Ricardo Gray
2012 Undergraduate Scholarship Recipient
University of California Los Angeles | School of Nursing
My name is Ricardo and I am currently a fourth year Bachelor of Science Generic/Preslicensure nursing student at the UCLA School of Nursing. For the past two years, I have served on the board of directors for the undergraduate organization, Nursing Students at UCLA-CNSA, where I am currently serving as President.
There are many appealing professions in the world, but few offer the ability to directly and substantially impact the lives of everyday people. Nursing is such a dynamic every changing profession with such diverse specialties, each rewarding in their own unique way. All these aspects appealed to me and definitely played an influential role in my decision to pursue nursing as a career.
Apart from being a nursing major, I am also minoring in Biomedical Research. I currently work with a team of scientists at the UCLA Department of Molecular Biology, trying to elucidate the precipitating factors that lead to heart failure. I believe that conducting research allows for interdisciplinary learning which is beneficial, not only for the nursing professional, but also for the patients who benefit from a more knowledgeable health care professional.
After graduating from UCLA with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing, I intend on pursing a Master’s degree to become a certified Nurse Anesthetist. I also wish to continue my education and obtain my PhD, with the hopes of conducting innovative research, help educate future nurses, and ultimately elevate the nursing profession as a whole by integrating knowledge from Biomedical Research and Nursing to improve the prognosis for some of the worlds most debilitating diseases.
I know my dreams are very ambitious, but I very strongly believe that they are attainable. Graduating from the UCLA School of Nursing with a Bachelor of Science will be the perfect stepping stone on my journey.
