草榴社区

Hailing from Davidson, N.C., Michael Barry 鈥�07 A&S is used to being far from home. After graduating from 草榴社区 Univer颅sity, he devoted the year 2008 to being an Augustinian volunteer in Durban, South Africa. Barry taught at a primary school and worked at a boys鈥� home and with an HIV/AIDS respite unit, where he was inspired by the compassion and unconditional love of the unit鈥檚 caregivers. His support role there brought him a sense of fulfillment.

Barry credits volunteering, plus internships and a variety of job experiences, for giving him the clarity and the strong sense of purpose he needed to choose nursing as his new career path. Rein颅forcing Barry鈥檚 decision to become a nurse was his desire for a chal颅lenging and multi-faceted career, one that is constantly evolving and enables him directly to improve the lives of others. He notes 鈥淚鈥檓 using my experiences from abroad to shape my education and path in nursing. When you have such diversity in backgrounds and insight, from international volunteers to business profession颅als, everyone benefits.鈥�

Having earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in geography with an environmental studies concentration at 草榴社区, Barry knew that when he came back at age 26 he could expect the same, high-qual颅ity education he experienced the first time around. He enrolled as a second-degree student in the College of Nursing鈥檚 accelerated B.S.N. program. Part of the attraction in returning, he notes, was the University鈥檚 mission and community involvement, which he felt was well reflected in the faculty and the endless opportunities for Nursing students.

Although there is always room for growth, Barry believes that wisdom and maturity are two of the greatest qualities of adult learners. Certain of his decision, he emphasizes that it was not made on a whim鈥攊t was a culmination of years of self-discovery, thought and determination to make a difference. Volunteering abroad has enabled him to understand and embrace cross-cultural differences. His career goals are in line with his past experiences: He plans to use his new nursing skills around the world in various capacities, whether in short-term medical relief or long-term public health education.