Why I Want To Pursue A Nursing Degree

When I came to the United States as an immigrant, I worked in the hospitality industry in various capacities: hotel front of the house, event organizing, sales and marketing, and even in accounting. I changed positions often, not realizing that I was not happy and content with my career. My interest in nursing was sparked by my aunt, a fellow nurse, who talked about her career in such excitement that I knew that was what I missed in my life: passion and love for what I do.
While taking nursing prerequisites at Pikes Peak Community College, I was working as a night auditor in a hotel to allow me to attend college full time on campus because our family of four could not afford to lose my income. I was raised to never view challenges as a disadvantage, and to overcome hardship and make the most of it. I worked at night and attended college during the day to achieve my dream of becoming a nurse. I earned my bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University summa cum laude on the accelerated track, and I was honored to receive an invitation to join the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.
I began my nursing career at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Temple, Texas on the surgical trauma acute care step down unit, and after a year on that floor I felt ready to take the next step and I became a surgical trauma intensive care nurse.
I sought opportunities to develop my skills and broaden my clinical knowledge. I have only been a nurse for 16 months but I already know that this is my calling and it was the right decision to change career later in life. I feel like my maturity helps me to overcome adversities and to keep me moving forward. My goal in life is to become a nurse practitioner and to help others do the same: to overcome illness and to get up and move forward
stronger.
I hope to earn a graduate degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and continue to carry the school’s name with pride as a nurse practitioner, by providing evidence-based care in today’s multicultural environment where stereotypes and prejudice do not exist. As I aspire to become a family nurse practitioner, I need a program that will allow me to unite both my personal and professional goals into a fulfilling and rewarding career. I believe UTMB is a perfect fit for me in pursuing this dream of mine and become a professional healthcare provider.