Don’t Forget to Breathe: Lessons from a First Year Student

Paper by Daniel Peraza Garzon

As I began letting people know I had been accepted into nursing school, I would typically get a similar response from everyone. It would begin with a congratulations, followed by "you're going to have no free time." That response mostly came from people who had heard stories about nursing school but had not personally experienced it. In those situations, I would convince myself they had no way of knowing. That became more difficult to do as friends who were already nurses delivered the same response. In all honesty, my mind was filled with more dread than excitement in the weeks leading up to the first day. I would love to say that the dread quickly diminished when school began, but it only increased.

Prior to starting nursing school, I had the idea that most of our academic learning would involve case studies, simulations, and hands-on experience. I knew certain subjects, such as pharmacology and pathology, would require a more traditional learning approach, but I felt that my prerequisites had prepared me for that. It came as a massive surprise to me how little of those hands-on experiences and simulations were present in the first term — research and writing took over instead. This was a big blow to my confidence, since writing is something I will be the first to admit I have always struggled with. I went from writing, at most, two papers a term to having around six in the first term alone. With multiple papers having overlapping due dates, time management became a key factor in succeeding throughout the rest of the year.

So, how did I manage school, work, and personal life? At moments — specifically at the start — I would say not well. In the beginning, I felt that I neglected my personal life because school and work took so much time. Guilt began to take over my thoughts as I was not spending enough quality time with my girlfriend, just existing in the same space. My daily routine involved school, then work, followed by assignments, and lastly attempting to sleep. As the academic year progressed, I began to manage my time more efficiently and learned how to prioritize assignments and make time for my personal life. The more I managed to create time for the things I enjoy, the better I did academically. I accomplished this by getting ahead on assignments when possible and spending a few more hours on them during the week. That way, if a dinner with friends or a date came up, I was able to take a few hours off and enjoy the moment without feeling like I was neglecting school.

I can confidently say that without the support of my family, and most importantly my girlfriend, I would not have succeeded during my first year of nursing school. Accepting their support was not an easy thing for me, as I am often the one providing support. I had to learn how to let the people around me help, and remind myself that in nursing you will often have to rely on those around you. The importance of a medical team became apparent quickly during my clinical hours, and it is something I will continue to keep in mind not just for next year, but for the rest of my nursing career. I am one hundred percent certain that my newly developed ability to triage assignments and manage my time will play a key role in my success as a trauma nurse in the future.

As the start date for my second year of nursing school approaches, it would be great to say that the feeling of dread is gone — but that would be a lie. The difference this time, though, is that I have the resources and skills needed to adapt and succeed. Most importantly, with the continuing support of the Billi Odegaard Scholarship Fund, I have the financial stability to help ensure my success. Nursing school has become my priority, but the world around me does not stop. Unexpected things happen — from a broken laptop to an unexpected death in my family. The scholarship has lessened the burden of those moments so that I can continue to focus on succeeding. I am thankful not just for the financial support, but for the guidance and opportunities the fund continues to provide. With the skills I have learned and the continuing support of the Billi Odegaard Scholarship Fund, I know I have what it takes to succeed in my nursing school journey.

P.S. Don't forget to breathe.