2024 Pedro Arrupe Award Winner: Patrick Paulo

After high school graduation, I did not know what I wanted to pursue. I was not a high-achieving student, so I thought about pursuing flute performance because it was something in which I excelled. After playing in my community college band, I realized it was not for me. Playing drained me more than nurturing my future. I took a leap of faith and decided to start nursing. I was not expecting to do well in my classes as I felt I didn’t meet the standards of a successful nursing student. After three long years of doing my nursing prerequisites, I excelled in each, which allowed me to think that maybe I was fit for the nursing profession.

Transitioning into nursing school was difficult. I constantly told myself that I was not good enough for nursing. I just couldn’t believe that I had made it this far. I often put myself down and told myself I did the bare minimum to get where I am. In addition, the strategies I learned and honed during my community college years went down the drain because none worked anymore. Just on the second day of nursing school, I learned what my three years at USF would look like, and it overwhelmed me. I was scared that I was going to drop out, as it was just so surreal to me that I made it this far.

Over time, I eventually started to adapt to the rigorous workload of nursing school. I began joining clubs because I felt as if nursing was starting to drain me after only one semester. I joined Kasamahan, Nursing Student Association, Male Student Nurses Society (MSNS), the Hawaiian Ensemble, and Hui O Hawai’i. Balancing my time between clubs and school was a struggle at first. I was excited to dance and perform, especially since I’ve been performing my whole life. This led me to focus more on my clubs than on school. Although I didn’t suffer academically, I could tell that my mental and physical health took a toll. As I started learning how to balance my time, I came to enjoy being in school for both my clubs and nursing. I learned more about myself, my Filipino culture, and my new interest in Hawaiian and Tahitian dance. I’ve learned that taking time away from nursing is essential to do other things you love, whether picking up a new hobby or reviving an old one.

In addition to my clubs, I knew I wanted to give back to my nursing community here at USF. I took on being a skills lab assistant, cohort representative, and a supplemental instructor (SI) leader. Through these roles, I’ve learned that I have a love for education and teaching. It is rewarding to share my knowledge with my colleagues and contribute to their learning. In addition to teaching my colleagues, being a cohort representative allows me to advocate for them and assist them in any way I can. I don’t limit myself to only my cohort, but I advocate for the entire nursing student body. I came in not knowing anything because I was shy and found it difficult to ask for help. I strive to be the person I needed when I first came to USF. Taking on these leadership roles has allowed me to come out of my shell, further develop my leadership skills, and advocate for myself, my colleagues, and my patients.

The Pedro Arrupe Award is given to a rising senior who embodies the ideals of Ignatian spirituality and Jesuit education. I am blessed to have been selected as the 2024 Pedro Arrupe Award recipient. After winning this award, I silently reflected. I was in awe of how far I’ve come. From being a low academic performer to debating what I should major in, getting into nursing school and struggling initially, to being shy and refusing to get out of my comfort zone, and now here I am! My journey to receiving this prestigious award is a love letter to myself; a message that I am capable of such great things. In my essay for this award, I explained that not only should we provide cura personalis for our patients, but we should also give it to ourselves. In order for us to give the dignity and respect that our patients deserve, it all starts with caring for ourselves. You will then be ready to provide transpersonal and individualized care for our patients. Transpersonal care allows for healing for both our patients and us as their caregivers.

To current and prospective nursing students: don’t lose yourself in the nursing school journey. Do other things you love, pick up new hobbies, and explore what San Francisco offers! Always treat yourself after quizzes, exams, simulations, skills clinics, or classes. Learn to listen to your body’s needs, and don’t overwork yourself. We all want to excel in nursing school, but we can’t do that if our body isn’t functioning at its best. When you learn that there is much more, your time will be more valuable, and you will then be the best version of yourself for your patients. As I finished my Kaiser Internship, I want to share what my preceptor told me: “Don’t try to be perfect. Embrace your novice status.” We all feel we need to be perfect, especially as a student. However, we are life-long learners in this profession – it will all come with time.

What Do Others Say About Patrick?

Janice A. Mark, DNP, RN, FNP-BC. Assistant Professor & Faculty Director of Immersive Learning:
Patrick is a member of several on-campus organizations and has served in various leadership roles (e.g., Secretary and a nursing student cohort representative). Despite working as a TA, doing volunteer work, and being a student nurse, Patrick has been able also to maintain a high GPA at USF. These traits and activities demonstrate Patrick's leadership skills and efforts to create an improved sense of community and social justice at USF. 

Naomi Villaruz – Cohort Representative Manager:
His dedication to excellence is exemplified in his support for the nursing program and his commitment to our cohort. Patrick excels in building and nurturing relationships with faculty, students, and guests. His active participation in meetings and events allows him to understand the community’s needs and propose innovative ideas to support our initiatives. He is crucial in welcoming new students to the nursing program and helping them acclimate to student life at USF. There is without doubt that I wholeheartedly nominate Patrick Paulo for his strong sense of resilience, engagement, and dedication to serve as an inspiration to us all.

Janelle Olano – Nursing Colleague/Nursing Student Association President/Kasamahan Activities Co-Director:
I have the privilege of being a part of the nursing student body at the same time as Patrick Paulo, and I can confidently say that I am becoming a much better nurse and student because of it. As a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader and Skills Lab assistant, Patrick has selflessly offered support for the nursing community in so many forms. Even when he has no obligation to, Patrick always goes out of his way to help other students. I truly have never known someone so eager to help and passionate about supporting his peers – as a student who is also going through the difficult journey of nursing school, I always know that I can go to him for help, and he’ll be there without hesitation or without asking for anything in return. Not only does he help our student body in these tangible ways, he also offers so much support in the relationships that he develops with students.

Michiko Nagatomo – Nursing Colleague:
Patrick’s sense of empathy extends beyond his bedside practice as a student nurse; he was able to channel his innate talent of performing into meaningful action, as his performances in Hui O’ Hawai’i and Hawaiian Ensemble are for a good cause, such as raising funds for the Lahaina wildfires. 

Christian Bowker – Peer/Vice President of Kasamahan:
Patrick Paulo has always had an immense drive that has allowed him to succeed and achieve his goals and aspirations, and it has been a pleasure to experience that firsthand. The fire ignited within him has allowed him to radiate and spread his positive light to others and impact the spaces and communities that he is involved in in a way that focuses on the greater good. 

Cassidy Chung – Peer/E-board member of Hawaiian Ensemble and Hui O Hawai’i:
Not only have I known and served alongside Patrick, getting to know him as a leader, but I have gotten to grow close to him as a person. Patrick has a heart for others, and is someone who will dedicate themselves to reach a goal, and will prioritize uplifting those around him to achieve it together.