07/11/2026
250 Years of America — And My Journey as an Internationally Educated Nurse 🇺🇸
In 1992, America was turning 216. I was a young immigrant stepping onto American soil for the first time in the Bronx, New York, carrying a suitcase, a dream, and a quiet promise to make this country proud of the choice it made in welcoming me.
My journey led me from the Bronx to Raleigh, North Carolina, and now to Birmingham, Alabama — each place shaping my path, strengthening my purpose, and deepening my commitment to serve.
Along the way, I grew from a bedside nurse to a critical care staff nurse, then into teaching, and now in Alabama, I serve in a regulatory nursing role and as a member of the ABN, promoting patient safety and advancing standards of care across the state.
Today, America turns 250 — its semiquincentennial. I am proud to celebrate this historic milestone alongside my fellow Americans and healthcare workers, honoring our shared commitment to care, service, and community.
And I’m still here — as a husband, a father of three incredible daughters who chase volleyballs across courts with the same determination I once carried across an ocean, and a nurse who has dedicated his career both at the bedside and through telehealth, caring for veterans and elders.
America gave me the room to grow — from a newcomer to a nurse, from a nurse to a leader, educator, and patient safety advocate, from an immigrant story to an American story. My daughters are living proof that this country’s promise renews itself in every generation it welcomes.
So today, as the red, white, and blue mark 250 years of history, my family and I celebrate not just America’s birthday — but the story America made possible for us.
From the Philippines to the Bronx, to Raleigh, to Birmingham. From 1992 to 2026. From immigrant to nurse, educator, regulator, and patient safety advocate — still grateful, still serving, still proud.
Happy 250th Birthday, America.
