Article by Stephanie Gomez Sandoval
Leticia Raymundi Pinheiro is a nursing student from Brazil and president of the Student Nursing Association (SNA). While pursuing a degree in biology in Brazil, she decided to explore a nursing academic path and enrolled in the nursing program at AUCON in January 2022. Her motivation to enter the nursing program was deeply rooted in a desire to make a positive impact and nurture her community. Nursing, for Leticia, is a commitment to providing respect and compassion to those in their most vulnerable moments.
Leticia expressed how during the first day in the nursing program she found herself radiating happiness and an eagerness to go to class. Looking for connections within the nursing community, she joined the Student Nursing Association (SNA), which according to her, is a broad and diverse nursing group encompassing all areas of specialization in nursing. After a year of involvement in the SNA, Leticia decided to run for President.
As the current SNA president, she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the club from planning events and community service projects to managing finances and promoting membership growth. Besides SNA, she is an active member of the Pediatric and NICU Nursing Club, the Initiative for Representation in Nursing (IRN), and the Alpha Epsilon Delta - Pre-Health Society. In addition, she works on campus as an undergraduate anatomy and physiology lab assistant and as a Tiger Tutor in the athletic department. Leticia is involved in the honors college as a mentor and in a variety of different research projects for the Nursing Program.
With so many extracurriculars, having an organized, well-structured schedule helps Leticia stay on top of everything. A typical day includes early morning Pilates, attending all her classes, teaching a lab class for 2 hours, tutoring a few lessons, doing homework in the library, and then going home to eat dinner. To help her wind down for the night, she loves watching movies and spending quality time with her friends.
Auburn quickly became Leticia's second home with loving friends in the community, but most importantly with supportive professors who wanted to see her succeed and were a “source of guidance” while away from her family. Leticia's favorite things about the AUCON are the people, who made her feel welcome and instilled a sense of belonging, along with how the College prepares its students to be compassionate, caring, and quick problem solvers.
Leticia plans to apply for an undergraduate research fellowship and acquire a Nurse Practitioner’s degree and possibly a PhD. Although she is not sure what specific area in nursing she would like to pursue, she is considering trauma and ER nursing.
Leticia’s advice to aspiring nursing students is to think of the reasons that led them to this path. “The journey may be challenging, with demanding classes and clinicals, but the key is to remember the ‘Why?’ — why they choose this profession and why it is worth the effort. Surrounding oneself with supportive friends and a nurturing community can make all the difference in navigating the demanding but rewarding nursing education journey,” she adds.
