Gi Kim has always enjoyed helping people. In his native South Korea, he volunteered in community service and worked in the travel industry, guiding tourists.

But two things changed his course. One, he was inspired by a retired nurse who treated children in need. The second was an accident that sent him plunging off a tour boat into the Indian Ocean and dangerously close to the boat’s propeller. In those frightening moments, Gi Kim realized he wanted to do something important with his life.

He began saving his money until he could come to the United States. He enrolled in Georgia Perimeter College, and began pursuing an associate degree in Nursing. “I can see how nursing is important,” he said. “You’re taking care of people and dealing with their lives.”

It wasn’t easy. The program is challenging and requires dedication and hard work, he said. It also requires a supportive faculty, said Gi Kim, who said GPC associate professor Jeanette Crawford is “awesome.”

Medical terminology can be difficult for anyone. But for students such as Gi Kim, whose first language is not English, such terminology can be truly challenging. Professor Crawford’s interest, patience and availability to help all succeed made a big difference in the lives of her students, Gi Kim said.

On May 4, Gi Kim graduated from GPC with an associate degree in Nursing. He plans to work for a year and then hopes to return to Georgia Perimeter for a program the college is developing that would  allow him to earn his bachelor’s degree in Nursing at GPC.