About Jen
"All I can be is the best version of myself"
Many obstacles have brought me to my present status of a student at the University of Cincinnati...
I was born in Orange County, California where I was surrounded by many family and friends. I am the youngest of two daughters, and was born in a multi-racial- Irish and Filipino- home. My roots have shaped my beliefs, values, and customs. My mother being born in the Philippines has played a large role in my upbringing. Respect was an will always be a number one priority followed by honesty and integrity. Due to job changes, my family decided to move to a small town in Marion, Ohio. I am a proud alum of Pleasant High School where I found my passion for being involved. Small town girl wanting to move back to the city was all that I wanted. I was able to do so in 2011 when I first became a University of Cincinnati Bearcat.
My Passion
I am a fourth-year Nursing student who is constantly maneuvering through life to discover myself. In my eighth grade year, I started having heart problems. I would go into an "episode", where I had to gasp for air while my heart was over 200 beats per minute and my body was in total shock. I would have these episodes once a week, then they started happening twice a week and sometimes three times. I had no effects once the episode had subsided and because of my age, my condition was overlooked. Doctors were unable to diagnose my condition unless an episode was monitored. I was put on heart monitors for a month, and no episodes occurred. I was asked to run to the hospital when I had an episode to hopefully catch it, but right when I walked through the double doors of the hospital, my heart stopped racing. We ended up going into the hospital on three different occasions, but all visits to the Emergency Room ended in my heart going back to normal before I could get on a monitor. Hospital bills were piling up and I found myself trying to deal with my racing heart on my own so that I did not waste more money. I struggled with my heart defect, with my family, but most of all myself. I questioned my strength; I often found myself thinking that I was lying and that it was all in my head, because my parents are firm believers in trying to handle your problems from within. The summer before my senior year in high school, I struggled an episode last for an hour until I begged my father to bring me to the hospital.
This was the most emotional day of my life.
I had five doctors and five nurses in my room in two minutes. How can a sixteen year old girl have a heart beat so high? My heart was monitored, and the doctors were able to stabilize my heart. They diagnosed me with Supraventricular Tachycardia. I did have a heart condition. It was not all in my head. A few short months after being diagnosed, I went to Children's Hospital where I was admitted to have surgery. I was greeted with doctors and nurses who never let me feel alone or confused.
Now I can say that it has been over three years since my last episode. Everyday I think about how thankful I am to all of the doctors and nurses that in my eyes, saved my life. They helped me find peace and happiness. I want to become a nurse so that I can give that same feeling to someone else. That same liberation.
My biggest competition is myself, and I strive daily to be the best possible version that I can be of myself. My dreams are plastered on my forehead; my accomplishments are expressed through my actions. I find my greatest accomplishments in my activities that have shaped me drastically. I am collegiately involved in Student Government, AMBITION (Advising Minorities By Inspiring and Transforming them Into Outstanding Nurses), Pi Beta Phi Sorority, and the Darwin T. Turner Scholars. This past year has enabled me to transition my skills and knowledge from being a part of collegiate organizations to starting a nursing co-op. I have been blessed with the opportunity to further my nursing career by precepting with an RN at Cincinnati Children's Hospital through a nursing co-op. I am excited to see how the past four years of college have helped make me a beneficial employee of such a prestigious institution. My organizations, communities, and family are reflected in my everyday activities. I want to bring pride to those who love me, and I want to spread happiness to those that I love.
Many obstacles have brought me to my present status of a student at the University of Cincinnati...
I was born in Orange County, California where I was surrounded by many family and friends. I am the youngest of two daughters, and was born in a multi-racial- Irish and Filipino- home. My roots have shaped my beliefs, values, and customs. My mother being born in the Philippines has played a large role in my upbringing. Respect was an will always be a number one priority followed by honesty and integrity. Due to job changes, my family decided to move to a small town in Marion, Ohio. I am a proud alum of Pleasant High School where I found my passion for being involved. Small town girl wanting to move back to the city was all that I wanted. I was able to do so in 2011 when I first became a University of Cincinnati Bearcat.
My Passion
I am a fourth-year Nursing student who is constantly maneuvering through life to discover myself. In my eighth grade year, I started having heart problems. I would go into an "episode", where I had to gasp for air while my heart was over 200 beats per minute and my body was in total shock. I would have these episodes once a week, then they started happening twice a week and sometimes three times. I had no effects once the episode had subsided and because of my age, my condition was overlooked. Doctors were unable to diagnose my condition unless an episode was monitored. I was put on heart monitors for a month, and no episodes occurred. I was asked to run to the hospital when I had an episode to hopefully catch it, but right when I walked through the double doors of the hospital, my heart stopped racing. We ended up going into the hospital on three different occasions, but all visits to the Emergency Room ended in my heart going back to normal before I could get on a monitor. Hospital bills were piling up and I found myself trying to deal with my racing heart on my own so that I did not waste more money. I struggled with my heart defect, with my family, but most of all myself. I questioned my strength; I often found myself thinking that I was lying and that it was all in my head, because my parents are firm believers in trying to handle your problems from within. The summer before my senior year in high school, I struggled an episode last for an hour until I begged my father to bring me to the hospital.
This was the most emotional day of my life.
I had five doctors and five nurses in my room in two minutes. How can a sixteen year old girl have a heart beat so high? My heart was monitored, and the doctors were able to stabilize my heart. They diagnosed me with Supraventricular Tachycardia. I did have a heart condition. It was not all in my head. A few short months after being diagnosed, I went to Children's Hospital where I was admitted to have surgery. I was greeted with doctors and nurses who never let me feel alone or confused.
Now I can say that it has been over three years since my last episode. Everyday I think about how thankful I am to all of the doctors and nurses that in my eyes, saved my life. They helped me find peace and happiness. I want to become a nurse so that I can give that same feeling to someone else. That same liberation.
My biggest competition is myself, and I strive daily to be the best possible version that I can be of myself. My dreams are plastered on my forehead; my accomplishments are expressed through my actions. I find my greatest accomplishments in my activities that have shaped me drastically. I am collegiately involved in Student Government, AMBITION (Advising Minorities By Inspiring and Transforming them Into Outstanding Nurses), Pi Beta Phi Sorority, and the Darwin T. Turner Scholars. This past year has enabled me to transition my skills and knowledge from being a part of collegiate organizations to starting a nursing co-op. I have been blessed with the opportunity to further my nursing career by precepting with an RN at Cincinnati Children's Hospital through a nursing co-op. I am excited to see how the past four years of college have helped make me a beneficial employee of such a prestigious institution. My organizations, communities, and family are reflected in my everyday activities. I want to bring pride to those who love me, and I want to spread happiness to those that I love.