Immigrating to Hawaii 9 years ago from the Philippines, I was always surrounded by my aunts, who are nurses, both in Hawaii and back in the Philippines, making my inclination towards nursing always present. Hence, my greatest inspiration and motivation to become a nurse comes from my aunts, who I consider my role models.
Throughout high school and college, I’ve lived with aunts who are nurses — one who had private patients at her home and another who devoted her extra time to educating diabetic patients and their families. Often, I would assist my aunts with simple tasks such as grooming, feeding, and being a friend to the patients. I witnessed first-hand how much the slightest compassion — a kind touch, a kind word — can positively impact and contribute significantly to the spirits of the patients. My aunts have shown me how vital nurses are in the community. The chance to impact the lives of people based on the care you provide makes me more determined to pursue nursing. I aspire to follow in the same footsteps of my aunts so that I can also provide others with this level of care and dedication.
This is the right time for me to start a Graduate Entry Program in Nursing at UX. I’ve acquired essential skills and wisdom through my Psychology degree, internships in clinical settings, and volunteer work to excel in the program. Obtaining all 'As' in my prerequisite classes and maintaining a GPA of 3.93 while balancing extracurricular activities demonstrates my drive and dedication. My volunteer experiences with diverse populations in Hawaii prepared me for the Advanced Population Health Nurse (APHN) track. Furthermore, I consider Hawaii my home. All my family members live here, and their support will significantly facilitate my being able to make GEPN my number one priority in every way.
My degree in Psychology equips me with the knowledge and skills to become a compassionate and competent nurse — tending to patients’ physical, mental health, and emotional needs by building meaningful and therapeutic relationships with them. My volunteer experiences have also helped me grow and gain awareness of the specific public health issues and social conditions in Hawaii. As a volunteer at the homeless shelter, for example, I was able to see the effects of health disparities up close. I came to understand better the challenges faced by underserved communities here on our island chain, and I aspire to help them in all aspects of their lives, including healthcare. Serving as an officer for our English-Language Learners Club in high school and working as a sales lead in my previous job have not only provided me with a solid understanding of how to build effective teams but also taught me to be assertive, to have the courage to speak my mind, and to prepare myself to serve as an advocate on behalf of the underserved.