Whether it is the rustling radios of the volunteer firehouse or the quiet of a hospital room, Abby Hill has always been driven by one purpose: caring for others.

Hill, 22, a native of Holly Springs, Alabama, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, was born into community service and volunteerism. Hill followed in the footsteps of her parents, who served as volunteer firefighters and EMTs, by doing exactly that. She spent seven years answering emergency calls in Blount County, Alabama, and now she reports to her fire chief father, alongside her brother.

“We are on call 24/7 and respond to fires, medical emergencies, trees that have fallen across the road, just about anything,” Hill said. “We all work together to make sure our community is taken care of, and we do community outreach. We have built ramps for people, helped fix driveways, trimmed trees; you name it.”

Abby HillHill brings the same service-oriented mindset to her academic and career goals. She was inspired by her mother, who is a nurse practitioner at the Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital –– the reason she chose to pursue nursing. Additionally, Hill spent time caring for her grandfather, which served as a seal in her passion for caregiving.

“I grew up helping take care of my grandfather, transferring him to bed or his wheelchair, bringing him food and water,” Hill said. “He always told me I’d make a great nurse. That, along with seeing my mom’s passion for her patients, really shaped my path.”

Hill, set to walk across the stage at UAB’s commencement ceremony May 3, says her unique background in emergency response has been an asset to her clinical skills and confidence in challenging, fast-paced, life-and-death environments.

“You never know what you’re walking into on an EMS call –– things can change in a heartbeat,” Hill said. “That experience has helped me stay calm in simulations and clinicals.”

Serving as a firefighter allowed Hill to bring a unique perspective. As a result of these experiences, she understands both field medicine and hospital medicine, and their intersection.

Handling nursing school and her commitment to the local fire department has been a balancing act for Hill, she says. However, she finds solace in prioritizing tasks and helping her community whenever she could, however she could.

“When I’m at school, I focus on school. When I’m home, I assess where I’m most needed,” Hill said. “We’re volunteers, so we’re not required to respond to every call — but if I’m available and I can help, I do.”

Hill’s professors and mentors, Jessica G. Bumpus, Ph.D., and William Crossland, DNP, are moved by Abby’s kindness and attest to her tenacity and resilience in the program.

“Abby takes on the challenge with a level of maturity and wisdom beyond her years,” Bumpus said. “Abby acknowledges what she could have done differently and learns from it, making a new plan to move forward and achieve her goals. She is among the most kind, honest and hardworking people I have ever known, and I know that we are sure to see more great things from her in the future.”

Abby Hill is graduating with a stronger passion for service than ever before.According to Crossland, “Abby, as much as any student I have known, met the challenges brought by nursing school. Instead of shrinking from the difficulty, she pushed beyond herself with grace and determination. I am so proud to have witnessed what she was able to accomplish.”

When Hill is not putting out fires or treating patients, she finds time to de-stress by watching TV, coloring, and spending time with friends, family and her pets –– some things that have anchored her throughout her nursing journey.

She advises future nursing students to “keep a calendar. Seriously, I would be lost without mine.”

As she is closing out her undergraduate journey at UAB, Hill’s passion for service is stronger than ever before. Hill recently completed her preceptorship in UAB Hospital’s Acute Trauma Care Unit, which helped her decide her future career path –– working as a trauma nurse after graduation. To advance her skill set, she plans to pursue her paramedic license and, for fun, a flight certification.

“I cannot wait until graduation — not just to be done with classes, but to finally achieve what I’ve worked so hard for,” Hill said. “Earning my BSN means I’ve made my family proud and reached a dream I’ve had for as long as I can remember. I look forward to continuing to serve my community.”