Nightingale Award
Growing up as a gay, Chinese youth in Canada, I have witnessed first-hand the mental health challenges experienced by other Asian youths who struggle with their identity. I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, but I was unsure of the profession that I wanted to work in. I completed my first undergraduate degree at McGill University in psychology as my earlier aspiration was to become a psychologist. What changed my career vision? It was during my last year at McGill where I met a truly inspirational mental health nurse presenting as a special lecturer in one of my classes. Her personal stories of compassionate care and advocacy work resonated strongly with me. Fast forward to today, where I am entering my fourth year of nursing at Ryerson University.
My vision as a future public policy/community health nurse is to make a positive impact in the Canadian healthcare system by advocating and advancing the recognition of mental health, LGBTQ+ health, and people living HIV/AIDS in our society. Receiving this award from CNF will allow me to allocate more time to focus on spearheading mental health initiatives and working with various vulnerable populations within my community. Thank you to all the people that made this scholarship possible!