Student Story

...Catawba College has impacted me because I am able to talk to many people and build connections with faculty as well as students around campus.”

Katie Gillman is an honors nursing student at Catawba College who recently participated in a Rowan Helping Ministries packing party where they assembled food bags that provide essential nutrition to families in need in the Rowan County community.

Reflecting on her experience, Katie shared her thoughts on the impact of the packing party and the vital role Rowan Helping Ministries plays in supporting the community.

“I had a really good time at the packing party with Rowan Helping Ministries, I found it to be an enjoyable experience, and knowing I was playing a part in helping the community was rewarding. Nothing specific surprised me about the services they provide, I have helped with similar programs in the past. Something that did surprise me though was just the large amount of food that they have ready for the community,” she said.

Katie had many takeaways from the packing party but the one that stood out the most was seeing the direct impact of nutrition support. She said, “I think that seeing the direct impact of nutrition support strengthened the idea of how many people really are food insecure. Meals are something that many of us don’t even have to think about, and yet there are people in the community struggling. I am glad that there are systems in place that give us the opportunity to directly help people in need.”

Katie’s passion for helping others extends beyond her community involvement, shaping her aspirations for a career in the medical field.

“I had always wanted to be in the medical field, for much of my life I wanted to be a veterinarian, but in high school my focus shifted towards people. My plan was to become a doctor, but I want to have options, so instead of going to pre-med, I decided to take the nursing route. This way I will be equipped to go directly into the career field or go to medical school.”

Catawba College has provided Katie with opportunities to build connections and gain experiences that are helping her shape and pursue her career goals in the medical field.

“So far, I think that Catawba College has impacted me because I am able to talk to many people and build connections with faculty as well as students around campus. I have been able to get involved in SNA which allows me to be part of nursing before I am able to apply to the program,” she said.

Through her involvement at Catawba and experiences like the packing party, Katie has gained a deeper understanding of the connection between healthcare and community service.

“I do think that the packing party has helped shape my understanding of healthcare and community service. I believe that healthcare workers are here to help and serve people in need. In my daily like serving people extends far beyond just healthcare, but I think that it is important to serve different people walking through different life circumstances.”

As she looks ahead in her nursing journey, Katie is eager to dive into her studies and build relationships with her fellow students.

She said, “Continuing in nursing I am most excited to take nursing classes and get into the depth of what that means. I am excited to be in community with other nursing students and learn about topics that truly interest me.”