When Brianna Noseworthy submitted a general scholarship application after receiving her offer to Dal, she hoped she鈥檇 be lucky enough to receive an entrance scholarship. Now, the recipient of one of the university鈥檚 most prestigious awards, the Forsyth Family Nova Scotia Undergraduate Scholarship, Brianna knows luck had nothing to do with it.
鈥淔or me to actually be able to receive the scholarship that I have gotten, I am just beyond blessed,鈥� says the first-year Nursing student.
The Forsyth scholarship is awarded to an indigenous black resident of Nova Scotia, and considers financial need, participation in extracurricular activities and demonstration of leadership and social conscience within the recipient鈥檚 community. It鈥檚 worth up to $20,000, and is renewable contingent on maintaining a 3.0 SGPA.
Compassion for others
Brianna remembers the moment she decided to study Nursing. During her Grade 12 year at Sackville High School in Sackville, N.S., she had the opportunity to do a co-op at the Queen Elizabeth II hospital, shadowing doctors, nurses and lab techs. While Brianna had always enjoyed being involved with her community and helping others, it was in the hospital that she realized how she could turn that enjoyment into a career.
Part of what attracted her to Nursing is the unique relationship nurses share with their patients. While other health care practitioners spend limited time with several patients, Brianna explains that nurses are with the patients from when they are admitted to the hospital to when they leave.
鈥淲e have more of an impression on the patients than anybody,鈥� she says. 鈥淓ven if I can鈥檛 fix the problem, I can at least help them through the process so they can make more progress than what they already are going through.鈥�
Only fresh out of high school, it鈥檚 clear Brianna is wise beyond her years. She speaks of her experiences at the QEII with fondness, compassion, and with a driven to strive for excellence no matter the task at hand. In her future plans in Nursing, this determined yet empathetic drive rings true.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about the money and I think that鈥檚 the problem with people now: they鈥檙e going in it because of the money and because there鈥檚 jobs there,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut when a nurse can remember the patient and are actually happy for them that they鈥檙e making progress, that鈥檚 what a nurse to me is. Making a difference.鈥�
A journey of discovery
Since arriving on campus last week and participating in orientation activities with her peers, Brianna is confident that Dal is the right place for her to pursue her passion. She鈥檚 eager to immerse herself in the extracurricular activities that Dal has to offer and find individuals who share her interests, but mostly is focused on putting her best foot forward, both in academics and in life.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping that I can find out who I really am through AV俱乐部 and through everybody [here],鈥� she says. 鈥淓ven though I just got here, I already feel like I鈥檓 at home.鈥