Viktor Frankl said: “In the end, a man should not ask himself what the meaning of his life is, but he must rather recognize that it is he who is being asked” (Frankl, 1959, p.131). We are constantly presented with opportunities to make our lives worth living. Choosing a career is one of those opportunities and I don’t want to let it pass. I spent the last four years of high school thinking about college and what career I wanted to pursue. The decision weighed heavily on me because I wanted to make sure I chose a career that felt both fulfilling and interesting. I want my future career to contribute to my ultimate “meaning” and I believe I have finally found something worthwhile. I chose nursing as a profession because I want to combine my fascination with the medical field and my desire to change people's lives. I hope that my studies will help prepare me to live a meaningful life. My decision to major in nursing was finalized during my junior and senior years of high school when I was fortunate enough to be able to volunteer at Arbors Nursing Home. The opportunity to work with patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia was an incredible experience that helped me develop my compassion and patience and reassured me that I wanted to become a nurse. I am incredibly fortunate to have been involved in their direct care and to have made personal connections with patients. During my time at Arbors, I learned how much more rewarding providing healthcare can be when you know and care about the patients you are treating. The role of compassion in nursing is sometimes overlooked, but it is one of the main reasons I chose this profession. I considered medical school for a while...in the middle of my studies...the more rewarding the experience. Forcing myself to step out of my nursing comfort zone will allow me to reach my full potential. I want to be generous with my time, knowledge, energy and compassion. I look forward to opportunities to not only improve the quality of people's health care, but also to get to know and build relationships with the people I help. I know how lucky I am and I want to give back to those who are less fortunate than me. I can give meaning to my life by helping to make this world a better place, one patient at a time. References Catalano, JT (2011). Breastfeed now! Today's issues, tomorrow's trends. Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis Company. Frankl, V. (1959). Man's search for meaning. Boston, MA: Beacon Press. Hickey, P. (2009). 7 summits the quest of a nurse to conquer mountaineering and life. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.