Feature Stories 2026: Antonella Goncalves '26: The power of positivity

During her first year, nursing major Antonella Goncalves ‘26 faced an injury that she feared would disrupt her college career. Despite the challenges, Goncalves' journey to recovery inspired her Honors senior research project and prepared her for life as a professional nurse.

Overcoming early setbacks

Goncalves arrived at UMass Dartmouth ready to tackle life as a nursing student and a student athlete. But after suffering a major injury, she had to readjust her approach to college life.

"A month into my first year, I tore my ACL. That first semester was the hardest of my entire college career. I had just turned 18 and moved out on my own, and trying to juggle school, soccer, and recovery was hard. It dampened my confidence because I thought college was going to be that difficult all the time," Goncalves said.

"I needed a change of mindset. I realized that yes, something unfortunate happened, but there was nothing I could do to change it. I had to pick myself up and keep going. I reached out to classmates, teammates, and professors for support. That made a big difference."

Goncalves persevered through the injury and maintained her high academic performance—then, in her junior year, she tore her ACL once again.

"It was a hard situation that I learned a lot from. It had only been two years, but between the injuries I matured and understood that I had to maintain a positive outlook. I knew there would be hard days, and there were, but I kept going."

Goncalves powered through her recovery one more time, and was able to play soccer during her senior year.

"I'm proud of myself for coming back after those hardships. Moral of the story: always stay positive. Take it day by day. As a nurse, I'll take it shift by shift."

Experiences inspiring research

Goncalves' injuries didn't just teach her the importance of positivity and perseverance. They also inspired her Honors research project, titled "Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Use in College Athletes."

While recovering from her knee injuries, Goncalves took ibuprofen to help manage the pain. She began to wonder about the effects of taking NSAIDS, and how often misuse occurs on collegiate sports teams.

"My APEX project ties my soccer, academic, and personal experiences together. The goal was to investigate the connection between NSAID misuse, knowledge of side effects, and health literacy levels in college athletes.

"My soccer teammates and other athletes across campus agreed to help with my project by taking surveys on NSAID use. I incorporated three different communities into my research—soccer, nursing, and then the wider athletic community, all while drawing from my own personal experiences."

Making a difference through scholarship

"Spreading awareness about proper medication usage is so important. We need to pay more attention to groups who are at a higher risk for misuse, like athletes, who might not realize they're using drugs incorrectly. A lot of misuse happens unknowingly, so educating people is key."

Why choose UMass Dartmouth for nursing?

"The NCLEX pass rate and the simulation labs were a big reason I chose UMass Dartmouth. Overall it's just a really good nursing program.

"The students all had great things to say when I toured campus. They told me I'd find my group, and they were right. I connected with everybody in the program.

"If you play a sport, you'll have a family there. No matter what program you join, you'll have a family there. If you live in the dorms, you'll also have a family there. Everybody is super connected and looking out for each other."

Becoming a nurse

"I really enjoyed my clinicals. Seeing everything you've learned in the classroom translate to real patient care is very rewarding. Plus, seeing patients get better over time is so fulfilling.

"When I go into the hospital, everyone tells me I'm so smiley— I'm always trying to brighten up people's day! Last week someone was calling me ‘Smiley,' and I told them they didn't even have to know my name, just keep calling me ‘Smiley.'"

Goncalves' practice in positivity has prepared her for a future in nursing. She plans to further her education and become a nurse practitioner after gaining a few years of experience in the field. 

I’m proud of myself for coming back after those hardships. Moral of the story: always stay positive. Take it day by day. As a nurse, I’ll take it shift by shift.