Mandeep Kaur was born in Ladian, Punjab in 2001. She grew up in a tight-knit household of six. That included her grandparents, parents and elder brother. Though, she doesn’t forget to mention her two pet dogs, Buzo and Tiger.
Mandeep Kaur’s father works as a police officer. Until recently, he was the only income-earner in the home.
Growing up, Mandeep Kaur’s parents taught her to respect, help and be humble towards others.
Inspired by caring nurses
She was inspired to study nursing when her mother fell and fractured her left arm. At age 11, she found herself at Guru Nanak Mission Hospital Dhahan-Kaleran with her mother. At the time, she was particularly impressed by the nurses.
“I watched the nurses and they took good care of my mother. That inspired me…it gave me the motivation to help others,” she says.
Studying diligently to achieve her goal of becoming a nurse
Her dream came true. She diligently worked to pass her exams at FCS Adarsh Senior Secondary School in Jandiala. She then studied for the Punjab Para Medical Entrance Test (PPMET) in 2019.
After passing the PPMET, she was able to enrol in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program at Guru Nanak College of Nursing (GNCON).
The rural college is an affiliate of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Faridkot, Punjab. It is located beside Guru Nanak Mission Hospital Dhahan-Kaleran, where she was first inspired to become a nurse.
“I made very very good friends [at nursing school]…The teachers were really supportive. Whenever I needed something, or if I had a doubt, they were there for me,” she recalls of her experience at GNCON.
Striving for excellence in nursing
Throughout her years of schooling, Mandeep Kaur strove to be at the top of her class. Even while her family members were sick or dying, she says she found strength to focus on her exams.
In her third and fourth year of the BScN program, she won first prize in a local poster-making competition. She then won third-prize in a state-wide poster-making competition – an honour she received at an exhibition in Ludhiana.
Her third year is also when she took the optional, month-long, online Professional Development Program in Nursing from Carleton University in Canada.
Rewarded for her dedication
On April 18, 2024 (her graduation day) Mandeep Kaur received the inaugural S. Budh Singh Dhahan Award of Academic Excellence. The award includes a scholarship of ₹50,000 and a trophy for achieving the highest marks in her class.
“I feel proud and very happy. It was like a dream for me to get a scholarship,” she says.
“Mandeep Kaur was a dedicated and motivated student. She is an all-rounder; she always stands apart in extra curricular activities.” says Ramandeep Kaur, Vice Principal of GNCON.
Recognizing the importance of scholarships
Mandeep Kaur’s scholarship was made possible thanks to donors from Canada, who contributed through Canada India Education Society (CIES), located near Vancouver, British Columbia.
In general, scholarships and bursaries are rare in India. 2024 is the first year GNCON offered scholarships or bursaries.
“Scholarships are important for motivating students to achieve excellence,” explains Barj Dhahan, principal founder at CIES. “Through my many years of work at Guru Nanak College of Nursing, I am proud of this institution, which has graduated over 2,400 dedicated nurses who now work all over the world. We wanted to continue to advance academic excellence in nursing education by providing scholarships and bursaries.”
Mandeep Kaur’s father was able to pay for her and her brother’s education until college. Though she says, at times, it was difficult, since nursing school fees are higher than other programs in India. Thankfully, he was able to pay in instalments.
“Scholarships and bursaries help to ease the financial burden of students and families, as well as motivate the students to work hard,” says Ramandeep Kaur.
Servicing her community through health care
In the spring of 2024, at age 23, Mandeep Kaur began work as a staff nurse at Guru Nanak Mission Hospital Dhahan-Kaleran, next to her school.
“I like nursing more now than in my college life because as a staff nurse I am now interacting with people and patients more…I also feel relief that I can do something for those who are not able to take care of themselves,” she describes. “After completing my course, now I feel it was the best career choice of my life.”
Mandeep Kaur’s advice to those in her shoes is “to believe in yourself…To work hard for your career…And always put God first.”
Help more students like Mandeep Kaur
To train young people in healthcare, we set up a scholarship and bursary fund for students studying nursing in rural Punjab, India.
Scholarships, bursaries and student loans are hard to find in India. So are student jobs. Many families struggle to advance their financial situation through post-secondary education.
We can’t help them on our own; we rely on several donors contributing whatever they can. Whether you give $5 or $5,000, your contribution will make a difference in the lives of real people.
You can donate directly towards scholarships and bursaries at the link below.