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Hello my name is Jim Edmunds; I am a fifth semester nursing student at California State University, Fresno. Being older than most of my classmates, made entering nursing school a combination of excitement and nervousness creating apprehension about embarking in a new direction. Before starting the program, I made a decision to get the most out of my time in nursing school. So when I had the opportunity to join NSNA at the beginning of my first semester I signed up for a two year membership not really knowing what it was all about. At the first meeting, I noticed that there was an empty board position and asked the President how I could fill the position. Soon I found myself a board member of our school chapter. At the NSNA convention in Baltimore I was further motivated to take more leadership responsibilities in our chapter, and at the end of my second semester was elected Vice President. Besides planning the monthly meetings and working with the various board members to coordinate their projects, I decided to take on an additional project which was close to my heart. When I started school I was surprised to find there was no avenue which allowed students to go to third world countries and provide medical services; I spent the summer of 2006 locating an organization which would organize trips for nursing students. I developed a community health project called HELPING HANDS, and this past summer we were able to send 13 students from CSU Fresno to Costa Rica and Nicaragua to work in medical clinics throughout these countries. We are expanding the program this year and hope to double the number of students going. During dinner at the Baltimore convention my faculty advisor shared with me that because of my age and experience I had something more to bring to the profession. These words kept ringing in my ears as I considered the possibility of seeking a State board position. After attending the CoCR and the Board of Directors meeting in June of this year, I decided I could use those years of experience by serving as State President. I am anticipating a great year working to make an already great organization even greater. |
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