Like every other night, my mum walked into my room with a bright smile and gave me a good night kiss on my forehead and I was thrilled; however, things took a turn. As she walked away, I could see my mum shaking then she later fell to the floor and without thinking I immediately rushed to her aid. Upon looking at her, my mum's face had turned blue, she was breathing heavily, lacked stability, sweated profusely and couldn’t talk properly. At this point it occurred to me that she was having a stroke. I called a taxi and rushed her to the local hospital. As I waited patiently at a corner, I wept and sobbed in fear. With a teary eye, I saw a woman walking towards my direction. She approached me, introduced herself as a nurse and later on consoled me. She was sympathetic, loving and caring. Her words gave me a reason to remain hopeful and in her warm hugs I felt comforted. Time flew by and my mum was discharged from the hospital; however, I could never forget this encounter. Growing up, I became increasingly interested in medicine. I got a volunteering opportunity at a local hospital and immediately signed up as a patient advocate. Here, I was able to help patients with daily tasks as well as serve as a spokesperson for patients who needed to be heard. My experience as a patient advocate provided an opportunity for me to not only learn, grow and create meaningful relationships but to also create a positive impact on people's lives. Just like the woman who helped me when I was most vulnerable, I wanted to become a nurse. This was it! This was what I longed for in a career. These experiences and patient interactions sparked my interest in nursing not only as a career but most importantly as a life fulfilment. Often looked upon as an extremely demanding career, I am enthusiastic about tackling the challenges it may present as I expand my knowledge and improve my skills. As an aspiring nurse, I aim to learn and challenge myself in order to provide the best possible care for patients. Through my experience as a patient advocate, I understand that a patient centered plan is vital towards patient care and this is made possible through teamwork; therefore, I aspire to be part of this “team”. With this understanding, I will continue to not only be an advocate for patients but also a support system for them when necessary. I am also particularly excited to work in a field where new advancements and developments can be made. As an aspiring nurse, it is a goal of mine to lead by offering mentorship to fellow nurses and future nurses. This will be made possible by implementing quality care to patients and setting up nursing work shops. This mentorship will allow and promote health wellness amongst individuals and patient advocacy within the workforce and community as a whole. In order to continue to give the best care possible to patients, one of many career goals of mine is to get more certification in order to improve my skills and knowledge. I endeavor to achieve a doctorate degree in nursing and become a nurse practitioner. This will further drive my passion, because this degree will give me an opportunity to gain more knowledge, skills and a wider patient population. Reflecting on my experiences, I have developed a deeper understanding of being compassionate as I remain motivated to use various opportunities towards helping people and making a difference in the community.

Like every other night, my mum walked into my room with a bright smile and gave me a good night kiss on my forehead and I was thrilled; however, things took a turn. As she walked away, I could see my mum shaking then she later fell to the floor and without thinking I immediately rushed to her aid. Upon looking at her, my mum's face had turned blue, she was breathing heavily, lacked stability, sweated profusely and couldn’t talk properly. At this point it occurred to me that she was having a stroke. I called a taxi and rushed her to the local hospital. As I waited patiently at a corner, I wept and sobbed in fear. With a teary eye, I saw a woman walking towards my direction. She approached me, introduced herself as a nurse and later on consoled me. She was sympathetic, loving and caring. Her words gave me a reason to remain hopeful and in her warm hugs I felt comforted. Time flew by and my mum was discharged from the hospital; however, I could never forget this encounter. As I grew up, I became increasingly interested in medicine. I got a volunteering opportunity at a local hospital and decided to sign up as a patient advocate. As a patient advocate in the emergency department and Intensive care unit (ICU), I was able to help patients with basic daily tasks as well as serve as a spokesperson for patients who needed to be heard. My experience as a patient advocate gave me the ability to not only learn, grow and create meaningful relationships but to also create a positive impact on people's lives. Just like the woman who helped me when I was most vulnerable, I want to become a nurse. Often looked upon as an extremely demanding career, I am enthusiastic about tackling the challenges it may present as I expand my knowledge and improve my skills. As an aspiring nurse, I aim to learn and challenge myself in order to provide the best possible care for patients. Through my experience as a patient advocate, I understand that a patient centered plan is vital towards patient care and this is made possible through teamwork; therefore, I aspire to be part of this “team”. With this understanding, I will continue to not only be an advocate for patients but also a support system for them when necessary. I am excited to work in a field where new advancements and developments can be made; therefore, it is also a goal of mine to lead by offering mentorship to nurses and also motivate future nurses in implementing quality nursing care to patients. In order to continue to give the best care possible to my patients, another career goal of mine is to get more certification in order to improve my skills and knowledge. I endeavor to achieve a doctorate degree in nursing and become a nurse practitioner. Alongside my experiences, I have learned, grew as an individual and developed skills which I will integrate towards providing high quality patient care. Reflecting on my experiences, I have developed a deeper understanding of being compassionate as I remain motivated to use various opportunities towards helping people and making a difference in the community.

