Deeba Shirazi
Degree: Master of Science in Nursing
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
What inspired you to pursue nursing?
At first, I wanted to become a doctor, but after spending time working in the field, I quickly realized the patients were the reason I loved the job.
It was the small act of helping the patients — encouraging them, cheering alongside them, being there when they’re sad and helping them along, which is more of the nurse's job than the doctors’. So, I made the pivot.
How do you connect with the DePaul community outside of the classroom?
My clinical hours in assisted living centers and hospitals allowed me to connect with the Chicago community, and this is where I was even more inspired to form genuine connections not only with my patients, but also with fellow nurses.
What is your favorite memory during your time at DePaul?
The community-based learning in my clinical hours at assisted living housing in South Loop brought me inspiration to write a speech for the graduation ceremony.
Getting firsthand experience seeing the obstacles people go through and how different everyone’s paths are is amazing. To think of crossing paths with these people who have all lived different lives, it’s helpful as a nurse because you learn not to judge people and truly connect with them as people.
Who do you look up to and why?
Meredith Magulak is my community health instructor and was a big inspiration and mentor to me. She’s a hard person to come across these days, because she’s very selfless and cares about everyone. Not only did she help me during a very difficult time, but she inspired me to write and share my commencement speech during this and she really understood. She encourages us all to go and do work that benefits the community and the world.
How did you decide you wanted to give a speech for graduation?
The idea of the speech came from what I was experiencing personally and grew during my clinical experiences. We’re on our phones so much with social media, and it’s almost made social interaction in person feel abnormal. It feels like we’ve lost the plot a bit as to why we’re here, and we’re all here because of each other.
During my clinical hours, I was speaking to people who have been through so much in their lives and are a lot older than I am. Then one day, this older man noticed I was struggling, and we paused and had a just normal human conversation. I feel we don’t do that much anymore with strangers.
So, in a non-corny way, my speech is saying we are sharing Earth, and we can help each other so much, so why not? We’re here to experience love, friendship and spread kindness to people.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
If you meet someone you like, just speak to them — we are all human beings. I feel like we all get so scared, but everyone is thinking the same thing: I would love it if someone just spoke to me. It is essentially my whole speech, human connection and developing genuine relationships.
What are you doing next?
After graduation, I will be moving back home to California to begin working on my Nurse Practitioner degree. I am planning to work as an ICU nurse because it’s where I feel I’ll have the greatest success.
In the ICU, many patients are in their worst state. When you’re in that state, you’re not asking for those materialist things. You look at family and human connections to get you through; it is the most important place for a nurse.