Chapter 6
"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts
of today."
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
Career
Forming
I
was five years old when I decided in my young mind that I would become a
physician. After finishing high school in 1999, I began studying biology in
college at "La Universidad de Sucre" for one semester in 2000. but I
had to move to Barranquilla, a coastal city in the north of Colombia, about
four hours from my hometown. I went to live with my grandma and fought for a
spot in the school of medicine. However, it was a private institution, and I
didn't have the money to pay for it. With no family members to cosign a student
loan, I was stuck. The only public university in the area did not offer
medicine, so I patiently waited until January 2001 to start my first year of
med school. I had everything but the money for tuition and family support. It
was a tough time in my life when I had to withdraw from school, not from lack
of desire or motivation but because of other issues going on at the time. My
grandmother continuously blamed me for my mother's death; it was excruciating.
One
day, in class and with tears in my eyes, I resolved to leave. Somehow, I
learned about a nearby martial arts school. I went there, spoke with the school
manager, and told him my story. He said, "I have a small room here where
you can stay. All I ask is that you pay your tuition and become a black belt
one day," which I did. I asked him how long it would take to become a
black belt. He said, "If you practice every day, you could easily do it in
one year." Little did he know, I immediately set that goal in my mind. So,
I began to work towards it. I moved to the martial arts school and practiced
daily, including Sundays.
Towards
the end of the year, I registered for the conference to become a black belt in
a different city in the Middle East part of Colombia. Despite my readiness, the
instructor denied me the chance to obtain the black belt. He tried to persuade
me to instead pay the exam fees for another female student who, according to
him, was much more ready than I was but didn't have the resources. I think that
was the first time I felt socialism was very much alive. In other words, I
would pay for someone else's opportunity to advance because, according to
someone, I didn't deserve it.
I
knew how hard I had worked. I also realized that the instructor needed more
time to prepare me to advance at such a fast pace. Well, he did not know me.
The good news was that I obtained permission from the primary master, so I
went. My instructor, who was of a much lower rank than the master, had a big
problem with me not following his order to not go for the big exam and gave me
an ultimatum: "If you go, you must move out of the school. Once you are
back, you will no longer come here." I accepted the challenge. Before
that, I met Ana Lucia, another fellow student who knew my struggles. She would
prepare a fruit juice packed with protein every morning and bring it to me,
knowing that I had limited resources for food, especially towards the end of
the year, as my instructor wasn't making life any easier for me. As we used to
call her, Ana Lu spoke with her parents, and they asked me to move in with them.
I went to the big conference and achieved my goal: I became a black belt in Shaolin Fa-Men-Chuan (Kung-Fu) in December morning of the year 2001. After that, I continued to assist in my
practices, but later, my goals for my college education took place.
The
opportunity to come to the U.S. presented itself, and while I'll save the
details of my immigration story for another time, I can assure you it was
entirely legal. I arrived in the U.S. on April 4, 2004—a day I consider my day
of freedom! Did I feel like kissing the ground when I arrived? You bet I did!
I
went from waiting to get my residency and work permit to driving a car by just
getting in and doing it—because how difficult could it be, right? Once I
secured my work permit and residency, I could finally return to Colombia
in 2007. During that trip, I worked on getting my high school diploma
translated and accepted by the U.S. education system.
When I returned in the fall of 2007, I enrolled in my first college classes.
While I waited to see if any of my college education from Colombia could be
accepted in the U.S., I was content with just my high school diploma being accepted at the community college. I wanted
to start from scratch, which I did—beginning with English 000, Math 000, and so
on. I was determined to build my knowledge and skills from the ground up,
showing my commitment to my goals and resilience in facing challenges.
I
heard great things about the military, so around February 2009, I decided to
join the Air Force. I started by taking the ASVAB, though I wasn't a U.S.
citizen then. I thought joining the military, specifically the Air Force, would
be patriotic. I hoped to become a medic, gain citizenship, serve the country,
and receive money for school in return. I sought stability and a job.
