CU Nursing - Commencement Spring 2021 - 5

G R A D U AT I O N

Omarah's the first to acknowledge that her lighter skin and
father's economic status provided her with some privileges
and shielded her from other forms of discrimination and
oppression that other people of color face daily.
Still, those early lessons taught Omarah to have empathy
for others, especially for those deemed 'different.'
" My parents raised me to be aware of barriers and to not
make assumptions about others. So, I don't pass judgment
on anyone and try to understand their perspective. "

THE HEARTBEAT OF HEALTHCARE
The passion to listen and learn from others has served
Omarah well. She graduated from Cornell University in
2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. That led her
to work in a mental health facility for five years, where
she worked alongside nurses who inspired her to change
her career path.
" Nurses are the heartbeat of health care. They don't get
enough recognition for everything they do. They are
the face and heart of the treatment. Patients wouldn't

Some people have trouble connecting
with kids, but I enjoy the challenge. I
also love to work with their families.
That's what motivates me, putting
together the bigger picture and
practicing holistic care for the child. It
makes me feel complete and I just know
that this is for me. " - Omarah Macias

Omarah with her
fiance Shane
Czarnecki.
Courtesy of
Katie O'Docharty.

progress without them. I was inspired by the nurses and their compassion and realized that's the role
I want to play, " she said.
Omarah will graduate this May
from the University of Colorado
College of Nursing with a Bachelor
of Science degree. Once she passes
the licensing exam, she will be a
registered nurse.
Today, Omarah is part of the honors
program after serving as vice president
of the Student Nurses' Association.
She's writing a thesis about how physical and emotional pain plays a role
in treatment retention. Her research
is expected to help find ways to keep
people with opioid-use disorder in
treatment longer.
When she graduates, Omarah dreams
of working as a pediatric nurse.
" Some people have trouble connecting with kids, but I enjoy the challenge. I also love to work with their
families. That's what motivates me,
putting together the bigger picture
and practicing holistic care for the
child. It makes me feel complete and
I just know that this is for me. "

FUTURE VOICES
Omarah started a student organization last year with the help of
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