Sankofa is a bird that represents the principle that one should remember the past to make positive progress in the future. It symbolizes the wisdom of learning from the past to build for the future. The egg in its mouth represents the knowledge of the history upon which understanding is based; it also signifies the generation that would benefit from that wisdom. The broken egg symbolizes the struggles encountered during the last two years, especially ill health, sleepless nights, loss of concentration, and despair. The intact yolk represents hope and new life that comes forth from brokenness. The feet of the bird facing forward symbolize moving into the future despite what the past has. 

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I chose this symbol because my nursing care experiences in Kenya and Nigeria greatly inspired my graduate studies. I lost my dad at 42, and many family members and friends have lost their lives due to below-standard nursing care. These experiences inspired me to seek more knowledge to help change the future of nursing care in African countries. Nurses are not well equipped with assessment skills that will enable them to identify critical changes and intervene on time. I have been in a hospital where patients had to wait for a doctor to give standard IV push medication, yet several nurses were on duty; this wait could last for hours or even days, depending on the doctor's availability. Being able to train nurses to have better assessment skills that will help prevent avoidable deaths. 

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Having known the influence of the past in our present and future, I endeavor to create a healing environment for each patient under my care and provide an experience that when they look back in the future, they will remember with sentiments of peace and joy even if their sickness is incurable. Patients come to the hospital with so much brokenness and past experiences that affect their current health tremendously. I create time to listen to their stories and connect with their everyday situations; then, I focus on the hope that can only be found beyond their brokenness, just like it is depicted in the symbol of the broken egg and the intact yolk. I also encourage them to embrace opportunities that may better their situations and, as the dragonfly represents, lead them to rebirth. 

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Dragon Fly

The dragonfly represents change, courage, rebirth, and a leap of faith. Dragonflies have encouraged me to move in the direction of my calling, which is caring for the sick. The dragonfly also encouraged me to say yes to opportunities. Spiritually, the dragonfly symbolizes the courage that made me embrace the promising opportunity to pursue a graduate degree when it came my way because it might not come around again due to the nature of my life as a missionary.