Myra Cheng

In the summer of 2014, I partnered with an organization called Hands at Work to support vulnerable communities across Africa where HIV/AIDS, poverty, and the numbers of orphans and widows are a record high. I spent most of my time in Zambia, Africa in a small community called Zimba where I shadowed local care workers who serve the poor and helpless in their community. Through home visits, I assessed the health and security of children, identified urgent needs, and provided basic physical and emotional care. We also made it a goal to raise health awareness by securing a clean water source and by teaching the communities about HIV/AIDS transmission. The trip only strengthened my convictions to strive for equality and justice in the nursing field with the intention to serve others.

     My decision to become a nurse did not come in a moment of blinding revelation but from a result of various experiences. Throughout my childhood, my parents instilled in me values such as compassion and respect for others, stressing the importance of giving back to the community. Nursing would be the perfect marriage between my interest in both healthcare and people. I am fascinated by the intricacy and complexity of the human body. For this reason, I want to further my understanding of the body and eventually contribute my knowledge to the healthcare community. I also have a huge interest towards people and my desire to become a nurse stems from the relationships developed by helping others.

    I believe this about nursing, to become a nurse to not only treat the patients’ illnesses but also their quality of life. I believe nursing is a great avenue to counsel, educate, and help people live better and healthier lives. My goal as a potential health professional is not only to treat those who are physically sick, but to care for the individual’s emotional and mental level as well. I’ve learned that illnesses and pain is inevitable in life, but with the opportunity to become a nurse, I can comfort and aid those facing their dark and often frightening truth. As a nurse, I will be able to help people get better whether they are near or far because the field of medicine should know no borders. I want to be a nurse that extends a helping hand to strangers in need since that’s what the profession is all about; a desire to serve those beyond your loved ones.

     In conclusion, with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation NCIN scholarship, the mentoring program has guided my decisions in the nursing career. The program has helped me develop the skills, courage, and compassion through various experiences to excel as a well-rounded nurse. Whether I work in a hospital or a community clinic, a degree in nursing will provide me with the knowledge to address healthcare issues and the skills to deliver patient care in any healthcare setting. My hope is to live a life that is known for helping the poor, healing the sick, showing grace to the undeserving, and loving others like one would have wanted to be treated.