Meet Jazzaba

I wish to have a hospitality internship

Jazzaba, 19 chronic kidney disease

Jazzaba, known to her friends as Jasmine, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease just before her senior year of high school. Suddenly, the future that Jasmine had begun to plan for herself was in question. She went from a healthy teenager ready to submit her college applications to a kidney patient facing endless rounds of dialysis, surgeries, tests, and waiting …

After being placed on the donor list, Jasmine was full of anxiety. Fortunately, during that same time, Jasmine was introduced to two volunteers from Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada who were able to lift her spirits with the possibility of a wish. For the first time in a while, Jasmine put aside her anxious thoughts about her illness and she imagined her future.

Would she be traveling to Denmark to visit her grandfather? Would she be shaping her future career? With ambitions of becoming a CEO of a major hospitality company one day, Jasmine ultimately decided on the latter. The team at Make-A-Wish utilized their contacts at some of the top gaming and hospitality businesses in Las Vegas to develop a personalized internship experience that introduced Jasmine to some of the industry’s top executives.

The UNLV student spent her summer learning from some of the best in the business. The experience opened up many opportunities for Jasmine, but most of all it encouraged her to keep hope alive during difficult times. The future for this girl is limitless.