Breanna Welch

Literacy Narrative

When I think of what I am literate in, of course I think about reading

and writing. However, I did not think about being literate in something that I
have a passion for. Now when I think of what I am literate in, I think of CNA
work. I had an idea of what I wanted to do with my life around my sophomore
year in high school. Every time that I tell someone about knowing so early
they are shocked. However, it was not set in stone that I wanted to become a
nurse. It took the rest of my high school years and a lot of hard work to know
for sure.
I moved to North Carolina my sophomore year in high school. It was
hard enough to get used to the new environment, much less figure out what I
wanted to do for the rest of my life. My counselor was there for me from the
beginning. She helped me get the classes that I needed to graduate on time.
I remember sitting in her office on my first day at Southeast Guilford High
School. She handed me a list of classes to pick from. She told me to take my
time, but we both knew that would not be a problem. I didnt want to be
there, so I just looked and picked a class. The class that I picked turned out
to be the best decision I made.
Health Science I, was the class that I picked. I had an idea of what it
was about, but I still wasnt completely sure what I was getting myself into.
However, I did hear great things about the teacher and the class. So, I went

ahead and kept it on my schedule. I am so happy, today, that I did. Health

Science I was not the hardest class I have ever taken. I found out that I was
really good at doing health related work. Of course some of the things were
difficult, but nothing was impossible to do. After this class I decided I wanted
to continue taking the health related courses. Next, Health Science II.
Going into Health Science II, again I had somewhat of an idea of what it
was going to be like. This was the last step before the big leagues in health
classes at my high school. I knew that I had to do the absolute best that I
could. Everyone adored my teacher Mrs. Watkins. She was definitely a
sponsor in my becoming literate in CNA work. She was the first one to push
me to be my best and go through with this dream that I had to become a
nurse.
The last class to take, is the Nursing Fundamentals class. This class is
very competitive. Actually, you must have certain grades, activities, and an
interview to even be considered for the class. Luckily, I was keeping my
grades up and decided to start getting more involved at school. The worst
part, though, was the interview. I remember the morning I was coming in for
my interview. I was so nervous and the fact that I had to get up at six o clock
to make it did not help at all. My dad had made coffee that morning, like he
knew I had to get up so early. Which was funny, because I didnt even tell
him. I was so thankful, nothing is worse than having a big interview and
being tired during it. I got dressed and had my breakfast and coffee. Before I

left I brushed my teeth, because who wants to smell coffee breath? Then, I
grabbed my bag and jumped in the car.
I arrived at the school thirty minutes early. I really wanted to be there
on time. To a senior in high school, this is determining your future. I practiced
with some questions she might ask. I was pacing in the hall way and hoping
no one would walk by and wonder why I was talking to myself. I finally heard
Mrs. Watson tell me to come in, as another student left. I could not tell
whether the look on their face was terror or them being tired. Either way it
was not helping my nerves. I followed Mrs. Watson into the classroom and
took a seat in front of her desk. She then proceeded to ask me how I was
doing and talk about how early it was. Small talk is great, but I was really
hoping that she would get on with the real questions already.
Finally, out came the first question. Why do you want to be in the
Nursing Fundamentals class? Of course I said what everyone probably said,
to become a nurse. Then she asked another question that was a bit harder
for me to answer. Why do you want to be a nurse? At the time it took me a
minute to think. Why do I want to be a nurse? Why do I want to be around
blood and guts? Why do I want to spend so many years in college and go so
in debt? Why do I want to get yelled at by patients while I try to make them
better? Why go through all the trouble? Obviously, because in the end youve
changed someones life and thats what I want in life. To be the person who
makes the difference.

