Gene Denton Essay 16

When I think of my community, I think of the black community in Wyandotte County, Kansas. There are many things needed to uplift this community. However, some things I’d like to accomplish would be: Creating a sense of representation within the healthcare field and offering support to people facing challenges with their health, primarily children. After graduating high school i plan to study nursing, to receive my bachelor’s degree and become a Registered Pediatric Nurse. As this career is my passion, I will be sure to make use of my degree in multiple ways to positively impact others. I plan to use my education to become a safe space for children. I plan to become the nurse whom children can feel comfortable coming to when discussing issues regarding their health. I’ve observed many different instances within children in my community who ignore issues that they’re facing regarding their health. They dismiss how they feel due to fear, and their lack of importance towards their health.

That feeling of fear that they experience can stem from many things. It could be the negative experiences that they have had before with other nurses or doctors or the adults around them, degrading the way that they feel. When the people you are supposed to go to make your health seem as if it is not a heavy impact on your life, as a child, that is what your mind is led to believe. Another thing that creates fear in a child’s mind could be the lack of representation they have in their community. Growing up in Wyandotte county racial minorities have a large part of influence on the younger generation. With our community having a large amount of black and brown people, that is who our little black and brown children want to also see as their influence for careers. When the news just shows the people of that community being hurt by others who don’t look like them can just create a sense of fear within the younger generation.

My nursing education will teach me proper pediatric communication, a better understanding of child development, complete ways to build trust within underserved communities, and make me an advocate for equitable care. These things will lead to them understanding the importance of concerns with their health, no matter how minor it may feel. It will also allow me to educate children and their parents on the health concerns they may have. Being well educated myself, I can use my degree to go back and visit local schools and communicate to them regarding the importance of them talking to their health care providers. Lastly, being a black woman who is educated and thriving in health care will not only benefit me, but also the younger generation of children finding their way with careers. This degree will allow me to inspire children, especially the ones who don’t see many people in the healthcare field who look like them. This helps me let them know that their dreams are achievable, no matter how they grew up or what anyone has said to negatively impact their dreams. Sharing my experiences, answering questions, and mentoring students in the future would help people in my community see that you don’t need to fit a certain image or expectation to earn your degree. If I could have the opportunity to inspire one student to value their health and convince others to do so also, whether it’s major or minor, I’ll know I will be just beginning to pay my efforts forward. My degree won’t only be a display of my passion, but also a sure certification to properly help the people in my community.