Working at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto is a big deal for any new nursing graduate, but for Holly Kruitbosch, it's an incredibly exciting experience and a dream job come true. In the spring of 2002, just days after she graduated from the Pembroke Campus of Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley, Kruitbosch got the call that she had hoped for - the opportunity to work at Canada's largest children's hospital.

She is now part of a team that makes up the Neurology, Endocrinology, Clinical, and Metabolic Genetics Unit. The unit cares for children who suffer from many illnesses including seizures and diabetes, but it also does a lot of research into helping these kids. "I sent out 47 resumes to a whole bunch of hospitals and had offers from Texas, Florida, and St. Catharines. But when the opportunity came to work at the Sick Kid's Hospital, I couldn't believe it! It is a wonderful place to work and to continue learning." For Kruitbosch, becoming a nurse wasn't always on her mind.

After graduating from high school in the small community of Fonthill near St. Catharines, Kruitbosch took a year off. She worked for a time as a waitress in Niagara Falls, but realized she wanted a different long-term career. With plenty of opportunities opening up in the nursing field, Kruitbosch made the decision to seek post-secondary education to become a nurse.

She had actually applied to the one-year Practical Nursing Program at the Pembroke Campus, but when she ended up on a waiting list, she opted to take the three-year Diploma Nursing Program. She now considers that decision to be one of the best ones of her life. "Once I was in the program, I realized it was a good choice," says Kruitbosch. "I absolutely loved it, and had such a wonderful time at the Pembroke Campus. There were great people in my program. We all became very close, and the teachers really cared about the students. To top it off, one of my classmates introduced me to my fiancee."

Moving to Pembroke was her first experience away from home and, at 18 years of age, she says it wasn't easy. "It was probably more difficult on my parents," says Kruitbosch, who rented an apartment for her three years in Pembroke. She would return home in the summers to Fonthill, but found Pembroke to be a nice place to live and very similar to the small town environment she was used to.

Throughout her studies, Kruitbosch fell back on her experience as a waitress to help pay the rent and her other living expenses. She was employed at a local restaurant but never forgot why she was in Pembroke and the importance of doing well in class. "Our teachers had high expectations of us, but I am so glad that they did because I know I have been well-trained as a nurse."

Much of her training took place at the Pembroke General Hospital which she considers an excellent place to learn. "It's a smaller hospital and I liked that because, as a student, I was so nervous. At a bigger hospital, it would have been overwhelming."

Kruitbosch did her consolidation at the St. Catharines General Hospital, allowing her to move closer to her home town. Although this experience resulted in a job offer, the chance to work at the Hospital for Sick Children won over in the end. "The need for nurses is very high and I am fortunate to start my career in one of the most respected hospitals in the country," says Kruitbosch. "It is a very supportive environment, a great place that encourages and supports continuous learning. My nursing education has provided me with a good paying job which will be necessary to afford the cost of living in Toronto."

Kruitbosch says working with children is very rewarding. It usually comes in the form of a hug or a coloured picture drawn by one of the children she cares for. "It's the relationships that I have built with the kids and their families that make my job so fulfilling."

"I will never forget Algonquin College", adds Kruitbosch. "How many people go to college for the first time and find the perfect career, make amazing friends, develop leadership and critical thinking skills, and have the self-confidence to grow and find their dream job immediately after graduation?"

In the future, Kruitbosch looks forward to continuing her education and earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. But for now, she's just enjoying the rewards her college diploma has given her.