I tried my best, but not being a citizen limited my opportunities in the medical field and military service. I repeatedly turned down other roles and frequently visited Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery for the MEPS. I joined the delayed entry program, but it didn't work out. By May, I decided to move on and applied for the FAFSA. While waiting to be officially discharged, I pursued EMT classes at the community college for the fall of 2009.
After
finishing the EMT course at the end of 2009, I worked on core pre-nursing
sciences and obtained an associate degree in science by the end of 2010. I
completed my associate degree at a community college in Enterprise, Alabama,
which included pre-nursing courses like microbiology, biostatistics, anatomy,
chemistry, and algebra. 2011, I was accepted into Troy University's Alabama
nursing school. I started the nursing program at Troy University in the spring
of 2011.
Getting into and through nursing school was an arduous journey that required academic dedication, resourcefulness, and perseverance. I needed to be more than a good student; I had to devise strategies to sustain myself financially, especially in the latter semesters, when the demands of school, clinical work, and work became increasingly challenging.
In the beginning, balancing a few jobs with my studies was manageable. I was fortunate to have a supportive friend, Mrs. Edilma, who helped me secure a job at a high school cafeteria. I made sandwiches and cooked for the children there, which provided a stable income during those early days. To supplement my earnings, I also took on a role as a substitute teacher within the Enterprise ISD, which added some financial security.
But
as the demands of nursing school intensified, I knew I needed to get creative.
I began offering private Spanish lessons to children, which provided extra income and allowed me to use my skills meaningfully. Additionally, I
took on roles as a babysitter, house sitter, and even pet sitter, making the
most of every opportunity that came my way.
During
this time, I encountered a wonderful family from Puerto Rico who opened their
home to me, allowing me to stay with them for about four to six months. Their
generosity was a lifeline, offering me stability when needed. In another
remarkable instance, I was approached by an Army officer neighbor who was about
to be deployed to Afghanistan. He had heard my story and, perhaps sensing my
need for a stable place to live, offered me the opportunity to stay in his home
rent-free. He also entrusted me with managing his properties, collecting rent,
and promptly paying all bills. This level of trust and responsibility was an
honor and a tremendous help in my journey. We remain friends to this day.
Reflecting
on these experiences, I can see the profound impact of faith and the kindness
of others in my life. Before meeting this neighbor, I had prayed for guidance
and support, and it felt like an angel had been sent my way. The generosity of
these families and individuals was instrumental in helping me overcome the many
challenges I faced.
During
this time, I made the difficult decision to accept student loans, understanding
that this would allow me to save the money I had been using for rent. I knew my
soldier friend would eventually return, and I needed to be prepared to find my
place. After living in his home for about two years and three months, I moved
into an apartment, where I stayed for about six months until a financial
setback forced me to reconsider my living situation. With the help of friends,
I put my belongings in storage and rotated my stay between two houses while I
worked to get my finances back on track.
Ultimately,
I secured an apartment where I lived until I graduated from nursing school and
eventually moved to Texas. Looking back, the journey was anything but
straightforward, filled with moments of grace, resilience, and the unwavering
support of those who believed in me.
I
started my nursing career in the hospital's emergency room in Alabama. At
that time, the hospital served a town of roughly 29,000 people, with no other
hospital within a 20-mile radius, so we were swamped. Nine beds in the ED and
two additional trauma rooms totaling 12. The waiting time was approximately
4-5 hours, and we served a population of 100-120 patients daily. The staff
mainly comprised four nurses and 3-4 providers. For some reason, there were not
enough chairs to sit on, so I spent most of my 12-hour shifts on my feet.
That's when I learned what plantar fasciitis felt like.
Things were easy. Adapting to the new culture, language, and understanding
was difficult. But over time, things have become much more accessible. One of
my guiding principles was not dwelling on my skin color, background, or accent;
I focused on being myself. I have always looked at people for who they are,
regardless of their background, skin color, creed, or religion. This approach
has guided my practice as a nurse and now as a provider, ensuring equal
treatment for everyone. I treat everyone with respect, regardless of their
socioeconomic status or whether they have insurance. I choose to see the best
in each person.
Throughout
my nursing career, I have cared for people from all backgrounds, including various nationalities and creeds. I always
provide care with the utmost respect because I see the creator behind them, and
that belief guides me.
