This fall has been full of excitement and more and more new. This semester in particular, really started to feel like I was in nursing school. The courses were hard, and my time needed managing. In my Pathophysiology class, I learned the intricacies of more diseases than I ever knew existed. In my Health Assessment Lab, I was able to apply my knowledge in life-like situations. Whether taking a blood pressure on my classmates or a manakin, the practice excited me. I worked through these rigorous courses in order to begin my clinicals. This coming semester I will begin my first clinical, working in adult health. The communities I have formed at Boston College are all due to shared goals. I have fostered a great bond with my nursing community, as well as friends I have made along the way. This semester, I also became a wellness coach in BCs Center for Student Wellness, where I meet one on one with students to help improve their mental health and wellness. I love the environments my many communities bring. It has been amazing living in Chestnut Hill, right outside of Boston. I have enjoyed exploring Downtown Boston, where I go often on weekends with friends and on weekdays, while I babysit a little girl. Exploring a city known to be the best in healthcare has made me eager for my future. A trip to the city is a great way to stay busy, however, I love coming back to a beautiful college campus to live. My past semesters at BC have only strengthened my love for the school, the people, and most of all, my career path as a nurse. I feel extremely grateful for the newness and excitement that every day brings. I am so thankful for MVYouth's generosity and the inspiration they give me to give back to a community I care for.

I think that many can agree that the adjustment to college is far from easy. Growing up on a small island with a tight-knit community and shifting to college is difficult. This semester, what I found is that beyond its challenges, lives personal growth and so much excitement. Walking to class and not recognizing faces was new for me. Although I was now experiencing a whirlwind of new, I was able to find a sense of community that I was always so used to. My home within Boston College was found in the nursing program, a select group of around 100 students out of my 2,335-person class. I shared the majority of my classes with these people. We worked hard together, struggled together, and laughed together. I have fallen in love with the environment the programs brings, one that wants everyone to succeed towards a shared goal. My first semester has been filled to the max with new friends, exploring, football games, fun, and of course, memorizing every bone and muscle of the human body. While focusing on mostly rigorous, nursing-heavy classes (chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and labs), Boston College also requires every student to fulfill their liberal arts core curriculum. This allowed me to take classes outside of my normal comfort, like art history and theology, and expand my knowledge beyond the sciences. Being right outside of Boston has been a great experience. I’ve enjoyed having a sense of a campus in Newton while also being able to explore a city that, although so close to home, feels like a whole different world! Exploring a city known to be the best in healthcare has made me eager for my future. I feel extremely grateful for the newness that every day brings and for MVYouth giving me the opportunity to take it all in. Roll Eags!