Jesus Fajardo, 22, of Hammond, graduates this May with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Fajardo says that despite the rigor of a nursing education, he made it through thanks to the never-ending support that poured in from every direction while he persevered through his studies.

“Blessing after blessing, IU Northwest opened the door to many different opportunities,” he said. “I had the support of many people from various departments. Anywhere I went, there were always people willing to help me.”

Fajardo is certainly not short on gratitude, or humility. A grateful heart is woven through every experience and is clearly rooted in his upbringing. Fajardo and his family emigrated to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 12 years old.

“After coming to the United States, I learned to appreciate the opportunity that I was given,” he said. “It was difficult for me to adapt to a new life but today, 10 years later, I do not regret coming here and starting from zero. Every single step took the best out of me and today I know that if it wasn’t for my family and the people that I met at IU Northwest, I would not be here.”

Above all, it is the field of nursing that really taught him some true lessons. He originally wanted to pursue a psychology degree while following a premedical track, but, as he says, “something about nursing really caught my attention.”

“Nursing taught me how to be human,” he said. “It taught me how to love and appreciate the things that I have. It taught me that if someone knocks on my door, it is my duty to get to know that person.”

Fajardo may be graduating and starting a career as a nurse at St. Catherine’s Hospital in East Chicago, but he says he has merely arrived at another starting point as far as his education. This fall, he will return to IU Northwest to finish his prerequisite work in preparation for the medical school entrance exam.

Ultimately, he is striving to become a cardiothoracic surgeon and work as a doctor in the U.S. but also open a clinic back in his hometown in Michoacán, Mexico.

While pursuing his degree, Fajardo took advantage of every ounce of support, every opportunity that came his way. He found value in every connection he made.

Fajardo was placed on the Dean’s List for two semesters and the Chancellor’s List for two semesters. He was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and the National Society for Leadership and Success. He volunteered for the American Red Cross and Student Nurses Association. He worked as a supplemental instructor, tutor, and teaching assistant for anatomy and physiology courses. He served as a New Student Orientation leader and worked at the biology summer bridge program.

Again, with words of gratitude running through every reflection, Fajardo talks about how meeting people throughout his journey led to every new opportunity. A work-study position led to a role with new student orientations, which introduced him to a job tutoring anatomy, which led to a role in a marketing video, and so on.

“I can go on and on because one person led to meeting another person and that’s what IU Northwest gave me: A place that I can call my second home,” he said.

Fajardo says that working as a part-time nurse while a part-time student next fall will present new challenges.

“I will need to manage a high-demand job and earn good grades at the same time,” Fajardo said. “I know that going to IU Northwest will make things easier. I just know. I am ready to take on the challenge.”

About the Class of 2019: Indiana University Northwest will confer 830 degrees at the 53nd Annual Commencement ceremonies on May 9, 2019. The Class of 2019 will collectively receive 51 associate’s degrees, 670 bachelor’s degrees and 109 master’s degrees. The oldest student graduating is 68 years old and the youngest is 20, and seven out of 10 graduates are female. The most popular bachelor’s degree granted is general studies, followed by psychology. More than 40 percent of the graduating class are first-generation college students and more than 50 percent are over the age of 25.