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Lori Anne Esmiller of Westbrook made Maine Medical Center her “second home” as a volunteer.

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LORI ANNE ESMILLER

SCHOOL: Westbrook High School

Racked up 438 hours and 44 minutes of volunteer time over the past three summers at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Lori Anne Esmiller had an inkling she wanted to be a nurse early on in high school, but wasn't certain it was the right career path.

She spent plenty of time making sure. She has racked up 438 hours and 44 minutes of volunteer time over the past three summers at Maine Medical Center in Portland. "It was like my second home for the summer," Esmiller said.

In her spare time, she helped out at a Portland nursing home.

Now she works per diem as a nurse's assistant at Springbrook Nursing Care Center in Westbrook.

The experience helped her make up her mind: Esmiller is headed to college to study nursing this fall.

"I like to know I'm actually making a difference," she said.

Esmiller, who graduated with highest honors from Westbrook High School, attributes her drive to her family.

Her mother, father and older brother emigrated from the Philippines during the 1980s. After a brief stint in southeast Virginia, the family settled in Maine.

Esmiller said her parents always stressed the importance of education.

Her older brother, Hadje Esmiller, gave her an example to follow. She admires his work ethic -- he recently completed graduate school and works as an accountant -- and likens him to the North Star.

"He's always there leading the way, but I can find my own path," she said.

Esmiller plans to follow in her brother's footsteps and attend the University of Southern Maine.

She is one of two volunteers to earn partial tuition scholarships this year from the Friends of Maine Medical Center, a hospital auxiliary group.

Esmiller came of age at a time when, some would argue, too many Americans spent too much for things they didn't need – and the world paid the price.

She has a different attitude about money, saving for college and spending her pay from her health care job on the essentials. Esmiller admits she's the killjoy who urges friends to think twice before they blow their hard-earned cash at the mall.

"I'm the one that says, 'Put that money away,' " she said with a laugh.

Staff Writer Elbert Aull can be contacted at 791-6325 or at:

eaull@pressherald.com