Rawsi Williams: Becoming A Nurse

Rawsi Williams said, “To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse.” I have aspired to save lives since I was very young but never realized the depth of my passion until I held a man’s broken and bleeding head in my hands.

I was 17 years old and working my second year as a lifeguard at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls. After my brother, Tyler was living out his biggest dream of marching with a World Class Drum and Bugle Corp. He had spent the summer touring and competing with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corp. My family and I took a trip to Indianapolis, Indiana to watch Tyler compete with The Crossmen at Drum Corp International World Competition. It was a three day competition that was being held at The Lucas Oil Stadium.

On that hot, August, Friday afternoon The Crossmen gave an outstanding performance in the semi

The scene was chaotic with the motorcycle laying on its side still running, broken glass covering the pavement around the motorcycle rider and people standing around in shock and panic. I passed my hand sanitizer to a woman who was kneeling beside the motorcycle rider and knelt in the glass that was quickly turning red with blood. The man on the motorcycle had not been wearing a helmet and had significant gaping head trauma. My lifeguard certification kicked in and I went to work doing what I had been taught so many times to do. I knelt down at his head and ensured he was breathing. I began talking to him and trying to keep him awake and as calm as possible. He was softly moaning and gurgling blood from his mouth. He needed to be turned to ensure he did not suffocate on his own blood or further injury himself. With the assistance of a gentleman on the scene I was able to log roll him and stabilize his neck and spine as well as we could on the side of the