwestern Hospital, both located in Chicago.
What inspired you to want to be a nurse?
Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to have a career in the medical field. However, after breaking my arm in first grade and seeing how involved the nurses were in my recovery, I knew I wanted to be like them. I spent the rest of my childhood playing doctor and using my birthday money to buy things like crutches and wheelchairs. In high school, I focused on science classes and even shadowed nurses during my senior year.
What type of nursing do you want to do?
I want to be an emergency room nurse. The fast paced environment has always intrigued me. I love the variety. One day could be a young boy with a broken arm, while the next is an elderly woman having a heart attack. I want to be able to provide help to anyone and everyone. Also, I feel like I can handle stress and remain calm in panicked situations. Therefore, I think the emergency room would be a perfect place for me to work.
What is the most challenging part of being a nursing major?
I think the most challenging part of being a nursing major is learning to manage your time. Not only are classes hard, but it is also a lot of individual work. It took me awhile to figure out how to study and get good grades, while still having personal and social time.
What is the most rewarding part of being a nursing major?
The most rewarding part of being a nursing major is having a close group of peers who are also majoring in nursing by your side. We are all in the same boat and here to help one another out. Also, knowing that I will be working in a hospital one day and helping all kinds of people keeps me pushing forward through these challenging courses.
You never know, your life could be in Julia’s hands one day. She will be sure to take good care of you, especially since you’re a Hawkeye!