My major required a capstone internship, and by the time I started, it was definitely a load. 

I had classes that focused on research-based health communication. The first class was my internship, which also served as my capstone. This required two major papers that I wrote based on on-site work in a medical setting, using information I learned from other classes to translate it into professional skills. Everyone had to write a paper about their experience and expectations, what kind of research we would do, and, at the end, our findings and what we learned from our internship. 

My second class was a dive into health communication in patient-provider interaction, health information through public health campaigns, and clear, compassionate communication across multiple channels to reduce errors and improve healthcare delivery. In that class, I had to choose a topic for my project, and I decided to focus on nursing homes. 

My other classes also focused on it, but weren’t heavily research-based when it came to finding a project. 

For my first project, I created a campaign called HaiBuddy, a robot designed to help residents move from place to place. The goal wasn’t to replace staff but to assist them. The robot wouldn’t do any heavy lifting or feeding. It would work by either calling its name or clicking a button, and, when they were ready, it would push residents wherever they wanted to go. 

I had practiced my speech over a million times. The focus of it was almost like Shark Tank. So I had to make sure to my 10 classmates I had sold them. I was so nervous since I’ve never really done presentations. I watched as my professor sat all the way in the back and watched every single person present. I can do it. Make eye contact with everyone, and I can do it. 

I was up. I got up and put my idea on the screen. I began. My first hook in my speech was talking about my residents. I talked about the resident whom I asked about at the hospice. How they would wake them up at 6, and they would spend all day in the dining hall. Talking to herself. Chatting into the air. No one talks to them. No one interacts with them. Just them in the dining hall. CRAP. I began to feel my throat getting tight and my eyes blurring. I then began talking about the resident by the elevator. Who yelled. They yelled until the staff noticed. All they wanted was to move his wheelchair into a specific spot. Yet they passed by him as if he were an object. CRAP. Right then and there, I began to just cry. I cried in front of my classmates. I felt so vulnerable, but it just wouldn’t stop. To the point, my professor told me to take a minute. I saw how my classmates looked at me, and I wanted to dig myself into a hole. I felt unprofessional. 

I finished up my speech when my professor asked if anyone had questions. Silence. Thank You! Until he said he had a question. “Why did you choose to be a volunteer at a nursing home?” 

I thought of a million things, but all that came out of my mouth was “Because I felt bad.” Horrible, horrible answer. Why couldn’t I think of something better? He just nodded and told everyone to applaud. 

I sat back down. But I felt so flustered that I got up, stepped out of class, and cried out whatever I was holding in. All I could see in my mind were the memories of the different things I had seen. These weren’t statistics on a PowerPoint slide anymore. These were people I knew. People I cared about.

I returned to class for the second-to-last presentation. I just felt so humiliated. I wanted to dig myself a hole a million times. I wanted to leave, but my professor called me over and told me he wanted to talk in his office. CRAP. 

I was convinced I was in trouble. Instead, it was the complete opposite. He told me that my presentation was powerful. He told me the topic mattered and encouraged me to continue researching it. 

Here is my project! 

Later that semester, my professor had something to tell us. He let us know there would be a speech competition the department was holding. I didn’t want to do it because it seemed so stressful. However, he let us know that whoever entered, got picked, and won in the top 3 would get an automatic A. That did call my name. 

A girl I befriended, and I helped her choose a topic. My topic was on reporting abuse anonymously in nursing homes. It was a very rough draft. I submitted my video as the deadline approached. It was choppy and bad, and I knew 100% I wasn’t going to be chosen. But to my surprise, a week later, I saw the email. I was picked! 

I spent the following month researching and working on my speech with my professor. Just giving me pointers and ways I could make my argument stronger. I focused really hard on my topic. I told my residents I was going to give a speech on them. Although I didn’t tell them the topic was heavy and hard, they encouraged me and gave me a lot of luck. And wished me to win. It gave me strength to believe that what I was fighting for in my speech might make a difference. 

I worked almost every night with my mom. I worked on my eye contact, practicing pacing and making sure it was good enough. 

