Roxanne Pfaus

I was raised in NY and recently moved near Philadelphia in order to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Drexel. I have always had a love for all things science and nature related, but it was only a few years ago that I took the step towards changing my career. During my early twenties, I graduated from a prestigious fashion school, and worked in Manhattan for a fashion technology company that focused on antimicrobial sportswear and flame-resistant occupational uniforms. I found that I always preferred the more technical aspects of the fashion industry and wanted more of that kind of work for myself.

Soon after, my father became seriously ill from a previous diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis and quickly deteriorated to the point of being bed ridden. I moved home to help my Mom take care of him. After he passed away in 2017, I was not only deeply affected by the loss of my father, but also by his hospice nurse. She played such an important role in my father’s death, not only by physically caring for him, but also mentally. The emotional support and guidance she gave to him (and my family as well) made a huge difference. It was in this moment that I truly understood how important nurses are. This is what inspired me to change direction in life and begin the path of becoming a nurse.

From there, I quickly earned my CNA certification and CPR/BLS certification and started working as a CNA at a sub-acute rehab. Simultaneously, I was also working on all of my nursing pre-requisite classes, and then began the applying to schools. When I was accepted at Drexel University, I was elated. Today, I am currently three quarters through their nursing program with a 3.6 GPA. I feel very fortunate to be given the opportunity to study nursing and I aspire to be the best nurse I can be.
I was even recently accepted into The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s perioperative immersion program this fall, where I was able to directly assist in neurovascular surgery, open heart bypass surgery, and various gynecological and laparoscopic related surgeries, while learning both the circulating nurse and scrub nurses’ responsibilities.

Because this is my second degree and I am in my 30s, committing to the incredibly fast paced structure of Drexel’s accelerated bachelor’s degree in nursing program was challenging. My husband is currently working towards finishing his PhD, while working full time and taking up the responsibility to support our family. I hope that when I become an RN in 2021, that I will be able to pay back all of my student loans while still being able to afford milestones in life that other people my age enjoy, perhaps even buying a house one day. Every little bit helps, and I thank you for your time and hope that you will consider me for the scholarship.