By the end of the interview my nerves really did not calm as much as I
wanted them to. The fact the all Mrs. Watson did was smile and say Have a
nice day. did not help either. All I could do is just wait now. It took a week
for the list go up of who got into the class. It was a nerve wrecking week.
Then, finally I saw the white sheet of paper hanging on the wall with twenty
small names on it. I slid my finger down beside the names until I reached one
that looked familiar. I got accepted into the nursing fundamentals class. I
could not hold in my excitement. I immediately texted my dad, mom,
brothers, best friend, and grandma. I never felt so accomplished. It was an
amazing feeling.
It was finally the first day of Nursing Fundamentals class and yet again
I was nervous. Mrs. Watson had retired and a new teacher was coming to
teach us. Nobody knew anything about the new teacher, except that her
name is Mrs. Bailey. We barely even knew each other. I remember thinking
that there is no way I can work with people that I dont know, I can barely
make friends. What I didnt know then, was that I would not only learn how to
work with strangers, but also how to work with people I do not like. This
woman with a bright red face walked in the room and greeted everyone with
a kind hello. We could all tell that she was nervous, but we were too, so it
was all okay. From the get go we got along. She was teaching for the first
time and I was learning CNA skills for the first time. We really helped each
other out.

We started skills right away and I loved them. They were not easy at
first, but once I learned all of the steps I knew I would do great. Every day we
would learn a few skills at a time and also some medical abbreviations. The
skills aspect of becoming a CNA is very important, but also the mental aspect
as well. You cannot just know how to physically do something, you have to
use your mind. That part did, however, come pretty easy to me. I was very
pleased with that.
The first semester we were in the classroom the entire time. We would
practice skills on the manikins and on each other. Working so closely with
everyone did bring out the cliques. You quickly learned who you got along
with, who didnt like you and who you just could not work with. With that
became fights and arguments. When I think of a conflict I had while
becoming literate, I think of just that. Having to work in pairs the entire time,
sometimes you would get paired with someone who you could consider an
enemy. You had to work with them, because in the nursing field, you are not
always going to like your coworkers. Your job counts on you doing good,
quality work, so you just have to suck it up.
After you get past the conflict and realize you are all here for the same
common goal, you find a way to push aside your differences and work
together. This really counted when it came to the second semester. We
worked in the nursing home for the entire second semester leading up to
getting our CNA. To get your CNA you have to have so many class hours and
so many clinical hours. We would go and actually do what CNAs do. Working

with residents and doing what needed to be done. As long as it was not out
of my level of education, we could, and would do it.
I really enjoyed my time in the nursing home, because of the
experience. It was so amazing to see the joy on the residents faces when we
would come to take care of them. They loved to have us there and we loved
to be there. However, it was not always sunshine and rainbows. The jobs
could get bad and very irritating, but if you dont learn how to handle the bad
things and bad days of being a CNA then I dont believe that you are fully
literate.
Learning just that helped me to set in stone what I wanted to do with
my life and to continue my journey to become a CNA. This meant putting in a
lot more work to prepare for the CNA exam at the end of the semester. We
left the nursing home a couple weeks before the exam. We stayed in the
room and all that we would do if practice skill after skill. If you messed up
you had to start all over. When I say it looked like a tornado tore through the
nursing room I mean it. There were clothes, gloves, stethoscopes, wash
clothes, blankets, wheelchairs, etc. everywhere. Through all the mess our
teacher still found a way to cheer us on and give us all of her love and
support.

When it came to the day that we took our CNA exam, everyone was
nervous. That day we put all the differences aside and came together as a

class. Helping one another get through and have encouragement. We

cheered each other on as we walked back to the testing room and when
someone came back we asked how it went and how they felt. I believe that
this is what got everyone through it. Even sitting there anxiously waiting for
the results we were holding hands and almost crying with people we swore
we didnt like the day before. We didnt care, we just all wanted to make it.
Thankfully, everyone received their CNA that day. It had to be one of the
happiest days of my life. I felt like I could actually do something with my life.
It was amazing.
Mrs. Bailey had to be the main factor in me becoming literate in CNA
work. She started off the year not knowing what she was doing, and so did I.
She became a friend and some one that I could go to if I was feeling bad or
was doubting myself. There would always be a smiling face there to help us.
Even through the tough times she was having she never put it on the class.
We were like a dysfunctional family. Half of us did not like the other half, but
Mrs. Bailey hated that we did not get along. She would always try her
hardest to push us together and try to settle the differences. In the end she
made us all better women, CNAs, and eventually nurses. As our class motto
said, These smiling faces and helping hands, could one day be your
lifesaver. I will believe this and keep this with me. This is why I became
literate in CNA work and why I am continuing on to change the world as a
nurse.