Post by University of Washington

They told her it would be impossible, so she said, “Watch me.” Countless times, Gisselle Villasana was advised to reconsider her career choice. She was told she didn’t stand a chance — that if others with more resources, better grades and more experience didn’t make it, she certainly wouldn’t. The UW School of Nursing is one of the top-ranked nursing schools in the nation. And she got in. Twice. It was never about proving anyone wrong. It was about proving herself right. Gisselle wanted to help those who could not help themselves. Having witnessed health disparities in her own community, she was determined to help bridge that gap — especially for Latino families like her own who often lacked access to equitable care. She pursued nursing so no child would have to carry the burden of translating medical information for their parents the way she once did. “Rest assured, I will spend the rest of my career advocating for my patients,” Gisselle said. For her, the sleepless nights, long shifts and countless hours of studying were worth every second. “Thank you to those who believed in me, even when I couldn’t believe in myself. To the little girl who couldn’t speak English: we did it. Even when life — and people — tried to knock us down. The world wasn’t always kind to us, and although it hurt, our heart never changed. It only fueled our drive and resilience. Most importantly, I am living an answered prayer. But now it’s time to move another mountain and get a few degrees hotter,” said Gisselle. Nursing's mission of healing, advocacy, and compassionate care is what drew Gisselle to the UW School of Nursing. The school's commitment to diversity and excellence aligned with her desire to improve healthcare and serve underserved communities. Gisselle graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health and will begin the UW School of Nursing program this fall.