Share the Dream: My Life, My Focus, My Goal Share the Dream: My Life, My Focus, My Goal: Bertrand, Annie

Talent Merit Scholarship Recipient

There is a saying in Haitian Creole that describes what your life is supposed to consist of, and we call it the 3 L’s: “Lakay, Lekol, Legliz”. In English, it all translates to “Home, School, Church”.

My name is Ann-Ashley M. Bertrand. I am 19 years old, born on May 13, 2006. I was originally born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. With Chris, my older brother, we both entered the United States of America at the ages of 13 and 16 years old. Living in Haiti was a dream, but it came with many challenges. Thankfully, I had my Mother and Grandmother, who tried their best to give us everything we needed. When it was impossible to attend school, my grandmother would always arrange for us to attend school daily. Whether it was by taking a taxi or having her company car, she ensured we were present at school. Even when the streets weren't safe, my grandmother would make sure that our needs were met safely. Although we did not have the most luxurious life, family was meaningful to each of us. Our Sunday dinner was a tradition that was a non-negotiable day where we all came together, cooked one of our favorite dishes, and enjoyed each other's company. With all the chaos happening on the outside, Sundays were the days when nothing else mattered but everyone who was around the table. It all may have seemed small and simple, but it was significant to us as a family because going out and doing outdoor activities was a bit restricted.

Looking past my challenges of the struggle of attending school may have been hard at times, but it was one of the things that motivated me to choose the educational route of attending the University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth. I decided to attend school to become a nurse for plenty of reasons, not just for the money or the aesthetics, but for one important person, my grandmother. Growing up, my grandmother was not only a registered nurse and a surgeon, but she was the Nurse her coworkers looked up to because of how strong and fearless she was. She was the Nurse who would make sure all her patients would receive anything they needed, even when it seemed impossible. Haiti made it extremely hard for my Grandma to continue her career; thus, she unfortunately had no choice but to pack her things and leave everything behind. The winter of 2022 was when my Grandma entered the United States of America. I remember seeing that fear and hurt in her eyes, which made me feel distressed, which became a reason why I wanted to pursue nursing. Carrying my grandmother's legacy and adopting her expertise to my own skills is a priceless gift. The thought of pursuing a nursing degree always seemed impossible. However, I am grateful to have an amazing support system that has helped me build my confidence and reduce my fear of tackling the obstacles that may arise in my nursing education.

The University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth was one of my top two schools because of the academic support it provides and the variety of communities I can be a part of. I am overly proud of my accomplishments as a transfer student and am pleased to continue my nursing education at the University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth. There are plenty of goals I plan on accomplishing here, and with the community and the help of my advisor, it seems to be a pleasant road. As I pursue my nursing education, I intend to gain a merit scholarship and maintain a 4.0 GPA. However, as for personal goals, I plan on continuing dancing and also trying other clubs, considering the importance of being part of a community. Having the chance to interact with other students and be a part of different kinds of communities, I believe, will help me in the long run when it comes to building strong connections. Whether it's during an internship, job interview, etc., obtaining those skills throughout my college career will eventually play a big part.

Being a student at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth has shown me that there is more to college than academic accomplishments. How I interact with others, how I carry myself, will also play a big role in my career. Using my degree effectively is something I do not take lightly. Therefore, I plan on using my nursing degree in a hospital and giving back to my communities and those in need. Being a nurse for me does not only entail treating patients, but also making their time with me as memorable as possible, making them feel heard and understood, the same way my Grandma did for her patients. the same way my Mother and grandmother did for me, I owe it myself, to attending school and earn my degree as my responsibility to make my family proud.