Ayleah Bowser
Quick Facts
Age: 26
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Nursing
Notable: First-generation college student
Transfer Institution: Associate in Pre-Nursing, Green River College
“Civility is treating everyone with respect and courtesy regardless of disagreement or how others behave.”
Service & Work:
SHPEP Scholar, 2022 (Summer health professions education program)
Associate Trainer, Panera Bread (March 2017-November 2021).
Dietary Aide, Benson Heights Rehabilitation Center (Jan 2022-June 2022).
NAR (Nursing Assistant - Registered), Jefferson House Memory Care (September 2022-December 2022).
Dietary Aide, Judson Park Retirement Community (Jan 2023-July 2023).
NAR (Nursing Assistant - Registered), Benson Heights Rehabilitation Center (July 2023-November 2023).
TRiO Peer Navigator, Green River College (June 2023-Present).
Dietary Aide, Timber Ridge At Talus (Feburary 2024-Present)
Awards & Honors:
Dean’s List
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Ayleah’s Story
My name is Ayleah Marchelle-Renee Bowser. I grew up the 5th of seven kids. Growing up, I was a terrible student; I struggled to focus in class, and rarely turned in homework, and both showed in my grades. Early on, I decided I was lazy and stupid, so I would never do well in school. I struggled through school and graduated high school with the lowest possible GPA. I decided I never wanted to do that again, never pursue any higher education, and started working in customer service.
Entering my 20s, I struggled with alcohol addiction. I struggled with social awkwardness and shyness my whole life; with alcohol, it was easy for me to talk to people. I felt more people liked being around me. I figured people wanting to be around me outweighed the negative effects. Alcohol also helped me suppress the feelings like I was doing nothing with my life but I still remember during New Year’s Eve feeling so sad at the thought of where my life was heading. Soon I spent my life either drunk or hungover. One of the nights when I was drunk, I was sexually assaulted. The next day I got a call from my job that indoor dining was closed in Washington due to COVID-19 - I would stay home for the next several months, and I stopped drinking.
During that time, I struggled with my mental health. Some weeks, I was so sad that I couldn’t get out of bed, while other weeks, I tried to fake positivity until it felt genuine. After this emotional rollercoaster, I realized I needed to focus on something positive to avoid being overwhelmed by negativity. I decided to pursue a nursing degree, an area that had always interested me due to the knowledge of the body required and the opportunity to help others.
After my first quarter of school, I was surprised to realize that I wasn’t as stupid or lazy as I had believed. I continued to work hard, learned a great deal, and started gaining experience in the healthcare field. My work as a nursing assistant in long-term care reaffirmed my interest in nursing. I saw how small acts of empathy could have a significant impact; simple gestures could make patients feel seen and respected. For instance, a resident with a speech impediment thanked me for waiting patiently while they finished their sentences. This meant a lot to them because many people either rushed them or avoided talking to them altogether. What seemed small to me had a positive effect on them. Now, having been accepted into my dream school and getting closer to becoming a nurse, I take pride in how far I’ve come and feel optimistic about my future.
Mission & Goals:
My short-term career goal is to find work in a nurse externship program. I did this by completing training this year to earn my phlebotomist and certified nursing assistant certifications. Having a nurse externship will give me experience working in a hospital while giving me training to perform basic clinical nursing skills. I have worked as a nursing assistant in long-term care before, and I enjoyed getting to care for people (i.e. knowing someone who needed patience and kindness was getting it makes me feel encouraged). My long-term career goals are to graduate with a BSN degree. I don’t know the specialty I want to work in, but I am most open to working as a float pool nurse so that I can work with a variety of patient populations. I also plan to work part-time or volunteer in public health. I want to have a wider knowledge of the nursing field and connect with different types of people.
