Tylenol Bacc Award

Amongst the clamour and chaos, when the world suffered during the peak of COVID-19, the idea of applying to nursing quietly crept into my life while working alongside one of the best nurses I know to date during our time together as COVID-19 Screeners in 2020. Weeks later, after being inspired by this nurse’s highly competent and empathetic interpersonal skills, I reached an epiphany and found myself applying for the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program to pursue a promising career in healthcare.

For as long as I can remember, I have always retained a high curiosity for the medical sciences with a love of working with people that highlighted my strengths in the humanities. As a young woman adopted from China as an infant and left on the surgical floor by my birth parents of a university hospital, I believe that my life’s journey has led me through several avenues towards this point with hard work and amazing support from loved ones. Having completed my first year of nursing in 2022, various opportunities to expand on these passions include personally rewarding experiences with my academic and city communities such as becoming a research assistant for the Hearts & Minds Project, an endeavour focusing on building tiny homes for the homeless residents of Kamloops, B.C., while maintaining the dignity and honour of acknowledging the Secwépemc land and culture. My primary role is to collaborate with our team members and collaborative partners to optimize a sustainable approach to health and healing for future residents through a holistic lens in the community’s overall well-being.

I am immensely honoured and grateful to be a CNF scholar and would like to thank the Tylenol® Fund for this incredible award. Moving forward with the inspiration to strive for change, I am impassioned to continue my journey in nursing with the privilege of advocating for diversity and equity in healthcare through my research and entire nursing career.

“The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world”

–Dr. Paul Farmer