For Sarah Graff, becoming a nurse means giving back to the community and supporting people during some of their hardest moments.
Graff, from Altona, is in her second year of the nursing program at Red River College - Winkler Campus and received a Dr. S.S. Toni scholarship award from the Altona and District Health Care Board. The award is given out each year to a resident of the Municipality of Rhineland, Town of Altona or R.M. of Montcalm who is pursuing a health-related career.
"I was incredibly grateful. I was surprised. I wasn't sure how many applicants there were," she said when asked how it felt to receive the support. "It meant a lot."
When asked why she chose this career path, Graff explained that she believes nursing provides many opportunities to help people in a meaningful way and to keep learning and growing.
"There's just a lot of opportunity to make a difference in peoples' lives," she added. "And there's so many avenues that you can explore whether it be working in Northern communities or flight nursing or locally. Boundary (Trails) has the expansion going on so, there's going to be a lot with that as well. It's just a good opportunity overall, and I don't think it would ever be a boring job."
A wife and mother to two children, Graff says she felt it wasn't too late to start her education and career.
"I feel like I'm young enough that, if I go now, I'll still be young by the time I'm finished my career. And I want to do this for my kids too. I want to show them that anything is possible. I've always had this dream."
With two years remaining in her education, Graff says, initially after graduation, she'd like to work locally, noting she previously worked at the hospital in Altona as a nurse's aide. However, she isn't ruling out future opportunities.
Also receiving a Dr. S.S. Toni Scholarship is Annika Braun, also from Altona.
