Anna Gonzalez Student Profile

Student Profile

Name: Anna Gonzalez
Course: Bachelor of Nursing Advanced

Why did you decide to enrol in the BN Advanced? 
Curiosity was the first element that drew me to the BN Advanced course in particular. I already had an interest in Nursing as the alternative to entrance into Medicine, but the BN Advanced course (from the description) seemed to be quite interesting with the research based components and additional content. I thought that this would make for a more stimulating and challenging course.

Why did you choose to study at UWS?
There are quite a few reasons why I chose to study at UWS. First and foremost, the many of the teachers at my High School that I perceived as being the most open-minded, intelligent and committed had come from UWS. This was the first real preview that I had of the university that would counter any preconceptions that formed amongst friends that stereotyped education in the ‘west’. Asides from this, I knew quite a number of people from work that had gone to or were currently enrolled in UWS who loved what they did and the environment that the uni provided. Also, since I come from the western suburbs, I knew that it would be more convenient to drive down to a place that was relatively much closer to where I lived than many of the city universities. The campus of UWS was another aspect of the uni that attracted me to it (I had been there once before in a chemistry titration competition for high school) more so than the campuses at other universities. Additionally, UWS offered the best opportunities for scholarships and the staff who I had spoken to when finding out information about various universities seemed most open and prepared to help. Finally, UWS is the university in which I hope to undertake Medicine and so I thought it would be best to get well acquainted with the uni I was planning on spending many more years in.

What is it like to be a student at UWS?
Being an undergraduate student at UWS has been great and far exceeded any expectations I had conjured up before arriving at UWS. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many people from a number of different backgrounds, walks of life and cultures. Asides from the social side of uni, the staff have been really helpful and always willing to take the time to help me through any difficulties or concerns I had about university in general or questions specifically about subject content. So, in short being a student at UWS has made me feel very much supported, comfortable and at ease, knowing that I am well-equipped to undertake all of the challenges that will become apparent with university life.

What are you hoping to gain from doing this degree?
I believe that undertaking this degree will teach me to adapt to the new way of life and thinking that comes along with the content and skills of not only the course itself, but the whole ‘university scenario’. I have already learnt new ways to manage my time, to better communicate with others and have gained a wealth of experiences. In particular, Nursing has had a huge focus on better understanding our patients, listening to them and forming appropriate relations with them; and it is these skills that I feel will not solely be of benefit within this profession, but are skills I can carry with me for life. This has been especially important for me as I hope to undertake the study of Medicine in the future. I suppose this is the main benefit I wish to gain from this degree: a stronger foundation as I will hopefully lead into Medicine and if not, then a degree in an area that brings together my prevailing areas of interest: science and human interaction.

What are your professional goals for the future?
My eventual goal at present is to undertake a study of Medicine and undertake new research into one of my countless areas of interest. If I choose to remain within the career of Nursing then I believe I would also like to undertake research and take advantage of the very adaptive roles of a nurse by working in various areas of health care. Whatever the case, I would ultimately like to take the opportunity to travel overseas or work in rural areas within Australia with whichever profession I have.