I arrived on Sunday with two questions: Do I really want to become a nurse, and am I ready for college? By the time programming concluded on Friday, I did not have every answer, but I had something better—a much clearer understanding of what nursing asks of a person and what university learning can feel like.
The first 2026 session of Catholic University’s Summer Nursing Institute ran July 12–17, with programming beginning Monday. The Institute introduces high school students to the core principles of nursing practice and to nursing as both a career and a profession. Faculty members guide the program with the help of an upper-class nursing student, so we could ask academic questions and the more practical questions that high school students actually worry about: How difficult is the first year? What is residence-hall life like? How do students manage demanding coursework without becoming permanently attached to a cup of coffee?
What surprised me most was the range of skills involved in nursing. Scientific knowledge matters, but so do observation, communication, judgment, teamwork, and respect for the dignity of every patient. Catholic University’s language of healing with “science and soul” made sense by the end of the week. Caring is not separate from competence. The patient needs both.
Living on campus made the experience more complete. Meals and conversations continued after the formal day ended, and students came from different places with different reasons for considering health care. Washington added another layer. The city is home to hospitals, research institutions, public-health organizations, and national conversations about medicine and service. Even a short summer program makes those possibilities feel close.
The week did not make nursing look easy, which is one reason it was so valuable. It showed us the discipline the profession requires and the purpose that can sustain that discipline. I came to Catholic University hoping to find out whether nursing might fit me. I left knowing that I want to keep exploring, and knowing that college feels far less intimidating after spending a week learning, living, and asking questions on campus.