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 Virginia Portmann
Why did you choose Trent? I kind of ended here by chance, as I had missed the application deadlines for schools out west. I applied to several colleges and universities and Trent accepted me and offered me a scholarship. I also had a friend from high school who went to Trent who absolutely loved it, and I also felt Trent was less urban and more of a natural setting to study at, which I highly valued. How would you describe yourself? How would others describe you? What are your passions in life? I am a Christian. . . my faith in God has brought me a long way, providing comfort in dark hours and direction when I am lost. This faith has also lead me to nursing, which I feel is the catalyst to growing the seeds of humanity inside of me into a tree. The satisfaction I feel in nursing intensified my spirituality, as I now trust Him more and am less stubborn in listening to His voice. I am a scholar. . . the joy of learning is unstoppable in me. It began with a love for reading at the age of six when Mrs. Evans taught me English and how to read, and has followed me throughout my education. I have always excelled in school, being fascinated by almost everything I was learning. If I receive 90% on something, I want to know what the 10% is that I am missing out on and how I can learn it. I am a writer. . . I have been told I should be a writer several times. I have always been able to eloquently express myself on paper, whether it be on the virtues of infection control, to theoretical musings, or just writing a friend a letter. I do believe I have something worth saying that will not only be published, but many times on a multitude of subjects and in a variety of media (academia, fiction, personal). I am an athlete. . . life on the farm started me off on an active note. Mountain biking purified my mind, body and spirit of toxins. I have always found solace in the quiet corners of nature from hiking, and took up some adventurous trekking while living in Switzerland, and more recently, climbing, with the goal of reaching mountain peaks. My other passion in sports, fencing, has kept me grounded while pursuing an arduous program of academic studies. I am a world citizen. . . I strongly identify with more and more people. This has been greatly enhanced by my love for traveling, which has opened my eyes to a wide variety of cultures and their unique perspectives. The disparity between extremes has greatly had an effect on how I wish to live my life. I am an humanitarian. . . because of this exposure to just a few corners of the world and my roots in the Christian faith, I feel a strong responsibility to my fellow man and whatever his plight may be. I have been blessed with the experience of poverty (although quite short-lived) and also with relative wealth. Finances are not a concern in my life, as I have always been fortunate to find employment with generous compensation and I live my life simply, choosing wisely where to spend. This therefore enables me to be liberal in projects that help others help themselves, such as Cycle North-South. I am a hard worker. . . Life on the farm instilled a strong work ethic in me, and I have pushed myself hard for as long as I can remember (yes, I have a Type A personality). This is evidenced by the multiple jobs I have previously held concurrently, and presently by pursuing two degrees at the same time while also participating in varsity athletics, a part-time job, and tending to my relationships. Time management, that is all I have to say. I am a woman. . . I celebrate my womanhood, with all of its advantages and disadvantages. I love and embrace fellow women, especially those who have made a strong contribution to nursing, as they embody the kind of woman I wish to become. As a woman, I am happy to be a beautiful, caring, passionate person and hope to have children someday. I am a nurse. . . This profession is inherent to my nature and is the vehicle through which to exert all of my talents: caring, inquisitiveness, holistic perspectives, leadership, and advocacy. The great thing about nursing is that no matter which direction I go, floor nursing, research or management, I will never be able to exhaust the possibilities this profession extends to me. Have you been involved in any clubs, groups, and/or sports at Trent? If so, which ones? Varsity fencing team – Captain of the women’s épée team. What has your time at Trent meant to you? What are some of your favourite memories? What will you take with you from Trent? Trent has opened my mind and advanced my thinking ability tremendously. I do feel strongly that I received an excellent education here and speak highly of Trent when asked about it. Trent has awakened in me a sense of accountability to my fellow man and empowered me to become a humanitarian, without sacrificing my own ambitions and dreams. I have made many good friendships here at Trent with both students and faculty, and look forward to more of their good company in the future after graduation. Some of my fondest memories are from participating in the varsity fencing team, which gave me the chance to learn a new sport, keep my body, mind and spirit healthy, make friends, and develop my character. Overall, Trent has helped me to grow as a person not just in the classroom, but in the life Trent is boiling over with. What are your future plans and aspirations? What do you hope to accomplish? My ultimate career goal would be to become the CNO (chief nursing officer) of a hospital or health region and to be able to implement positive change of a more widespread nature. I would like to nurse in a variety of care areas for a few years before applying for a nurse practitioner program or a master’s in health administration. Is there anything else you would like to add? Pura Vida.
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Gwynne, Alberta