My Story

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Tiffany McLeod

My Story

In the heart of a young woman who loves sharing a good laugh and smile with others rests compassion and respect two qualities that would later become the driving force to her destiny.  My name is Tiffany P. McLeod and like so many others life handed out its share of ups and downs in the ever evolving world that we know it.  What was a painful and harsh reality for me, being laid off of a job at the beginning stages of my independence became the stepping stone to my pathway of realizing my purpose in society.  While I had pledged to never return to college because of the difficulty in not only being able to afford it but the common sense factor that I sill needed employment to support myself in society.  I obtained my CNA license though a program that specialized in giving chances to people that were still hungry for success, this began the peeling process to the many layers of Tiffany stepping out of contentment. Initially I was somewhat unwilling to “get my hands dirty” but now I view this line of work as a very special position that allows you to work with people when they are at their most vulnerable moments was something that moved my heart.  Working with people everyday allowed me to feel a sense of pride knowing that I am able to demonstrate love and compassion while hearing stories that I would never have embarked upon in my daily life.  

The purposeful consideration of compassionate health is the root of my interest in obtaining my degree in Health Care Administration. Providing purposeful compassionate health to me means going beyond just “getting the job done” it’s having a determination to show compassion to that individual even if you can’t change the situation they are faced with. Being in a position where I would have a voice in addressing the many issues, ideas and practices that play a valuable part in how successful health care is demonstrated.  My job as a CNA has allowed me to relate my work habits towards academic goals by increasing my knowledge about health care disparities in several different areas.  I have developed priceless skills which I believe will allow me to be successful in my goal by contributing to health research that supports the people that need help with wide-ranged actions and solutions that will match with policies set forth.  I have seen first-hand a culture where many health problems exist due to many issues other than the physical body that include suppression of culture, lack of jobs, poverty and geographic segregation.  I now consider my position as a Certified Nursing Assistant to be a lucky one that will allow me to be a well rounded individual that will catapult to a position that will display the values I hold true to.  As a student at College Unbound I have been fortunate to meet special and influential mentors who have taken the time to invest in my vision of demonstrating compassion from the bedside and intertwining it to make a healthy working culture.