Alumni Profile: Ginelle Viray
By Ginelle Viray
What got you interested in health sciences?
Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to become a nurse. When my grandma got
Alzheimer’s I helped my mom take care of her. I was able to do basic caregiving tasks,
witnessing struggles, and offering support to my grandma. My personal experience
greatly influenced me to pursue a career in nursing. With that, I was able to do 5 years of
volunteering at a nursing home and a surgery center, which I enjoyed and realized that serving
the community is an eye-opening experience that motivates me to follow the right footsteps and not be about benefiting ourselves.
- How did your volunteer experiences at AUHS affect you, or how have AUHS values
become important to you?
AUHS is a Christian and minority-serving university. Helping the community, respecting
others, and faith in God is what I value most. Knowing that we are making a difference and having a positive impact in the lives of others is a rewarding and meaningful way to
contribute to society.
- What are you doing now?
I am a TA at AUHS where I help professors in class and assist students in the skills lab. I
am also a Charge Nurse for the Behavioral Health Unit at College Medical Center. I come across individuals who have anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and
more. These patients often don’t want help but are in need of help. The most rewarding
thing of working in a behavioral health unit is the opportunity to communicate and make a difference in the lives of individuals who are facing mental health challenges, especially
being able to foster hope for recovery and cultivate optimism for others.
- What are your plans/dreams for the future?
I intend to live day by day even though I have many dreams for the future. I believe in
God and his plan for my life, regardless of whether I choose to continue my education or
start my own Med Spa clinic. I recently came to the end of a chapter in my life, and now I’m beginning a new journey and hoping to finish this one with humble experiences.