Joelle Szuniewicz, Connie Vari Scholarship

• Program: RN to BS Nursing
• Hometown: Elma, NY
  
• Favorite Self-Care Activity: Spending time with my 9-month-old daughter
• Previous Education: BA, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, University at Buffalo

I chose UB School of Nursing because it is a challenging school that provides great opportunities for its students. The nursing curriculum allowed me to use information learned in real-life experiences. I am grateful for choosing UB. 

By taking courses through the UB School of Nursing, I have found a new interest in nursing research. During my time here, I created and implemented a research-based project that promoted patient safety on my work unit at ECMC. I was able to design a project that improved the community I work with every day in a positive way. 

I currently work at ECMC on the adolescent psychiatry unit. Psychiatry is a difficult field to work in but it has been very rewarding. I would like to advance my career and eventually become a charge nurse in behavioral health. I love learning something new every day ,and I hope that I can work towards a position that includes more leadership tasks.  

This scholarship is extremely meaningful to me as I am in my final semester of nursing school. I will be able to use this scholarship to finish my bachelor's degree in nursing. This degree will allow me to advance my career in leadership and continue to advocate for the patients that I work with. 

Throughout the BSN program at UB, I have gained leadership experience and learned valuable lessons that will transform my practice in a positive way. I have been given opportunities through coursework to be a better advocate for my patients, which will push me to make a positive impact where I work.