where diverse people ’ s problems are spoken about by people other than them . This is a problem because I live in one of the most diverse states in the US , yet in all of my college classes I have not been taught by someone who looks like me , speaks like me , or that I can proudly say “ if she made it and she ’ s Hispanic and happy in her nursing specialty , then I can too .” I cannot imagine what it might be like for other diverse nursing students who might not be as fortunate as I am to have had a professor who has gone through similar experiences as I did . It ’ s not easy being part of a diverse group . It ’ s not easy speaking about the backlash I ’ ve encountered to get to where I am today . It ’ s also not easy to look up to someone that you want to be like because society has told you that you are not like them .
This is why I decided to speak about Dr . Solovay . Because although I ’ ve had some great teachers in the past , it was not easy for me to feel included as our experiences have been inevitably different . I currently have Dr . Solovay as my public health class professor and feel included because in this class I don ’ t have to wonder whether diversity is genuinely accepted . In this class , speaking another language is something to be proud of . I also have Dr . Solovay as my public health clinical instructor in a recreational center for older adults .
A lot of people in nursing school say your clinical professor makes or breaks your clinical experience and this is true because no matter how supportive your peers are , they don ’ t have enough experience to say that you are doing a good job . I recently gave a bilingual presentation about depression and older adults in my public health clinical , and was told that I did a good job not only by my peers , but by my professor as well . This reinforced the importance of inclusiveness . When teachers care , it shows . When teachers want to understand , it shows . When teachers want you to do the best you can , you can feel it . I am truly thankful for the education I have received , and having a professor who I can relate to has made me wonder how I ever would have made it this far . This has given me more encouragement to be who I
aspire to be . n
Emilia Salazar , BSN , RN , is a recent graduate from Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing , Hunter College , City University of New York ( CUNY ). In her nursing career , Emilia will continue to use evidence-based practice and lift the voices of marginalized communities to reduce health care disparities .
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