Ryan Yu is a fourth year nursing student, and is currently working with the Global Nursing Office as an administrative clerk.
Ryan Yu is a fourth year nursing student going into her final year of nursing. Yu works as an administrative clerk at the Global Nursing Office right here at the Faculty of Nursing this summer. Take a few moments out of your busy day to get to know her a little bit better!
Why did you choose to work for the U of A during the summer?
I applied for the position because I took NURS 498: Global Citizenship in Health as an elective during the winter term and felt a passion towards global health even more than I did before. I chose to work for the U of A, specifically the Global Nursing Office, because I get to work with the loveliest, hard-working people who truly make you feel valued. Also, I enjoy communicating with people from different countries such as Ghana, Korea, and Brazil. Recently, I learned a Ghanaian handshake: you snap the other person's middle finger while they simultaneously snap yours-it's so hard but it's satisfying once you get the hang of it.
What would your dream job be?
After I finish my degree, I would love to work as an oncology nurse. A lot of people told me that this job would be grueling and emotionally heavy; some friends and family have even asked me, "You want to watch people die?!" My response is: I don't think anyone ever wants to watch anyone die and cancer isn't necessarily a death sentence anymore. On the flip side, I do have to agree that the therapies available are very grueling and it can be difficult to see a patient go through that. One day, I hope to become a clinical instructor as it would be wonderful to be able to mentor students and help them grow into themselves.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Definitely the people that I work with-they are all so hardworking and inspirational to be around. The Global Nursing Office is a team of three people (excluding myself) and they do so much for the Faculty, academic visitors, preceptorships, and international partnerships (just to name a few!).
What do you enjoy to do on your spare time?
At home, if I need a break from studying or screen time, I'll light a Chai candle and do some watercolour painting.
What can't you live without?
It has to be my Bible; I probably would not be where I am today had I not read it and chose to become a Christian. One of the verses that carried me through some of my toughest times is 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, it says, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Right now, I feel like I want to travel to China. The last time I went I was just a baby and since then, I've lost a lot of my Mandarin and Cantonese skills that I would love to relearn. My co-worker and I joke all the time that we're so Westernized that if we went back to our native countries, our own people probably wouldn't even accept us. There is definitely that underlying fear that it's true, so I'd like to revisit my roots.
What's your favourite spot in YEG?
The Fort Edmonton Footbridge stairs. It kicks my butt every time I do them, but it's a great place to work out with friends or if you want to soak in a scenic view.
What's your favourite dish at a local restaurant?
Ddeokbokki is a Korean dish that consists of stir-fried, spicy rice cakes and I love the one at Dookbaeki. They mainly sell stews there-which are perfect for winter time-but I don't like leaving that place without the rice cakes.