Saturday, November 6, 2021
I met Katherine just prior to her senior year of high school, when she was considering a career in nursing. Her father, Vince, was aware through working with my husband that I am a nurse, and suggested she talk with me about my career to gather insight. Shortly thereafter, Katherine and I met one Saturday morning at a Panera.
I remember being immediately taken with Katherine’s enthusiasm, beautiful smile, and intelligence. She had come prepared with a list of perhaps 20 questions about my career and my thoughts on pursing a career in nursing. I believe we ended up chatting for close to an hour and a half, and it was apparent to me that the nursing profession would be a better one if Katherine joined our ranks. Our conversation revealed her to be a thoughtful and compassionate young woman with great potential to be a nursing leader.
As I have learned too often as a nurse, sometimes a life is taken from us too soon, leaving the people who loved that person so dearly with an enormous sense of loss, unable to imagine living in a world without that person in it. As I think about Katherine, remembering our conversation and her bright, beautiful smile, I feel certain that she is carrying out our shared commitment to helping people through her spirit, hoping to bring love and solace to Vince, Beth, Avery, and all of her family and friends who grieve for her.
Bethany Clements
