I am a grade twelve student who has been accepted into the psychiatric nursing program at MacEwan University. My future plan is to get my degree as an RPN and then travel down to a third world country and serve as a missionary. My heart is for serving and throughout my long years in junior high and high school, I have felt that I am needed in places around the world where at-risk children and youth are not acknowledged. An education in Psychiatric nursing will help me do just that. Since I was little, mental health has been a strong interest of mine. My dad being a mental health nurse triggered my interest in at-risk youth--to assist them in staying away from getting into trouble or being arrested... why not right?
There are numerous aspects of my life that have impacted my life and shaped who I am today. 1st, my family. I grew up my mother and father and three other siblings: 2 old (brother and sister) and 1 younger. My family has been supportive through all of my years and because of them, I have had the much-needed encouragement, support, and love that a youth needs throughout maturing.
About a year ago, my families mental health took a complete turn, where I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. The family dynamic that our relationship relied on became bumpy and the stress levels and outbursts that occurred increased. Stress upon stress. School became my second priority, my grades began to drop, I stopped showing up as I was 'too tired,' and my attitude completely changed--I was no longer a smiley and stubborn red head.
Thanks to the fantastic and selfless help of counselors, teachers, principals, friends, and family members, my life began to turn around. I began to wake up and actually get out of my bed. I actually went to school. I actually began to love myself for who I actually was. My psychiatrist gave me medications that helped to keep me calm. I no longer had panic attacks that felt like they lasted a lifetime. School was still a priority, but I made time in my schedule for social activities. I became me again.
After I became 'myself' again, I started to find a reason as to why I was here on this earth. I got involved in the community and fell in love with those who lived on the streets and mostly at risk youth. I love hearing the stories of their lives and hearing their advice as to how to not end up on the streets. I love seeing the joy in their eyes as I walk up to them delivering only a simple "hello." I love feeling their hands as their sweating nervous skin becomes comfortable as they realize that I am not dangerous. I love praying with these people--maybe giving them a glimpse of hope. The selfless character that many of the people that I have connected with on the streets is overwhelming--something I strive to have.
I got involved in my high school which offers three different mission trip classes: grade 10 (Los Angeles), grade 11 (Jamaica), grade 12 (Belize). Grade 10 was unique in the fact that our missions team spent eleven days on the streets of Skid Row, Los Angeles. Our team was able to grow in boldness and character by connecting with one of the most concentrated homeless communities in North America. Organizing lunches, door to door outreaches, kids ministry, food bank distributions, and at risk men who have been arrested for numerous accounts of drugs, alcohol, violence, etc changed my perspective on life. Grade 11 was one of my favorite as our team connected with a church in Jamaica where we did mainly kids and youth ministry. We connected with many of the locals, feed thousands of low income families, started a thrift store, and repaired a house for a man who was unemployed because of his deafness. Grade 12 was incredible as I feel I grew drastically in character. Our main ministry was school assemblies. We did eighteen different schools around Belize and built a large greenhouse to assist the church whose greenhouse and main source of income had been hit by Hurricane earl. All of these trips with my school showed me that my future in missions is not over. I fell in love with the people and the volunteer work!
Along with my mental health, I was also diagnosed with arthritis in both the left and right ears. I am a hard of hearing high school student which has drastically impact ed that way I learn, the way I talk, and how outspoken I am. For many of my years in school I have been pushed by my parents to advocate for myself: ask questions, push for more modern technology, and ask for advanced notes. My life as a hard of hearing student has not always been easy, but I have been able to become a girl who isn't afraid to ask questions, ask for repetition, and speak up--which is the most important aspect of who I am.
So, thesept are some brief points of who I am. I have definitely struggled and continue to struggle, but all in all, I have learnt an abundance of important things and will continue to learn so much more as I get more involved in the community volunteerism.