When my competition day arrived, I was so excited but shaking in fear. I felt like throwing up every second. When I arrived in the room, there was no one except me. I sat all the way in the back and waited. That’s when I saw that the judges were people from the department, students came in as well, my current professors and past professors, and professors I hadn’t even met. 

This was starting to make me feel queasy. My name was second to last. One after another, people went. I watched them, but also tried to extra study up on my speech. 

Then my name was called. I slowly made my way up, my heart was beating out of my ass. I felt so queasy and sick. But I stood up strong. I looked around the room and took a breath, and the funny part was that my mom had been lying in bed most of the time when I practiced. I envisioned her lying in bed, and it soothed me in some way. 

So I began. 

For those ten minutes, I spoke about residents who couldn’t speak for themselves. I spoke about the neglect I’ve seen and the change I hope to see in these facilities. 

I ended my speech with something my mother would always tell me: 

“Remember, as we get older, we slowly revert back into children who need constant attention, needs, and help from others. 

I ended my speech. The room applauded as I displayed my resources and contact information to local governors, mayors, and district officials. I wrote email formats and things they can say so there can be a change. Numbers they can call, places they can donate to. I made sure I made a statement. 

I sat back down because, although I did my speech, I felt like I rushed. I felt like I didn’t take a breather. I felt like nothing I said stuck. 

After the last person, there was a break to see who would win. They brought food for people to eat, and as I looked for something to eat, a professor approached me and said something I still think about today.

“If I ever end up in a nursing home, I hope the people who care for me take care of me the way you do your residents.” 

I thanked them for the compliment and said I really do hope that not only for him, but also for many facilities, get good care. 

After twenty minutes, the judges returned and started announcing winners. Third place. Applause. Second place. Applause. Then first place. And then I heard my name. I couldn’t believe it. 

ME! The person who hates presentations. The person who cried during a presentation. The person who had so many failures. I WON. 

I remember that after all the congrats, my own professor came up to me, gave me a fist bump, and said, “I told you, you were gonna win, kiddo,” and all I could do was smile really big. I was on cloud 9. 

But the best part wasn’t the certificate. The best part is what I did afterward. I texted my mom I was going to be home late. I then ran to the train and went straight to the nursing home. 

On my way to the nursing home, I stopped by Pizza Hut and bought pizza, breadsticks, and cinnamon twist along with soda. I ran straight to my residents and, after getting permission from the staff, shared it with them. After I showed them my award and told them I won because of them, everyone smiled. 

I didn’t win because I was a great speaker; I won because of them. They trusted me with their stories because they showed me healthcare isn’t just medicine and procedures; it’s about getting to know them, listening, and making sure they still matter. 

That day, standing in a nursing home handing out pizza slices, felt 100x better than ever winning first place. 

I felt proud of myself. 

Some pictures below of the residents who ate pizza! BLURRED FOR PRIVACY!!!!!!

Here is an excerpt from my speech, haha! 

Create a safe, anonymous reporting system for MY STATE nursing homes/aides to enhance accountability, protect those at risk, and ensure high-quality, safe care. 

Anonymous reporting should be allowed in companies to encourage people to report harassment and safety issues without the fear of retaliation. (I work at an end-of-life care facility) Two weeks ago, one of my patients (Loui) (NOT REAL NAME)  recently contracted a virus circulating in the facility, but I wasn’t informed by the staff or my supervisor. I unknowingly entered the patient’s room until a home aide alerted me about the floor’s lockdown. Later, the charge nurses suggested that I return to the infected room to help the patient eat, move, and keep him company, which would have made their job easier. I was shocked and shared the situation with my family, who advised me to report it. However, I was hesitant to report the incident, fearing it would reveal my identity and cause trouble at work. 

MY STATE should allow for anonymous reporting 

Anonymous reporting should be allowed in companies to encourage people to report harassment and safety issues without the fear of retaliation 

In 2017, Michael Beckman, who represents Elder Abuse in V|B law firm, wrote that 2.5 million elders in nursing facilities are at a greater risk of being abused than those who stay at home. 

 It is imperative that we first discuss the issue of abuse at elder care facilities, second analyze the cause, and finally discuss some solutions.

~end of excerpt~