From Esther Dulberg Dane

..so much to say..while there are moments when the anxiety is on high and shit gets rough, there are also little moments of self-celebration like this one..I have practically been working my whole life toward this moment..these moments..from science in elementary school, peer helper, to oxbow and science of stress and food, health & law, human biological variation and sculpture to little emt to icads to public health & art degree to medical assistant & phlebotomy externship at san francisco general to standing rock to MA at mission neighborhood to nursing school in Stockton and clinical at san joaquin general..to MA at respiratory urgent care..covid testing..up close and personal..to passing the boards and getting my license to nurse extern giving COVID vaccines for the last month..I can finally, FINALLY say I was offered my first permanent Registered Nurse acute care hospital position..while I haven't celebrated in ways many have and i stay in my little safety bubble, mask on, hand washing, sanitizing, shower, brush teeth *panic attack* haha repeat ...i am grateful because i got to see my parents today (safely) i am grateful because i got to talk to many people i love and care about over the last weeks..i am grateful to be alive.

i am celebrating myself today for all my hard work and i will keep going because all people deserve to have good care all people deserve love and peace and resources and connection and language interpreter services and healing and fierce advocacy and gestures of humanity and care in their time of need and I am ready to be at the bedside making sure they get what they need in any way I am able

I will not always be okay because human suffering is devastating and our world is full of it but i will always be satisfied because i will dedicate my time and life to this work because I care about people and i care about the earth i love learning and listening and i won't stop.