LITTLETON, Colo. -- A young woman who was at Clement Park Friday to commemorate the groundbreaking of a Columbine memorial was a survivor of the shooting who has taken her experience and uses it in her job to make a difference in other people's lives.

"I was in the library at Columbine and I was shot in my right shoulder and right hand. It came straight through and right across my neck," said Kacey Ruegsegger.

Kacey has the scars to remind her of that day. With her thumb and shoulder shattered, she spent two weeks in the hospital and years trying to recover.

"The first few years were pretty difficult, emotionally, mentally. The fear, the physical pain and the surgeries -- that's a lot to overcome," said Kacey.

That time Kacey spent as a patient moved her to become a registered nurse.

"I've kinda moved on from the 'Columbine girl' but I still want to use that story that I have to inspire my patients when they're going through something so difficult," Kacey said. "If they notice my scars, I'm not shy to tell them what happened. Usually, they're shocked. Who expects to hear, 'Oh, I was shot' out of young person's mouth?" Kacey asked.

What Kacey finds is that her injuries help her patients open up about what they're feeling.

"Most of their questions come to, 'How are you now? Bless your heart for going through that. What's your life like now?' They want to know how I got to be a nurse. How I got to be happy. And physically, emotionally how I'm doing. That's what they want to know," Kacey said.

Kacey said she's now doing great.

"I'm happy. I feel great physically. I don't have full motion in my arm but that's OK, I can do everyday things and I love what I'm doing," she said.