At the beginning of my internship at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, I felt completely overwhelmed. I was lost, uncertain, and emotionally drained. My performance was weak, my confidence was low, and I genuinely believed my only option was to leave and transfer to a smaller facility with fewer expectations. I didn’t know how to face the challenges ahead, and I was ready to give up.

Then Ms. Nada Al-Khaldi stepped in and guided me. She didn’t just recognize that I was struggling; she truly saw me as a person. She took the time to sit with me, to listen, and to speak words that changed everything: “I won’t let you walk away. I’m here with you, and I will help you through this.”

From that moment, she committed to walking alongside me. She monitored my progress, ensured I had the right preceptor, and created a safe, supportive environment where I could grow and regain my confidence. She never treated me as a number or a burden. Instead, she treated me like a younger sister, someone she deeply cared for and believed in.

Her support went beyond academic guidance; it was emotional, personal, and powerful. She believed in my potential long before I did. She uplifted me when I felt like I couldn’t keep going. And with her encouragement, everything began to change. My performance improved, my mindset shifted, and I began to rediscover my passion for nursing.

More than that, Ms. Nada was one of the main reasons I chose to stay in this program,  a program designed to nurture student nurses and prepare them to become knowledgeable, skilled, and evidence-based professionals. She made sure I didn’t miss the value this program had to offer. She guided me toward every opportunity to learn, reflect, and improve, not because it was her job, but because she genuinely cares.

Her passion for education is clear in everything she does. She dreams of seeing a generation of nurses who are confident, capable, and committed to excellence in patient care. She teaches with purpose, empathy, and vision. She doesn’t just shape skills, she shapes people.

Now, as I near the end of my internship year, my family sees how far I’ve come. They often speak of the transformation I’ve undergone and how confident and determined I’ve become. Every time they mention my growth, they mention her.

Ms. Nada is part of my story. She is a true role model in nursing, someone who inspires by example and leads with heart. She doesn’t just teach nursing; she lives it. She brings out the best in her students and makes us believe in ourselves, even in our weakest moments.

For all these reasons and many more, Ms. Nada Al-Khaldi embodies everything this award was created to honor.