A nine-year-old girl saw her little sister for the first time through the window of a neonatal intensive care unit. Her little sister was very ill and remained in I.C.U. for seven days, but was later released. Ten years later, the now 19-year-old girl dreams of becoming a neonatal I.C.U. nurse in hopes of caring for other infants like her little sister.

     Ashlie Junker of Millbrook, Ala., a sophomore nursing major at the University of Mobile, is receiving the preparation she needs to make that dream a reality.

     "You know the doctors come in and tell you what's wrong with you, but it's the nurses who take care of you," said Junker, the daughter of Joel and Tammie Junker of Millbrook.

     Junker, who initially enrolled as a political science major at UM, said she "had a peace about nursing" after a church retreat.

     "I wanted to be the first female President of the United States," said Junker, laughing. "I was just being selfish; so, when I came back to school in January, I changed my major."

     A 2002 graduate of Victory Baptist School, Junker reminisced about how she carried around her toy doctor bag as a child and "doctored on all (my) dolls."

     Playing make-believe appears to be another passion of Junker. Last year, she performed in the University of Mobile's Upper Room Dinner Theatre production of "The Pajama Game." Junker says she hope to perform in other shows as her schedule will allow.

     Junker referred to her high school English teacher, Joan Deneve, as one of her mentors.

     "Mrs. Deneve was so sweet. She was always there if I ever needed to talk about anything, and I really appreciate that," said Junker.

     Junker also has a favorite teacher at UM.

     "Dr. Ted Mashburn, my philosophy professor, is so cool. He is really smart and has a lot of interesting life experiences that he shares with his classes," said Junker.

     Junker, who wants to pursue a nurse practicioner's degree after graduation, said the respect of UM's nursing program will help her to "land a great job."

     "In the nursing field you're pretty much guaranteed a job, but with a nursing degree from UM I'll have an even greater advantage," said Junker.

     UM's nursing program is well-known for nurses who care for not only the physical needs, but the spiritual needs of their patients.

     "The soul is the most important part of person, much more than the physical body. Nursing is really a ministry opportunity. I want to use my career as an opportunity to help others," said Junker.