Britin Zastrow wasn’t completely sure what she wanted to do after high school. Like many students, she was still exploring different career paths and trying to figure out what was right for her. But that changed when she and her mom came across the Madison College Nursing Summer Camp on Facebook.
“My mom encouraged me to go, and I thought, ‘Why not give it a try?’” Britin said. “It seemed like a good opportunity to explore something new and see if nursing might be a good fit for me.”
What started as a summer camp quickly turned into something much bigger.
During the camp, students experienced hands-on nursing activities and worked through health care simulations in Madison College’s labs. For Britin, one moment especially stood out.
“The simulations on the mannequins were probably the biggest moment for me,” she said. “It made everything feel very real and hands-on instead of just something you read about in a textbook. I also really enjoyed the mock blood draw activity. That’s when I started thinking, ‘Okay, I could really see myself doing this.’”
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For Matt and Elissa, opportunities like the summer camp are important for teens making major decisions about their future.
“A lot of students reach their senior year without really knowing what career path they want to pursue, and honestly, that’s completely normal,” Matt said. “The camp gives students real hands-on exposure before making decisions about college or careers. Instead of just hearing about nursing, students actually get to experience what the profession is really like.”
What began as a summer camp experience has come full circle, with Britin now preparing to start the nursing program that first inspired her at Madison College.
Britin now encourages other students to take that same chance.
“Sometimes you don’t know if you’ll enjoy something until you actually try it. The camp gives you a chance to experience health care in a fun, low-pressure way, and you might end up discovering something you’re really passionate about, just like I did.”
Learn more about the nursing program and nursing youth summer camp.
