Lauryn Hornstein started as a medical student volunteer, then switched to nursing after her time at Haven Hospice. She graduated from the University of Florida in spring 2025, after being the president of Gator Students for Haven Hospice. The following was written by Hornstein as her nursing school application’s personal statement.
“I sat bedside in the dimly lit room as her shaky, frail hand gripped mine. Though her esophageal cancer had taken her ability to speak, the room was loud—it roared with emotions, fears, and fading dreams. Her piercing blue eyes revealed the anxiety of knowing that the end was near. All I could do was clutch her hand, silently letting her know she wasn’t alone. One week later, I sat with her again. Her breathing was erratic, each gasp a desperate attempt to delay the inevitable. Suddenly, the gasps stopped. The room fell quiet. I looked at the clock and waited, watching for movement. After a few minutes, I grabbed the nurse. She had been there 10 minutes prior and looked at me in disbelief, agreeing cautiously but saying she’d return in 5 minutes to confirm. I stood gripping that same hand—once warm and trembling, now cold and motionless—and watched the clock tick until she came back and pronounced the patient. “Thank you for being here,” she said. “She never liked to be alone. She could finally let go knowing you were here.” A wave of peace passed through me. It was just another shift at Haven Hospice—but it wasn’t.
Every shift is different. Each week, I meet someone new—a unique soul with stories, memories, and lessons. Whether it’s a 90-year-old woman sharing tales of three ex-husbands, a man pleading for a final cigarette, or a patient offering me life advice, I never know what to anticipate. That’s the beauty of it.
I didn’t always aspire to be a nurse; I was once set on attending medical school. I thought I had a solid plan, but I began to ask myself, ‘What career would provide me with the happiest and most fulfilling life?’ I remembered
something my dad once told me after a basketball game: “Each time you step on the floor, you need to leave the game knowing somehow you left a positive footprint.” At 18, I began volunteering at Haven Hospice, where I discovered my true calling. Witnessing the nurses’ compassion and the pivotal role they played in patient care made me realize my dad’s advice applied to life. Nursing perfectly aligns with my values and vision of fulfillment—surrounding myself with kindness and people who want to make a difference, especially for those who need it most.
Driven by this passion, I became the president of Gators for Haven Hospice, where I recruited and trained countless students to become hospice volunteers. I’ve also followed my interests in science and healthcare as an undergraduate researcher performing flow cytometry to understand the pathway of dopamine transporters in Parkinson’s disease to improve treatment options. I look forward to continuing this path in nursing school and beyond, where I can combine my love for science and deep compassion for others. My goal is to become a palliative care nurse, ensuring patients and families feel seen, supported, and never alone—just as I learned at Haven Hospice.”