For as long as she can remember, Freeman has always loved taking care of others – even action figures. As a child, she would borrow her brother’s He-Man and Skeletor toys and place them in hospital beds she made out of shoeboxes. Her Barbie dolls became nurses and she transformed masking tape into fake casts and bandages in her elaborate set up.  

“I’ve always had the need of wanting to take care of others,” said Freeman, who is a student at Duke University’s School of Nursing. “I’m an empathetic person. Maybe this all comes from my own personal experiences of being a patient.” 

The day she was born, Freeman had to have a life-saving surgery due to a major birth defect, and more surgeries followed until she was 2. Those experiences inspired her to become a nurse.  

“My parents told me stories of how I never seemed afraid at any of my doctors' appointments, was eager to see the nurse and would ask questions about what the different types of medical equipment were used for,” she said. “Maybe it was the care that I had received from other nurses over the years that inspired me to be a nurse. I’ve always admired and respected nurses and just knew that’s what I wanted to be.” 

Freeman is currently studying to earn a Postgraduate Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree at DUSON. In 2020, she graduated from DUSON’s Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) program and became board-certified.  

“I chose DUSON because of its reputation of excellence, the clinical experience opportunities and placements and the diverse specialties that were offered for graduate nursing programs,” she said. “When I was notified of my acceptance, all I could do was cry tears of joy and my family was so proud. I knew how hard I had worked to get there, and I was about to be a part of an amazing institution.” 

Sadly, Freeman’s father passed away midway through her program in 2019. It was an incredibly difficult time in her life, and she was not sure if she could continue with the program. But with the support of her family, friends and DUSON, she was able to graduate the next year.  

After working as a WHNP, Freeman noticed there was a great need for mental health services for the perinatal population, so she decided to pursue her PGC-PMHNP. She plans to graduate this spring and work in a unique role as a women’s health and perinatal mental health provider.  

“I love making meaningful connections with people. I strive on putting others at ease, helping them to feel better and bringing out the best in them,” Freeman said. “DUSON has changed my life in so many ways and has provided me with indispensable opportunities and connections. I’m grateful for it all.”