news

Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) nursing graduate Camila Monteiro, 28, of Cumming never had to look far for motivation growing up. She had all she needed within arms’ reach in the form of her mother, Marcia.

Marcia once had a dream of becoming a nurse, but had to give it up to raise Camila and her three siblings in the small city of Sumaré, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Monteiro watched her mother work two jobs for years, providing for her family through good times and bad, including a difficult divorce from her birth father. Through it all, Marcia never lost her servant’s heart, participating in and organizing charity events for the less fortunate for as long as Monteiro can remember.

“My nursing heart comes from my mom because she has always cared for everyone and found ways to help our community even when we did not have much for ourselves,” said Monteiro. Her memories are filled with her mother teaching her and her siblings to be empathetic, dedicated, hardworking, compassionate, and to care for others without judging them.

“I can never be as good as she is, but she ignited my passion for the nursing profession and the level of human connection and caring for other individuals that it takes.”

Monteiro also credits her stepfather, Fabio, for bringing real happiness into her life, and teaching her the values that have carried her to this moment.

“He thought I was crazy but told me I could conquer the world with hard work, dedication, and determination,” she said. “When he came into our lives, everything became much better and happier. He was the father figure I needed.”

Monteiro started saving money for her life journey when she was only 14. She knew in her heart that her future was north, in America. Her mother supported her all the way. When she was 20, she got her chance, and came to the U.S. to be an au pair.

“I was determined to use that opportunity to earn more, learn English and adjust to the culture before applying to college,” she said.

The au pair job brought her to Atlanta, where she met her a second family, the Madans from Tanzania, Africa, through her first boyfriend. They had immigrated to the U.S. to pursue their dreams and a better life for their children and Monteiro bonded with them instantly.

“Without them I would not be here today,” says Monteiro. “They supported and guided me through the pathways of living in a foreign country. They gave me love. My African mama, Fatema, even went to Brazil with me and met my family a couple of years ago. Despite the language barrier with my family, they became very close.”

Monteiro chose GGC to pursue her dream of being a nurse because she learned of its program while doing nursing prerequisite studies at Georgia State University. The intimacy of the program appealed to her, she said, because she appreciates closeness and being more than a number.

She applied despite having reservations about being able to afford it as an out-of-state student, but GGC had a surprise for her.

“When I got accepted into the nursing program, I was given the tremendous blessing of being selected for the presidential out-of-state tuition waiver,” says Monteiro. “It meant so much to me that my hard work was recognized here at GGC, as this waiver is given to students who are involved and academically successful.”

As her time at GGC comes to a close, Monteiro says she loves how there is always something fun going on, something new to learn, resources, and support from all sides.

“GGC students and faculty come from a great variety of backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and histories,” she says. “I have met people from all over the USA and the world. I met people from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Romania, Colombia, Argentina, China, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Mexico, Peru, Liberia, Kenya, India, Pakistan and the list keeps on going. Everyone transcends their unique essence, and I learned from a different perspective daily.”

If the diversity has been invigorating, then the caring nature of her professors and fellow students has been humbling.

“I’ve been continually touched by how everyone at GGC truly cared about me, not as a student but as an individual with a story to tell and scars to heal.”

Monteiro looks forward to seeing her mother and stepfather in the audience when she graduates. She will begin her nursing career in the emergency department of Grady Health System and plans to continue her education to become a nursing educator and earn a doctorate in nursing practice. Her ultimate goal is to return to Brazil one day and teach.

Monteiro will join more than 525 of her classmates at GGC’s fall commencement ceremony, scheduled for 10 a.m., Dec. 1 at Gas South Arena in Duluth. The ceremony can be viewed live at www.ggc.edu/commencement.