Like every other night, my mum walked into my room with a bright smile and gave me a good night kiss on my forehead and I was thrilled; however, things took a turn. As she walked away, I could see my mum shaking then she later fell to the floor and without thinking I immediately rushed to her aid. Upon looking at her, my mum's face had turned blue, she was breathing heavily, lacked stability, sweated profusely and couldn’t talk properly. At this point it occurred to me that she was having a stroke. I called a taxi and rushed her to the local hospital. As I waited patiently at a corner, I wept and sobbed in fear. With a teary eye, I saw a woman walking towards my direction. She approached me, introduced herself as a nurse and later on consoled me. She was sympathetic, loving and caring. Her words gave me a reason to remain hopeful and in her warm hugs I felt comforted. Time flew by and my mum was discharged from the hospital; however, I could never forget this encounter. As I grew up, I became increasingly interested in medicine. I got a volunteering opportunity at a local hospital and decided to sign up as a patient advocate. As a patient advocate in the emergency department and Intensive care unit (ICU), I was able to help patients with basic daily tasks as well as serve as a spokesperson for patients who needed to be heard. My experience as a patient advocate gave me the ability to not only learn, grow and create meaningful relationships but to also create a positive impact on people's lives. Just like the woman who helped me when I was most vulnerable, I want to become a nurse. Often looked upon as an extremely demanding career, I am enthusiastic about tackling the challenges it may present as I expand my knowledge and improve my skills. As an aspiring nurse, I aim to learn and challenge myself in order to provide the best possible care for patients. Through my experience as a patient advocate, I understand that a patient centered plan is vital towards patient care and this is made possible through teamwork; therefore, I aspire to be part of this “team”. With this understanding, I will continue to not only be an advocate for patients but also a support system for them when necessary. I am excited to work in a field where new advancements and developments can be made; therefore, it is also a goal of mine to lead by offering mentorship to nurses and also motivate future nurses in implementing quality nursing care to patients. In order to continue to give the best care possible to my patients, another career goal of mine is to get more certification in order to improve my skills and knowledge. I endeavor to achieve a doctorate degree in nursing and become a nurse practitioner. Alongside my experiences, I have learned, grew as an individual and developed skills which I will integrate towards providing high quality patient care. Reflecting on my experiences, I have developed a deeper understanding of being compassionate as I remain motivated to use various opportunities towards helping people and making a difference in the community.

Like they say “hardwork is the key to success”. This motto has been with me from the very beginning. As a first generation, low income student, I have been advised by my mum to always “work hard” in order to achieve “success”. At first I didn’t understand what she meant but as I grew older, I began to understand that “Success” can vary from person to person and it’s not always all about riches (like I initially presumed). As a young girl, I became increasingly interested in medicine. I got a volunteering opportunity at a local hospital and decided to sign up as a patient advocate. As a patient advocate in the emergency department and Intensive care unit (ICU), I was able to help patients with basic daily tasks as well as serve as a spokesperson for patients who needed to be heard. My experience as a patient advocate gave me the ability to not only learn, grow and create meaningful relationships but to also create a positive impact on people's lives. This was the “hard work” my mum talked about. It was simply all about giving and helping. As an aspiring nurse, I aim to learn and challenge myself in order to provide the best possible care for patients. Through my experience as a patient advocate, I understand that a patient centered plan is vital towards patient care and this is made possible through teamwork; therefore, I aspire to be part of this “team”. With this understanding, I will continue to not only be an advocate for patients but also a support system for them when necessary. The joy and accomplishment I felt from this experience was the “success” I needed to continue thriving. I am excited to work in a field where new advancements and developments can be made; therefore, it is also a goal of mine to lead by offering mentorship to nurses and also motivate future nurses in implementing quality nursing care to patients. In order to continue to give the best care possible to my patients, another career goal of mine is to get more certification in order to improve my skills and knowledge. I endeavor to achieve a doctorate degree in nursing and become a nurse practitioner after receiving my Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Alongside my experiences, I have learned and developed skills (such as communication , empathy, management, technological skills and critical thinking) which I will integrate towards providing high quality patient care. I am glad that I can achieve success through doing what I’m best at (helping). Reflecting on my experiences, I have developed a deeper understanding of being compassionate as I remain motivated to use various opportunities towards helping people and making a difference in the community.

