Personal Reflection
This section will highlight the experiences that have guided me to the Trent-Fleming Nursing program and show my reflection on our first semester so far. It also explores how my perspective on the nursing profession has evolved and shares my goals for my future career as a nurse.
In high school, I struggled a lot with my mental health and would often face bullying. These challenges led to many visits in and out of different therapies, the ER, and doctor’s offices. It was during these experiences that my interest in nursing began to blossom. The nurses I met during this time were truly compassionate and supportive and made me feel like I was cared for and valued, they made a lasting impact on my life and inspired me to want to help others in the same way they had helped me. My nana, who is also a nurse, influenced my decision to go down this path. I would sometimes go to work with her in high school, where I saw firsthand how much care and dedication she provided to her patients. This inspired me to consider following her path. In high school, I also worked in many retirement and nursing homes, and this is where I found my love for helping people. I also did a Co-Op where I followed an LEA in different areas of a nursing home (most often the dementia ward), and this is where I truly found that I enjoyed making other people happy and caring for them. I would often just sit in the room with the residents and talk; we would colour, and some would braid my hair it was an enjoyable experience. I learned quickly that it was my calling.
In Grade 12 (2022/23), I planned that I was going to take an extra year of high school and do grade 13 because I was not sure about what I wanted to do as a career. During the first semester, I took a biology course and discovered my interest in learning about the human body I did well in that course, and it clicked. I also took a dual-credit manicure course at Fleming College, which I enjoyed and I considered it as a career. But, by the second semester, my mental health began to get bad again, and after some serious consideration and talking with my guidance counsellor, I realized I needed a change from high school. So, about a month before graduation, I decided to apply to a few Pre-Health programs just to do something as a stepping stone to explore healthcare more deeply. In September 2023, I started the one-year Pre-Health certificate program at Georgian College, and I noticed a huge improvement in my mental health. I was happy, engaged, and enjoying the content I was learning. Although there were difficult days, it was worth it. In May 2024, I graduated from the program with honours—a personal achievement that boosted my confidence and motivation. Shortly after, I received my acceptance into Trent University’s Nursing program!
During the summer, I worked at an overnight kids’ summer camp in Haliburton, Ontario. This is where I discovered I had a passion for working with kids. This experience built my interest in pediatric nursing, and I began to envision a future in travel nursing, possibly in a specialty like pediatrics or maternal and child health. Camp flew by, and in August 2024, I moved back home to prepare for my next journey at Trent. September 2024 arrived quickly, and I moved into Otonabee Residence on campus. Starting my nursing studies at Trent has been both exciting and challenging. With a supportive environment and hands-on learning opportunities, I’m looking forward to deepening my skills and building the foundation I need to make a meaningful impact in healthcare. This journey has been transformative, and I’m enthusiastic about the possibilities ahead as I work toward my goal of becoming a compassionate, skilled nurse dedicated to making a difference in the lives of my patients.
When I started my studies at Trent, I was excited to explore the role of the nurse and how it can extend beyond the physical. In my classes, one concept that really stood out to me was the importance of building trust and understanding the difference between care and caring. I learned that Person-and Family-Centred Care is very beneficial as it allows the patient and family to take the wheel in their care, it allows the patient and their “family [to] work together with the health-care team to decide on the best options for [the paitents] health care.” (Person-and Family-Centred Care, n.d. adapted in [ ]) (3)
Throughout my first semester, I have realized how important it is to create meaningful and trustworthy connections with patients, especially in times of need. Looking back on this semester, I feel that my understanding of nursing has grown, and I now realize that it’s not just providing care but also caring, as we learned early on in a seminar for NURS 1000. I see that nursing is a deeply impactful profession that requires not only technical skills but also the ability to connect with those around you on personal levels. As I move forward into the second semester, I will. continue to build on these skills and theories for my clinical practice.