My name is Divine Awa, and I am a year one nursing student at Seneca College. I am driven by a deep passion for healthcare that began in my hometown of Bamenda, in the North West Region of Cameroon. I come from a family of nine, raised in a small, close-knit community where I witnessed the profound impact of limited healthcare access. This has shaped my desire to make a difference, a calling that has guided me across continents. Before arriving in Canada, I was a year two nursing student back home, where I had the privilege of working (Clinical placement) at the Regional Hospital of Bamenda. There, I interacted with patients, their families, and friends, gaining early insights into the power of compassionate care.

A defining moment came in 2008 when my elder sister faced surgery for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). My family was skeptical of medical procedures, resisted until a nurse stepped in to provide some clarity and doubts to my Mum and siblings. She comforted my sister who was to undergo the procedure and through a night of pain, she explained the surgery to my mother and sister with such clarity and empathy that made my sister agreed to proceed. The surgery succeeded, and my entire family was happy and today my sister is a mother of two boys, and expecting a third. All thanks to that nurse’s intervention and her compassionate care. Her voice still resonates with me, how she explained the entire procedure to my family and that inspired my journey into nursing.

Back in Cameroon, nursing focuses heavily on technical skills like administering medications and injections. Here in Canada, I’ve discovered a broader scope—nurses advocate for equality, empower patients, and blend science with heart. This shift aligns with my evolving philosophy: nursing is a calling to care for others with compassion and skill, honoring their dignity and unique needs. My values: Determination, Empathy, Respect, and Integrity—guide me like a compass. Determination fuels my commitment to lifelong learning, honed by my prior studies and hospital experience. Empathy reflects the connection I felt with patients and families in Bamenda. Respect drives my belief in autonomy, shaped by my sister’s story, and Integrity ensures I uphold ethical care, a lesson from both worlds.

At Seneca, I’m building on my foundation, linking theory, clinical practice, and personal reflection. Nursing here challenges me to grow beyond what I knew, advocating for patients in ways I hadn’t imagined. My past as a nursing student in Cameroon, combined with my present at Seneca, fuels my future vision: to be a nurse who bridges gaps, just as that nurse did for my family. This portfolio is the start of that journey—a collection of my growth, values, and purpose as I step into this incredible profession.

Professional Summary