Elizabeth Thomas: Community Shaped Who I Am
Growing up, Elizabeth had an interest in human anatomy. She was fascinated by how the body worked and how it carried out essential functions. In 2014, Elizabeth accompanied Nyack College’s Nursing Program on a medical mission trip to India. This life-changing experience helped her realize the possibility of changing lives through healthcare. Since then, she has been working towards this goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner.
Recently, Elizabeth was permitted to shadow physicians and nurses at the Valley Hospital Emergency Room, where she gets first-hand experience of the difficulty and rigor of someone working in the healthcare sector. “My dream is to become a Nurse Practitioner, lead medical mission trips, and positively impact the health delivery system in the United States and globally.”
My dream is to become a Nurse Practitioner, lead medical mission trips, and positively impact the health delivery system in the United States and globally.
Due to her family situation, Elizabeth is graduating with only three years in high school. In the past two years, she has been working incredibly hard to complete necessary course work in order for her to graduate early. This includes taking two English classes and two history classes in one single year. Yet, this did not stop her from building meaning friendship and engaging in the loving community of EC.
“EC has really made me understand the importance of community that turns into your family...there are teachers that I’ve created very personal relationships with… and I’ve definitely created lifelong friends at EC,” says Elizabeth . She is especially thankful for her friends and teachers in the EC community, for supporting her in hard times and encouraging her to keep pushing forward. “I would not have been able to graduate a year early if it wasn’t for all the help and understanding throughout the EC faculty and staff,” adds Elizabeth.
I would not have been able to graduate a year early if it wasn’t for all the help and understanding throughout the EC faculty and staff
Volleyball was Elizabeth ’s favorite extracurricular activity in high school. She is grateful for how her team has grown into a family both on the court and off. She enjoys how well her team works together knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Elizabeth could not count how many wonderful memories she’s had in the team. She’s also thankful for Coach Steff for walking alongside with her and encouraging her at every step. “When you’re part of a team at EC, it’s more than just a team. It’s family,” exclaimed Elizabeth .
When you’re part of a team at EC, it’s more than just a team. It’s family.
In her three years of high school, Elizabeth also learned so much about God’s love and to trust God in life. “You can’t do anything alone and He knows what your wants and desires are,” says Elizabeth. She would not have been where she is today if it wasn’t for God.
On the final note, Elizabeth again thanks the community that has greatly shaped her, “I really want to recognize and thank all the faculty, staff, and friends at EC, and most importantly God, because they’ve all played a very important role in my high school career that’s led to me where I am today.”