Angelina Padilla

When I was growing up, I was exposed to the importance of social determinants of health and the importance of care for patients from diverse backgrounds with integrity and compassion. I am a little bit of every single person that I have met. In ok addition, I am also a first generation student with a learning disability. I grew up in a neighborhood in Richmond, California with prostitutes at the end of street corners, gang activity, near to an oil refinery, and spent most of my childhood in the special education classroom. I recognized that not everyone had the same inherent privileges, but that everyone deserves an opportunity for a better life. Thus, I have always strived to do my best, in my education, in my work, and in how I treat others. I am owning my potential and my education. I worked multiple jobs such as coach for special needs kids and adults, as a cashier, janitor, supervisor for an ice rink, tutor, teachers assistant, and whatever opportunities I could get in order to help fund my higher education. I also always made sure to give back and volunteered weekly at my local Children’s Hospital, as a mental health crisis peer discussion leader under a counselor, and with special needs adults and children for birthday parties, skating, and activities. I want to be a nurse because I believe in caring for people with dignity and empathy. It is my hope to be there for people on their worst days. I want to be a good person in my life and see nursing as the best way to fulfill this mission. I hope to take care of as many people as I can. It is also my hope to also do meaningful research, serve vulnerable populations, and provide the absolute best care possible to all those I will meet.