Bachelor of Science in Nursing Student
What inspired you to become a nurse?
I always enjoyed helping my friends and those around me. I wasn't very sociable when I was younger, but when I made friends growing up who cared about me, it allowed me to exhibit less fear of getting close to others. I wanted to help other people who may have felt similar, especially since I liked consoling and giving advice to my friends. Listening to people I care about has always been something I love to do, and I realize that not everyone has someone who will do that for them.
What is the best thing about Mount Carmel College of Nursing?
I love the smaller class sizes (with the exception of some nursing courses), and I usually feel like I can communicate with my professors more effectively due to this. I enjoy being around people, but large class sizes can be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to get to know anyone. I also really enjoy how you can tell that professors care a lot about the subjects they’re teaching.
What are your goals for your nursing career?
I'm still debating it, but I always wanted to go into psych and get a postgraduate degree to further specialize in mental health. I felt like that was what I wanted to do from the start because mental health was the biggest reason I wanted to go into nursing. The way we treat people with mental illness (or even those who are undiagnosed) is terrible sometimes. If the world was just a bit kinder, we wouldn’t have as many adolescents developing mental illnesses at such an early age. School systems should implement mental health education early, because most children are not going to assume that they’re mentally ill or should reach out for help. This shouldn’t be a problem at that age.
What advice would you give your younger self?
You have to continue to be positive. You can’t let other people make you feel bad or like you aren’t capable because you are plenty capable. There are so many things you can do years from now that you never would have thought were possible for yourself, but that’s because you don’t believe in yourself like you should. You will not let anything dull you, and you won’t take anything as a sign that you aren’t “fit” or “meant” to do something.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in nursing?
If you are truly going into nursing because of your care for other people, there’s absolutely no harm in pursuing this degree. Some people are going to be very negative about it, but why should you let someone else tell you what you should or shouldn’t do based on their own experiences? You are your own person, and you should be able to pursue what you are passionate about and most drawn to. You are going to have to work hard, and so much will be anxiety-inducing, but you are plenty capable. The amount of self-worth someone has may steer them away from this career, but anyone with the passion for it can persevere in this field.