Life has a beautiful way of pivoting us from our desires onto a path we may not be prepared for or envisioned. But our ability to trust in both life and our inner desires can be the catalyst to a truly fulfilling life.
Meet Jace, a traveling nurse whose last assignment was in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Jace’s journey is a compelling testament to the power of following one’s heart, even when it leads down unexpected paths far from his early love of the outdoors and farming. Nursing was never part of the plan, but like the winding rivers and country roads of his childhood, life carried him along unexpected bends that revealed new purpose. What makes Jace’s story remarkable is not only the career he has chosen, but the way he has learned to embrace the unpredictable turns of life with a steady mix of grit, gratitude, and grace.
Growing up, nursing was the furthest thing from his mind. All he wanted to do was spend time with his grandparents, read books, fish, spend time outdoors, work on farms, tractors, and ride horses. Life, however, often steers us down unexpected paths, guiding our evolution in ways we can’t foresee. His grandparents, with an intuition he dismissed, suggested he’d make a good nurse. It wasn’t until his senior year, facing college applications, that their ‘seed took root’, leading him to tentatively list nursing. What began as a temporary placeholder until he figures out what he wanted to do, unexpectedly blossomed into his permanent path when he was accepted into the program on his first try. His surprising acceptance into the program on the first try became a pivotal moment, highlighting the profound lesson that life’s trajectory is rarely linear and that embracing the unforeseen can lead to unexpected and meaningful paths.
Despite the demands of his studies and the new direction life had set before him, Jace never let go of his love for farming. Nursing may have been the path unfolding academically, but farming remained the heartbeat of his summers and the anchor that kept him grounded. While his classmates spent breaks resting or pursuing leisure, Jace spent his summer breaks in the fields, doing the kind of work that felt less like a chore and more like a calling. To him, farm work wasn’t just a summer job, it was nourishment for the soul. He vividly remembers his favorite job he has ever had and done which is cutting hay. He recalls the moments with striking clarity, the hum of the tractor beneath him, the rhythmic sweep of the mower, and the sweet aroma of freshly cut clover filling the air. The transformation of tall, waving grass into neatly ordered bales brought him a sense of satisfaction that no classroom or textbook could ever match. “I could spend the rest of my life doing this,” he often said, and he meant it. For Jace, farming wasn’t something to leave behind, it was a passion woven so deeply into who he was that even as he poured himself into nursing, the fields always called him back. Farming was, and still is, his reminder that hard work, rhythm, and connection to the land carry a joy all their own.
After graduating and gaining valuable experience as an OR nurse in St. George for a couple of years, he felt the pull of the open road and embarked on a career as a traveling nurse, with Rock Springs, Wyoming, becoming his very first assignment.
Drawing parallels between his time in the fields and his work in the hospital, Jace shared one of the most profound lessons he’s learned about both farming and nursing; they both demand passion at their core. He explained that while some careers may allow you to “get by” without deep love for the work, farming and nursing are not among them. Farming requires long hours under the hot sun, patience with the unpredictability of weather, and resilience in the face of endless physical demands. Nursing, in its own way, is just as relentless with long shifts, emotional weight, and the responsibility of caring for people in their most vulnerable moments. For Jace, the common thread is that neither path can last without passion. let alone bring fulfillment without genuine passion. “You might be able to work in other areas without it,” he reflected, “but the sheer heart and effort these professions require have taught me that only a genuine love for the work can truly sustain you.” This provides a simple yet powerful life lesson that whatever path you choose, make sure it’s one you can put your heart into. Passion doesn’t make the work easier, but it gives us the strength to keep going when the demands are high and the reward feels far away. It’s not just about making a living it’s about building a life that feels worth living.
When asked about the most impactful life lesson of his journey, Jace shared a profound shift in perspective: “I used to live with a self-centered focus, prioritizing my own happiness above all else. However, my education, my profession as a nurse, and my interactions with people have fundamentally changed that. I’ve learned that life extends far beyond my own needs, and a giving perspective yields a deeper, more satisfying inner reward.” To put this lesson into a simple piece of advice, he echoed a sentiment from Frank Burns a character on his favorite TV show, M*A*S*H, who stated “It is nice to be nice…to the nice.” For Jace, this translates to simply being kind to everyone. His experience as a nurse has also deeply solidified this understanding. In the hospital setting, he witnesses patients at their most vulnerable, seeking solace and a path to recovery. Being in a unique position to offer care and support in these moments brings him immense satisfaction, reinforcing the profound reward of giving perspective.
When not wearing his scrubs or working on farms, Jace has a deep love for music, with a particular passion for bluegrass, especially its gospel variations. Beyond simply listening, he enjoys playing instruments and is currently learning the banjo. His musical journey began over a decade ago with the piano. He later started to learn to play the banjo. He cherished practicing and playing for his grandmother, but her passing led him to set the instrument aside. He started practicing the banjo again before departing St. George, but his move to Rock Springs and the opportunity to learn from Dave at Picking Palace sparked a true resurgence of his love for playing.
Looking ahead, Jace envisions a future that blends his two passions. While he sees travel nursing in his immediate future, his goal is to find a way to integrate his nursing skills with his love for farming, ideally as a hay farmer.
Jace’s journey shows that passion and perspective are essential to building a meaningful life. From farming to nursing, he learned that true fulfillment comes not from ease or self-interest, but from wholehearted dedication and contributing to something larger than himself. His story reminds us that while the future is often uncertain, leaning into the unknown with passion and a giving spirit opens the way to deeper purpose, resilience, and lasting satisfaction.
