CeraVe Skincare Scholarships for Diversity and Equity

My name is Jada Theodore, and I am a fourth-year nursing student at McMaster University. My choice to pursue nursing comes from various personal experiences and passions. Growing up in a low-income, single-mother immigrant household, I witnessed my mother’s struggles and wanted a stable career where I could make a direct impact on people’s lives. From a young age, advocacy has been important to me. My older sister, an activist, often took me to peaceful protests and rallies, instilling in me a passion for social justice. 

In high school, I watched a video by Kimberlé Crenshaw about intersectionality, which explains how overlapping systems of oppression, like racism and sexism, create unique challenges. This concept resonated deeply with me and made me aware of how social factors can lead to health inequities, fueling my desire to improve our healthcare system. Through my nursing program, I have learned that advocacy is a crucial aspect of nursing. Combining my passion for advocacy with my role as a nurse allows me to support patients personally and address broader systemic issues. Nurses spend the most time with patients, providing essential care and emotional support, which helps us identify and address flaws in the healthcare system. Nursing appeals to me because it balances science and art. I have always been interested in science, but I also wanted a career where I could provide direct patient care and build meaningful relationships. The artistic side of nursing involves effective communication, empathy, creativity, and altruism, ensuring the well-being of both patients and nurses. 

My goal is to work in public health, particularly in areas with limited healthcare access, such as Indigenous communities. I want to become a public health nurse because of its unique role in promoting patient-centered care, inclusivity, and a commitment to diversity and anti-racism, ensuring equitable healthcare for all.