While taking a prerequisite exam for nursing school, Allyson Stephens experienced excruciating pain in her abdomen. A CT scan revealed a large mass, which turned out to be ovarian cancer. Despite this turn of events, Stephens refused to give up her dream and just one day after surgery she submitted her nursing school application to UCLA.

Now, two years following the news of remission, Stephens will be one of 57 nursing students in the Masters Entry Clinical Nurse program to be receiving a master of science degree in nursing. Stephens uses her experience to give her perspective with patients, stating, "When I see a patient grimace during an IV insertion, I empathize."

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