A Reflective Updates

Dear Family, Friends, and Sponsors

First of all, I am asking for your forgiveness for not updating how my life has been for the past semester. Lots have happened and lots have changed for this past semester. I receive some notice of how the blog has not been a good way of communication for various reasons. However, I will be trying to send both the updates through email and blogging.

I pray that you all are doing well and are wrapping up for the Christmas celebration and the New Year. It sure is an appropriate thing to do to take a rest. Many events can happen in our lives, but rest is a necessity. It is a time for a break to reflect what has happened and what has gone wrong, and especially, to enjoy God’s goodness and everything that He has given to us.

This semester has been a stressful and full of learning. Nursing is such an incredible profession, but the process of going through it is tremendous. Lots of hard work and lot of time needed to invest in the learning. This semester I had three courses: Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Medical/Surgical Nursing, which are the main component of my nursing courses. With it there are lab and practicum. This semester was my first time going into the hospital – “working” in the medical floor.

Nursing theory and assessments came in handy when I started caring for real patients that have all sorts of health issues; yet caring also became a great challenge. Working with the patient was one thing and having a clinical instructor by the side was another. Each clinical day had been really stressful for me because of the interaction of the human body. Nothing is like this piece of work, it is incredible. The details, the connection, and how each part of the body’s function progress and work is overwhelming. In the same way, caring for a patient was not easy. There were many aspects to a patient that lie beneath their disease, and when caring for one I needed to understand the pathology and how it wholistically affects a person.

Though really stressful because of all the learning, everything I learned in first-year nursing began to make sense. Everything seems to converge in this second year! Everything seems to come together and explain why learning all the assessments, why all studying the microbiology, and why a person may need medications, as well as how they affect the system. To me this semester is tremendous! I felt like my brain can no longer retain much more information making it really hard to concentrate. There were just so much to know! However, I do wish and desire to know and understand them as well.

Apart from studying, my student leadership position in the Globe (part of International Student Program—ISP) went real well. Each event we hosted was successful. I hope to do much better in the coming New Year (Spring semester) concentrating on relationship building with the International students.

Well, this semester has been ups and downs for me. More disappointing news I am about to inform you is that I did not do so well on one of my nursing courses. For medical/surgical nursing course, I did not meet the requirement; therefore, I will not be able to continue into the next spring semester as part of the Nursing Program. This semester I worked really hard, but the result did not show effectiveness. I am really disappointed that this happened. I will have another chance to take the course again, but I will need to wait for the another year and to submit a formal letter to the Nursing Committee to allow me to re-enter into the program. This is terrible news, and I feel really bad because I know there are so much trust, hope, and faith were place into my journey. Moreover, I know that all that I can attain today is only through the help of generous donors like you and faithful supports of all my friends and family all over the world. It took me a lot of courage to face what I denied. It has been a really hard year for me. And, much of this stumbling block is probably due to my understanding when I took the exams. What I understand to be the right answer is not what it is! Much of nursing questions this year is base on anatomy and critical thinking. There are those with specific answers (requires lot of memorization), and there are those with applied critical thinking.

Going through this calamity, I really thank the Lord for providing the Regehrs (my home-stay family) while I am here in Canada. They were the source of my encouragement, and they help me to think through what has gone wrong. All these help me to reflect and to get back up. I fail but I cannot keep on falling. Earlier before I knew about my result for the semester, I was seriously considering taking a minor in Biblical Studies. Now, since I am not able to progress to the next semester in the Nursing program, I will fill my schedule with Religious Studies (RELS) courses instead. And, as far as I am allowed to continue studying at Trinity Wester University, I will try my hardest to complete and to achieve what I am here for (of course with all the supports and help I can find).

Once again, I am grateful for all your goodness and loving supports. I had a hard time writing this report and try to put it off, but I know I cannot go further if I do not face the reality. God is still in control and His goodness and faithfulness is unending. I cannot imagine how my life have been if I did not know Him. After all, I would not have the courage to step back up.

That is probably enough for the sad news. Thank you so much once again for your understanding. I did not send it out right away because I did not want it to be a Christmas spoiler. However, I wish you all a lovely Christmas. It is wonderful to enjoy being with the family and to celebrate and remembering the Love of the Father who gave us all the Emmanuel. Best wishes and many blessings for the New Year! Thinking of you and remembering some of the memories we may share or acquaintance. May your Christmas be filled with joy and goodness as you reflect and look forward into the wonderful New Year.

In His goodness,

Sureyah Tach