Personal Statement
My greatest wish has been to be part of UCLA and later become a nurse. Nursing falls in line with my intellectual interests and I have always been fascinated by the human body and all its intricacies, how it functions, what happens when it malfunctions, and what is done to restore its health. I majored in neuroscience because it contributes to my understanding of the human body and feeds my interest (Huber 21). This interest also extends outside school. On a monthly basis I read through the American Journal of Nursing, American Journal of Critical Care, and Critical Care Nursing. I have also gained much knowledge through volunteering and tutoring experience and the reason I now feel it is the time to chase my nursing dream.
My Tutoring Experience
I have a reputable tutoring career. This is something that has greatly helped me understand very many issues about nursing hence making it my favorite career. From the year 2007 to today I have been tutoring at LAVC community college and this has given me more than enough experience to deal with people (Huber 34). I realize that I can use the same experience in the nursing profession and by so doing be in a position of influencing and bringing change to patients’ lives. This is more than a passion in me. The subjects tutored at LAVC Community College include chemistry, anatomy, physiology, biology, all math levels up to calculus, and all these are relevant to the nursing profession.
During the teaching career I was able to work hand in hand with my students from all walks of life: adults from all racial backgrounds most of which are financially disadvantaged, some are mentally disabled or having learning disabilities, others are just struggling through their subjects (McGee & Castledine 26). This was a challenge but by the end of it all it helped me grow and made me a victor. I continued to realize my passion in the nursing field each and every day.
My Volunteering Experience
Over the years I have volunteered for several institutions in an attempt to get more than enough experience in nursing. For example, I once volunteered for Ranchos Los amigos Rehabilitation center for about 150 hours. The major duties performed during this time included helping nurses take care of inpatient patients going through physical rehabilitation; bath, bring food, accept visitors, take phone calls, and also conversing with the patients to make sure they did not feel lonely (McGee & Castledine 19).
I also volunteered at UCLA hospital for about 215 hours. During the time I used to take vital signs for heart surgeon’s patients such as taking blood pressure, temperature, heart rate. I also greeted patients, checked patients in, clean waiting room, and also took phone calls. During this time, I felt moved and encouraged to work as a volunteer and felt I was closer to my dream of becoming a nurse (McGee & Castledine 48). Looking at the above volunteering experience, I acquainted myself with very many operations and duties carried out by nurses. This way I was shaped and my passion for nursing intensified. I knew one day I would pursue my goals and dreams.
My Choice Help Out my Family Business
In the beginning of 2002, my father chose to quit his job and begin his own business. At the beginning the business was shaky and therefore he risked going out of business and losing our own home. I was going to school full time in 2001. I chose to decrease the courses taken and help him create, stabilize, and eventually manage our family business. This way I enrolled for part-time learning. Also there were no enough funds to cater for full time payment. I also had the passion to work and by so doing double my experience. I learned several leadership skills and managerial practices from the business (Huber 36).
Basically, I decided to sacrifice my time in order to help my family achieve their goals and also achieve financial stability. Due to this I was not able to go to school full time and therefore I had to engage in extracurricular activities and engaging in research (McGee & Castledine 68). Therefore I am able to handle a lot and therefore I am serious about my pursuit of nursing. The reason I feel obliged to become a nurse is because I have the calling to help the society and at the same time make a living out of it. I have also chosen to help manage and stabilize and manage my father’s business to ensure their financial well being.
Reasons Learning Part-Time
In the beginning of 2002, my father chose to quit his job and begin his own business. At the beginning the business was shaky and therefore he risked going out of business and losing our own home. I was going to school full time in 2001. I chose to decrease the courses taken and help him create, stabilize, and eventually manage our family business. Because of this I had to enroll for part-time learning. Also there were no enough funds to cater for full time payment. I also had the passion to work and by so doing double my experience. I learned several leadership skills and managerial practices from the business (Huber 63). Basically, I decided to sacrifice my time in order to help my family achieve their goals and also achieve financial stability. Due to this I was not able to go to school full time and therefore I had to engage in extracurricular activities and engaging in research. Therefore I am able to handle a lot, that I am serious about my pursuit of nursing. Basically, all the above issues made me take long to get to this point.
My Leadership Qualities and Sacrifices
The other important thing that can be of great significance and my contribution is because I have excellent leadership skills gained though my past managerial position. At one time I was the Secretary and Office manager of Ridamite which is a family-owned termite inspection business from December 2003 to December 2010. As a secretary I organized files, kept data, and called clients. Later as a manager I designed training programs for employees, interviewed employees, determined salaries, ensured employees performing jobs properly, designed filing systems. This experience gave me the right managerial and leadership skills which can be useful in the future (McGee & Castledine 92).
The reason I feel obliged to become a nurse is because I have the calling to help the society and at the same time make a living out of it. I have also chosen to help manage and stabilize and manage my father’s business to ensure their financial well being. Because of the family’s financial situation, I felt obliged to help and with the family business and by so doing I was not able to join school as a full time student. After many years of service the business is now stable and successful and I therefore I will be dedicating my whole time for academics from December and will be a pleasure to be part of the UCLA program.
Why UCLA MECN Program
Therefore, I have always felt part and parcel of UCLA and the reason am willing to get into UCLAs MECN program. For instance, one time I volunteered at UCLA for about 215 hours and here I took vital signs for heart surgeon’s patients. Also I like pushing myself academically and therefore I do not fear challenge. I have therefore been part of the honors program at LAVC and UCLA (McGee & Castledine 128). I have also chosen to double major in Neuroscience and physiological sciences UCLA, both challenging programs, instead of going straight to nursing school after obtaining my AA. Therefore, I have always been having a connection with UCLA and the reason I would be glad to get a chance as a member of its MECN program. Why UCLA School of Nursing? Over the past years, this has always been my dream since I was in high school, it is prestigious and a major hospital in the nation, and also makes up good reasons. Basically I have always wanted to be part of UCLA research team.
In conclusion, there are many reasons as to why I want to become a nurse. First and foremost, it will be fulfilling. The sense of fulfillment I experience helping people through their illness is profound and unique to nursing. My heart fills with compassion. I have a burning desire do everything I can in those moments to make their lives better. This sense has been unique to working alongside nurses. I spent a lot of time at LAVC in large part because I wanted to be certain I pursued the right career. Through my experience volunteering, I’ve helped and observed other professions such as doctors, physical therapists, and lab technicians (Huber 86). My mother is also a nurse and has been like a mentor to me. Through sharing her experiences with me, my mother has helped me form a greater understand of the nursing profession and, after volunteering, fortified my eventual decision to become a nurse. Therefore, my goals will only be realized once I am given the chance as a student of UCLA School of Nursing and the reason I am looking forward to this opportunity.
Works Cited
Huber, Diane. Leadership and nursing care management. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
McGee, Paula. & Castledine, George. Advanced nursing practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