Like every other night, my mum walked into my room with a bright smile and gave me a good night kiss on my forehead and I was thrilled; however, things took a turn. As she walked away, I could see my mum shaking then she later fell to the floor and without thinking I immediately rushed to her aid. Upon looking at her, my mum's face had turned blue, she was breathing heavily, lacked stability, sweated profusely and couldn’t talk properly. At this point it occurred to me that she was having a stroke. I called a taxi and rushed her to the local hospital. As I waited patiently at a corner, I wept and sobbed in fear. With a teary eye, I saw a woman walking towards my direction. She approached me, introduced herself as a nurse and later on consoled me. She was sympathetic, loving and caring. Her words gave me a reason to remain hopeful and in her warm hugs I felt comforted. Time flew by and my mum was discharged from the hospital; however, I could never forget this encounter. As I grew up, I became increasingly interested in medicine. I got a volunteering opportunity at a local hospital and decided to sign up as a patient advocate. As a patient advocate in the emergency department and Intensive care unit (ICU), I was able to help patients with basic daily tasks as well as serve as a spokesperson for patients who needed to be heard. My experience as a patient advocate gave me the ability to not only learn, grow and create meaningful relationships but to also create a positive impact on people's lives. Just like the woman who helped me when I was most vulnerable, I want to become a nurse. Often looked upon as an extremely demanding career, I am enthusiastic about tackling the challenges it may present as I expand my knowledge and improve my skills. As an aspiring nurse, I aim to learn and challenge myself in order to provide the best possible care for patients. Through my experience as a patient advocate, I understand that a patient centered plan is vital towards patient care and this is made possible through teamwork; therefore, I aspire to be part of this “team”. With this understanding, I will continue to not only be an advocate for patients but also a support system for them when necessary. I am excited to work in a field where new advancements and developments can be made; therefore, it is also a goal of mine to lead by offering mentorship to nurses and also motivate future nurses in implementing quality nursing care to patients. In order to continue to give the best care possible to my patients, another career goal of mine is to get more certification in order to improve my skills and knowledge. I endeavor to achieve a doctorate degree in nursing and become a nurse practitioner. Alongside my experiences, I have learned, grew as an individual and developed skills which I will integrate towards providing high quality patient care. Reflecting on my experiences, I have developed a deeper understanding of being compassionate as I remain motivated to use various opportunities towards helping people and making a difference in the community.

Like every other night, my mum walked into my room with a bright smile and gave me a good night kiss on my forehead and I was thrilled; however, things took a turn. As she walked away, I could see my mum shaking then she later fell to the floor and without thinking I immediately rushed to her aid. Upon looking at her, my mum's face had turned blue, she was breathing heavily, lacked stability, sweated profusely and couldn’t talk properly. At this point it occurred to me that she was having a stroke. I called a taxi and rushed her to the local hospital. As I waited patiently at a corner, I wept and sobbed in fear. With a teary eye, I saw a woman walking towards my direction. She approached me, introduced herself as a nurse and later on consoled me. She was sympathetic, loving and caring. Her words gave me a reason to remain hopeful and in her warm hugs I felt comforted. Time flew by and my mum was discharged from the hospital; however, I could never forget this encounter. As I grew up, I became increasingly interested in medicine. I got a volunteering opportunity at a local hospital and decided to sign up as a patient advocate. As a patient advocate in the emergency department and Intensive care unit (ICU), I was able to help patients with basic daily tasks as well as serve as a spokesperson for patients who needed to be heard. My experience as a patient advocate gave me the ability to not only learn, grow and create meaningful relationships but to also create a positive impact on people's lives. Just like the woman who helped me when I was most vulnerable, I want to become a nurse. Often looked upon as an extremely demanding career, I am enthusiastic about tackling the challenges it may present as I expand my knowledge and improve my skills. As an aspiring nurse, I aim to learn and challenge myself in order to provide the best possible care for patients. Through my experience as a patient advocate, I understand that a patient centered plan is vital towards patient care and this is made possible through teamwork; therefore, I aspire to be part of this “team”. With this understanding, I will continue to not only be an advocate for patients but also a support system for them when necessary. I am excited to work in a field where new advancements and developments can be made; therefore, it is also a goal of mine to lead by offering mentorship to nurses and also motivate future nurses in implementing quality nursing care to patients. In order to continue to give the best care possible to my patients, another career goal of mine is to get more certification in order to improve my skills and knowledge. I endeavor to achieve a doctorate degree in nursing and become a nurse practitioner. Alongside my experiences, I have learned, grew as an individual and developed skills which I will integrate towards providing high quality patient care. Reflecting on my experiences, I have developed a deeper understanding of being compassionate as I remain motivated to use various opportunities towards helping people and making a difference in the community.

