Maribel's Journey to Nursing

By melerueda00

  • Born

    I was born at Fallbrook Hospital.

  • Elementary School

    I was enrolled in St.Peter's Catholic School Kindergarten-8th grade.

  • Mom's Doctor's Appointment

    I had accompanied my mother to several of her doctor's appointments. I felt helpless that I didn't know how to help her. It was through the struggle:the pill splitting, living off insulin samples, lack of health literacy, resources, translating, and filling out important documents for her that I had enough of the generational curse in our family and wanted to pursue something in health care.

  • San Diego Greater Science & Engineering Fair

    My 7th grade science teacher, Mrs. Snyder, told me I had to go to the San Diego Science and Engineering Fair to take my science fair project to compete against other schools. I ended up placing in Health and Medicine at the fair. It was at this pivotal moment, I knew I wanted to do something in medicine, and something revolving around nursing.

  • Graduate St.Peter's

    Graduated 8th grade with Honors. I had a minimal sense of my Hispanic identity

  • Started Fallbrook High School

    Began Fallbrook High School. I endured culture shock. I came from a small class of 17 to a class of 500. I began to learn who I was again.

  • Sophmore Year

    I had shared a geometry class with someone I had gone to with at St. Peter's. They had asked me "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I answered, " I want to be a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner." They laughed and told me "I think you're dreaming a bit too big." This...This...was the start of the resistance where I focused on breaking generational curses being everything they said I would never be, and becoming everything I never saw another Latina do during my upbringing.

  • Meeting Leticia Stamos

    I was formally introduced to Leticia Stamos in my AVID class. She had done a presentation about Cesar Chavez, immigration, and Fallbrook a Leer ( a Literacy Program for Low Income Children). I was empowered and motivated by her efforts to bring literacy to low income communities but also her devotion to the Latino community.

  • Pathmaker Internship (Orthopedic Acute)

    I became part of Pathmaker Internship in high school. I started off doing a rotation in Orthopedic Acute.

  • Senior Year ( Earthquake in Mexico City)

    When the 2017 Mexico City Earthquake happened, I wanted to help victims, but was unsure how to. It triggered me to collect food, hygiene, and baby products at my high school. I wanted to lose myself in the service of others while also find myself again. I collected over 54 boxes of items and also over $1,000 in aid. It was this experience where I learned I liked connecting with the Hispanic community.

  • Rotary Four Way Test

    I entered a speech contest. My rotary speech coach told me she could tell Spanish was my first language as she proceeded to belittle my English and criticize my efforts of bringing literacy to low-income children. She told me that she couldn’t see me as a nurse and that I should reconsider my career path...I loved the challenge and I passed both the regional and district levels with my speech (:

  • High School Graduation

    I crossed the stage and was given my diploma. (PS..my rotary speech coach who criticized me for my English and that she couldn't envision me as a nurse is also the same person who gave me my diploma and The Student Board President of Fallbrook High School) (:

  • Pathmaker Internship (Surge Med Tele)

    I did a rotation in Surge Med Tele at Palomar Medical Center Escondido.

  • Palomar College

    Started my prequisites for nursing school.

  • Pathmaker Internship ( Labor& Delivery& NICU)

    I did a rotation at Palomar Medical Center in Poway. Funny to say I always said I wanted to be an L&D nurse and QUICKLY decided it wasn't for me.

  • Assisted Living/Memory Care Caregiver

    I worked at Regency Pacific in Fallbrook. And realized QUICKLY I did not like to work in a Assisted Living Facility. I only lasted 6 months (:

  • Pathmaker ( Emergency Department)

    I finally found my calling! Fell in love with emergency medicine and had interest in becoming a Emergency Department Technician. I did several rotations at Palomar Medical Center Escondido/

  • EMT School

    Did EMT School at Palomar College. My favorite portion I loved learning about was Stop the Bleed. We learned how to clear the building with SWAT with blue plastic rifles, drag dummies across the floor, implement bleeding control on gushing wounds, and splints

  • NREMT Exam

    Took my NREMT in January and passed my exam on first attempt!

  • Respite Caregiver

    I worked as a respite caregiver and specialized working with children who had down syndrome

  • Graduated Palomar College

    Graduated Palomar College with 3 degrees and 3 certificates. Associates in Math and Science. Associates in Spanish. Associates in Health and Fitness.

  • Del Mar Races EMT

    I worked seasonally at the Del Mar Races during the summer.I worked alongside Mercy, AMR, K-9, and Off Duty officers there.

  • Nursing School Application

    I had applied for the first time to several nursing schools and had gotten rejected by every single one of them. I got discouraged as I realized I was competing with everyone at my job and they were just as competitive.

  • ER/ Trauma Tech at Palomar Hospital

    I had landed my dream job at Palomar Medical Center Escondido. I was happy that I had a job that had matched what I had specifically gone to school for.

  • Trauma Team

    I had made the Trauma Team within 6 months of being an ER Tech.

  • Ride Along with San Marcos Police

    I had completely shifted gears and my focus exploring other career paths (Law Enforcement, SWAT paramedic, and Gang Unit Police). I was just "going with the flow" of life and not pushing the nursing route anymore. I applied to do ride-alongs with San Marcos PD and was accepted without hesitation. During this time I helped confiscate ghost guns, book a juvenile into corrections, learn about drug labs, and had AK 47s next to my head going Code 3. My love for adrenaline was solidified.

  • Nursing School Application #2

    I had applied to nursing school for a second time. I was hesitant but open to opportunities. UUN was one of the schools I had applied for (: I was rejected by all prospect schools again but hadn't heard from UUN.

  • Nursing School Acceptance!

    I was accepted into UUN Nursing program!

  • Current

    My nursing journey has been anything but perfect! I am grateful for all the adversities I had to endure, but most of all I am grateful who it has shaped me into. It's given me the clarity that I want to be an ER Trauma Nurse one day and help the voiceless and vulnerable like my mother.