Nursing Major
Claremont, North Carolina

On what she learned in Costa Rica:
There were six of us total, and we all stayed with a Costa Rican woman at her home. We were totally immersed in the culture and totally surrounded by a different language. Even though I didn't learn any practical nursing skills, such as giving an IV, I gained so much knowledge about relating to people, a skill that is priceless in nursing.

On using 54 babies to engage her learning:
I was doing a clinical rotation in the newborn nursery at Wake Medical Center. It was my first day and we ended up with 54 babies! Everything I had learned about newborns in class finally clicked. It was an amazing experience!

On a professor to be like:
Susan Clayton, a nursing professor, has definitely had the most lasting impact on me. I can tell every time I walk into class that she not only loves nursing, but more importantly she loves the patients that she takes care of. She inspires me to treat every patient as if they were a family member and to provide the best care I can. I just hope that some day I can be as great a nurse as she is.

On ice cream and friendships:
My favorite memories at Barton all have to do with the wonderful friends that I've made. Whether it's a trip to Cold Stone after a nursing test, a fun weekend at the beach, or getting ready all day for the homecoming dance, we always have a blast. I've definitely made friendships here that are going to last a lifetime!

On what it's like to experience college on a first-name basis:
Before you even start class, you meet the president of the college. Talk about a great welcome! Also, most of the professors know all their students names. I can't walk through campus without saying hey to at least one person I know.

On how Barton changed her:
Barton takes your best traits and runs with them, making you the best person you can be. I've gained confidence I didn't even know I possessed. I've learned to try new experiences, such as traveling around the world. And somewhere along the way, I've gained the determination to meet head on every opportunity -- good or bad -- that is thrown my way.

On life at Barton:
Campus is small enough to see people you know every day but still big enough to meet new people. There's always something different going on from basketball games to a free movie in the theater. The overall Wilson community is great as well. When the basketball team came home from their championship win, people lined the streets for miles to welcome them. And just last week the mayor of Wilson attended our Habitat for Humanity Spring Benefit to help raise money to build Habitat homes in Wilson.

Among other things, Hayley is involved in the Honor's Program, Baptist Student Union, Habitat for Humanity, Barton College Association of Nursing Students, and she's a New Student Program Coordinator for Orientation.