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Bella Miranda-Goeller found her passion in nursing — and the drive to help her fellow students as president of ASLU-PC

ASLU-Portland Campus President Bella Miranda-Goeller struggled to find her focus — until she found her calling in nursing. Now, she said, her passion to become the best nurse possible inspired her to student leadership. Read on to hear about her “Aha!” moment, her primary goals as president, and what she’s learned about the world and herself after 18 months in on-campus leadership roles.

Q: Can you tell me about your educational life before ÃÛѨÊÓƵ — where you went to school, and what kind of student you were?

I attended University of Oregon for my freshman year and then took a few classes via Portland Community College. During my time at UO, I was not extremely focused on school, mainly because I had no career goal in mind. I found my grades slipping and had no motivation to participate fully in class. COVID-19 then hit and I decided to take a year off school to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.

I got a job as a Clinical Assistant in a small, acute-care hospital and immediately things clicked — I wanted to become a nurse. Once I found my passion and attended ÃÛѨÊÓƵ, specifically the nursing program, I changed as a student. I am incredibly passionate and find that I enjoy learning. I love studying how different body systems work, how we treat diseases and what I can do in a life-threatening situation. I do not work hard and study for the tests and assignments — I work hard and study hard to become the best nurse I can be.

Q: When did you first consider ÃÛѨÊÓƵ as a possibility?

I considered ÃÛѨÊÓƵ when I learned about their acceptance procedure into their nursing program. Since I still needed one more year of pre-requisites and a boost in my GPA, ÃÛѨÊÓƵ felt like the best option. They also offered more student aid than the other programs I got into.

I had heard amazing things about ÃÛѨÊÓƵ’s nursing program. I talked to a lot of nurses during my application process who all said ÃÛѨÊÓƵ is known for making nurses who are great at critical thinking. I knew that I would be able to start practicing as a nurse soon, receive a great education from wonderful professors and be as prepared as a new grad nurse can be.

Q: What do you think it is about nursing that you find so compelling and exciting?

While working as a clinical assistant, I fell in love with the medical field, learned how to care for people and heard a variety of life stories and experiences. The nurses were knowledgeable, kind and confident.

I truly saw what it was like to be part of a support system for people at their most vulnerable during such a terrifying time in all our lives. Being part of a team that helps in someone's recovery is incredibly rewarding. While my future endeavors could change, there is nothing I want to do with my life more than become a well-rounded nurse. I am thankful that the nursing career offers so many different paths, continued education and the opportunity to have a stable career.                         

Q: Are there any professors you’ve really connected with?

Almost every professor I have had while at ÃÛѨÊÓƵ has been some of the best professors I have ever come across during my time in college. They are passionate and hardworking and truly care about their students. If you are willing to give it your all, they notice it and work with you to be prepared for this incredibly challenging career.

Faculty and staff at ÃÛѨÊÓƵ School of Nursing are the backbone for creating not only knowledgeable nurses, but also caring human beings and future leaders.                                                                                      

Q: Why did you decide to take on a leadership role in ASLU?

Before attending ÃÛѨÊÓƵ School of Nursing, I was never involved in student affairs or leadership opportunities. However, my love for nursing made me want to pursue leadership and give back to my peers and campus.

ASLU at Portland is about encouraging positivity and community among the students, faculty and staff. We are all sharing a very similar experience, which can be extremely challenging, time consuming and even discouraging.  

Seeing people laugh about a light-hearted moment during a simulation, joke with their professors, get to hug a therapy dog, share a heartwarming story from their clinical rotation or gather around food and Keurig coffee in the campus Nurses’ Lounge brings me joy. Because we are a commuter campus, these moments are incredibly special and I wanted to be a part of making these moments happen more.

Q: What are you learning about leadership as you serve as president?

I have learned a lot since becoming president of ASLU:

• I have learned how to communicate with people who hold different positions within the university.
• I have learned how to think about what is best for a majority of people, not just one person or what is easiest for me.
• I have learned how to juggle the responsibility of having this position, with school, my social life and work.
• I have learned, and continue to learn, how to delegate responsibilities, to be fair and sometimes navigate conflict or difficulty with my friends who also hold ASLU positions.
• I have learned how to write professional emails, how to communicate effectively, how to listen during meetings and know what to and what not to say in appropriate settings.
• I have learned what battles are worth fighting and I have learned how to approach conflict. I have learned how much friends have an impact and how thankful I am to have my best friend as my right-hand woman. I have learned that being a leader can be extremely difficult, but that it can also be empowering and rewarding. I am so thankful for what this position has already taught me and what more I have to learn.

Q: What would you tell someone who is considering becoming a nurse?

If you are passionate about learning, care about people other than yourself and want to make a difference in the world, do it. It has been challenging and I have learned a lot about myself throughout the process, but so far there is nothing else I would rather be doing.

Q: What would you tell someone considering studying at ÃÛѨÊÓƵ?

Every college and university has its challenges and hoops to jump through, but what matters is the people you surround yourself with and the experience you make out of it. The professors are incredible but they are not going to do all the work for you — it is on you to be passionate about what you're learning and be successful. There are resources available and people who want you to succeed at ÃÛѨÊÓƵ. ÃÛѨÊÓƵ School of Nursing has so much to offer, but so do you!