Freddy Lucena
BSN student, Chicago
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I was 23 years old when I made the big decision to leave behind my country, family and friends to follow my dreams.
I am from a humble neighborhood called San Agustin in Caracas, Venezuela. Ever since I was young, my mom worked as a coordinator for the department of plastic surgery with the Red Cross in Caracas. Because of my mother’s job, I grew up around many excellent Venezuelan doctors and nurses. When I was nine, they started allowing me to shadow them on some of their duties. Many were involved with Operation Smile, which provides free treatment to children born with cleft palates. Through this, I saw how thorough nursing care can change the lives of patients.
I came out as gay when I was 16 years old, and it was initially difficult for me. I felt discriminated against, and sometimes I even felt unsafe in my own neighborhood. Even worse, I felt my relationships with my friends and family suffered. With time, my family realized this was part of who I was, and I am very happy now that I decided to be true to myself.
I studied nursing for a year at the Central University of Venezuela, but I didn’t finish because I could not find any bright future under the dictatorship there. In 2016, I decided to come to Chicago. I arrived with nothing: no knowledge of English and no economic support. But my experience with my mother and her peers drove me to continue to pursue a career in nursing.
The bachelor’s degree program at UIC Nursing is very competitive, so when I was selected for this program, it meant a lot to me. I’m also honored to be part in the EDGE program, which is a scholarship program to train diverse students in geriatric nursing.
I interned at Northwestern Memorial Hospital over the summer and have received a job offer in the pulmonary unit when I graduate in the spring. I hope my experiences shows other that, no matter how hard your path is, dreams can come true.