BUCKEYE INSPIRATION
Just like Mom: Barb and Angela Humbel BY ANNA RIPKEN
Being a Buckeye nurse means being able to inspire those around you. But where do Buckeye nurses find their own inspiration for their careers? That’s an easy question to answer for Angela Humbel, College of Nursing sophomore: “With my mom being a nurse, I always had curiosities about the human body that I would ask her about. That fueled my interest in the medical field and science since I was very young.” Angela was convinced she wanted to go into healthcare since her early childhood, and the same was true for her mother, Barb Humbel, RN, CCM, (’79), a case manager at University Hospitals Parma Medical Center who also has experience as a traveling nurse and critical-care nurse, and is on the Board of Governors for the College of Nursing Alumni Society. Still, Barb wanted Angela to make an informed choice. “When she was younger, I brought her to work for ‘Bring your Daughter to Work Day,’ but I told her, 'Look around you. See the different roles, whether it be doctor, nurse, pharmacist, speech therapist, you name it,’ because I wanted her to pick what she felt would be the best option for her. I’m delighted that she chose nursing.” Even though the family lives in North Royalton, Ohio, about two hours away from Ohio State, Angela grew up going to alumni events and Ohio State football and hockey games, and started saying that she would go to Ohio State by age 10. A high school college-day visit to Ohio State sealed the deal. “I was amazed with the technology and prestige the College of Nursing had,” Angela said. She was determined to go to Ohio State and follow in her mother’s footsteps. Barb and her husband, Jim Humbel, an analyst at PNC Bank, were there for Angela every step of the way, helping her decide what high school classes she needed to take, what internships were available to her and what schools to apply to (with Ohio State at the top of the list). When Angela was accepted, the hard work continued. “This past year, I worked harder than I ever had before,” Angela said. “My parents would call every Sunday night to see how I was doing and [were] always there with words of encouragement and support.” Then last summer, the anticipated college decision arrived: Angela and her mother had become a Buckeye nurse legacy. “This was the biggest accomplishment of my life,” Angela said. “It was the moment I had waited for since I was a freshman in high school on that career day. My family continues to be very supportive, and my mom and I are so excited to attend nursing events together and share our experiences. Having her there to help me along this path was one of the best blessings I could have had. I cannot wait to see what else we will share in these next few years.” “We love this school!” Angela added. “Ohio State means so many things in our family. It means fun football Saturdays, exciting alumni events and most importantly an excellent education ... Everyone I meet at Ohio State is enthusiastic about what they’re doing and genuinely loves their efforts at Ohio State. I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else!”
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Proud parents Jim and Barb Humbel with their daugher Angela, a sophomore in the College of Nursing