Keyword Definition:
Resilience
I wasn’t introduced to this word until I wrote a research paper on Puerto Rico's aftermath of Hurricane Maria for an environmental class. The articles I read described the citizens of Puerto Rico as resilient. After finishing my research project, I can confidently say that resilience is a word I would use to describe my journey as a first-generation student. I define resilience as gaining knowledge and life experiences while overcoming hardships. I would use this word to describe the ladder I had to climb to reach where I am today. There were times when I thought I wouldn’t be able to adapt, but by building my courage, I was able to push through. Leaving my country, culture, and family at a young age and arriving in a new country, where I had to learn a new language and make it feel familiar, was a significant challenge for an eight-year-old. However, I recognized the opportunity I was given and demonstrated resilience by finding methods where I could read, write, and speak English faster. This wasn’t as easy because I was scared to forget my roots and language. By maintaining a positive attitude toward school and my new surroundings, I set a goal to work diligently in my studies to help communities and individuals who have experienced a life change similar to mine. This was when I started college and was introduced to the Global and Community Health major. This major allowed me to research and learn about communities that exhibited resilience as they faced social, political, and economic challenges.
As I started my undergrad, one of my biggest challenges was imposter syndrome and adjusting to a new environment. To be able to get through these two challenges, I kept reminding myself that this is what I have been working hard on and the goal that I have set for myself. As I continued my studies, I came to experience my first class that I failed. This shook me since it would be the first time I failed a class. I realized that not passing this class would push me back in my academic career, but before going into an anxiety attack, I looked at my options. I decided to retake the class, try to find studying methods that best helped me, and go back on topics that I knew I had the hardest time with. This hard work helped me to pass the class, and I can say that this time around, it felt more rewarding. It was a hard moment for me, but I needed it to be able to analyze what studying methods were working for me and do a self-evaluation.
I am thankful for these experiences because they showed me what the word "resilience" means. These challenges provided me with how to overcome them and prepare for my future career. Being resilient has taught me problem-solving, commitment, and adjusting to new situations. These are important for my future nursing career because I will need them for my daily routine.