Growing through the College Experience

Transcript

Now, let’s meet Will. Will is part of Sam Houston’s top-notch school of nursing, which trains its students for lifelong careers in healthcare, but more importantly is compassionate care. As a student nurse, Will goes above and beyond balancing demands of this accredited program with involvement in student organizations and how that has shaped his experience here at Sam Houston State University. Will, you are on.

– Thanks Alex. Hey there, my name’s Will Kinch. And my time at Sam Houston State University has been full of great opportunities. I’ve been involved on campus as the president of the Theta new chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. I’ve been the president of the Order of Omega great honor society, a two term vice president of the NAACP. I’m a member of the honors college. And today I’m a student in our school of nursing. When I saw Sam Houston State in Huntsville campus for my nursing school prerequisites, I was nervous. I only knew two people. However, I understood that attending a college where I didn’t know many people could be refreshing and it could give myself an opportunity for growth and even reinvent myself if that’s what I wanted to do. That being said, I knew that there was gonna be challenges I would face as a minority student. I quickly felt welcomed by the Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs. They helped me find organizations that I could join in which I would thrive and where I could be heard. This was extremely important to me because I knew I wanted to leave my mark on SHSU. Being a part of different organizations has allowed for me and along with other students, the opportunity to meet with the administration on ways to make a positive change on campus for minority students. As I stated before, I am a proud student of our School of Nursing. Our program is extremely competitive and rigorous. That being said, I didn’t get in the first time, I got a denial email. So what I did was I went back and I retook a couple of classes. I even got my CNA license to make myself a more competitive applicant. This happens to a lot of students. But it can serve as motivation, and it’s gonna make it all the more worthwhile in the end when you get your degree. Through hard work and dedication, I not only got accepted, but I’ve been the student representative for my cohort since I was admitted. I’m incredibly grateful for the number of open labs that our program offers so that we can have as much time as possible to practice and hone our skills. As a minority male, I understand I have the opportunity to set an example for and lead others toward the profession of nursing, which is something that I personally take very seriously. Sam Houston has awarded me so many different opportunities and I’m excited to see others from my organizations following my footsteps. I wanna continue to advocate in service of my community around me as I’ve been able to do here so far. Thank you so much for allowing me to share my story. Now, back to you, Alex.

– Will, thank you for sharing your experience and involvement in campus organizations here at Sam Houston State University. With your passion for nursing and perseverance, I know you’re an inspiration to others. Well, thanks again for that.