Smitha Sam

BECOMING A NURSE - A metamorphosis

16 year old, I sat wide eyed

Young, brave, full of dreams and insecure to oblivion.

My professor goes around the circle

I hear my classmates make their introduction.

Each giving their noble reason

For choosing Nursing as their profession.

I urge my folly heart that when my turn comes

To speak in a similar noble fashion.

Alas, It betrays me and blurts out, My real true reasons

Job security, good return on Investment; A ticket to fly to a foreign land

Plus not having to guess every day what to wear,

Mornings made easy by a tidy uniform for attire.

I saw the disdain in my professor's eye

As she challenged me to contrive.

A nobler reason; Like serving the suffering of human kind.

Now my young heart in a full rebellion

Tried to show her the hypocrisy of that notion.

Dear Professor, I say, to serve the suffering of human kind

I need not waste 4 years in college for an education.

All I need to do is to step out on that road

And start serving in Mother Teresa fashion.

Rest assured my dear friends, that was no reprieve

As my life was made hell with no redemption

I was a sore in the eye of my professor for rest of the college season.

So You see my friends nursing was just an Occupation

For the naive me, a medium to fulfill dreams and visions.

Alas, this was a mirage and it did not stay long

For as I finished my education I learned Nursing is but a profession.

A Body of knowledge and skill set

That cannot be overlooked in any form or intention.

This revelation kept getting sharper

As I prepared myself for scrutiny by foreign standards keeper.

Soon my dream to fly to a foreign land was set in motion

And in it nursing did make a big contribution.

But little did I know that this profession

Was going to fully change the focus of my life's direction.

One fine day I reached a small unknown place

Habitants of which were further unknown.

Some quiet, some weak; With bright eyes and sweet smile

Their spirits laughing at all calamities, though with many a disabilities.

As I said hello and gazed into those innocent eyes,

I knew I was looking into souls, the purest of kind.

In this place nursing felt more than just a profession

A place to come daily and care for God's earth angels.

Whether it was giving medications or dressing their wounds

Or helping them to breath a little easier.

Some days a simple task, Other days a more intricate one

Some days advocating and making decisions that matter.

And on some very rare days a little extra courage is asked of me

As the Maker chooses me; Imperfect and vain

To hold the hands of these angels as they begin their journey back to Him.

Though tears form at the edge of my eyes, I feel blessed, I feel chosen

And I know Nursing my profession is now my Vocation

And I am close to God as close I can be, A mere mortal.