Hi! My name is Kaddy Jatta. I am an African-American, twenty-three year old female, born and raised in Nashville, TN, USA. My parents are from The Gambia, the smallest country on the mainland of Africa. I am a former Pharmacy Technician and a current Registered Nurse. I graduated with an Associate’s of Applied Science in Nursing degree from Tennessee State University in 2018. I worked for about a year as a bedside nurse, then went completed a RN to BSN bridge program to obtain my Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing.
My earliest educational memory was learning how to spell my name in preschool. I remember writing it over and over and over again, until the entire page was full: K A D D Y. I would even come home to spell it out for my parents and write it on my cool, dry erase board that I had in my room.
My greatest challenge through my educational journey was having parents who did not attend the same school system I did.
I would come home and need help with certain assignments and would have to learn it as best as I could on my own. Even though there were teachers, the homework hotline, or tutors that could help, it was not the same as having your mom and dad help you get through an assignment and you all working on it together. I didn’t even have an older sibling in our household that could help me; they were all in The Gambia.
In regards to my education, my parents were my advocates. I love and appreciate my parents so much. They are my world - literally, and the best support system anyone could ask for. Given the fact that my mom was never able to attend school and my dad barely got through what they called secondary school ( middle school, junior high) in The Gambia, going to school, becoming educated, and being successful were the most important things to them for their kids.
I chose to attend and finish college to make my parents proud, but along the way I learned that it was the best option for me to create a better and successful life for my future. The higher education system supported me as a First Generation student by offering grants and student loans to me in order to pay for college. I would have never been able to pay it on my own. Furthermore, out of all the great educators I have came across, Mr. Derrick Johnson was my most influential educator throughout my educational journey. He was a Florida raised Registered Nurse who had just obtained his Master’s degree in nursing, and decided to move to Tennessee. I met Mr. Johnson my first semester of nursing school as my clinical instructor. We were his first group of students he taught as an educator. Unlike the majority of my classmates, I was a year and a half out of high school, and taking prerequisite courses along with being enrolled in nursing classes. Mr. Johnson taught in ways I could understand and never minded to “dummy down” things I could not understand. He would ask me questions in front of the entire class that allowed me to use my critical thinking skills and connect the dots to nursing diagnoses and interventions. His door was always open and I was never afraid to ask him questions. Mr. Johnson was kind, empathetic, and very wise.
A defining moment I had with Mr. Johnson was when he and two of my good nursing school friends were all in his office tearing up as the faith of us passing nursing school lied in the hands of a final exam. We had a heart to heart conversation about the struggles of nursing school, challenges we were currently facing, and just about life itself. Nursing school was so hard, but I couldn’t give up. I had so much on the line and I personally was going through so much that I never wanted to talk about. Mr. Johnson could sense that something was wrong, but he always made an effort to make sure I stayed focused in accomplishing my goal of passing nursing school and my board test to obtain my license as a registered nurse- the first time (which I did)!!! I am so grateful to have a person like him be a part of my thrilling journey.
Having a college degree opened doors for me that I never thought I would walk through. I am very appreciative of the opportunities I have been a part of.
I chose Nursing because of my late grandmother, Kaddy Demba. My grandmother came to the US in 2000 after she started to become sick in The Gambia and my dad believed it would be best to bring her here. She was diagnosed with lung cancer when I was in elementary school. As a little girl, I witnessed my grandmother going in and out of the hospital, but she was always in great spirits. My grandmother and her nurses always had a great rapport when I would go to visit. The nurses were always so nice to my grandma, joking around with her, and she would be excited to see them every time they would enter the room. They would also be extremely nice to my family and I when we were there. I told my family I wanted to be a nurse when I grew up and it stuck with me ever since. The respect and admiration I had for those nurses made me want to make other people and their family members feel that good as well. To this day, my heart fills with so much gratitude when my patients and their families are appreciative of the care I give to their loved ones.
If I wrote a book about my educational journey, the title would be Lost but Found. I chose this title because it describes to me that anyone can be lost but found through whatever means it takes. Throughout my educational journey, I would always start off discourage when I felt lost in the challenges I was facing, but found again when I got through those same challenges.
My dad has always told me, “as long as you know where you’re going, you’ll be fine. Just take your steps to get there.”
The advice I would give to other First Generation students would be to stay focused. Once you figure out what goals you want to accomplish, take your steps to get there. Even if your goals change along the way, recreate your path and continue to take the steps towards those goals. No matter what obstacles come in your way, never give up. I am a walking proof that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I am currently working as a crisis response travel nurse in Amarillo, TX. The future for me holds taking a holistic approach in healing people from their illnesses and diseases. I can not wait to share my knowledge and continue to educate and care for people, in my own unique way.
Thank you Dr. Williams for allowing me to share a piece of my story and be a part of this wonderful blog!!