Jenivy Sewak

I come from a family of teachers, so education and knowledge are at the heart of what I value. Being a child of immigrant parents, I have also learned from them to seize every opportunity. This shapes how I interact with others and also influences what I hope to achieve for myself over the course of this degree.

Initially, I started my tertiary education in a communications degree. It took some time to find my way to nursing, but I am so glad that I did. For me, Nursing is the most dynamic degree I could be studying; it challenges me to develop clinical skills, to learn acute anatomical knowledge, to gain a deeper understanding of communication and empathetic frameworks and to have a systematic awareness of the healthcare industry. However, I don’t regret my initial degree; I think everything that I have gone through in my life has shaped me to be exactly who I am today, and I am forever working towards being better with every step of the way.

I am very passionate about social justice initiatives, and have been involved with organisations like Oxfam, The Big Lift UTS, Batyr and Drishtee Immersion, who all in their wonderfully unique ways emphasise the importance of building real human connections to create understanding and change across communities and broader society.

I went to a technology high school, so you could say that UTS was inherently in my future. I remember my first day at UTS; navigating the city campus was like finding my way through a new world, one that continues to show itself in weird and wonderful ways to this day. Nothing could have prepared me for the incredible experiences and opportunities I have received from the university environment; I have had the privilege to travel nationally and internationally and have met many inspirational people through those journeys.

I chose to study at UTS because of its focus on global citizenship and its recognition of the importance of practical industry experience that is present in all faculties and degrees. I am somebody who learns kinaesthetically, so I love the multitude of opportunities that are available for personal and professional growth.

The most rewarding part of nursing has been the patient-resident connections I have made through my placements. Sometimes, as a student nurse in a healthcare facility, you want to focus on using your clinical skills, but the conversations and human presence that you can provide for someone going through a difficult moment in their life, is what I believe to be equally, if not more, important for a role as a nurse. It’s this ability to give comfort alongside care that draws me to Nursing, and is fundamental in how I want to practise now and further into my broader career.

I have changed a lot over the course; the transition from young adult to adult is a difficult and trying process, and testing boundaries is a large part of that. I think the most monumental change for me though has been my attitude towards studying. Deciding on nursing has been a relief because through every tricky assignment or early tutorial class, I remain focused on a career path that I feel incredibly passionate about. I honestly can’t wait to start my nursing career.

I don’t know what kind of nurse I will be once I graduate, and I am okay with that. With every subject, I am exposed to a new, unique path and have found interest in the most obscure of specialities. I look forward to continuing as a student, and hopefully, I will find my corner of this wonderfully diverse profession.

I am a history buff at heart, so a keen interest in global health and sociological processes are very influential in my learning. I like to think that this interest will translate to a career opportunity within heath administration and policy, but only time will tell.

To new students, I say be open to new experiences!

One of the best life lessons was taught to me by a 93-year-old resident on one of my placements. I had told her that I wish for a lot of mistakes in my life, because through those mistakes, you will learn and grow into a better version of yourself than you were yesterday.

She told me to not wish for mistakes, because they come whether you want them or not, but to be open to everything that life has to offer, and take chances on yourself.

I think this lesson translates nicely into life as a university student. A degree is a wonderful way to progress yourself, but being a student at UTS can also offers you incredible lifelong relationships and worldly opportunities, if you are brave enough to seek them out.

Find out more about the Bachelor of Nursing at UTS