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In high school, Aeryn Sim struggled with her mental health, but found that her biggest support came from the nurses around her.
“At one point, I got put into a psychiatric inpatient facility, and during that experience, I really felt a lot of empathy from the nurses. They were very kind and caring, even though I'm sure that they've seen so many different people with the same story. They made me feel like what I was going through was significant, and they helped me with that," Sim says.
Sim attended Community College of Aurora where she tried out a variety of skills. During her first semester, Sim enrolled in a nail technician program, where she realized she wanted a more hands-on way to help others.
“As soon as I started nail school ,we were in our scrubs, and I realized I don't want to be a nail technician in scrubs, I want to help people, and be a nurse in scrubs,” she says.
Sim always knew she had a passion for caring and empathizing with others. With these skills, she knew she’d make a great nurse.
“Growing up, I was always told that I'm very sensitive, and I think that was always a con and like a negative way to describe me,” she says. “But instead, I utilized that to make it a positive thing, and being sensitive and caring about people and having empathy, I think that's such a powerful tool.”
After two years at community college, Sim started her 2-year BSN program at CU Anschutz College of Nursing in June. So far, she says the program has made her enjoy school for the first time.
“I love learning, this has really just changed the whole trajectory of my future.”
As someone born and raised in Aurora, Sim knew CU Anschutz College of Nursing’s reputation as a connected medical campus. She says she is especially excited to work with patients across her home state.
“You get to be placed in different areas of Colorado,” she says. “I think that's so great, and I think being able to expand beyond what you already know helps so much.”
Ask what she's most excited for, and the answer comes quickly.
“I think getting clinical experience, like at the hospitals. I can't wait. I'm a little bit scared of what I might see, but I'm ready,” she says.
After she graduates, she hopes to return to the same type of care that helped her in her toughest moments: emergency psychiatry. Her goal as a nurse is to be a good listener.
“I like to be listened to. I want to be able to listen to other people too, and make them feel validated,” Sim says.
She says because she’s had stressful times in her own life, she feels more equipped to help others going through similar experiences.
“I've just lived in chaos my whole life. I feel like I'm magnetic towards it, so might as well just walk towards that direction, rather than run away from it.”
She wants to be a steady presence and make psychiatric patients feel heard.
Her advice to incoming BSN students? Be sure of your decision to pursue nursing, because passion makes learning easier.
“Having resilience, grit, and passion makes things so much easier,” she says. “You don't have to put that much effort in if you already feel like you can do this, like I want to do this, I will do it.”
