Third Place
2020 Future Alumni Essay Contest
Nursing school, motherhood, childhood cancer and a pandemic – 2020 has been a year full of challenges, to say the least.
2020 Future Alumni Essay Contest
Nursing school, motherhood, childhood cancer and a pandemic – 2020 has been a year full of challenges, to say the least.
Prior to the pandemic, I had mastered a life of constant schedule changes: juggling motherhood, nursing school and work, on top of the daily challenges of being a full-time caregiver to my four-year-old who was battling cancer. I was no stranger to social distancing, mask-wearing, or impeccable hand hygiene – as the mother to a child with cancer, these things became my new normal years before the pandemic.
What proved to be challenging was learning how to go about my life, navigating yet again another ‘new normal’ amidst a global pandemic. Being a mother to a young child with cancer is hard, being in nursing school is hard; juggling both of these roles during a global pandemic is incredibly hard. However, I can honestly say that both nursing school and caring for my son, especially during this pandemic, have had a profound impact on not only myself but also the way I see the world around me.
Going back to school to pursue my degree in Nursing has been one of the best decisions of my life. I have learned so much and have been given such an amazing opportunity to pursue my dream. Nursing school is incredibly tough; it requires focus, dedication, flexibility, motivation and passion. Nursing school during a global pandemic has taken the stress of nursing school to an entirely new level. Having to learn how to navigate online clinicals, lectures, and seminars proved to be difficult, but thanks to the support from my peers and instructors it was as smooth of a transition as I could have asked for. The pandemics effects were not only felt in relation to my education but in every single aspect of my life.
The most impact was felt in the care of my son, who at two was diagnosed with cancer. The last three years have included countless rounds of chemotherapy, inpatient stays, clinic visits and remaining as socially distanced as we could, in an attempt to prevent any infections. With a new virus spreading at an exponential rate, a wave of fear and panic spread through the pediatric oncology community as we as parents and caregivers struggled with making decisions to best protect our vulnerable children. Decisions that were already hard were increased ten-fold with the fear of the unknown looming over us. Feelings of isolation are nothing new; we have been social distancing for almost three years now. However, the impacts of the pandemic only increased those feelings as those who were our primary pillars of support were no longer able to provide assistance as the fear of infection heightened.
Over the last three years, I have witnessed communities rally together to not only lift up my family and support us during the hardest moments of our lives but countless other families as well. I have watched strangers perform random acts of kindness for others and have been the recipient of an incredible outpouring of local support. Despite the fear of the unknown around the pandemic, I saw, yet again, this sense of community. People volunteered to pick up groceries for their elderly neighbors to minimize their exposure to the virus. Others began sewing masks for local hospitals amidst PPE shortages to ensure that the men and women caring for us on the frontlines of this pandemic were protected. The pandemic, despite the challenges it brought to the community, also brought people together and strengthened relationships between members of the community.
Fast-forward five months to August when classes started back – we were finally able to get back into the hospitals for our clinical rotations. While excited to be able to get more hands-on experience, anxiety and fear of bringing the virus home to my immunocompromised child was always in the forefront of my mind. Despite my fears and anxiety, I knew that ultimately becoming a nurse would also include a risk of bringing something home to my family. I chose to look at the situation in a positive light; take it as a challenge to prove my ability to break the chain of infection and keep myself, my patients and my family safe. C.S. Lewis once said “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny” – my life, my situation, my challenges and struggles have provided me with opportunities of growth. My son’s diagnosis, despite its challenges, gave me the courage to pursue my dream to become a nurse. This pandemic has only helped to solidify that decision and push me to be more focused than ever in achieving my dream.
The year 2020 will forever be remembered for the global COVID-19 pandemic, but for me, this year and its challenges have made the victories I have witnessed and received far more meaningful and rewarding. I have learned how to overcome adversities and to push myself regardless of fear and uncertainties. The year 2020 has shown me that through perseverance and determination, you have the ability to grow and reach a new potential if you choose to see the positive side of a situation. The pandemic has presented numerous challenges this year, but despite those challenges I have seen so many individuals, families and communities rise to meet those challenges head-on. If anything, I think the pandemic and the challenges faced this year have served as a reminder that it is possible to remain positive, to see the light in any given situation, and to recognize the importance of supporting others in your community.
Going back to school to pursue my degree in Nursing has been one of the best decisions of my life. I have learned so much and have been given such an amazing opportunity to pursue my dream. Nursing school is incredibly tough; it requires focus, dedication, flexibility, motivation and passion. Nursing school during a global pandemic has taken the stress of nursing school to an entirely new level. Having to learn how to navigate online clinicals, lectures, and seminars proved to be difficult, but thanks to the support from my peers and instructors it was as smooth of a transition as I could have asked for. The pandemics effects were not only felt in relation to my education but in every single aspect of my life.
The most impact was felt in the care of my son, who at two was diagnosed with cancer. The last three years have included countless rounds of chemotherapy, inpatient stays, clinic visits and remaining as socially distanced as we could, in an attempt to prevent any infections. With a new virus spreading at an exponential rate, a wave of fear and panic spread through the pediatric oncology community as we as parents and caregivers struggled with making decisions to best protect our vulnerable children. Decisions that were already hard were increased ten-fold with the fear of the unknown looming over us. Feelings of isolation are nothing new; we have been social distancing for almost three years now. However, the impacts of the pandemic only increased those feelings as those who were our primary pillars of support were no longer able to provide assistance as the fear of infection heightened.
Over the last three years, I have witnessed communities rally together to not only lift up my family and support us during the hardest moments of our lives but countless other families as well. I have watched strangers perform random acts of kindness for others and have been the recipient of an incredible outpouring of local support. Despite the fear of the unknown around the pandemic, I saw, yet again, this sense of community. People volunteered to pick up groceries for their elderly neighbors to minimize their exposure to the virus. Others began sewing masks for local hospitals amidst PPE shortages to ensure that the men and women caring for us on the frontlines of this pandemic were protected. The pandemic, despite the challenges it brought to the community, also brought people together and strengthened relationships between members of the community.
Fast-forward five months to August when classes started back – we were finally able to get back into the hospitals for our clinical rotations. While excited to be able to get more hands-on experience, anxiety and fear of bringing the virus home to my immunocompromised child was always in the forefront of my mind. Despite my fears and anxiety, I knew that ultimately becoming a nurse would also include a risk of bringing something home to my family. I chose to look at the situation in a positive light; take it as a challenge to prove my ability to break the chain of infection and keep myself, my patients and my family safe. C.S. Lewis once said “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny” – my life, my situation, my challenges and struggles have provided me with opportunities of growth. My son’s diagnosis, despite its challenges, gave me the courage to pursue my dream to become a nurse. This pandemic has only helped to solidify that decision and push me to be more focused than ever in achieving my dream.
The year 2020 will forever be remembered for the global COVID-19 pandemic, but for me, this year and its challenges have made the victories I have witnessed and received far more meaningful and rewarding. I have learned how to overcome adversities and to push myself regardless of fear and uncertainties. The year 2020 has shown me that through perseverance and determination, you have the ability to grow and reach a new potential if you choose to see the positive side of a situation. The pandemic has presented numerous challenges this year, but despite those challenges I have seen so many individuals, families and communities rise to meet those challenges head-on. If anything, I think the pandemic and the challenges faced this year have served as a reminder that it is possible to remain positive, to see the light in any given situation, and to recognize the importance of supporting others in your community.
Comments
Post a Comment