While enrolled at Carrington College’s Boise campus Nursing Bridge program, Hardeep says he never was a straight A student but he always worked hard. Hardeep is not a man of many words; he believes actions speak louder than words. And it is in his actions that he was recognized by his peers. During his term, the word got out that Hardeep was the guy everyone went to for help.
One of the students – he doesn’t know who – sponsored him for the DAISY Award. During his graduation ceremony last October, he listened as a student made an introductory speech about the DAISY Award winner, crediting the honoree for showing compassion as they really struggled to complete their studies. He never realized it was for him until they announced his name.
Humility and compassion often go together. Also, underestimating how smart you really are. Hardeep says he was a B/C student in elementary school. He hated math. But for some reason the NCLEX exam – the final exam for becoming a Registered Nurse, known for being one of the most difficult exams to complete – made sense to him. He prepared; he worked hard to memorize as much as he could. Hardeep says he wasn’t the smartest in his class, he just tried really hard. And when it came time to take the NCLEX, passed in one try answering approximately 150 questions.
“You have to make the effort,” he says. “If you try hard enough you can easily do it.” I can’t help but think it is just another form of modesty, thinking everyone is as talented academically as he. But it is his quiet compassion for others that his peers recognized they are most grateful for.
I asked Hardeep what he did to celebrate winning the DAISY. Observing his quiet humility in our conversation, I wasn’t very surprised: “I just went out and got some food with some classmates.” His short-term goal is to work for Kaiser Permanente; his long-term goal is to earn his Masters’ Degree in Nursing.
Until now Hardeep has lived by himself. But soon his brother is coming to live with him, attending the same program in Boise that Hardeep just finished. I wonder if his brother even knows Hardeep was honored by his peers with the DAISY AWARD. Or how lucky he is; it would be no surprise if Hardeep lends his brother a helping hand.
