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Meet Helennith Jurado. Indigenous Quechua who first saw snow at age 10 and toured UVA in 2022 with her cat, Macarena, in a backpack. First-generation college attendee, fourth-year BSN student, and Lawnie (room 46) who’s studied abroad in six different countries (Australia, Korea, Spain, Ecuador, Mexico and Nicaragua). Future cardiology, OR, or pediatric nurse.

EARLY LIFE

“I was born an only child in Cusco, Peru, and came to Westchester, NY, in 2016. I didn’t come from a family of clinicians, though my mom attended university for two years to become a midwife, and always took care of everyone.

"As a child, I watched her ... she knew a lot, stayed up-to-date, and would tell people what to take and what to do ... I admired her so much.

“When I came to the U.S., I knew the ABCs, and how to say hello, but had to learn English. In New York where I lived, they taught us in Spanish ... I knew English but didn’t practice it. Once I came to UVA, though, I really was forced to speak English, which made me get a lot better. I’m still learning new words and use Google a lot when I hear something unfamiliar.

“I remember I always thought the United States would be like New York City and Disneyland ... I went to school with a lot of other immigrant kids, and we all saw snow for the first time that first winter with our English teacher. We saw it fall and touched it and held the snowflakes in our hands: I remember it being such a good experience. At the time, it was Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump ... later, my group of friends wasn’t welcomed as much. But with the snow, it was really beautiful.

“I grew up with a big family. Even though I’m an only child, my cousins were like siblings, and my aunts and uncles all raised us together. When we first came to the U.S., my mom and I were alone the first two years. With other immigrant kids here, though, I had a new family.

"We’re still friends — there are 10 of us from Peru, Ecuador, Mexico. We saw each other grow up, we went through puberty together. We raised each other.”

PATH TO NURSING and UVA

“I was in a program through NYU during high school and got an email from the Jefferson Scholarship [encouraging her to apply] ... I really was looking for good financial aid and was working with my high school counselor on where to apply. I remember when I was looking at the UVA application someone told me, ‘It’s easier to transfer out than it is to transfer in,’ so I chose the nursing school.

“My parents and my whole family were getting older, and I realized I wanted to be that person that my mom always was in Peru. So, while I did it for them when I applied, later, when I started seeing patients as a nursing student, I realized I was doing it for me, too. I liked giving back to my community. I had a lot of Spanish-speaking patients, and they reminded me of my own family and why I chose nursing. I was there for them ... it became my new reason for staying in nursing.

"Now, I love it.”

WHAT UVA’S BEEN LIKE

“First year, like everyone else, I struggled ... the content was hard ... but the School of Nursing really gives a lot of help to students and listens to them. I always felt like I had somebody to go to.

"Majoring in Latin American studies helped. I love the nursing classes, but having medical terms in my mind 24/7 wasn’t healthy, so I started taking sociology classes, took Portuguese, history, race and politics, and it was a good break for me. It’s more of a balance.

“I’ve also done a lot of study abroad. I got close with a couple of fourth years at UVA and they urged me to go to Nicaragua. Then I saw a study abroad opportunity in Mexico for the summer, told my friends, and we went. Since then, I’ve been to Ecuador and the Galapagos for an ethics class, then I went to Spain, which was crazy in a way because it was a country that colonized my country. Then I applied and went to Korea for a month.

“Something about Korea called to me ... I met people from around the world. I’d never lived by myself in a country where I didn’t speak the language, but I wasn’t scared; I was excited. I wanted to live the experience fully and feel uncomfortable, see who I am without all the people I usually lean on.

“The world started feeling reachable ... it wasn’t just that I had a picture of the globe and knew the world was big. It was more like, ‘I’m here. Let me see!’ Though being on the plane for 14 hours was very real! I think all this brings me closer to my patients. The U.S. has people in it from around the world.”

OTHER WAYS SHE’S INVOLVED AT UVA

“I love supporting organizations, and have been president of two student groups and helped start one. I founded CASA (the Community Alliance of South Americans) — now that our community is really growing— and we’ve done three events this school year so far, and I’ve cooked for each: I made salichipapa and papa a la huancaina, and we had Inca Kola, a Peruvian soda.

"Seeing people come out and talk about it, say to me, ‘It tastes like home!’ makes me really happy. I’m not a super social person but I’m very invested in my community ... we’re giving representation to those who haven’t had it before.”

UVA SCHOOL OF NURSING IN A WORD?

“GROWTH. I feel like you come to UVA and leave as a different person. You’re going to grow no matter what, and your experiences are going to shape you, transform who you are ...

"My mom asked me the other day if I would come home after I graduated, and I said no ... It’s not that I don’t love them or want to live with them. It’s that, after graduating, I’m going to keep on growing, and need to be in a new place to do that. UVA is like a growing place.”