“There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well”.
These were the words of the American Union Labor leader Walter Philip Reuther that has opened my heart and inspired me to become a person for others.
For the past years, I have taken a course in the field of Arts as I have thought that this was the career that is best suited for the talent that I have. When I was a child, I enjoyed painting and drawing. I was elated each time people appreciated what I have created and I was impressed at how much art could be a form of entertainment to others. When a friend or classmate was lonely or sick, the funny caricature that I have created made them smile or laugh and change their outlook in life. However, as years passed by, I felt that providing this form of entertainment only provided temporary happiness and it was not enough to heal a person from within. I believe that there is more that I can do to help those who are in need of medical care.
My decision to shift to the nursing field was greatly influenced by the sudden death of my grandmother. My grandmother was a healthy and emotionally strong person who was filled with the ability and wisdom to inspire us to become the person that we wanted to be. There was a moment when we were all gathered in her home and we witnessed her complain of a severe chest pain. Within a few minutes, she lost consciousness and suddenly collapsed to the ground. Since we were not knowledgeable about first aid treatment and cardio pulmonary resuscitation, we were not able to extend any emergency treatment that could have saved her life. When she was taken to the hospital, she was pronounced dead on arrival due to heart attack.
Although my grandmother is no longer with us, this painful experience has paved the way towards my realization that I want to be able to provide health care services and work directly with patients and their families. This is the primary reason why I shifted from my Arts degree to Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After taking some subjects in the Nursing course at the (name of university), I have learned so much about healthcare and our human body and I knew that this was the right profession for me. However, I could no longer continue my education in (name of university) due to my need to transfer to another home.
The call to be of service to the marginalized group of people is strong. I believe that your university will equip me with the skills and knowledge needed to be a well rounded and competent nurse who will be capable of providing evaluation and nursing care for patients in the hospitals and those who are in their homes. After completing my baccalaureate degree, I intend to take the national board exam so I will be able to work as a registered nurse in a hospital, clinic or nursing home. When I am already a certified nurse, I would like to work in the medical-surgical floor or in the emergency department as this will help me develop my clinical and emergency skills in preparation for my long-term goal of being a physician assistant. After my studies, I will continue to enhance my knowledge by attending seminars and symposia and joining the American Nurses Association. I also intend to render my volunteer services in various medical missions, especially those organized by the Korean church organizations.
My personal goal is to serve the underprivileged and homebound patients and those who could not afford any health insurance. Extending my heart felt services to the disadvantaged community is my way of expressing gratitude to the opportunities and blessings that have been given to me. In addition, this is also my way of reliving the memory of my grandmother who had greatly influenced me to be in the healthcare profession.