Abigail Thorne, a 2020 graduate of Mercer University‘s Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to move to Colorado to start as a nurse resident in the emergency department of a Level 1 trauma center.
Who was your favorite professor and why?
Dr. Laura Darden. I truly believe she is an inspiration to all women who come in contact with her. She consistently pursues her dreams and pushes her students to do the same. She is easy to talk to and genuinely cares about what you have going on, which can be a lot in nursing school. She never let us make excuses but was willing to be a listening ear and gave honest advice.
How do you plan on changing the world?
In my opinion, patient advocacy is the most important part of patient care. If we as health care professionals can’t take a moment to hear our patients, to actually listen, we are missing the point. Changing the world starts with hearing the vulnerable. If we send people who are still sick or haven’t had their needs met back into the world, we are perpetuating the cycle of society not functioning at its best.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
Be yourself. Mercer is the perfect place to figure out who you are and what you want to do. You want to be a musician who also pursues medicine? Awesome, Mercer has something for you. Want to be a writer and a scientist? Mercer can help you with that. The professors want to see you do well, and they want to see you grow. So, use your time to find yourself, your dreams, your passions, and go for it.
What makes Mercer special to you?
Mercer is home for me. I have always said, “Home is where my family is,” and that is where they are. I can honestly say that I have met every single one of my lifelong friends on one of Mercer’s campuses. Whether it be late night study sessions, movie nights in the dorm or family lunch on Wednesdays, we have all gotten each other through these last four years.
