My name is Zavion Johnson, I am an IR nurse at a procedural clinic in Memphis, as well as an ICU step-down nurse at a hospital, Baptist DeSoto, in Mississippi. I feel as if Baptist chose me. I had at least a dozen applications out for colleges, not knowing exactly where to find home. So my mom mentioned Baptists, to me. And when she mentioned that, I said, okay, I'll put an application. And once I talked to some staff, and kind of got acquainted with some of the people, I knew I needed to be here.
Even though I was in Middle Tennessee, I had a friend who graduated here before me, that came all the way to Memphis to the school that at the time was called Baptist College of Health Sciences. And those health sciences words kind of rung in my ear. And I thought, you know, I want to do nursing, maybe that's something I should look into. I met some of the professors, I'd be dealing with, some of the classmates that I'd be joining, and just overall the campus itself, and honestly fell in love the city as well. And so I decided that was that was the end, I was done searching, and I was going to be here for college.
Their program was credited. There's 100% job placement after graduation. I would be exposed to all the different imaging styles of sonography. So I didn't have to choose one imaging style and stick with it.
What I love about Baptist is the small class ratio. So all the teachers know me by name. And so I'm just not like one student in 1000.
You feel like you're being heard and seen, and you're not just a number and name on a piece of paper.
I honestly don't think there's a single professor that I had during my time here that if I ran into them now wouldn't remember who I was just for me being here for four years, because the class sizes are so conducive to that group learning, where you're not lost in the crowd.
I was able to get that one-on-one attention that I needed it with the staff. As well as truly being able to feel as if this is a community that is focused on your growth, and your ability to actually become a healer and grow into your own calling. And to really live out that mission statement of preaching, healing, and teaching.
Also a lot of hands-on learning. As I'm now in the simulation lab right now. So we use a lot of like, mannequins to improve our learning. So we're ready when we go to hospital and we have the real patient.
You're dealing with patients, one-on-one, face to face, you know, you're scanning from day one.
The curriculum is laid out in a very specific way that walks you from the very beginning of nursing and learning the basics, the foundations of what it is to be a nurse, and working it all the way up. And the entire way you're taking everything you've learned from the past and building upon it until you get to the very end. And all of a sudden you realize you're this whole complete nurse, and you're in Capstone, right there alongside the registered nurse at the hospital thinking, oh, I'm doing this.
This was a second career for me. So I really had time to sit down and think about it, and what I really wanted to do and research the schools in the area that offered Sonography as a major. And I was able to talk with people in the field and job shadow, and really get into this is what I want to do. And this is what's going to be the best for me.
As an international student, I actually came here and actually perfected my English in here. And also was so intimidated when I got here. Baptist actually gave me a lot of helping hands and also tools to succeed-- of what I'm learning.
I was in the residence hall for all four years. And honestly, I really am glad that I did it. Because a lot of people coming to college, I was three and a half hours away from home. But being in the residence hall, I met so many amazing people, and a lot of us were under the same boat because we were coming here, far away from home. A lot of people came from out of state as well, which wasn't even part of their journey. And those people all, you know, had one thing in common and it brought us together. And we became really close friends. And I really think that this for that.
So I really love how passionate people were at Baptist. It's a career and a lifestyle. It's not just a fleeting idea of, "oh, I want to do this today". But you really are passionate about learning in your career.
When it comes to healing and actually really touching someone, you have to kind of lean on someone else. Because you have not gotten to where you are alone, so you won't get to where you're going alone.
When I was a student at Baptist, I actually was a student mentor and a student tutor. So when I was a mentor I helped all the students from health assessment, which is the first class you take in nursing school, all the way through the pediatric and OB.
I am glad Baptist chose me. I am very thankful for the opportunities I receive here. For the people I've met -- for the lives I've been able to change just as a student -- it's been an honor and a blessing!