Star of the Month
Victoria Vu
School of Nursing
Congratulations to our Star of the Month for December 2024, Victoria Vu from the School of Nursing!
Victoria is currently in the School of Nursing's Community Outreach Program working with our amazing partners at CASA de Maryland to support the coordination and operation of its free eye clinics for residents. With the first part of the academic year nearly over, Victoria is already planning new ways to serve CASA's clients through a series of health education workshops. Read our interview to learn more about Victoria's experience in the Community Outreach Program!
Tell us about yourself! What brought you to the School of Nursing, and what made you want to get involved with CASA in the Community Outreach Program?
Hello! My name is Victoria and I am from the Bay Area in California! I enjoy cooking, going to concerts, and traveling the world! I was drawn to the School of Nursing due to the various resources they had for me to grow in this profession outside of the classroom. As I prepare to enter this selfless profession, I want to create positive change with my evolving skillset. I learned about COP during orientation and was inspired to join and make a difference in the community. Over the years, I had countless experiences with patients who spoke Spanish and would always try my best to help them at every stage of my language learning (still working on improving it!). I approach each encounter wanting to be a source of comfort and understanding, even if I am not a fluent speaker. I want to do my very best as a new addition to the community. On top of that, I get to practice using Spanish on a more regular basis!
Can you share a little bit about the work you are doing with CASA?
For this semester, I have been reaching out to community members who were interested in attending our free eye clinics. I would contact people, create appointments, send out reminders, and then translate on the day of the clinic. Once I come back from winter break, I plan on holding a few health education sessions. I want to create opportunities for the community to learn about some common illnesses and diseases that are prominent in the area.
Are you aware of any opportunities for other students to volunteer at CASA?
I am sure CASA is always accepting volunteers, as there is a lot of work that goes into what they do. They run workshops, hold CNA classes, teach English as a Second Language, and help community members look for work.
How does your community work in COP complement what you’re learning in the classroom at the School of Nursing?
Working with the community and seeing the common ailments of the area makes me think back to my classes that focus on disease processes, clinical presentations, and how Baltimore's history is affecting the susceptibility to certain diseases in the community. These experiences helped me brainstorm how I would approach these diseases in the community setting, prompting my interest in holding health education sessions.
What is the most important experience you’ve had or most critical thing you’ve learned so far through working with our community?
After experiencing the eye clinics, I have become more passionate about health education. I have always been an advocate for preventative healthcare. With my current stage of training and schooling, I find joy in offering my knowledge to the community. If I can educate them on how to take care of themselves at home, then I can help empower them with their healthcare. I may not be able to give them medical insurance in a pinch, but I can give them resources to understand when something more serious may be going on and when they should seek medical care.