TD Aboriginal Nursing Fund Award – Baccalaureate

As a young girl I often made my parents “play nurse”, which was an event where I would apply an unnecessary amount of Band-Aids to their “wounds”—from day one, I wanted to be a nurse. I have been fortunate to have influential role models in the health care profession whom I have been able to watch and learn from, which is where I acquired my passion for helping others. Being a force in the betterment of someone’s life has become an integral part of who I am. I am a strong advocate for the less fortunate in my community, am an active volunteer in the Mental Health sector where I live, and am a Crisis Intervener at Gignoo Transition House in Fredericton, N.B.

Growing up as an Aboriginal woman, I’ve seen addiction, mental health issues, abuse and poverty—these things have taught me humility, empathy and compassion. My experience has helped me to open my eyes to the diverse health care needs of individuals. My goal is to work in Forensic Psychiatry with young Aboriginal offenders. I have geared much of my education to criminal studies and mental health in order to prepare myself for my future career. I am confident in my ability to integrate my knowledge and skills with my personal experience in order to be a successful Registered Nurse.