"I love the fact that at CNR you can approach a faculty member and discuss any issues you might have. It is just an amazing environment. What a college!" Nadia Jenkins School of Nursing The College of New Rochelle

Where are you from?

I was born in Trinidad, but I lived in Toronto for the majority of my childhood until the age of thirteen.  At that time my mother, sister, and I relocated to White Plains, New York. We moved to Chappaqua after I graduated from White Plains High School and have been living there ever since.

Tell us something about your family?

My family on my father's side is Chinese and my mother is Trinidadian and mixed with French Creole, Carib Indian, and black. I will be the first to earn a BS in my family, so my college career is very exciting for all of us.

Why did you decide to go to college?

I always knew that I wanted to do more with my life.  It took me a long time to get there because I was unsure of what I wanted to study.  My maternal grandfather and mother always instilled in me the importance of going to school and getting a good education.  I also have a daughter who will soon be six years old.  I want more than anything to set a good example for her so that she will understand what it means to work for what you want in life.

Why did you decide to study nursing?

I decided to study nursing when I had my daughter.  When I went into the hospital, I discovered that nurses were so much more involved than I had ever imagined.  Up until that point, my only contact with nurses was in the doctor's office.  I had the misconception that nurses only took vital signs and administered medications.  When I saw how involved nursing care actually was it blew my mind. I knew at that moment that this was the career for me.

Why did you decide then to attend The College of New Rochelle?

I was working in a photo lab in White Plains and I was speaking to one of my customers about going to school to become a nurse.  He told me that his wife had gone to The College of New Rochelle, and she had said that it was a wonderful school which provided a great solid base for its students. I checked the school out myself on the Internet and made an appointment to meet with someone in the admissions office to talk about the program. I liked the fact that CNR gives one a solid liberal arts background as well as the essentials for nursing.  I also liked that it was a small school with small classes.

What is the most challenging part about being a student today?

As a single mother, it is difficult at times to juggle my academic career with my daughter’s life, as well as handle my work schedule.  On the other hand, being a student this way has strengthened me. It forces you to become organized, which is one of the hardest things for me to do. 

When do you attend classes?

 I am a full-time student, so I am on campus for classes three days a week.  Most of my classes are during the day, but I have a few in the evening.

Do you have any favorite teachers?

During my first semester, I met Dr. Lisa Paler. She was the beginning of my journey towards discipline. There was a lot of work to do and you had to be prepared for her class. I felt that her teaching style was very conducive to learning. In the Spring semester of 2004, I had Dr. Geraldine Valencia-Go for Foundations in Nursing Practice (Nursing I). Dr. Go was always very supportive.  Her energy and enthusiasm was such an inspiration to me.  She has such a passion not only for nursing as a career but also for teaching, and it is evident in her classroom.

What has surprised you the most about CNR?

I was surprised most by the fact that it is such a close knit community. The open door policy with the Dean's office is amazing. I love the fact that at CNR you can approach a faculty member and discuss any issues you might have. It is just an amazing environment. What a college!

When do you expect to graduate?

In May 2006.

To find out if  CNR is the right choice for you, please contact:

School of Nursing
Office of the Dean
The College of New Rochelle
29 Castle Place
New Rochelle, NY 10805
914-654-5334  
 email: sn@cnr.edu