Somwattie Jewan, a 35-year-old registered nurse in Queens, New York, has overcome a lifetime of adversity to attain exceptional success within the medical subject. Her journey from a turbulent childhood in Guyana to turning into a devoted healthcare skilled in the US is a testomony to her tenacious resilience and resolve.
Born in Tuschen, a small village within the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Guyana, her earlier years have been marred by poverty and home turmoil. She was pressured to shoulder grownup obligations at a younger age, caring for her siblings and lacking out on a standard childhood. Her late mom, whom she regards as her hero, was the household’s breadwinner, doing her greatest to offer for Somwattie and her three siblings whereas their father struggled with alcohol dependancy.
“My mother used to purchase used devices referred to as information, which cane harvesters use to sharpen their cutlasses. She would soak them in lemon water in a single day, and by the subsequent day, they might be shiny. She would then journey to Georgetown and promote them in entrance of a retailer. When she returned along with her earnings, my dad would take the cash from her to purchase rum. We’d in all probability get one good meal out of it. It was a cycle my mom couldn’t break,” she stated tearfully.
Because the eldest baby, she needed to tackle obligations early. From age six, she would stroll round her small village promoting greens to assist assist her siblings. Her mom, occupied with retaining the household collectively and offering for them, couldn’t afford to ship the youngsters to high school.
“I recall my mother getting greens like pumpkins, and I’d carry them on my head to promote within the village below the scorching solar. I can nonetheless hear myself calling out, ‘Pumpkin, pumpkin.’ I can’t think about my son doing that at seven,” she mirrored.
After tirelessly attempting unsuccessfully, her mom moved throughout the nation to Berbice, the countryside, and positioned her 4 youngsters in an orphanage. Jewan now understands that her mom had no different choice. Struggling to offer even requirements, her mom sacrificed to make sure her youngsters had stability and meals.
“My mom took us to Berbice, and my uncle, who was concerned with the church, really helpful that she place us in an orphanage. That marked the start of a brand new chapter in our lives. I arrived there in 1997, till I used to be 18. The primary two and a half years have been powerful as I struggled to adapt to the brand new surroundings, however finally, it turned my new common, virtually like a second household.”
Jewan started faculty for the primary time at 9, beginning with studying the alphabet. Regardless of her late begin, she rapidly excelled academically, demonstrating intelligence and perseverance. She earned admission to one of many high colleges within the space, Corentyne Complete Excessive Faculty, the place she continued to excel. Her willpower to succeed, regardless of difficult circumstances, laid the inspiration for her future achievements.
“I had Cyril Drepaul, who devoted his time to educating me all the things, from pronunciation to spelling. Though he wasn’t the primary particular person in command of the youngsters’s residence, he performed a big function there, serving to us with schoolwork and self-discipline. He was a supportive father determine for all the youngsters and noticed potential in me. He spent additional time educating me the alphabet, counting, and different important abilities.”
Arriving in Queens, New York, pregnant and with restricted sources, Jewan arrived hopeful within the land of alternatives. Nevertheless, just a few years later, her marriage ended, and she or he needed to pivot once more, supporting herself and her son independently. She labored tirelessly in numerous jobs to fulfill ends, at all times retaining her targets in sight. In 2017, pushed by a deep want to influence others’ lives, she enrolled in nursing faculty, working a number of jobs to finance her training. Her dedication to nursing is deeply rooted in her expertise of almost shedding her life throughout childbirth and being cared for by compassionate nurses who helped her get better. This private encounter bolstered her perception in nursing’s capability to heal and supply solace.
“Being a nurse means greater than only a career to me,” she explains. “It’s about humility, respect, and making a distinction in folks’s lives.”
Since graduating along with her nursing diploma in 2022, Jewan has continued to advance her profession, incomes a bachelor’s diploma and pursuing superior coaching in crucial care. Her final objective is to turn out to be an authorized registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), a place that permits for better hands-on involvement and essential decision-making in affected person care.
Jewan’s inspiring story is a beacon of hope for these dealing with adversity. Her journey from a childhood full of hardship to a profitable profession in nursing demonstrates the transformative energy of training, perseverance, and an unwavering perception in a single’s desires.
“I wish to present my son that something is feasible with arduous work and willpower,” Jewan stated, reflecting on her journey. “I need him to know the significance of resilience and by no means giving up in your desires.”
