Distinguished Graduate

Jaiden Childs,’24, is really excited to graduate and for the Commencement ceremony itself. When Childs graduated from Bothell High School in 2020, she didn’t get the chance to walk with her classmates at that time due to COVID-19 restrictions, so she is more than ready to walk across the stage at Climate Pledge Arena. 

She will graduate from Seattle University with goals in place, the determination to meet those goals and a deep love for nursing. Along with earning a nursing degree Childs is a Distinguished Military Graduate, an honor reserved for the Top 20 percent of graduating U.S. Army ROTC cadets in the nation.

Additionally, she is a George C. Marshall award winner, the top ROTC cadet at Seattle University—an award she calls “the cherry on top”—and traveled to Kentucky recently with other top cadets from around the country to hear from and talk with some of the most esteemed leaders and thinkers in America. Her journey to ROTC actually started at home. 

“I became interested in the military as my mom was talking to my older brother about post-high school options,” explains Childs. “I went to all the Army recruiters with my brother, listened in the background as my brother learned about the military. Now I am about to commission as an Active Duty 2nd Lieutenant.”

In this Q&A Childs shares her most memorable experience at SU along with her favorite professor and her “dream” job.

Q. What drew you to Seattle University? 
Childs: The nursing and ROTC programs. I looked at the nursing curriculum and determined it’d make me the best nurse I could possibly be. And I knew ROTC would make me a great leader. And it turns out, I found a new family in the program, too. Also, I wanted to stay close to where I grew up (Bothell), to learn more about this community and help it grow.

Q. What is your most memorable moment or experience from your time SU? 
Childs: Every spring in ROTC we rappel off the Casey building. It’s a cumulative event where we just get to have fun and challenge ourselves. 

Q. What was your favorite class or professor and why?
Childs: Dr. Anita Jablonski and her medical/surgical theory course. I learned the most with Dr. Jablonski and made the most connections. The class gave me a good grasp on what nursing actually is—being there for your patients and their families.

Q. What are your plans post-graduation?
Childs: I will be newly commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and will take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). After that, I’ll discover what Army station I will be at for the next two years and then go to my officer training course. During this period I will learn to be an Army nurse officer before my four years of active duty at my first duty station.   

Q. What is your dream job or career? 
Childs: Nursing has always been my passion. I would like to go back to school and earn my PhD in nursing and then head into a leadership and administrative role within nursing to help impact public policies and the policy positions of the organization I’m working in.

Q. What advice would you give to incoming Seattle University students?
Childs: I’d tell each of them to ‘find your why’ because we all have goals and pack our schedules with classes to help fulfill those goals, but to create a fulfilling college experience you have to find that ultimate motivation. I’d also encourage students to find like-minded people (friends, professors and administrators) you can lean on when times get hard.  

Watch this video for more from Childs:

Jaiden’s Faves

Favorite spot on campus:
Behind the Administrative building when it’s sunny out. 

Favorite place to grab a bite to eat near campus:
Byrek & Baguette on 12th Avenue.

Favorite thing to do in the city:
Exploring for new places to eat or going to the Museum of Pop Culture or just heading down to the water, preferably Madrona Park. 

Favorite author or book:
Brené Brown is my favorite author. She has some great books on leadership and the importance of leading with empathy and vulnerability. And I love The Hunger Games series.

Favorite TV show or last show you binged:
My favorite show has always been The Office. I’ve watched the series seven times! The last show I binged was Gilmore Girls, though.

Favorite hobby or what you do for fun:
Anything outside. My favorites? Hiking, snowboarding and paddle boarding on Lake Washington.

This year's undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies are Sunday, June 9, at Climate Pledge Arena.