91吃瓜网

by James Forkan

Nursing Major
Transferred from Nassau听Community College

Meaghan Lynch hopes to become a registered听nurse working in pediatric oncology and听hematology after her anticipated graduation听in May 2018. She transferred from Nassau听Community College (NCC) in Fall 2015.

鈥淎s a nurse, you鈥檙e not only dedicated and trained in how to provide medical treatment, you鈥檙e a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen and someone there to remind the patient that they鈥檙e safe, they鈥檙e being cared for and that they are going to get better,鈥� she observed. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just a job, it鈥檚 a job that truly makes an impact on someone鈥檚 day and sometimes even someone鈥檚 life.鈥�

Not so long ago, however, she didn鈥檛 plan to follow that career path. Instead, Lynch had intended to pursue an English/theater double major鈥攐nly changing course after taking a Biology 101 class that proved surprisingly exciting. Lynch, who took that class to fulfill a laboratory science requirement at NCC, recalled she had hated biology in high school but her professor made this class 鈥渟o much fun, interesting and exciting. That class made me realize I wanted to go into the medical field.鈥� She then zeroed in on nursing 鈥渂ecause of the one-on-one relationships nurses get to have with their patients.鈥�

Once decided on a nursing career and to stay on Long Island, she said, 鈥淢y two top choices were Adelphi and Molloy [College].鈥� She saw Adelphi as a better fit. 鈥淎delphi鈥檚 nursing program strongly focuses on learning technical skills鈥攂ut also on caring for the patient as a whole person, not just as a patient,鈥� she said.

She explained, 鈥淚 really liked that part of Adelphi鈥檚 nursing program was community service, because giving to people and helping others is one of the main reasons I chose nursing.鈥�

鈥淓ventually,鈥� she said, 鈥淚鈥檇 like to either get my master鈥檚 and become a nurse practitioner or possibly even go back to school to become a physician鈥檚 assistant.鈥�

Elected in the Fall 2015 Student Government Association (SGA) elections in which she was the only transfer senator candidate, Lynch joked, 鈥淐learly it was a very close, suspenseful race, but I got the position.鈥�

Her main campaign issue was increasing mental health awareness on campus. 鈥淢ental health is a huge issue on college campuses across the country, especially with depression and anxiety,鈥� she said.

Studies of college students bear that out. The New York Times last year, for instance, reported that anxiety replaced depression as the most common mental health problem on college campuses鈥�55 percent to 45 percent. The Times cited the 2014 annual report by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health at Penn State; 100,000 students were surveyed.

鈥淢any students experience symptoms and are unsure of what鈥檚 happening to them, are afraid to seek help because of the stigma of mental illness or are unaware of the services their campus offers,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to work with our counseling center to create greater awareness.鈥