---
title: How One Nursing Student Turned a Family Crisis Into a Calling
url: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/how-one-nursing-student-turned-a-family-crisis-into-a-calling/"
type: post
date_published: 2026-07-06
date_modified: 2026-07-06
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-US
word_count: 933
reading_time: 5 min
canonical: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/how-one-nursing-student-turned-a-family-crisis-into-a-calling/"
featured_image: "https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AZCN-clinical-experience.webp"
categories:
  - Nursing School
topic:
  - Nursing
---

# How One Nursing Student Turned a Family Crisis Into a Calling

![AZCN clinical experience](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AZCN-clinical-experience.webp)

_This is a multi-part series celebrating Arizona College of Nursing students, their stories, and their embodiment of the AZCN values._

_In 2023, Arizona College of Nursing established the AZCN Values Scholarship Fund as a way to celebrate our values with our colleagues, our students, and the communities in which we serve. Each time an AZCN colleague recognizes another colleague for demonstrating our values, $5 is added to the scholarship fund. These add up to $5,000 scholarships awarded to students the following year who have demonstrated our values within their communities._

_Join us in celebrating 2025 AZCN Values Scholarship recipient Mirzada Selmic as she shares some of her journey to nursing:_

## From Patient’s Family to Future Nurse

Meet AZCN Values Scholarship Recipient, Mirzada Selmic, a Nursing Student at the
[AZCN Phoenix Campus](https://arizonacollege.edu/phoenix-nursing-school/). After
being deeply moved by the compassionate nurses who cared for her son, Mirzada
decided to
[pursue her own nursing career](https://arizonacollege.edu/accredited-bsn-program/why-azcn/)
. She was drawn to Arizona College of Nursing’s quick response and supportive
community, where she found the resources and encouragement needed to begin her
journey.

Watch Mirzada’s video here:

## What Led Her to Nursing

The biggest reason I want to become a nurse is because of my son. When he was
just seven years old, he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. I still
remember how scared I felt when I first heard the news. My world turned upside
down. For a whole year, we lived in the hospital, and it was a very difficult
time for our family. My son had brain surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and
therapy for speech, occupational skills, and physical abilities. I saw how hard
he worked to get better, and I saw how important it was for him to have nurses
who cared for him during that time.

![Students driving to school for nursing](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Students-driving-to-school-for-nursing.webp?w=1024)

The nurses were amazing. They were always so kind, patient, and understanding.
Even though they were busy, they always made sure we felt supported. The nurses
helped me understand what was happening with my son’s health and made sure he
was comfortable during his treatments. They gave me advice when I needed it and
comfort when I felt overwhelmed. It was the nurses who kept us going when things
got tough. I knew from that moment that I wanted to be a nurse – someone who
could offer that same love and care to others.

## Q&A with Mirzada

**Q:** Can you tell me about your first experience when you started at AZCN?

**A:** I called them and somebody from school called me the same day, asked me
questions, and provided me with more information about it. I was kind of
surprised because usually when you try to contact somebody, you don’t get
anything back from them for days, maybe weeks. But they contacted me right away
and tried to give me all the information I need to get accepted into the
program.

**Q:** How is your experience with the community at AZCN?

**A:** When I started Arizona College of Nursing, I felt very supported from the
first class. The teachers were very happy to be there and happy to see us
succeed. We had
[lists of all the classes we need](https://arizonacollege.edu/accredited-bsn-program/bsn-program-course-descriptions/)
, the
[clinicals, the labs](https://arizonacollege.edu/accredited-bsn-program/skills-and-science-lab/)
, and all the information we need to succeed. It was easy to make friends. I
made quite a few good friends that I kept throughout school, and as my study
buddies. It’s important to have study buddies…What stands out to me is how
caring the teachers are and hearing their stories and why they became
understood.

**Q:** How would you describe yourself before nursing school vs the you now?

**A:** I feel a little more confident than I used to and like I’m going to make
a difference in the world. It has definitely changed me for the better because I
see the future and I want to be able to just help people. I’m going to be able
to do that soon.

![Mirzada Selmic during nursing program](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mirzada-Selmic-during-nursing-program.webp?w=1024)

**Q:** Are there any resources offered by AZCN that help you through nursing
school most?

**A:** They do lessons each week that go over the material and help you study
for the exams and tests the NCLEX. They have a lot of
[resources for the NCLEX](https://arizonacollege.edu/accredited-bsn-program/nclex-exam-prep/)
, like the ATI is really good here’s a lot of content in that. It tells you to
go through the review questions because you can answer sample questions about
everything that you went over in the whole semester to reinforce information
that you know already.

**Q:** What is your purpose for wanting to become a nurse?

**A:** I want to do it because I want to be able to ultimately help people.
There’s a lot of people that are going through difficult situations and I want
to kind of help them to know, it’s okay. Just taking it 1 day at a time. My
previous experiences dealing with my son and seeing how sweet and helpful all
the nurses were kind of shaped my vein to want to
[become a nurse](https://arizonacollege.edu/admissions/) and be the kind of
person that they were.

**Categories:** Nursing School