Pratistha Kharel
Quick Facts
Age: 20
Major: Nursing, 2024
Notable: First-generation
Additional languages: Nepali & Hindi
Transfer Institution: North Seattle College
“It has been an honor to be part of the Alfie Community. I always try to reach across differences and create a positive impact in the world. I have been blessed to be surrounded by uplifting and supportive individuals who work together to bridge differences. ”
Service & Work:
Medtech/Caregiver, Quail Park of Lynnwood, February–July 2022
Lead Caregiver, GenCare Lifestyle, August 2021–February 2022
Awards & Honors:
Alfie Scholars, Cohort 7, 2022–2024
Rosemary Ford Oncology Nursing Scholarship
Achievement Scholarship
Red Hawk Transfer Grant
WA College Bound Scholarship
Pratistha’s Story
I am a first-generation immigrant in the United States. In my home country of Nepal, I grew up with 15 others in the same small house, where I witnessed many family births and deaths. Growing up, I perceived modern healthcare as a rare luxury. As a new immigrant with parents experiencing a language barrier, I had many responsibilities, including caring for my younger siblings, preparing meals while my parents worked, and translating my homework into English before completing my assignments late into the evening.
Attending public school here was an opportunity I especially appreciated since not all girls had the chance to finish high school or seek jobs in Nepal. This shaped my perspective and made me want to learn everything as best I could, and as soon as I turned 16, I got my first paid job. I started my nursing prerequisites in high school through the Running Start program and completed them in the next two years at the community college, where I earned my Associate of Science Degree: General in June of 2022. As I worked on getting my pre-requisite for nursing, I also worked on getting my nursing assistant degree so I could build up my experiences and skills.
I obtained a Nursing Assistant Certificate through the Nursing Assistant Training Institute, while providing elder care in a senior facility, and have developed the empathy and compassion needed for this career. Embracing the responsibility of being a nurse, I will be gentle, understanding, and comforting to my patients and their families while fulfilling their needs. Experiencing my own challenges as an immigrant – including the language barrier, lack of food, housing insecurity, and fear of hospital environments–has been an incredible asset for empathizing with others’ anxieties.
This self-knowledge of how my cultural perspective is a resource for my patients and is especially valuable in advocating for patients from diverse ethnic cultures. I am committed to getting to know my patients and where they come from and respecting their beliefs. I have always tried to help in some way to advocate for and amplify the voices of the underprivileged through writing petitions, joining strikes, spreading the news, and updating people on current issues. It has been an honor to be an Alfie Scholar and become the vision for leadership in social changes.
Advice:
The advice I would give someone who’s either in high school or community college and aspires to attend a university is to always try to motivate yourself, advocate for yourself and your peers, use your resources, and be disciplined.
Goals:
My passion is to practice nursing in a public health care clinic that treats underserved populations, emphasizing, empowering, and educating women about their own health care and their loved ones. With today’s patient demographics reflecting increasingly more diversity, having sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic differences is essential. My hope is to improve health care for greater equality and ethical society. My educational goal during my time at Seattle University is to build connections with like-minded individuals with a strong passion for learning and being the best version of themselves. In addition, I aspire to obtain skills and knowledge that will help other first-generation women of color lift them up and encourage their success. Finally, I seek to obtain the skills necessary to provide the best possible care and comfort to my patients. Growing up in an immigrant household and pursuing my AA through community colleges, I never thought I would be able to afford/ attend a private school. Seattle University’s Student outreach center, Dean of Nursing, and financial aid advisors helped me navigate through the university setting and informed me about the resources on scholarships since I had financial stress about whether or not I’ll be able to attend Seattle U. Seattle University has enabled me to pursue my passion, follow my dreams, and connect with like-minded individuals. Seattle University’s resources for their students and the advisors and mentors working hard to help students reach their successful paths will help me to become a nurse and provide the best possible care and comfort to my patient.
On Civility:
Respect for others, understanding how our actions affect others, and a willingness to cooperate for the benefit of everyone are characteristics of civility. Civility starts within yourself first; how you view yourself and respect and discipline yourself is how you apply civility to those around you. I am fortunate to have personally benefited from civility many times in my life, and I recognize the immense value even small acts of kindness can generate in others. I was born and raised in Nepal, where showing civility to our elders is taught from a very young age. My deep personal values are empathy, kindness, loyalty, fairness, inclusivity, and building bridges to create a difference. I’ve practiced civility within myself by meditating; it helps me control my impulsive reaction when an uncivil action triggers me. It helps me stop and ask what the other person might feel and what I can do to turn the experience into a positive learning experience. I foster civility with fellow college students by deliberately initiating inclusive study groups. Knowing what it is like to be an outsider learning English, I reach out to those I’ve observed who don’t feel included due to language or cultural barriers and invite them to participate in the groups.
