AH 3099: Senior Capstone
Hello
My name is Jessica Lema
Who am I?
I am a first generation Latina student, from Ecuadorian descent. I live in Newtown, Connecticut.
I am a Senior at the University of Connecticut
Major: Allied Health Sciences
Minor: Human Development and Family Sciences
I am an older sister and "parent" to a 1-year-old Cat named Niko :)
What academic, cultural, and personal background did i bring with me?
- I brought strength, my kindness, and willingness to complete my career. I knew that I had to make my parents proud as I am their first child and the first to attend a University!
How did being a first-generation Latinx student shape my expectations?
Unlike most students who have parents who attend at least some college or siblings & other family members who attend college, I had no idea where to begin my college path.
I struggled with
- Understanding how to do FAFSA: Since my parents are undocumented, they do not receive a W-2, therefore, they cannot do their taxes. This one missing document made filling out FASA a nightmare
- Understanding how to schedule classes, withdraw classes, and put a class on pass/fail: If it weren't for my amazing advisors and peers, I would have been extremely lost
Who was I when I entered UCONN
When I came to UConn, I feared the world. My whole life I was fortunate enough to have my parents shield me from the world, but this changed...
Freshly out of high school, I knew what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it.....
picture with my gorgeous mother!
Picture of my lovely parents
Early Academic Goals
Very early on in my High school career, I knew I wanted to make a difference in my Hispanic/Latinx community through working in healthcare. I was unsure of the career path I would choose, but in the end I chose nursing.
What were my original academic and career goals?
- To Successfully Attend UConn
- To be on the Deans List
- To become part of clubs and organization
- To apply to the 4yr nursing program
- To graduate with my B.S in Nursing
Why was nursing my first Plan:
Originally, my nursing plan began with my attending Uconn as an ACES major and eventually to transfer into the nursing program in my sophomore/junior year.... this did not go as planned.
What did success look like to me at the start:
Success to me at first looked like a linear timeline, there were no plan b's. There were no second oppertunties and I had to complete my goals in the order I have set my mind to. Life does NOT work like this, and sometimes no matter how hard you try things may not go the way you expected.
BUT... It is important to know that "Rejection is redirection" - Unknown
Prompt from UConn CEIN application: Describe your healthcare experience and how it shaped your perspective of the role of a nurse and influenced your interest in nursing. Include a description of a particular situation, if applicable.
Personal Context
Personal context:
My parents are undocumented immigrants who left everything back home to pursue the American Dream.
My parents most common phrase: "Ponte Las Pilas" translates to put your batteries on:
means be smart, make smart choices, and always have your batteries on to continue through any path you choose to take.
They would tell me this phrase as a form of motivation!
How did my family background shape my motivation?
Both of my parents came at a young age; they came with nothing waiting for them here. No money, no parents, not even a room to call home. Despite this, they were able to work hard to eventually make a home of their own and have 2 kids.
How did my Identity affect how I approached college?
My parents' strong-minded identities were almost like pressure. I felt as if I had to do my best and never disappoint them. So when things took a left turn, I was ashamed to tell them how I felt emotionally. I was embarrassed to tell them that their eldest daughter is struggling.
