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When Isabella Ramirez’s grandfather passed away, she saw firsthand the role of nurses.  It was this experience that inspired her to go into health care. 

“After my grandpa passed away, I heard how much the nurses helped him,” Ramirez recalled. “I realized I wanted to be like them. I wanted to make him proud by becoming a nurse.”

 This deeply rooted desire to honor her family and care for others propels her forward as she continues her education to become a registered nurse.

To take her first steps to pursue her nursing degree, Ramirez started by becoming a patient care technician (PCT). In June 2023, she graduated from Baptist Health College Little Rock’s (BHCLR) PCT program. Today, Ramirez works as a medical assistant at Baptist Health’s Family Medicine Residency Clinic in North Little Rock while she finishes her prerequisites for nursing school. 

Isabella’s decision to attend Baptist Health College Little Rock was one that was carefully considered. With other PCT programs in central Arkansas, she found that BHCLR would offer the best educational experience. 

“When I was doing my research, I felt like I would receive the best education at the college to help me continue my career,” Ramirez said.

Each fall, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated across the country to honor and celebrate hispanic culture. For Ramirez, it is a time to share her culture. With family roots in Mexico, she has the opportunity to remember where she came from. 

“Hispanic Heritage Month is important to me because it gives everyone the chance to celebrate all the different Hispanic traditions and cultures, and it allows others to learn about it too,” Ramirez said.

This pride in her culture is reflected in her family traditions, like eating a pan of Reyes in November. Family members share a symbolic piece of bread to celebrate unity and heritage. 

“If you get the little kid figure in your piece, you have to make tamales for the family—with no help,” Ramirez added. 

This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme, “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” resonates with Isabella in a profound way. As she completes her remaining classes to enter nursing school, she understands the importance of perseverance. “I know all my hard work will pay off in the future,” she says. Her journey is one of dedication, fueled by a desire to contribute meaningfully to health care and to make her family proud.

Despite the challenges she has faced, Ramirez is proud of how far she’s come. Growing up, she often struggled to believe in herself. 

“It wasn’t until now that I finally realized how far I’ve made it in both my career and life,” she reflected.

As she continues her journey to become a nurse, Ramirez remains focused on the future.  She knows that the sacrifices she has made and her hard work will not only honor her grandfather, but also shape the future of health care. 

Ramirez is more than a medical assistant and future nurse; she’s a pioneer of change –shaping her future while honoring her past.