Why You Should Never Give Up On Your Purpose

One of the proudest accomplishments of my life was earning my college degree, despite the fact that my early adulthood pointed in the opposite direction, beginning with the birth of my son at the age of 20. In early motherhood I lived a life of hustling from job to another, being a full-time student and a full-time mother the way of the 'working poor,' someone who was desperately trying to make ends meet and be the shining star I was meant to be.

By the age of 25, I was a young single mother struggling to finish up an associate's degree and frustrated with menial, low-paying positions: clerk, receptionist, and barista. There is nothing like making someone else's double latte with a shot of soy, no foam latte every single day to inspire one with determination toward achieving an education. Unfortunately, children and work took priority ending my school career at the time.

I was introduced to the field of community-based care in 2010, volunteering in Cobble Hill Nursing Home and I worked at a local home agency as an intake coordinator. I learned about the ins and out of getting approvals, denials, billing, and the realization that nursing was a holistic compassionate approach to human wellness, they were the voice and confidant of the patient. At that time, I was pursuing a career in business administration with a focus on the healthcare industry because I wanted to be able to use my knowledge of community care while at the same time work with people.

However, once I completed my degree in healthcare administration, I realized that a career in nursing administration would not only incorporate all of my skills but would give me more breadth in my career as a healthcare administrator. Whereas in my current position I feel limited, nursing would expose me to a variety of settings, expand my clinical knowledge, and improve my leadership. I would not confine myself to administration only dealing with problems but force myself to develop different strategies based on current policies and pursue change through advocacy.

Nursing became a very attractive career, especially because it would allow me to incorporate my experience, education, and strong advocacy background. Volunteering in the NYS long-term care ombudsman program and my current position as a home care administrator has allowed me to work with family councils, administration, staff, and residents to develop better programs and improve the overall quality of life in and around my community.

Unlike the typical student, I have managed not only to be a single parent but to take advantage of nonacademic opportunities in order to better balance my life. My experience has given me tools that are necessary to a nurse such as time management, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills, as well as the ability to effectively deal with crisis situations.

Having to juggle my responsibilities as a single parent, a student, and an administrator has increased my organizational skills by orders of magnitude. I learned how to be more assertive and gained valuable leadership skills in the process. I am also excited about exploring areas that I did not or could not do in my current position. I do not want my experience at Columbia University to be a unique stint in my development. I want to continue changing, refining, and influencing the ways in which I approach patient care. This continuous learning, ever-changing, approach will help me to be a better and more effective leader.