It’s a sound day, and I’m wondering about my journey from struggling in school to completing a dual degree in Nursing and Midwifery and further paving the way for Nursingpreneur. And while there’s still a lot in the store to explore and a lot to grow, I want to look back and appreciate the learnings that I have had the opportunity to follow.
These days, I get a lot of messages on Instagram about how I got into nursing and midwifery and what keeps me going in this challenging field. I guess now is the time to answer. And as I think of a suitable response, the thing that tops my mind is my visit to Somalia in 2016 — a home that I had never been to before.
Matshona Dhliwayo says that “if you know where you are from, it is harder for people to stop you where you are going.” I believe one can’t comprehend the vitality of understanding the roots better. So, here it goes:
A Struggle Throughout School Life
My family shifted places often during my school days. As such, we lived in Darwin for 6 years before eventually shifting to Melbourne. And it was twice that I changed my school in Melbourne, only to be lagging behind in the curriculum and scoring below my expectations.
English and Biology were the saviors — I guess someone has to save the day, isn’t it? 😀
As a consequence of not getting the preferred ATAR, I couldn’t receive offers from desired Universities. For that reason, I started a certificate III named “Health Service Assistants” during my holiday, which took me 6 months to complete.
A Decision That Didn’t Bode Well
I wanted to get into nursing and test the waters. I desperately wanted to. Therefore, I applied for a Diploma in Nursing and, favorably, got accepted into the program.
However, this idea of living my way through a diploma in Nursing didn’t bode well. Well, I used to travel 6 hours a day for 3-4 days a week to get to the university. Ultimately, I got sick of it. I wasn’t learning anything significant, and both my mind and body weren’t complementing my ambitions.
And so, I withdrew from the course. I wonder if it was a big decision. I don’t know, but it certainly was important for my mental peace.
A Visit to Somalia
As mentioned above, it was at the end of 2016 that I got the chance to visit my homeland. My parents saw the frustrated figure growing inside me, and they decided to take me to Somalia for a breather.
We stayed there for 3 months — 3 amazing, beautiful, and peaceful months. For the first time, I was face-to-face with my roots, the loss of which had been consistently manifested in my ears by my parents throughout my childhood and teenage.
After a long time, I was feeling good – I was feeling like myself.
The Start of Something New
During my stay in Somalia, I applied for the Nursing bachelor’s intake of 2017. And soon, I GOT THE OFFER. It was no less than a dream come true.
Soon after returning from my holiday, I joined the 3 years course in Melbourne. I remember being very organized during my first — I had to, for I had tried so hard to reach here. Besides, I completed almost all units/placements — the perks of being passionate, I guess 😀
This was also when (2017) we had guest speakers. There was this one lecture that readily caught my attention. It was about mothers and babies and how nurses could provide better care for pregnant women and, subsequently, their babies.
I mean, I was so intrigued by the idea of caring for women and their babies that I reached out to the speakers post the lecture and started inquiring about the same.
I asked them about the process of getting into the field and was directed by them to explore the option of transitioning into a dual degree in Nursing/Midwifery.
The Dual Degree
Since I had completed my first year of the bachelor’s course in nursing, I had the chance to crack into the university for a 4-year dual degree program.
I applied to the same and received acceptance in a few weeks. It was December 2017, and I felt at the top of the world.
Deep down, I knew Midwifery is what I wanted, and I paved my way for it in 2018. And since then, I have never looked back.
Currently, I’m in my 4th year, and I hope to continue the good work.
Key Takeaways
I feel proud of myself that I have come so far in my academic journey. But, at the same time, I like to stick to the ground, to my roots, because I remember the challenges I have faced to get to this position.
It wasn’t easy, but it surely was important and, as I look back, I realise that all that happened, happened for a reason.
Even though I have taken 5 years for my academics to complete, I don’t regret even a single moment throughout this journey. In fact, all these challenges help my love for education around nursing and midwifery exponentiate.
As it stands, I aim to complete this course by 2022 and further jump into a Master’s course or perhaps a specialization in Obstetrics.
With that, I’ll wrap up this article.
Have any questions? Drop them in the comments or reach me via my social media channels or even my email.
Plus, check out these detailed yet succinct Notes for Nursing and Midwifery courses.
