海角在线

Around 5听p.m.听on听January听12,听2010,听the ground beneath Port-au-Prince, Haiti,听shook. A rare 7.0-magnitude听earthquake听collapsed听buildings听across听the capital city.听What followed was听unbelievable听heartache for the tens to hundreds of thousands,听who lost听family members and friends.听Floodgates of aid were also opened as听help poured听into the听island nation, not just in the form of food, but medical doctors and nurses听from around the globe. With this help came听a silver lining听and the birth of a dream for a young Charles听Ressemble.听听

Born with pyloric stenosis,听Charles听suffered听from听abdominal issues听that听required听medical care his family could听not听afford.听Just weeks after the disaster,听he听was hospitalized. After multiple visits, he finally received the surgery he听needed. The听medical听assistance听the island听received听after the earthquake enabled听Charles听to finally get the medical attention听his worsening condition听required.听听

A听Vision to Serve听

What听stayed with him from that experience听wasn鈥檛听just the听procedure,听but听the people who cared for him afterward.听听

鈥淭he nurses after my听surgery, they听took great care of me,鈥澨鼵harles听says. 鈥淭hat definitely inspired me to do what they do.鈥澨�听

This May,听he听graduates听from 海角在线听(海角在线)听with a degree in nursing听because of听the desire to听serve听others听in听need of听medical听care.听听

Charles鈥檚听path to 海角在线 began after two-and-a-half years听at Palm Beach State College. Encouraged by a classmate who spoke highly of the听program,听he applied and enrolled in January 2024.听He is the recipient of the听Pollyanna Nursing Scholarship.听The听financial award听is offered to a 海角在线 nursing student who听demonstrates听commitment to the profession of nursing as well as obtains a record of community service.听

A Solid Support System听

Charles听reflects听fondly听on his听two-and-a-half听years at 海角在线, not only because of听all he has learned, but because of the spiritual encouragement,听too.听听

鈥淎ttending chapel, whether times are rough or good, gives you a different perspective,鈥� he says. 鈥淎t the end of the day,听we鈥檙e听learning to care for people, and we need to ask God for help.听I believe He听is the听Healer听of healers.鈥�听

That perspective has sustained him through the highs and lows of the past couple of years. It鈥檚 also been reinforced by a strong support system. Charles credits his family members, including his mom, dad and uncles Wilbert and Jirus for keeping him grounded and motivated. 听

Mentors and faculty members have also played a significant role in听his听journey, including听Dr. Gregory Pierre Louis, a pharmacist he met while attending church.听Professors like Dr.听Kathy听McKinnon, Professor听Vanessa听Duncan, and Dr.听Julie听Bowser听helped shape his academic and professional development.听听

鈥淚 thank God for placing these people in my life,鈥� he says.听鈥淏ecause of them, I want听to be a role model for my younger siblings,鈥� he says. 鈥淭o show them what鈥檚 possible.鈥�听

Stepping into听the Calling听

Even with a vigorous academic schedule, Charles also completed a preceptorship in the emergency department at Bethesda Hospital West. The fast-paced environment expanded his perspective on patient care and introduced him to the realities of critical situations. 听

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great opportunity to see different fields and figure out where I fit,鈥� he says.听听

Looking back,听Charles听sees a clear thread connecting his past to his future. The hardship he endured in Haiti, the care he received during his own medical crisis, and the opportunities听he鈥檚听embraced in the United States have all shaped the nurse he is becoming.听

What began in the rubble of a natural disaster has become听a听calling.听听

鈥淓verything that has happened in my life has prepared me to be who I need to be today,鈥� he says.听

Find out more about 海角在线鈥檚听School of Nursing听and the听Pollyana Scholarship.听听