What makes you unique?
My Japanese-Indonesian cultural background; patient experience working with EMS; my love for movement and the outdoors; becoming certified as a nurse aide; my passion for taking care of others; my faith.
What's your favorite thing about Columbia?
The sheer variety of things you can do—from going on a walk around the Historic Horseshoe to biking to the West Columbia Riverwalk—you really can take charge of your experience. There are a lot of great ways to volunteer, too: Service Saturdays through USC, the Department of Juvenile Justice, Final Victory Animal Rescue, and the W. Gordon Belser Arboretum, to name a few.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do?
I enjoy being outside (running and biking) and exploring the Columbia/Lexington area.
What has surprised you the most about Nursing school?
I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and supportive the faculty and staff at the College of Nursing and the larger university were. Coming in, I had the image of a hypercompetitive academic setting, but I was relieved to find that wasn’t the case. Professors and instructors want you to succeed, and they and the college provide ample opportunities to do so through resources such as office hours, study skills and time management workshops, one-on-one tutoring, and supplemental instruction sessions.
What is an accomplishment in college that you are very proud of?
I am proud of presenting two projects at Discover USC—an annual university research showcase—one for a project I did in my research methods course with Dr. Abshire and another for a scholarly project that I worked on as part of the ACORN SEEDS research group.
Why did you choose USC?
I chose USC because of its demonstrated excellence in preparing future nurses. I knew that coming here, I would have the opportunity to have an excellent education and have meaningful opportunities for growth.
What advice would you give incoming students?
Focus on doing what you can, doing it well, and refining a “why”—reflect on why you want to become a nurse and imagine what sort of nurse you want to be. How do your actions right now as a student shape that future? If you’re not sure, keep your eyes open! If nursing is what you can see yourself loving and doing in the future, you can then focus on what you need to do to get there, even if it takes perseverance.
Don’t be afraid to lean on others! Nursing is a journey with others walking alongside you, and I encourage you to ask for counsel from those you trust and those who are further ahead of you (e.g., professors, parents, older students).
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