Tyler Andrews
Quick Facts
Age: 28
Major: Nursing, 2024
Notable: First-generation
Transfer Institution: Los Angeles Pierce College, Associate of Science, Chemistry
“Being an Alfie means that one does not only lead by example. An Alfie is one that also listens to, understands, and adapts to the lived experiences of others. An Alfie then goes forth with the intention of acting and teaching with the positivity and consciousness of inclusion.”
Service & Work:
Caregiver, Senior Lifestyle Homes, February 2013–September 2018 and January 2021–April 2022
Home Health Aide, Dynamic Nursing, Inc., July 2019–August 2020
Patient Care Technician, Kern Medical Hospital, October 2018–February 2019
Volunteer Group Leader, Teen Challenge, 2016
Music Therapy Volunteer, Brookdale Senior Living, 2015–2018
Awards & Honors:
Alfie Scholars, Cohort 7, 2022–2024
Achievement Scholarship
President’s Honors, Los Angeles Pierce College, June 2022
Full Time Dean’s Honor List, Los Angeles Pierce College, June 2021, January 2022
Student Success Scholarship, Los Angeles Pierce College, December 2021
Tyler’s Story
I was born and raised in an oil town called Bakersfield, CA. My parents had four children by the ages of 21 and 23 years old. They divorced shortly after my first birthday, so I did not know them together. My father took my three older brothers, and I stayed with my mom. At the age of nine, I was separated from my mom due to her undiagnosed schizophrenia at the time. My grandmother quickly became my mentor and taught me the importance of education and kindness. She gave me the safety and security I needed. When I was fifteen years old though, my grandmother fell ill with a progressive form of Alzheimer's disease, and I decided to transition to home school for two years to take care of her just as she did for me.
When my grandmother passed away, I felt like our time was cut short. Caring for her felt like a natural calling to me, and I made the decision to work as a caregiver in hospice and memory care. I reconnected with my mom and felt a need to learn more about mental illness and went on to work in my county’s psychiatric unit. Working there made me realize how difficult it is for those suffering from mental health conditions as well as the lack of structure and resources provided to psychiatric patients. I knew then this was something that needs to be addressed. It was not until my brother Joshua passed away in 2019, though, that I was driven to become a nurse. Joshua suffered from addiction, and being underinsured, he was told there was a seven-month waiting list to get into a treatment center just before his car accident. As someone who has overcome addiction myself, this upset me to my core. Furthermore, as a gay man, I saw the same issues within the LGBTQIA+ community, and I could no longer stand idly by. This was my call to action.
As a first-generation college student, I wasn’t sure where to start, so I enrolled in a community college in Los Angeles in 2020 during the pandemic. I was determined to get my associate’s degree and nursing prerequisites finished as soon as possible. Although most of my classes were remote, I found it challenging to get through each semester without human connection and readily available resources. Nonetheless, I graduated with my associate’s degree by June of 2022. I built a strong support system to lean on and guide me through the difficulties of my courses, especially chemistry. I learned to stay consistent, hold myself accountable, and never doubt myself during this transition period of my life. I move forward with this mindset in all that I do now.
Advice:
The most important piece of advice that I would like to share is to not look at time as an obstacle. There were many instances where I thought about how long something takes, and I would lose momentum as a result. I learned that time is simply a reflection of change. So, if you want something to change in your life, your career, your education, etc..., then it is going to be a process. If you decide to do nothing during that “time,” then nothing will change. If you wait for something to happen, you will be waiting your entire life.
Another piece of advice I want to give is to hold yourself accountable and take responsibility for your actions. A mistake does not make you a bad person, nor does it define your future. However, when you make a mistake, do not point your finger at the nearest bystander. Assess the situation with honesty, recognize your part, and adjust accordingly. I spent many years and an immense amount of energy blaming others and holding resentments, and at the end of the day, the only person it hurts is yourself. Forgive others for their part, and move forward in your bright future with grace and integrity.
Finally, ask for help! Again, ask for help! Humans are not meant to be “self-made.” We thrive off new perspectives, expert advice, and connection. Needing help does not equate to strength, but admitting to yourself that you could use some guidance does. I used to think that I had to go on this journey alone, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I set my ego aside and gained a whole new perspective on life and learned so much about myself in the process. Take the time to check out free school resources, ask your professors questions, lean on your fellow classmates, and keep an open mind.
Goals:
My immediate goal is to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Seattle University and become a registered nurse. This is a very important goal for me because I feel that I will make a greater impact on educating and raising awareness of this country’s gross mismanagement of the mental health services provided to underserved communities who suffer from mental illnesses. This mismanagement is something that I have been deeply affected by as have the patients I have worked with.
After I have established a presence and a platform, I plan to obtain my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree so that I may become a leader in healthcare trends and build a foundation that expands proper mental health services so those in need of it.
My end-goal is to start a movement in the healthcare industry that sets an example of how people with mental health disorders will be treated with dignity, empathy, and abundant resources. The lack of funding, direction, and expansion of mental health services for the underinsured in the United States is inexcusable, and I intend to create a new strategy that will work to combat the currently flawed system. There are so many kind, brilliant, and creative individuals that do not get the chance to thrive in this world because of our healthcare system, and it needs to change. I believe that although widespread change does not happen overnight; each day is an opportunity to reach the next milestone.
On Civility:
Civility, to me, embodies a way of life that involves opening ourselves to new perspectives and challenging the information and beliefs we hold onto. Without this, empathy cannot flourish. If we lead with our moral compass when considering the quality of life of every individual, rather than make decisions based on our lived experiences, we can truly understand that fostering civility is imperative to substantially changing the status quo. In action, fostering civility means to inclusively advocate for others by recognizing incivility and making changes accordingly, while also firmly encouraging others to do the same. This way, we not only treat individuals with empathy and dignity, but we also teach others to lead by our example. Leaders of civility are not always workplace leaders or speaking to the public in front of a camera; leaders of civility are common citizens, and they are needed everywhere. Fostering civility costs nothing, and it can be priceless to the person on the receiving end.
