YouAlberta
Welcome YouAlberta’s “Have You Met” series in collaboration with @ualbertastudents! Every other week we’ll get to know a student from the University of Alberta.
What three words best describe your U of A experience?
Rewarding, memorable, worthwhile.
Why did you decide to study your major?
For me, nursing creates the perfect blend of academic rigour, personal growth, and professional opportunities. Despite the field’s demanding nature, the impacts that nursing can have on your understanding, compassion, and appreciation are immeasurable. Pertaining to the applications of your degree, examples include continuing with bedside nursing, opting for community nursing, entering research and graduate schooling, or pursuing practitioner studies.
What advice would you give to your first year self?
Do NOT attach your self worth to your academic performance. Your skills, characteristics, and competence cannot be reduced to a GPA. Remember you are a person, not a numerical value!
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
After this pandemic, I’d honestly be happy to have ANYONE over for dinner; I’d just be thankful for the social interaction. But in actuality I would choose Emma Watson. Apart from growing up with "Harry Potter" as a household name, I’m interested to hear about her experiences balancing university and humanitarian work with a mainstream media career.
What is your favourite way to unwind after a long day?
Nothing beats a TV show or movie marathon (please send over new recommendations!). Weather permitting, I also love being outside. Especially when I go home to BC, having a picnic lakeside with a great book and some family/friends is my absolute favourite way to unwind.
What do you miss most about campus/in-person classes?
The support you feel from those around you. FaceTimes and social media platforms definitely help but that sense of community is extremely challenging to emulate.
What are you most proud of?
My research internship this summer with the faculty. As a second year student, I initially was worried about being too inexperienced compared to other applicants, but I obtained a scholarship and will begin fairly soon!
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
Coffee! The ECHA Starbucks makes it a little too accessible.
What is your go-to study snack?
Sea salt popcorn is always a good choice. During midterms or finals, however, definitely Brookside chocolate (specifically the açaí and blueberry flavour).
Who inspires you?
The patients I’ve worked with! Sensing the development of that therapeutic relationship is very rewarding. They all have so many unique stories and experiences, getting to work alongside them has been wonderful. Within this program, the majority of personal growth is definitely cultivated from these dynamic interactions.
About Ayessa
Ayessa (she/her) is a second-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Honours. She is a member of an international research team examining the implications of sepsis in ICU settings within low and middle income countries. She hopes to become a pediatric cardiology nurse and eventually acquire a master’s degree in Nursing.