my major | advice | university life | who I am | my spiritual story
How I chose Nursing:
>At first I wanted to be a doctor, and so I started out in the "Life Sciences" (pre-med) program. When that didn't work out academically, I switched to Biology. Things improved in my second year in Biology, but I didn't know where that was going to take me.
>I really wanted to work with people rather than plants or animals, so I did a personality test to see where I'd be best suited. My personality came out in the category that a lot of nurses are in.
So I decided to switch programs, and prayed that if I was to get into the nursing program that God would get me in. I didn't have the grades, so it was divine intervention for sure that got me into the program.
>It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I really enjoyed my university academics a lot more after switching to nursing.
>Best thing about being a nursing student means getting to practically applying what I was learning. But it was really hard not getting the clinical placement I wanted.
>To be a successful nursing student, discipline and good interpersonal skills are helpful.
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Cindy's advice for students:
>Take a speed reading and/or an effective reading course. It'll help you wade through the tough materials.
>You don't need to keep all your textbooks. Nursing foundations and some of the medical sciences may be important to keep for your program, but you don't need every last one of them.
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My Life in university:
>I had a hard time adjusting to the pace of academics in university... I ended up getting poor grades because of it. That was the hardest part, but then the best part was all the friendships I developed from being involved in campus life.
>In university, I changed a lot in terms of where I was going in my life. As I went on in university, I discovered how important it really is to be involved in making an impact that will last far beyond the four or so years you spend at university.
More important, I learned that how well you perform is really not as important as knowing who you are (or discovering who you could be) in Christ.
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The kind of person that I am:
>Who am I when nobody's watching? I hope that I'm the same as when people are watching.To just be myself means being able to be crazy and fun-loving.
>I feel like my life is similar to the Canadian heroine Anne of Green Gables because out of all my friends that I grew up with, I was the one who went away from home to pursue my education. I found out that as fun as being adventurous was, I really wanted to be with my "Gilbert" living our dreams together.
>Probably the most difficult thing I've ever done is confronting a friend about some things that we didn't agree on. The second most difficult thing would be travelling to and staying in Chang Mai, a city in Thailand by myself.
>If I could, I would love to just sit and chat with my grandmother who passed away 10 years ago, just to gain some wisdom and insight from her. She was such a godly wise woman, who knew how to make a house a home.
>My room has green hues with a personalized quilt that is very "me"
>I'd hate to be without milk! And I really enjoy Thai cuisine, especially sum tam.
>In a spare moment, you might catch me with scrapbooking or watching Survivor with friends. I enjoy swimming and aerobics too.
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My spiritual journey:
>During the end of high school and the beginning of university, I relied on my academic performance for my sense of self-worth. When that crashed around me with the difficult adjustment to university, the only thing that I could fall back on that gave me hope to keep going was my personal relationship with God.
Spirituality in student life is very important. It is what anchors you, what helps you persevere.
I don't rely on my performance anymore for my self-worth... relying on God is so much more stable than relying on myself!
>I've always thought God was good and that He cared for me. My parents taught me about God and the importance of having a personal relationship with God.
I had a realization and made a decision at an early age that I needed Jesus in my life to go to heaven to be with Him forever.
>My first big answer to prayer was as a child when my mom was pregnant with my sister. I prayed that she would be a girl, and God answered that prayer. That increased my faith and helped me to trust God with more things. I've seen God answer small and big things since then.
>Having a personal relationship with God makes all the difference in the world. It's awesome to have someone to celebrate the good times with, and help enhance them.
It's also amazing to know that someone is there for you when things fall apart. It's the best decision I've ever made... If you think life's great now, you haven't seen nothin' yet!
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