Nursing: Personal Statement for My Entire Life,

Nursing: Personal Statement

For my entire life, acting as a caregiver has been an integral part of my identity. I come from Cuba, and caring for the old and sick is considered to be a very important obligation. I was the child who took care of the needs of my grandmother and grandfather as they aged, as well as my father who died all too young of cancer. As emotionally difficult as these experiences were, I felt privileged to be able to do something for the people who had given so much to me. I also learned how gratifying it was to nurse someone and to provide them with a sense of self-worth and empowerment, even when they were facing their own mortality. To make this my career would be my dream come true.

I wanted to become a nurse while still living in Cuba but unfortunately Cuban nursing schools are not able to accept many students. My dream was thwarted only temporarily and in the United States I intend to pursue my degree in the field of nursing. Nursing would allow me to use my compassion and joy in taking care of others every day. At present, I am employed at UPS full-time, but I have always made a commitment to volunteer through various charitable organizations in whatever spare time I have, either through United Way at my workforce or through my church. Nursing would allow me to make helping people my vocation, not merely something I have to fit in around my regular employment.

I also believe that I am uniquely qualified to make a significant impact in my community as a healthcare provider. I am bilingual, and this would enable me to engage in critical outreach efforts with Spanish-speakers. Many people are intimidated by the healthcare system because English is not their first language. Having a nurse who can speak Spanish can help to bridge this divide. I am also a certified professional interpreter for health-related issues.

While pursuing my degree at a community college (JCC), I have sought to bolster my academic credentials for entering the nursing field, spanning from medical studies such as anatomy and physiology to foundational science courses in chemistry and algebra to studies in psychology and the humanities. I have learned the necessary scientific fundamentals at JCC as well as sharpened by critical thinking capabilities thus enabling me to enter into the University of Louisville with a sound foundation to begin my nursing education.