What drew you to nursing and healthcare?
Throughout high school, I always had an interest in learning about the human body, while also knowing I wanted a career where I would be able to work with others. It wasn’t until I took my first human anatomy class in high school that I knew I wanted a career in healthcare. I’ve always had a natural compassion for helping others, along with the curiosity and joy of learning new things, which drew me to nursing.

What do you hope to do as a nurse when you graduate from USF?
There is still a lot I need to experience as a nursing student, such as clinical experiences and patient care, before I choose what specialty I want to pursue. However, one thing that’s for sure is that I want to be a nurse that’s there for important moments in your life-- whether that be the birth of your child, nursing pre-natal babies/young children back to health, or even possibly cosmetics. One thing I love about nursing is that you aren’t tied down to one specialty, and with that, I hope to maybe continue my education by possibly getting my teaching certification.

How will the NATO of California/Nevada scholarship assist you in your studies OR
What are you looking forward to as a NATO of California/Nevada Scholar?
The National Association of Theatre Owners of California/Nevada scholarship is impacting me in a significantly positive way. As a first year, first-generation college student, the college process is new for me and my parents. With my older brother transferring from a city college to a traditional college this year, and my younger brother also starting high school this year, my parents have had to work a lot more hours to pay for expenses. In addition to that, both I and my brother are also working part-time jobs to help pay for our own personal expenses. This scholarship will help me focus more on my studies rather than thinking about the long-term debt repayment.

Why did you choose USF?
I chose USF for a variety of reasons. I originally applied to USF because it’s in the city I grew up in and it’s one of the top 10 schools in California that offers nursing as a major. But looking into it more, I really admired USF’s approach to education. Their motto, “change the world from here,” is a unique tagline and I felt that the school’s ethical values fit well with mine. With nursing especially, I thought USF was one of the better options for me to further my education through state-of-the-art lab simulations and connections with clinical partners, but also through the more hands-on experience I’ll get by working with SF’s high number of marginalized groups.

Tell us about yourself! (This can be whatever you choose – your hobbies, passions, friends/family, or fun facts about you.)
My name is Andrea; I’m 19 years-old from San Francisco born and raised. I’ve been singing and dancing since I was 5 years-old and it’s one of my favorite hobbies :) A fun fact is that I’m currently watching 4 shows; I’m re-watching the Friends and Gossip Girl series, while also keeping updated with The Bachelor and WandaVision!