Katelyn Ratliff, RN, BSN, Perinatal Registered Nurse with Sojourner Recovery Services/Community Health Alliance, visited Talawanda High School in Oxford on Friday the 14th to talk with students about nursing and her experience supporting pregnant and parenting individuals in recovery. She offered an honest look at the heart of the work—showing how nursing is not only a medical profession, but a calling rooted in compassion, patience, and the belief that people can change their lives.

As students asked what it’s like to work in a residential setting, she explained how meaningful it can be to walk alongside clients during some of their most vulnerable moments. When they wondered whether she had ever felt scared or challenged, she spoke about learning to approach each situation with understanding rather than judgment, and how those moments taught her to stay grounded, calm, and empathetic. Questions about the youngest client she has supported opened a conversation about how early connection and consistent encouragement can make an enormous difference. And when students asked whether she ever feels angry about the hardships her clients face, she shared how those emotions often turn into motivation—fueling her desire to be part of a system that uplifts families rather than leaves them behind.

Throughout the conversation, Katelyn emphasized how nursing, especially in perinatal and recovery settings, is deeply relationship-based. It requires listening, meeting people where they are, and recognizing that every person’s story matters. Her visit offered students a glimpse into a field where compassion is just as essential as clinical skill, and where the impact of caring extends far beyond the walls of a clinic.

By sharing her experiences, Katelyn helped inspire the next generation of caregivers—reminding students that choosing a career in helping others can shape not only someone else’s future, but their own as well.