Did you know how to plan your life at 18?

Tina: Sharp mind. Capable hands. Big heart. Calibrated ears :-)

“What’s MY story? I’m too young to have a story,” she says. I know Tina. I’ve known her since she was a baby. I’m like an uncle to her.

It starts with…

When the field of study is not for you

After two years of biology, she jumped into nursing. Biology as a step to pre-med was not for her. She took the risk and changed, making all the difference. The routine of finishing morning classes and studying from 2 pm until 4 am was not her thing.

“One day after an exam, I started thinking, is it even worth it? I think 2 years later, the hype of becoming a doctor faded away.”

Her drive was, and still is, to help people. Being a physician was the obvious first choice. Reaching a doctor's degree would have taken too long. She did not like the environment of its blind, competitive side. She did not appreciate a spirit where you had to get the grades at any cost.

Her gutsy decision

Tina was talking at a zillion words per minute on a corner table at Starbucks after a very tiring day. She radiated energy, positivity, and hope. Her smile and caring aura would lift any person up. It can lift an elephant! More like a baby elephant. Love her focus. Love her drive.

So, she went into the library after an exam, sat on a couch, fired up her laptop, and started looking for jobs that help people. She read about a neonatal nursing program. “I read it again and was like this is what I want to do.” Five minutes later, she called and told her sister she was changing majors. And that was it. She contacted AUB and got her application started.

“I meant it, and I did it. I think it was an accumulation of things I hadn’t thought about before. I was constantly stressed.”

Being around doctors and in hospitals, she appreciated the much-needed value nurses provide. A nurse has constant contact with patients. Nurses stick around when other professionals rotate.

Resistance from the least expected people

Her grandma was against her decision. Nursing, for Teta, isn’t a profession. In her world, nursing did not need a university degree. It took some time to explain how advanced nursing is nowadays. Teta is now on board.

Steadfast and a rock-of-a-father supported despite the projected financial burden.

I believe her late mom is working her magic on everyone and everything to make it happen for her. Mom’s traces of energy, work ethic, giggles, loud laughs, and humility. All from the heavens, for Tina.

Her outlook on life is healthy. Two more years of studying is not the end of the world. The job market is not going anywhere, and she’ll eventually graduate. Too much pressure is put on her generation. Why should they finish college by the age of 21?

“How can they expect you to know what you want to do for the rest of your life at 18? I mean, you barely know yourself at 18.”

Courtesy AUB’s website

She’s not there yet but on a very happy journey. She loves it. Dorothy on the yellow brick road. She’s excited to learn and has never skipped a class.

Skills acquired on the way

The most important skill she learned so far is to listen and pay attention to others. She believes that nurses have to constantly listen to patients. Something critical may be revealed, and “it can just click, and pow; problem solved.”

Tina says that she’s an introvert. Nursing pushed her to make conversation and out of her comfort zone. It’s a challenge she took and enjoys.

“I think to be able to chat with someone who’s sick and at a low point in their life, lying in a hospital bed, and make their day a little better; I think it’s amazing. It’s great that you can do that with a simple conversation.

Some patients are in the hospital for a day. Some are in there for months. If they can’t feel comfortable, getting better becomes much more difficult.”

One day, a professor addressed their class: “You’re sitting with a patient, especially the older ones, and they’re telling their story starting in 1930. You have to sit and listen. They only want someone to talk to. Most often, you have several other patients to get to. Excuse yourself and tell them you’ll be back to get the full story. No matter what, you come back. I don’t care if the shift is over. I don’t care if you have to go home. If you told your patient you were coming back, you go back. You will sit, and you will listen to the entire story.”

I like that prof!

She feels that there’s so much she needs to deal with: Attending and preparing for classes, clinical simulations, and constant evaluations. She’s under pressure all week. She has to be on top of her game. Every single week.

Refueling Tina

Volunteering as a Cub Scout leader is very rewarding. She gets energized when she feels first-hand what it’s like to impact 8 to 12-year-old cub scouts. Change in them happens so quickly; it’s incredible. Every time she meets with them, she gets refueled. It gets her excited to graduate and start working with kids.

She goes to the gym for high-intensity interval training. She started it to get healthier, and now she’s hooked. Six times a week for 45 minutes. “It’s amazing!” she says.

For fun, she goes out with friends and family. That’s about all the time she has left. It’s going out, hanging out, spending time with people.

Sometimes, she crashes. The lazy Tina takes over one day a week. Binge Netflix, anyone?

Now what?

It’s strict, but she likes it. There’s no skipping class. They know every single one of them. No chewing gum. It’s not professional. No feet on a table. It’s not professional. Everything you do now is so significant for later. On the reward side, they’re currently picking out stuff for their hospital rotations.

“You get to pick your stethoscope, navy blue scrubs, white shoes, and penlight. It’s so exciting! We’re even thrilled about buying medical scissors, which is ridiculous! It’s like a child on Christmas getting a load of gifts in one shot!”

Tina’s excitement stems from getting to the hospital, meeting with patients, and being able to put what she’s learned into practice.

“It is a rigorous system. It isn’t easy. People don’t realize that. I feel nothing can hold me back. I love it so much. I enjoy it, and I’m so excited to start working.”

The same way she walked in to talk with me, she dashed out to do something else. All in 30 mins. If a nurse is necessary, wouldn’t you want one like her?

Starbucks drink: Grande Almond Latté. Spinach Fetta Pretzel. Heated for 30 secs.