Selena Macias

English 1A STACC
Prof. Kuroki
5/8/2014

My Past, Present, & Future: A Literacy Narrative

As Nelson Mandela one said Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to
change the world. Having an education can open the door too many things and can often take
people to a higher degree where it can greatly support them. Many may take advantage of it in
order to better their lives and some rather take another route. Although, before I never realized
how important education could be I often gave up, but I also would rise from it and try my best. I
never thought of extending my knowledge. Until, I was pushed and encouraged to go to college.
In my past educational experience, it was a constant roller coaster I had my highs and my
lows with doing pretty good in elementary and middle school to attending Benjamin Franklin
High School for two years and not being focused or motivated to do well. My counselor first
didnt seem like she knew what she was doing because she often gave me classes that I didnt
need and she wasnt the type of counselor that kept parents updated about their childs grades
and credits . I was a freshman when I was supposed to be a sophomore. Now, the teachers there
didnt even teach they were more focused on getting their pay check even though they rarely
taught or taught but only to students they liked. When students tried to complain about how the
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teacher were rarely teaching it didnt matter or effect the teacher since they had tenure. Which
made a negative impact on my education because I didnt learn anything and the lack of
educating students made me want to just give up.
Although, having to move to a new home and new city I transferred into Rosemead High
School which would make it a change for the better because I began to do pretty good and there
was a lot of support and motivation from teachers and my counselor at that time and of course
my parents . But since I had a fix-mindset of not doing well or giving up it brought me down
again, which got me a couple credits behind. But with the help of many of my teachers, my
parents and counselor I worked hard and did whatever I could to receive all my credits. With all
the motivation to succeed I was able to graduate on time with my class of 2013.
Many have believed in me, but as well not so many but I have took the step to extend my
education in order to achieve my goals in becoming a register nurse a career that has always
interested me since I was young. It all started when I got my first stitches I was amazed! The
way each stitch was placed and closed my wound seemed so interesting to me. The nurse and
doctor were so surprised how interested I was in seeing a procedure done on me because many
times past patients they had would cry or look away. But when my grandpa was in the hospital
and I saw how the nurses were so involved, such as they would check up on my grandpa making
sure everything was fine from his heart to his breathing. They also would cure his wounds and
even when he was in the last stages of living they were so kind and tried to comfort as well as
update my family on the problems my grandpa was going through. The kind of things that the
nurses did made me think, and I told my-self registered nurse it is! My experiences are what
brought me to wanting to become a register nurse.
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Moreover, I am currently a full-time student at Pasadena City College or as well known
as PCC, it is my second semester in college and I am getting accustomed to it. My first semester
in college I didnt know what to expect I was a part- time student at the time. I decided to get less
units in order to first get a taste of what college is like. The first day of college I was shocked
because it was only the first day of school and there was a whole lot of homework assigned
which I didnt see coming. I was thinking college would be like high school which usually the
teachers just talk about the syllabus the first day. But over time I got in the habit of all the
reading and other homework being assigned. I began to enjoy college it was so much better then
high school. I got the option to choose the time I want to attend my classes and days I wanted
off. My first semester didnt seem as bad, I had great Professors that were there to help when
possible. As a student at PCC I am doing my general ed. in order to get an associates degree and
transfer to a University to get s bachelors degree in nursing.
As a student at PCC I have goals to do well in all my classes. I often get in the habit of
falling behind but I always think about my future and the only way of achieving my goal of
becoming a register nurse is by doing my work. I have become more self-motivated since in
college no one is there to hold my hand and guide me. Although, I do have my parents
encouragement on making sure that I am doing what Im supposed to. But, often times I wonder
why I am taking such classes like English or Math, why cant I just start with classes that can
lead me to becoming a register nurse. But little do people like myself know, every class has its
purpose.
Furthermore, through the many years of school who knew that with all the things I was
learning and being taught would greatly benefit me, because things that I was learning such as
language skills would be important in the nursing field. All the essays and writing done in the
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many years of school would finally make a purpose. I personally dislike writing because it has a
lot of rules and it just seems so time consuming and not related to what I plan to be. So after
doing research I found out that writing is very important in being a nurse. According, to Purdue
Owl, three general roles in writing as a nurse are to be precise, be objective, and remember the
critical audience. Writing as a nurse must be precise which means to be accurate and very
detailed, because when a doctor or other nurse looks at the patients folder they should be able to
see in writing the procedures done on patients and exactly what is going on or how the patient
has been reacting. When the writing is not precise or clear it may cause confusion and problems.
The writing should also be precise enough to the point of when a doctor ask for clarification it
should be easy to explain in detail the procedures that were done to the patient.
Now, writing should be objective because in case if the patient is reacting crazy or has a
certain attitude it can let other nurses or doctors be aware of the problem. In other words instead
of just writing acting crazy it should be more detailed in such as Patient pacing back and forth,
breathing fast, clenching fists, yelling repeatedly Dont touch me!.(Purdue Owl). Finally, the
last rule to writing as a registered nurse is to remember the critical audience. Often times there is
others that are going to try to find any mistake they can to use in court depending if something
goes bad with a patient. So that is why it is important to be very detailed about every little
procedure done to a patient even if it is a dressing change every step taken such as cleaning it or
adding medicine cream should be written in the patients folder.
Listening is as well is a great skill and important because in the medical field everyone is
working in a fast pace. So when a doctor or nurse says something it should be written exactly as
said. The communication used with the doctor and patient should be clear. The language used as
a registered nurse is English but it is a big plus to be able to speak another language. A reason
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why is because it gives nurses the opportunity to communicate with even more patients.
Therefore, many of the class that I have been taking will serve a purpose somehow whether its
Spanish in order to communicate with a wide range of patients or math to be able to measure
medicine.
My journey has only began but once I achieve my goal of becoming a registered nurse in
the future I will finally begin the career I have always wanted. Being a registered nurse is very
different and takes a lot of dedication and patience. As a registered nurse also referred to as RN,
the duties I will have is primarily to care for patients. There are is many health settings to choose
from as being a registered nurses, such as a hospital, nursing homes, healthcare agencies, dialysis
centers, and rehabilitation centers. So depending on where I would like to work my duties may
vary.
Usually what a register nurse does is help physicians by providing help for patients that
are ill or suffering from many medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, mental health, the list
can go on forever! Other things I may be having to do is administer treatment which means to
provide cure to patients, record patients medical histories and symptoms, help conduct
diagnostic test which is a test done on patients in order to identify any diseases from either their
certain symptoms or signs. As well operate medical equipment, assist with patient follow-up and
examine results. Also distribute medicine to patients and take care of patients that are in
recovery. Not only would I help and distribute medication but also I would have educate patients
and their family. A way I would have to educate the patients is by providing information on
procedures that can be done at home such as how to check sugar, inject insulin, and check blood
pressure and many other procedure.
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Although, my journey of becoming a register nurse is only beginning. I have had my ups and
downs in school but I plan to pursue my goals and jump through any obstacle that comes my
way. No doubt that its not going to be easy but luckily I have my family that are going support
me no matter what No one knows what the future may hold for them but doing my very best
now can possibly guide me to where I want to be in the future .





















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Work Cited
Durando, Jessica. 15 of Nelson Mandelas best quotes. USA Today. USA today Network. 6
December 2013. Web. May 2014

Writing as a Professional Nurse. Purdue Owl: Online Writing Lab. The Writing Lab & the
OWL at Purdue and Purdue University, 1995-2014. Web. 16 February 2014