Health Occupations Faculty (Retired)
"Courage is not ignoring your fears but recognizing it and facing the fear head on. Students need to plan how to protect themselves and/or protect their patients. I encouraged each student to pursue their goals in overcoming obstacles that come with living - to become courageous in the face of fear and challenges that come with being a nurse."
My first day at Mission College in 1996 started out with a tour by Dr. Michael Rao, then Mission College President. I was introduced by first names to people who made up the heart of Mission College.
I was welcomed to wonderful, warm, and friendly people from various department offices, comprising of classified staff, directors, and faculty including counselors. I knew I made the right decision to join the “family of Mission”.
Being “student centered” isn’t just words, it is our culture. As an RN, I was familiar with being patient centered but wanted to learn how I could become student centered. I was an experienced RN and a hospital “nurse educator” for nurses, certified nursing assistants, technicians, and others at Kaiser Santa Clara Medical Center.
However, Mission was my first job as an instructor of students who needed to learn basic nursing fundamentals, critical thinking skills, assessment, and communication skills. Meeting the entire Health Occupation’s department of faculty mentors made me take a deep breath. Now I have experienced nurse educators who will lead, encourage, and co-teach the students with me. I can do this!
Meeting my first class of nursing students convinced me that it was so important to do my best each day because this was their first chance to develop critical thinking skills and to start their journey to become a nurse. Their “dream job” awaited. Courage is not ignoring your fears but recognizing it and facing the fear head on. Students need to plan how to protect themselves and/or protect their patients. I encouraged each student to pursue their goals in overcoming obstacles that come with living - to become courageous in the face of fear and challenges that come with being a nurse.
I wrote this to the last incoming class of Community Health Worker students in summer 2021:
"Our world has changed so much by the Coronavirus pandemic. However, you are here to learn, to deepen your knowledge base and to feel more confidence in the workplace. This noncredit Community Health Worker (CHW) program is based on core competencies, and I will assist you to perform tasks and tackle problems to become competent CHWs.
My hope for each of you, as you open yourselves to being facilitated to gaining knowledge that will last a lifetime and to be useful years from now. You will meet new people who will help you to expand your world view and to enrich you as a person.
I am grateful to have worked at Mission College and to have facilitated our students' quest for learning. Mahalo."