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Being a nurse is a family tradition for Kyla Mesa. This May, the 91ԭ�� (GGC) senior will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in nursing, but her journey into the profession began long before she ever stepped into a classroom.

It started when she was just 11 years old.

“My mom is a nurse and is the biggest influence in my life,” Mesa said.

That influence became life-changing when her younger sister, Kyleen, 7, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. In a critical moment, Mesa’s mother recognized the severity of the situation immediately.

“My mom knew right away something was seriously wrong and called 911,” she said. “She advocated for my sister, insisting they transport her to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.”

At the hospital, Kyleen underwent the first of many neurosurgical procedures. During the long hours spent in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Mesa witnessed firsthand the impact nurses have, not just on patients, but on entire families.

“I remember the nurses and all the things they did to make my sister as comfortable as possible,” she said. “They painted her toenails purple, her favorite color, and tucked her stuffed animals in around her. They also took care of me and my parents. They gave me a memory book that I still have today.”

Through that experience, Mesa saw both the emotional toll and the resilience of her family.

“It did take a toll on my parents, but they are so strong,” she said. “What really made the difference was how compassionate the nurses were for my sister and for all of us.”

Today, her sister is thriving.

“She’s doing amazing,” Mesa said. “She’s coming to GGC in the fall to major in biology and her goal is to become a pharmacist.”

Mesa credits her family as the foundation of her success.

“My parents have supported me in all my endeavors,” she said. “My mom is incredibly compassionate and always made me feel seen and heard. My dad, who works in IT, brings so much positivity. He makes everyone around him happy.”

At GGC, Mesa found another kind of family.

“I really found that sense of belonging in the Honors Program with Dr. (Jake) Edwards,” she said. “Dr. (Paula) Gordon (interim Dean, School of Health Sciences) had trust and faith in me. The professors and staff here have invested so much in me. GGC has high expectations for students, but you also get that one-on-one support you don’t always find at a larger university.”

Mesa also credited Dr. Kelli Shugart, assistant professor of nursing, who served as an advisor for the Nursing Student Government (NSG).

“As NSG president, Dr. Shugart has taught and supported me through so much,” she said. “She has made me the leader that I am today.”

After graduation, Mesa will take the next step in her journey: sitting for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and beginning her career in August as a nurse in the PICU at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the very place that helped save her sister’s life.

“Taking care of children who are really sick can be difficult, but it’s also incredibly rewarding,” she said. “I want to be just like the nurses who took care of my sister and my family.”

For Mesa, it’s more than a career. It’s a full circle moment, one rooted in compassion, resilience and a calling that began at a hospital bedside years ago.