Reflection
Reflection
As I begin my nursing education at Seneca College, I find myself reflecting on what brought me here—a journey that started in Bamenda, Cameroon, and continues to unfold in Canada. My name is Divine Awa, and I’m the youngest of nine children from a humble, hardworking family. Growing up in a small community in the North West Region, I saw healthcare as a lifeline, sparking my dream at age nine to become a medical doctor. That dream, rooted in admiration for those who cared for my community, has guided me to nursing—a path I see as both a calling and a bridge to my future of becoming a Medical Doctor. This reflection explores how my background, values, and experiences have shaped my entry into nursing, drawing on insights from my life and scholarly perspectives to understand this transition.
Coming from a family of nine, I was often seen as the “baby” who had it easy, but that wasn’t my reality. Being the youngest pushed me to work harder to stand out, fostering a belief in perseverance and faith that still drives me. In Cameroon, I began nursing studies, learning the basics of patient care in a resource-scarce setting. Those early lessons—checking vitals, comforting families—showed me the nursing’s power to connect with people. Moving to Canada over five years ago was daunting, yet it opened doors to pursue my passion at Seneca College. I chose nursing not just as a step toward medicine but because it embodies service, a value my God-fearing upbringing taught me. Nursing lets me help people now while building the skills—empathy, critical thinking, clinical knowledge—that a doctor needs.
This transition to nursing school has been both exciting and challenging, prompting me to think critically about what it means to be a nurse. A study by Smith et al. (2019) highlights how personal experiences shape nursing students’ motivations, noting that those with early exposure to healthcare often feel a deeper commitment to the field (Smith et al., 2019). This resonates with me—watching healthcare workers back home care for my neighbours wasn’t just inspiring; it showed me that nursing is about bringing hope, not just healing bodies. Starting at Seneca, I’ve realized nursing is broader than I first thought. It’s not only about tasks like giving medications but also about advocating for patients and understanding their stories, a lesson reinforced in my coursework on holistic care and patient-centred care.
Another challenge has been adapting to Canada’s healthcare system, which differs from what I knew in Cameroon. I assumed nursing would feel familiar, but the technology, teamwork and medical terms here have stretched my perspective. A peer-reviewed article by Jones and Brown (2021) discusses how international nursing students often navigate cultural and professional transitions, finding strength in their diverse backgrounds (Jones & Brown, 2021). This speaks to my experience—my Cameroonian roots give me a unique lens, like valuing community in care, which I’m blending with Seneca’s focus on evidence-based practice. For example, a recent class discussion on patient-centered care echoed my belief that every person deserves respect, whether they’re a neighbour back home or a patient in Toronto.
Looking back, my entry into nursing feels like a full-circle moment. The boy who dreamed of being a doctor at nine is now a student nurse, learning to listen, understand, assess, and care in ways that will serve me in the medical field. This reflection has shown me that nursing is more than a means to an end—it’s a privilege to impact lives while growing toward my goal. I’m excited to keep building this portfolio, adding skills and stories that reflect my journey from Bamenda to Seneca and, one day, into a doctor’s coat.
Welcome to my collection of artifacts! As a first-year nursing student at Seneca College, I’m excited to share tangible pieces that show my growth in nursing. Originally from Bamenda, Cameroon, where I began nursing studies, I’ve been in Canada for over five years, building on my passion for healthcare and my dream of becoming a medical doctor. These artifacts—from my past and present—reflect my commitment to nursing, my hard work, and my steps toward a future in medicine. Each one includes a brief note on why it matters to my journey.
Artifact 1: Nursing Notes from Cameroon
Description: A scanned page of handwritten nursing notes from my studies in Bamenda, Cameroon, detailing vital signs and patient observations from a community clinic visit.
Relevance: These notes mark the start of my healthcare journey. As a young student in Cameroon, I learned the basics of patient care in a resource-limited setting, sparking my passion for nursing as a way to serve others. They remind me of my roots and connect to my current studies at Seneca, where I’m refining those early skills. This artifact shows my determination—a value I carry from my family —to keep growing, no matter where I am. It’s also a foundation for my dream of becoming a doctor, as these skills are the groundwork for clinical practice.
Artifact 2: Stethoscope from My Mom
Description: A stethoscope gifted by my mother when I passed my entrance exam into nursing school in Bamenda, Cameroon. It’s a simple, black model, now displayed proudly in my study space.
Relevance: This stethoscope is more than a tool—it’s a symbol of my family’s support and my first step into nursing. When I passed that exam, my mom, knowing we had faced many challenges, celebrated my hard work with this gift. It marked the start of my healthcare journey, using it to listen to heartbeats in a community clinic. Today, at Seneca College, it reminds me of my roots and my determination to grow as a nurse on my path to becoming a medical doctor. This artifact connects to my value of faith, as it reflects my belief in perseverance through challenges, just as my mom believed in me.