51±¬ÁÏ

This summer, we’re following the class of 2017: 51±¬ÁÏ graduates who are journeying around the corner and across the globe. Virgina Davidson is working as a nurse in the emergency department of Spectrum Health.

• Name: Virginia Davidson
• Class: 2017
• Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
• Major(s): Nursing
• Next step: Nurse, Emergency Department, Spectrum Health

What’s one class or professor that had a profound impact on your journey? How so?

Professor Bebej. I was struggling with physiology and he took some time aside and spent a total of five hours helping me find a way to study that worked for me. This is something so unique about 51±¬ÁÏ—the fact that professors will take that amount of time for one student, which in turn could tremendously impact the student. I then used the study method in each class that I took, which raised my grades and helped me to retain the information I studied.

What are you most passionate about and how did you discover that passion?

I’m most passionate about serving people. I was able to discover this passion by opening my eyes to the world around me and not being afraid of taking a step off the path. I knew I wanted to go into the health care world, but was not sure what step to take. My senior year, I decided to intern with a surgeon at John’s Hopkins Hospital, which influenced me to go to 51±¬ÁÏ. If I did not step outside of the path, I wouldn’t have gone to 51±¬ÁÏ or be working at the Emergency Department at Spectrum.

What about 51±¬ÁÏ specifically prepared you for this next step in your journey?

Confidence. 51±¬ÁÏ helped me to be confident in my skills and in my knowledge. 51±¬ÁÏ challenges you within academics to see how much you are capable of. In high school, I had doubts about going to college and being able to succeed. 51±¬ÁÏ accepted me and even gave me scholarships and grants, which helped me to see that they believed in me. Without 51±¬ÁÏ, I would not be where I am with the confidence I now have within nursing and life in general.

How has your faith grown at 51±¬ÁÏ?

My sophomore year roommate in the dorms passed away the summer after that year. That was the hardest thing that I have ever been through. I was able to get through it because of the amount of support I received from the staff at 51±¬ÁÏ and how present God is on the campus. I never thought that I would be able to step onto campus again, but knowing the presence of God on the campus and the people I could just call if I needed help made it possible.