Know Your Bulldog: AK Ward
September 11, 2019 | Soccer, HailStateBEAT
by Josie Hutton, Student Assistant/Communications
STARKVILLE – Many people give the advice of 'following your heart' when making decisions, but in AK Ward's life, the saying relates more to 'follow your servant's heart.'
Ward, a junior midfielder on Mississippi State's soccer team, has a passion for helping others and plans to put that passion to good use in the future as a pediatric nurse.
Ward has known that she wanted to go into the medical field like many of her close family relatives. What she did not know, was how passionate she would be about taking care of others.
"Medical school runs in the family," says Ward.
In high school, Ward shadowed a pediatric intensive care unit nurse (PICUN) to help with future medical school applications. While learning more about the job, Ward realized how much she loved the patient-nurse relationship.
"I just kind of fell in love with nursing," said Ward.
Nursing has not always been Ward's plan, though.
"At the beginning I wanted to go big," said Ward. "I wanted to be a cardiologist. I wanted to be a surgeon. Then I realized that my hands were not steady enough for that and people probably didn't want their heart in my hands."
What really won over Ward with being a pediatric nurse was the relationship that is built when looking after children that need to be taken care of. Ward has a unique perspective that leads to her passion of helping children and makes it feel more personal.
Ward has two younger sisters, Lauren and Carly, that she has cared for and protected, as big sisters do. Carly is 10 years younger than her, resulting in Ward's passion for helping those younger than her. When Ward was in the hospital experiencing what it was like to be a pediatric nurse, she said she always imagined that being her little sister.
"I just have this emotional appeal for the kids," said Ward. "I just knew what it was like to love a kid so much [because of my sister]. I wanted to do anything [to help her] if she was hurt."
To have a servant's heart means to help people no matter the circumstance and help them from beginning to end, and Ward wants to be that person. That type of worldview is hard to come by, but luckily for all of Ward's future patients, she has exactly what is needed to make an impact in the medical field.
She's been there for her sisters and her teammates, and soon she will help those who cannot help themselves.
"I want to be there for all of those who don't specialize in medicine," Ward said.
STARKVILLE – Many people give the advice of 'following your heart' when making decisions, but in AK Ward's life, the saying relates more to 'follow your servant's heart.'
Ward, a junior midfielder on Mississippi State's soccer team, has a passion for helping others and plans to put that passion to good use in the future as a pediatric nurse.
Ward has known that she wanted to go into the medical field like many of her close family relatives. What she did not know, was how passionate she would be about taking care of others.
"Medical school runs in the family," says Ward.
In high school, Ward shadowed a pediatric intensive care unit nurse (PICUN) to help with future medical school applications. While learning more about the job, Ward realized how much she loved the patient-nurse relationship.
"I just kind of fell in love with nursing," said Ward.
Nursing has not always been Ward's plan, though.
"At the beginning I wanted to go big," said Ward. "I wanted to be a cardiologist. I wanted to be a surgeon. Then I realized that my hands were not steady enough for that and people probably didn't want their heart in my hands."
What really won over Ward with being a pediatric nurse was the relationship that is built when looking after children that need to be taken care of. Ward has a unique perspective that leads to her passion of helping children and makes it feel more personal.
Ward has two younger sisters, Lauren and Carly, that she has cared for and protected, as big sisters do. Carly is 10 years younger than her, resulting in Ward's passion for helping those younger than her. When Ward was in the hospital experiencing what it was like to be a pediatric nurse, she said she always imagined that being her little sister.
"I just have this emotional appeal for the kids," said Ward. "I just knew what it was like to love a kid so much [because of my sister]. I wanted to do anything [to help her] if she was hurt."
To have a servant's heart means to help people no matter the circumstance and help them from beginning to end, and Ward wants to be that person. That type of worldview is hard to come by, but luckily for all of Ward's future patients, she has exactly what is needed to make an impact in the medical field.
She's been there for her sisters and her teammates, and soon she will help those who cannot help themselves.
"I want to be there for all of those who don't specialize in medicine," Ward said.
Players Mentioned
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