21st century’s Florence Nightingale

Rachel Burns is a registered nurse and talks about her life.

Rachel, please tell my audience a little about you?

My name is Rachel. I’m 25 years old. I work as a Registered Nurse. I’m also a daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and volunteer. I was born into an amazing family. The most important thing to know about me is that I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus. This defines my identity.

Talk to me about your passion for nursing?

Ever since I was a little girl, I have had a passion for taking care of people.

As a nurse, I have gained this incredible perspective in life, of having seen people at their most vulnerable, broken and times of greatest suffering. It’s like seeing life through a different lens, which I can’t take off. It really shapes the way you look at life and people. I see this as an incredible gift, in being able to have such a wonderful daily reminder of my purpose in life.

Walk me through your volunteer experience in Tanzania and India? What did you learn from this experience? How have they changed you?

Another passion of mine has been to travel and experience different cultures around the world. I was able to go on a nursing internship to Tanzania when I was in nursing school, which I so enjoyed because I was able to combine my two passions of nursing and of travel. I was also able to travel to Kolkata, India a few years ago with a team from my church, C4 Church, to visit our ministry partners who run an aftercare home for girls and women who have been rescued from human trafficking.

My time in Tanzania was more of an introduction to the differences in global health care, which left me unbelievably thankful for all I have in Canada. My time in India was incredibly faith strengthening. I know many people might have a hard time understanding how going to a city with incredible poverty to visit girls and women that have been through some of the worst trauma our world possesses could make my faith stronger. But truly, the light shines brightest in the darkest of places. 

Who are the Millennials? What do they want? What do they want to change in the present-day society?

I would say that the common theme I have noticed about Millennials is that they want to make a deep impact in the world in some way; they want to matter or to be important in the world. I think that this is the first generation to be the most influenced and impacted by social media and the internet as a whole. We’ve grown up with it. As technology has grown and developed, so have we. This is the generation that thrives on publicizing their everyday lives. With that, I believe that this has changed how they want to live their lives, in wanting to make some grand impact in the world.

Unfortunately, I believe this generation has missed out on learning what long-term work and faithfulness look like however. We want instant success, recognition, and gratification. Which I think is hugely damaging to ourselves and those around us.

What should employers know about you and how to treat you at work?

I would say first off, that both parties are responsible for learning about how to treat one another, it’s not a one-sided relationship. I think that both employers and employees need to respect one another, regardless of age and life experience. Simply being open to constantly learn from one another.

What are some of the social and other causes that you are passionate about which the past generations missed out on?

There are many things I am passionate about that many of the people in my generation don’t care about or would actually dislike themselves. I would even argue that maybe my generation has missed out on a lot of timeless wisdom. Another factor is that because we live in such a small world right now, with all people being so globally-connected, that in generations past they simply were never exposed to the realities and needs of other places around the world. 

Talk to me about food, family, faith, and finances and what do these things mean to Millennials?

Mmm, well food first! What can I say, I love it! I love trying different cultural cuisines. There is nothing better than eating authentic food from where it is originally from. I love Italian, Greek, Indian, and Japanese.

Family – I have been so fortunate to have grown up in a loving, Christ-centered home, so I pretty well hit the jackpot. Family is so important and formative in our lives.

Faith – Every facet of my life is defined by my faith in Jesus Christ. I think that faith is something that has deeply affected the generation of Millennials – at least in terms of this generation seeking to find meaning and purpose. We are dreamers and seekers; we believe anything is possible. What an awesome thing to be known for.

Finances – I grew up with this incredible understanding of finances on the practical front of how to manage them wisely, and also the backbone of that understanding coming from living for Jesus. I am so thankful for my amazing dad who has taught me how to live wisely with money, and also that it is really just a tool to be used and not something to be loved in and of itself.

What do these words mean savage, salty, respeck, shade, woke and fleek in Millennial speak?

I’ll do my best. Savage: something downright cruel or offensive? Salty: something really aggressive or offensive again? Respeck: respect?  Shade: when someone is throwing shade I think it’s like they are disrespecting something. Woke: alive or lively? I don’t know, haha. Fleek: when something is really trendy.