Tecla Lin Award

I am the eldest of two children and the eldest of all my cousins from my mother’s side. As the eldest, I feel the responsibility of setting a high standard. Growing up Filipino, I knew that becoming a nurse was the only path for me. Despite my parents being teachers, they never spoke of other courses. Nursing was the only topic they discussed. My aunties, sister, and cousins all became nurses.

I vividly remember my parents’ hard work in taking me to clinical duties at 5 a.m. When I graduated, they accompanied me to take the Philippine Nursing Board Examinations, a two-day exam consisting of five major sections, each with 100 questions. After two months of waiting, my entire community gathered at my house to share the joyous news.

Overwhelmed with emotions, I broke down in tears and jumped with excitement. I vowed to become the best nurse anywhere I would be called upon. I remembered the hardships that led me to that momentous day and dedicated myself to ensuring that my parents, family, and community would be proud of me.

I underwent intensive training at one of the largest hospitals in my city and, two weeks before the training ended, I received an invitation to be hired. I recall the feeling of certainty that everything would go smoothly. Three departments wanted to hire me, but I chose the one that approached me first. They had personally wanted to train me and recognized my potential to become a Unit Coordinator.

Since then, I have received numerous Best Nurse awards month after month. While it wasn’t a significant achievement for me, it was a source of immense pride for my parents. They would visit my hospital just to take a picture of my name on the large board.

Up until my migration to Canada, my dream of becoming a nurse remained steadfast. I diligently researched, followed the pathway from being a healthcare assistant, and enrolled in a postgraduate nursing diploma program. However, the journey here wasn’t as smooth as in the Philippines. There were nights of intense frustration, and I had to dip into my savings for education. But now, I believe this is the culmination of my efforts. The light at the end of the tunnel is finally within reach. I am almost there, and I eagerly anticipate the day when I can proudly proclaim myself Kristine, BSN, PhRN, CRN. As I immerse myself in the GNIE program, I can’t help but wonder why I didn’t take this route from the outset. But I understand that there’s a timeline and reason for everything. I’ve been elected as a Class Representative of our cohort, and I feel optimistic about the future.