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Annie Figueroa never expected her nursing education would be put to the test outside of a hospital room. But on a quiet June evening, the 21-year-old did what heroes do—she answered the call for help without hesitation.
Figueroa, a 2022 graduate of Warren High School, was reading in her Monticello apartment on June 23 when she heard someone screaming outside: “Somebody help me.” At first, she thought it was a TV blaring. But the sound of footsteps and frantic knocking made her open the door—and changed everything.
Outside stood a panicked mother holding her choking infant. Without thinking twice, Figueroa took the baby into her arms and began performing lifesaving aid. A neighbor quickly called 911 and helped flag down police. Thanks to Figueroa’s quick response and calm under pressure, along with the police, the child was transported to the emergency room and has since made a full recovery.
“It was a scary experience, but definitely a good learning experience,” Figueroa said. “We are taught to respond and react appropriately, and it went to use that day.”
Currently a senior nursing student at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Figueroa also works as an OB technician in Labor and Delivery at Baptist Health - Drew County. She says her time in the hospital has taught her the importance of compassion, clear communication and cultural understanding in healthcare. “This is such a vulnerable position for mothers to be in,” she said. “Being able to reassure and educate them—it’s a great feeling.”
Figueroa serves as Vice President of the UAM Student Nursing Association and is on track to graduate in May 2026. She credits her father as a lifelong source of inspiration. “He never backs down from a challenge. He always says, ‘If you don’t take the risk, you don’t gain anything.’”
Her family, she adds, remains her greatest support system. “They inspire me to be better. They sacrificed a lot coming to the United States,” Figueroa said.
What drew her to the field of nursing in the first place was seeing families struggle with language and cultural barriers in healthcare settings. Her dream is to help bridge those gaps and make healthcare more accessible and inclusive for all.
She calls being accepted into nursing school and earning her current position in Labor and Delivery two of her proudest achievements. “I do the best I can to learn the most I can while I’m there.”
When asked what she would tell her younger self, Figueroa smiled. “Take all the opportunities I can. Never take any opportunity for granted and get the most out of it.”
Figueroa said faith, family, friends and her coworkers help keep her grounded and motivated—especially when things get tough.
Her goals for the future are both personal and professional: “To grow as a person, become more open-minded, gain as much experience as I can, and continue breaking down diversity barriers in healthcare.”
Through it all, Figueroa remains deeply rooted in her hometown values.
“What I love most about South Arkansas is the community,” she said. “This is home. I was raised here. Since we are so rural, we’re a close-knit community and we help each other. I love being able to give back to the community that helped raise me.”
And on that summer day in June, she did exactly that.
