Jialiang’s (David’s) Story
That first quarter did not go well.
The nursing program at Bellevue College is pretty rigorous. There’s class time, lab time, studying, and practicums on site. You have to commit yourself fully to the program to balance your time and absorb all the material. Getting an “A” or “A-” may be a good grade in the classroom but a 5–10% error in someone’s treatment plan takes on a much higher level of importance in the real world.
I knew commitment was vital to my success, not only for my coursework but for what would come after. And yet, I found myself distracted and unable to reach my full potential that first quarter. At the end of the quarter, I failed a course. Not exactly the start I was looking for and not exactly a sign that nursing was a field that I would excel in.
The truth was that coursework was not the only challenge I was facing that quarter. I had gotten into nursing in part because of my relationship with my grandparents. I would spend summers and breaks with them, caring for them and it was through those positive experiences that I found passion and purpose.
Nursing was a field I knew could help me make a positive impact in the world. Seeing a patient smile really makes my day. So of course, that first quarter was rougher than most when my beloved grandfather passed away.
I came to Bellevue from Shanghai, China in 2015 when I was only 17. While I wasn’t going to be able to start earning college credit that first year, my aunt told me about BC’s English as a Second Language program which I could take for a year, improve my English, and be ready to start fast the next year. The fact that I could get started without having to submit a TOEFL score (Test of English as a Foreign Language) made coming from another country that much easier. So, without considering any other schools, I moved across the Pacific to a new country, new community, new culture, and a new school – knowing only my aunt.
The move and choosing Bellevue College has been worth it. I spent that first year working on my English and slowly began to learn more through an array of amazing programs, offices, staff, and faculty at BC.
Bellevue College made it easy for me to adapt to all this change, the support has helped me thrive, and I’m on the verge of starting my professional journey with everything I need to be successful. I could have let the first quarter failure deter me from continuing but I’m lucky to have a community that believes in me. A classmate struggled like me and failed the same course that I did. We were determined to succeed and together we took the course again. We studied together, we supported each other, and in the end, we succeeded together.
Succeeding together has been a theme of my time at Bellevue College. Students, staff, and faculty are all there for me, to support me in different areas. The Academic Success Center helps me with my writing, like the scholarship applications I’ve been lucky enough to have success with. Which brings me to the other group that has been by my side at Bellevue College: a community of donors who have funded the scholarships I’ve earned. The rigor of the Nursing Program here makes it difficult to find time to work, so scholarships have helped me save time for studying and being the best student possible. Thank you!
There are so many who have helped me, I’m eager to start paying it back.
Jialiang (David) Wang
I’m looking forward to earning my degree so I can begin giving back to our community. Thanks to you, I know that opportunity will come soon.
Epilogue
David’s journey is unique and yet the source of his success is not. Every year, students from all walks of life come to Bellevue College with aspirations of doing more for themselves and for their communities. Some come with an array of resources at their fingertips but many lean on our community to ensure their success. The BC community has helped David and in turn, as a nurse he will help countless others.
Please make a gift today so that our community can grow stronger with students like David. Your gift ensures that students are not alone and that we can succeed together!
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Last Updated October 12, 2023