My American Journey in Becoming a PMHNP

*This post was authored by one of my students who choses to remain anonymous. I thank her for her vulnerability and willingness to share a part of her journey.

My American journey began in 2014, when I had the opportunity to visit a hospital in Texas. At the time, I did not realize how profoundly that experience would shape my future. Seeing American nursing practice transformed my perspective. It was the first time I realized that true professional equality could exist between physicians and nurses, and that becoming a nurse practitioner was a viable career path beyond the nurse manager role, which had seemed like the only avenue for advancement in China.

Leaving China brought mixed emotions: relief from a rigid hierarchical culture, yet the challenge of rebuilding my life thousands of miles from my comfort zone. After six years of practicing as a nurse in the United States, I began pursuing my Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree.

Why mental health? Because I believe we all carry internal and external battles

throughout our lives, and navigating these struggles is at the core of mental health. Some battles are chosen, some unavoidable, and some simply appear along the way.

Recently, I have been navigating the legal system to obtain financial support that my ex-partner is obligated to provide. The process has felt overwhelming and unjust—complex paperwork, unclear requirements, and costs of hiring an attorney that may exceed what I recover.

At times, the frustration feels louder than my voice. It has affected my sleep, distracted me from my studies, and taken time away from my children. It feels deeply unfair because I have done nothing wrong, yet I am the one carrying the burden. At times, I find myself silently crying out in frustration—like a child thinking, “This is not fair.”

At the same time, I am stretching myself professionally and personally. Nursing is no longer enough challenge for me; I want to grow and learn in new ways. Yet growth comes with sacrifice: three children, a full-time job, and full-time graduate study.

Now I am expecting my fourth child while my husband awaits a lung transplant. We feel both joy and fear as we look toward the future. I want my children to see strength in their mother—not because life is easy, but because perseverance is possible even when life is heavy. We all live with inner conflicts that can either propel us forward or overwhelm us.

Mental health is both fragile and resilient; it carries us through our journeys. My past has taught me that courage often begins quietly—through education, persistence, and

cultural humility. I hope my story reminds others that everyone carries unseen struggles, whether chosen or unexpected, and that growth often begins within those very conflicts.