Florence Nightingale ｜ 1 ｜ The Early Years

When you consider that I was born in 1820, it's a wonder that I achieved anything at all in my life. You see, I was born in an age dominated by men. My mother and father firmly believed that, as a woman born into a wealthy family, it was my duty to marry a rich man, have children, stay at home and be obedient to my husband. Well, I couldn't imagine anything worse. I had different ideas about what to do with my life and believed that God wanted me to be a nurse. As a young woman, I used to make secret visits to hospitals. I remember visiting one female patient whom no one seemed to know how to look after. The nurse was drunk. Bringing her into that place was as good as giving her poison. So my mind was made up. I decided I would become a nurse. But when I told my parents of my intentions, they were horrified. My mother proclaimed that I may as well become a servant.