麻豆果冻传媒

It was a challenging journey that led Cesar Espinosa, 鈥�22 nursing, to the easy decision to study nursing.

During his junior year at White County High School in Sparta, Tennessee, Espinosa鈥檚 young cousin was diagnosed with leukemia, so Espinosa鈥檚 family spent two-and-a-half years traveling back and forth to Vanderbilt Children鈥檚 Hospital for his cousin鈥檚 treatment.

鈥淭hat opened my eyes to these nurses,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey took care of my little cousin like she was their daughter.鈥�

After graduating high school, Espinosa went to the doctor to have a typical physical exam done so that he could fulfill admissions requirements to enroll in college.

鈥淭he doctor came in and said, 鈥業 have to be serious with you. I think you have leukemia,鈥欌�� Espinosa recalled.

That night, he found himself at Vanderbilt Children鈥檚 Hospital again. This time, he was the one diagnosed with leukemia.

鈥淚t changed my life,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he next day I got chemo.鈥�

But it wasn鈥檛 just the diagnosis and treatment that impacted him. The nurses who were there had a lasting impression.

鈥淢ost of the nurses were the same ones I had seen two years prior,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 just saw how much they cared. Going through my journey, I saw how much these nurses put themselves on the line, not just physically but emotionally. I saw some of my peers pass away and how much that affected the nurses. Part of the job is that. You are going to see that, you are going to see death, but the thing is you have to serve the next patient after that.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a big thing with me. I just like helping people out. I love to serve. I am always willing to put myself out there for others.鈥�

Thanks to the doctors and nurses who helped treat him, Espinosa has been in remission for three years and now knows for certain that a career in nursing is right for him.

鈥淚 really want to work with cancer kids,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 really want to work in hematology oncology.鈥�

To get there, Espinosa enrolled at Vol State Community College following his cancer treatments.

鈥淚t was a really good experience. There are a lot of good people there,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was a good way to introduce yourself to what college is going to be like, introduce yourself to how it鈥檚 all about you. You have to do the hard work. If you do the work, it will show. If you don鈥檛 that will show as well.鈥�

 

He earned his associate鈥檚 degree from Vol State in math and science, pre-nursing in 2018 and then transferred to 麻豆果冻传媒.

鈥淚 really wanted to graduate and keep on pursuing. I wanted to get my prerequisites out of the way and then transfer for higher division courses.鈥�

He is also minoring in psychology, because he says, dealing with health issues has an impact on a person鈥檚 psychological state as well.

鈥淚 just liked the vibe at Tech. It is a really good place just to be. People are welcoming. You will find the good easily here at Tech.鈥�

Since transferring, he has joined Tech鈥檚 Student Nurses Association and the psychology club.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a really good experience just trying to network with people,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 enjoy people and am easy to get along with. That鈥檚 a good characteristic to have as a nurse.鈥�

One day, he hopes to be one of the nurses helping children through medical treatment, like the nurses who helped him and his cousin.

鈥淚 always think there is a purpose. Everyone has their fit,鈥� he said. 鈥淪urround yourself with good people, follow your faith and good things will come.鈥