[HIMECCRN]

I am a minority and I found out today that I had been accepted into a program. I was confident that my background would make me stand out in the interview.:dncg:

[sirJazz]

ei guys... im filipino accepted at VCU this fall 08! nervous of course since im moving from metropolitan new york to virginia. but I have high hopes and am really confident that i will have a blast with my classmates and faculty. good luck to all!

[SWTNES]

Originally Posted by SheRN1

I find this thread very interesting because these are some of the same questions I have pondered. I was fortunate enough to meet 2 African American female CRNA's. Since, this meeting they have always been a great source of encouragement to me and my goals of becoming a CRNA. As a African American woman I know that we have to strive and work harder to enter the field. But, never give up and my best advice is to try network with these CRNA's they are always willing to help other minorities who have drive and determination. I know that hard work, determination and drive is what got me accepted into an Anesthesia program for 2006.

Hello,

I am a future African American CRNA. I plan to start at Memorial Hospital in Rhode Island in May 2009. How is your program going for you. Any words of encouragement. How did you manage finances during your school while not being able to work? I know you are looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel since you program will be ending soon.

[SWTNES]

Originally Posted by HIMECCRN

I am a minority and I found out today that I had been accepted into a program. I was confident that my background would make me stand out in the interview.:dncg:

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!

[SWTNES]

Congrats!!!!! Which school will you be attending? I plan to apply this year to Memorial Hospital in Rhode Island and Excela in PA.

[BUTTERFLY SRNA]

As much as they say that everyone's equal, CRNA schools don't see color,
try that in the South. From teachers to students: minorities are mostly treated as 'invisible'. The whites give notes and previous exams and full support to each other. The nonwhites will just have to find their own resources. One time, an AfAm classmate of mine needed some notes for
review, the caucasian classmate gave it to her, on condition that she
not tell the he handed her some notes. The teachers tend to listen to gripes from caucasian students, who mostly are content and happy and 'winging' it with hand-me-down notes/old exams. Those minorities who
don't get them, of course, end up w/ Bs or Cs. The minute you complain
about the courseload, of course, you are labeled as a trouble maker.
What's a shame is this, even in the hallways or library, your own white
classmates treat you as invisible.....AT THIS DAY & AGE of magnet, it is
simply appalling and deplorable! You get what you want as a minority if
you play their game of playing 'weak'. I'm not the type to cry for help, but
I was an A student before CRNA school and I am now dropping out because of 2 semesters w/ Cs and they did not want to consider or work it out with me.. I know I'm not the only one who's struggling (I know why I struggle, b/c for most of my white classmates, 1/2 the work is done w/
old tests/notes, I have to start from scratch and it really gets overwhelming, albeit, impossible to score As. My point is, diversity in the South is nothing but lip service. They are capable of undermining a minority's confidence and performance with their silent way of bullying you and subtle ways of exclusion. Minorities, be aware of this game....this is
the reason why we're not well-represented, the system only supports their kind: bright, smart, white, & not b/c we cannot make it, it's b/c the degree
is practically handed to them...

[mark2climb]

Originally Posted by BUTTERFLY SRNA

mostly are content and happy and 'winging' it with hand-me-down notes/old exams. Those minorities who
don't get them, of course, end up w/ Bs or Cs.

Would you be truly satisfied with your degree if you were "winging it with hand-me-down notes/old exams? And by minorities, do you mean African American? What about the men in your class? What about other races or are they not considered minorities?

My point is, diversity in the South is nothing but lip service. They are capable of undermining a minority's confidence and performance with their silent way of bullying you and subtle ways of exclusion. Minorities, be aware of this game....this is
the reason why we're not well-represented, the system only supports their kind: bright, smart, white, & not b/c we cannot make it, it's b/c the degree
is practically handed to them...

Are men well represented in the system? Are they considered minorities? How about non-caucasian men?

[BUTTERFLY SRNA]

Truthfully, nope, you feel empty and that you're cheating the system that way if you can get by with hand-me-downs or old exams..the final test of your true intelligence is how you make it in the boards..that's when your true capability is tested: you're there on your own, no help from outsiders, whatsoever..But to make it and to play DA game, ie, to get to the finish line, it would be best to avail of what's out there that's given to everyone.

For me, who's not given much in terms of old notes, the best thing that happened was I managed to do it from scratch, but again, it takes time to
make those reviewers....all things being equal..c/t the SRNA who gets all the freebies, the extra time in their hands can be put to good use by
memorizing the endless materials that are required to 'regurgitate' back
to teachers..this is where the As come from..for me who does everything
by scratch, there's the time factor, how much can I possibly squeeze into
my studying, given that I'm allotting a few hrs making those reviews? So, there, I get by w/ Bs and Cs...you hear those A students complain? Nope,
that too makes them look good, all with the 'intangible' support.

You asked abt men as minority, no there's a visible amt of men in the program, well supported as well. Minority means people of color, we're a rarity in Anesthesia. My teacher once said that previous studies have shown that not a lot of minorities make it in this field...I really know why,
as I said, opportunities and special accommodations are pretty much given to the whites to perpetuate that squeaky clean, predominantly white image of a CRNA. It's sad, huh? Because if we say as healthcare providers that we see no color in treating out patients, why is there a lot of hypocrisy among us nurses and not treat each other, our own colleagues, in a color-blind manner...? It's not the same at all for MDs, that's why they're true professionals .

[CandyGyrl]

It's funny because I posted a thread about this same/similar topic. I wondered because I'd heard things. I experience invisibility and isolation from non minority students...{I'm not in CRNA school} I'm very friendly, outgoing and attractive it just seems they are alot more comfortable with each other. Even if you do break bread with them it's kinda akward and it seems like everyone is being so phony so I just keep to myself and study hard. Not trying to gripe but this has been my experience. I've even noticed that these students may be overly friendly to another non-minority student in the class even though they don't know them just to bring them into their circle and let them know they're welcome but keep others locked out.

I almost feel as if there are preconceived notions that maybe they don't think I'm that smart so I find myself feeling as if I have something to prove. This also keeps me isolated and I don't understand it. It's like the older I get the more I see these really sick hidden discrepancies in people and I get so annoyed. Alot of non whites may not understand because it's not blatent... you'd have to be in a minorities shoes to understand.

I'm sorry and don't mean to go on but it just got to me because I understand what Butterfly is saying. I noticed that too. I'd say this is what friends do but when you don't have a friend that has gone before you, you just don't have those same advantages. Even if you were friend with the friend who had the friend that had gone through this pgm before you'd still have the pre-knowledge base... but when you're an outsider and a minority you have to work quadruple hard and still not receive the same respect.

Here's Hoping Things will CHANGE

[mark2climb]

Does minority not mean minority anymore or does it translate only to one of a color that is not white? Does color only mean black? If not, why aren't people of other colors complaining?