Dear first semester nursing student,

Congratulations on making it into an incredibly competitive program and the best nursing

program in Arizona! You should be feeling very proud of yourself for this amazing

accomplishment. I hope you are excited for these next two years as they will truly fly by, and

you will be graduating before you know it. The faculty at the University of Arizona is one of a

kind. Nursing school won’t be easy but with the guidance of counselors, professors, and even

your peers you will make it through.

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was starting my first day of nursing school. I was so

excited to finally start learning about my dream job but also, I was very scared. Little did I know,

that when I started nursing school halfway through the first semester the Corona Virus pandemic

would hit. This really changed my whole nursing school experience. I had to learn to be

adaptable and to brace myself for very unexpected changes. Who would have thought nursing

skills could be taught online?! Nonetheless, I made it through nursing school. On the hard days

when you are questioning yourself and struggling, I want you to remember that you were chosen

to be here, and you deserve to be here. It is ok to not get all A’s on everything, what’s most

important is that you are truly learning the content and asking questions. The goal is to be a great

compassionate nurse.

I am so excited for you to begin this new journey in your life. Remember there will be

hard days, but it is all part of the process. One of my favorite mottos is “learn to be comfortable

with the uncomfortable”. There will always be something new, and you will be constantly

learning. I wish you nothing but the best of luck these next two years. Bear down!

Best,

Genevieve Veneziale