Nicanor Rufo Rare Scholarship

Right after covid had broken out I had just been diagnosed with Cancer, for a second time and was caught completely off guard. I had just lost my grandparents and two aunts to cancer in the past two years.All the strengths I thought I held near and close to my heart had waivered or been challenged, as I was hit with one medical issue after another. On top of that spending 8 months in a sterile hospital room with no interaction of friends, family, or time outside of my room was tough. Your strengths start to feel like they are distant memory of things you once embodied. I had to dig deep off the things that loved ones reminded me I was. If I believe it at the time, was another question? After reviewing my values, I felt it had ultimately initiated my strengths, both going hand and hand with one another. I spent a lot of time reflecting with myself of who I was, good and bad. I believe we should always be aware of who we really are, as there is room for growth. I thought I had no longer processed those qualities and strengths because I wasn’t able to practice those things, as I was in a place of needing to be consoled and not the consoler. Time has been become very precious commodity to me. I looked at my Values as my Mantra, in how I would operate in life. Have you ever heard the phrase “you are a product of your environment?” I truly believe that to be very real today. My values affected my careers choices in more ways than one, it opened and closed doors of opportunities to exercise my loyalty and selflessness. It all started back in 2008, the first time I had cancer. As a woman your self-esteem, confidence, looks, feel totally different prior to treatment vs. post treatment. Being a cosmetologist, I want to serve my fellow cancer patients in a different capacity. As soon as I started to feel better from treatment, I started to volunteer in the oncology department. I utilized my skills, experience styling wigs. Medications can leave you feeling and looking a lovely pale-yellow grey. I couldn’t except that, so I also was a cosmetics educator and started offering make up classes. All of these was free of charge and something I coordinated myself. The patients smiles and gratitude were the best payment of all. If I’m being transparent becoming more confident in my ability despite of my disability. My values have definitely changed over time. I would have to say maturity and life experiences has influenced the change. Now 13 years later being diagnosed with Cancer, a worst diagnosis and treatment plan without not high success rates and a rigorous bone marrow transplant have been a huge catalyst. When your faced with life threatening experiences and death is knocking on your door just a tad sooner than expected, your perspective, outlook, priorities shift and change. My values are vital to my existence! I know the challenges these patients face mentally, physically, and emotionally can be brutal. I could encourage them now that I’ve been on both sides of the bed and say, "I may not know exactly what you are going through, but I have somewhat of an idea". The once very important ideas, egos, and accomplishments go out the window and you begin reevaluating the “purpose behind my pain”. My purpose is to serve alongside the patients as a nurse, for patients in their own medical challenges, as their pain is now my purpose!