Like every other night, my mum walked into my room with a bright smile and gave me a good night kiss on my forehead and I was thrilled; however, things took a turn. As she walked away, I could see my mum shaking then she later fell to the floor and without thinking I immediately rushed to her aid. Upon looking at her, my mum's face had turned blue, she was breathing heavily, lacked stability, sweated profusely and couldn’t talk properly. At this point it occurred to me that she was having a stroke. I called a taxi and rushed her to the local hospital. As I waited patiently at a corner, I wept and sobbed in fear. With a teary eye, I saw a woman walking towards my direction. She approached me, introduced herself as a nurse and later on consoled me. She was sympathetic, loving and caring. Her words gave me a reason to remain hopeful and in her warm hugs I felt comforted. Time flew by and my mum was discharged from the hospital; however, I could never forget this encounter. This experience sparked my interest in nursing. As I grew older, I volunteered as a patient advocate where I assisted patients with daily tasks and as a spokesperson. My experience as a patient advocate gave me the ability to not only learn, grow and create meaningful relationships but to also create a positive impact on people's lives, just like the woman who helped me when I needed help the most. Often looked upon as an extremely demanding career, I am enthusiastic about tackling the challenges it may present as I expand my knowledge and improve my skills. As an aspiring nurse, I aim to learn and challenge myself in order to provide the best possible care for patients. I understand that a patient centered plan is vital towards patient care and this is made possible through teamwork therefore I aspire to be part of this “team”. With this understanding, I will continue to not only be an advocate for patients but also a support system for them when necessary. I am excited to work in a field where new advancements and developments can be made therefore I strive to improve my technological skills as a nurse. I believe that it is imperative to stay current with new technological advancements made in the health care sector so as to integrate this skill towards providing high quality patient care. It is also a goal of mine to lead by offering mentorship to nurses and also motivating future nurses in implementing quality nursing care to patients. Offering mentorship will allow and promote health wellness and patient advocacy within the workforce and community as a whole. Alongside my experiences, the act of supporting patients has given me a deeper meaning for love,sympathy and compassion. I plan to counsel patients and their families by offering emotional support in an attempt to offer hope and comfort in their (oftentimes) most vulnerable state. In order to continue to give the best care possible to my patients, another career goal of mine is to get more certification in order to improve my skills and knowledge. I endeavor to achieve a doctorate degree in nursing and become a nurse practitioner. As I advance in my career, this will further enhance my skills and competency and likewise promote professional growth. Reflecting on my experiences , I have developed a deeper understanding of being compassionate as I remain motivated to use various opportunities towards helping people and making a difference in the community.

Like every other night, my mum walked into my room with a bright smile and gave me a good night kiss on my forehead and I was thrilled; however, things took a turn. As she walked away, I could see my mum shaking then she later fell to the floor and without thinking I immediately rushed to her aid. Upon looking at her, my mum's face had turned blue, she was breathing heavily, lacked stability, sweated profusely and couldn’t talk properly. At this point it occurred to me that she was having a stroke. I called a taxi and rushed her to the local hospital. As I waited patiently at a corner, I wept and sobbed in fear. With a teary eye, I saw a woman walking towards my direction. She approached me, introduced herself as a nurse and later on consoled me. She was sympathetic, loving and caring. Her words gave me a reason to remain hopeful and in her warm hugs I felt comforted. Time flew by and my mum was discharged from the hospital; however, I could never forget this encounter. This experience sparked my interest in nursing. As I grew older, I volunteered as a patient advocate where I assisted patients with daily tasks and as a spokesperson. My experience as a patient advocate gave me the ability to not only learn, grow and create meaningful relationships but to also create a positive impact on people's lives, just like the woman who helped me when I needed help the most. Often looked upon as an extremely demanding career, I am enthusiastic about tackling the challenges it may present as I expand my knowledge and improve my skills. As an aspiring nurse, I aim to learn and challenge myself in order to provide the best possible care for patients. I understand that a patient centered plan is vital towards patient care and this is made possible through teamwork therefore I aspire to be part of this “team”. With this understanding, I will continue to not only be an advocate for patients but also a support system for them when necessary. I am excited to work in a field where new advancements and developments can be made therefore I strive to improve my technological skills as a nurse. I believe that it is imperative to stay current with new technological advancements made in the health care sector so as to integrate this skill towards providing high quality patient care. It is also a goal of mine to lead by offering mentorship to nurses and also motivating future nurses in implementing quality nursing care to patients. Offering mentorship will allow and promote health wellness and patient advocacy within the workforce and community as a whole. Alongside my experiences, the act of supporting patients has given me a deeper meaning for love,sympathy and compassion. I plan to counsel patients and their families by offering emotional support in an attempt to offer hope and comfort in their (oftentimes) most vulnerable state. In order to continue to give the best care possible to my patients, another career goal of mine is to get more certification in order to improve my skills and knowledge. I endeavor to achieve a doctorate degree in nursing and become a nurse practitioner. As I advance in my career, this will further enhance my skills and competency and likewise promote professional growth. Reflecting on my experiences , I have developed a deeper understanding of being compassionate as I remain motivated to use various opportunities towards helping people and making a difference in the community.