CNSA Environmental Award

I am Farah Elgaweesh, and I am going into my third year of the Bachelor of Nursing Honours
program at the University of Alberta this year. Within the faculty, I am also a tutor and a research assistant. Outside of school, I enjoy landscape and street photography and creating chalk art on sidewalks.

I pursued nursing for various reasons. Since a young age, I found joy and fulfillment in caring for others, for my elderly grandparents, for my younger siblings, and my sick neighbours. And I understood the importance of care – in the quiet strength of my mother and in my compassionate community during struggles. I witnessed how illness and hardship impacted the people I loved, how vulnerable humans are, and how healing is not just about medicine – it is more about compassionate presence during times of vulnerability. It was a humbling realization that made me realize I wanted to be part of the system that helped people with empathy and justice. I was quick to realize how working in healthcare is right for me when I started my clinicals, witnessing the resilience of other nurses who internalized values I deeply believed in – dignity, support, and empathy. In the future, I hope to work in the field of women’s health or in labour and delivery.