Jingyi Ren

My name is Jingyi Ren, and I am a rising junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at George Mason University. As a student in nursing school, I expected my classes to be difficult, but I
underestimated just how much I would have to change my approach to learning.

Last semester, I remember closing my laptop on a test that I barely had time to study for,
following three clinicals the week before and another test earlier that same morning. I was struggling for the first time to balance the higher-level courses like Essentials, Pharmacology, and Health Assessment, and I realized that I had to make a change. As the semester continued, I began to visit professors for office hours, joined a study group, and set time aside every night to revise material. Eventually, I ended that class with A-, and my professor congratulated me on my progress after bringing my test scores up to a 90 average. That experience taught me what nursing school demands: consistency, preparation, and the willingness to ask for help. I know now that these courses will only get harder, but I am prepared to excel in them.

 

I’m getting a head start on my courses by self-studying general concepts in the summer, and once the semester begins, I will stay on top of material by reviewing chapters before the lecture. I plan on going to office hours
and creating a habit of studying ahead of time instead of waiting until my grades drop to make a
change. With my efforts, I am confident about graduating with honors. 

Throughout nursing school, I began to change the way I defined success. Reviewing
lectures and practicing skills are no longer a means to pass a class, but something that brings me
closer to the knowledgeable yet compassionate nurse that I want to be. The concepts that I
reinforce every day will make actual impacts on real patients during some of the most difficult
moments of their lives, so I study hard to be someone they can place their trust in.

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