Sheron Farinha-Spence
2007-2008 Winner | Master’s Degree
I grew first up in a family of five children. My parents migrated from Guyana, South America when I was a teenager. I completed my secondary schooling here in the United States at the Tilden High School in Brooklyn, NY. When I graduated I worked at various jobs mainly in banking. My childhood dream was to become a doctor but always thought that my parents would never be able to financially support me in fulfilling my dreams since I was the eldest of five children and my parents had to support my younger siblings working for minimum wages at several jobs. I was faced with the responsibility of single parenting which took me off track from fulfilling my dreams. I made a decision to return to school in 1992, and to become a nurse. The probing thought that changed my life forever was that if I wanted a better life for my children then I had to make sacrifices and return to school.
I enrolled in the Borough of Manhattan Community College in 1992 with the support from my parents and family. Delighted over that accomplishment of achieving an associate degree in nursing, I proceeded to State University of New York at Brooklyn where I graduated with honors in 1997, obtaining my Bachelors of Science degree in nursing.
Over the years as a nurse I have worked on various units, for instance, medical surgical, orthopedic, telemetry, and home health. I find my calling in community work, a place where I dream of returning some day as a business owner. My dream is to start a not-for-profit organization to advocate for people with health and other social issues. As I now peruse a dual masters degree in nursing and business (MSN/MBA/HC) at the University of Phoenix, I am driven by Dr. Jean Watson's theory of caring. Her philosophy has molded my beliefs that the art of nursing is a loving, caring and spiritual connection between nurse and patient. My passion for working with patients has been a rewarding experience and equally fulfilling is that I know that my care provides a vital part in their recovery.
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Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. (NEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by nurses for nurses in 1912, and since then, the organization has awarded over 1,500 scholarships to support the pursuit of advanced degrees in nursing.
NEF’s named scholarships, created with a minimum donation of $50,000, honor and memorialize nurse leaders, from Isabel Hampton Robb to Thelma Schorr to Susan Bowar-Ferres. 100% of donations help to keep NEF scholarships funded in perpetuity; organization expenses are covered by prudent management of NEF’s investments.