Today we’d like to introduce you to Bella Nguyen.
Hi Bella, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was born in East Memphis, TN, and raised by my Vietnamese immigrant mother and grandmother. My biological father was also an immigrant from Cuba but was absent for most of my life, leaving me to develop stronger ties to my Vietnamese side of the family and, by default, become my mom’s best friend/sidekick. I grew up watching my mom be a single mother, business owner, and partner to the numerous men she had rotating throughout our lives. I watched her work harder than anyone else, and I also watched her make a lot of questionable financial and romantic decisions. As a child, I knew not to question her actions or motives, but I was always observing, making sense of life as I knew it. I remember early on, like in middle school and high school, that I wanted so much more for my mom (and us overall), and I knew the only way to give her more ways to succeed in my journey. I started seeing things for what they were and not selfishly, like how most teenagers would view abrupt and unpleasant changes in their lives, like moving or stopping a hobby they were a part of because their parents could no longer afford it, but they’re so self-absorbed, the only thing they could think of and say is “why do you hate me???” (Using myself as example ha) It clicked for me that my mom was struggling financially and that her decisions in relationships were almost wholly based on how it would benefit her, how it could help her escape from the fact that she was in tons of debt with no way of climbing out of it alone. I noticed this but didn’t say anything. I started imagining myself as an adult, successful enough to remove all of my mom’s problems. I remember telling her my goals for the future – how I wanted a Volkswagen Beetle as my first car, how I wanted to become a nurse, how I wanted to retire her and have her be a full-time grandma to my future kids, etc. She would laugh and tell me that a Volkswagen beetle was an ugly car, and as for the rest of my ideas, “we will see.” Less than two years later, my mom was taken away from me due to domestic violence. At that time, I was entering the second semester of my first year and was only a few weeks away from turning fifteen. To say that my entire world came crashing down would’ve been an understatement; everything I thought I knew about life changed overnight. For the remainder of my high school years, I was pretty lost and depressed. I thought of our final moments and conversations together heavily.
At first, the memories felt like they were haunting me and bringing so much sadness, but eventually, I started to look at them from a different perspective. I took what I told my mom personally like it had to be done because that’s what I told her. It became a part of my purpose even though she was no longer physically here and not all goals could be accomplished. I controlled what I could, and as the years (8 going on 9 years now) passed, this perspective/purpose has 100% made me who I am today. I purchased that Volkswagen Beetle graduated from high school, received a whole ride to UofM, graduated from Loewenberg College of Nursing, and now work as a Neuro ICU Nurse in Columbus, OH. My philosophy might’ve been a little extreme. I could’ve set myself up for failure by not allowing myself to change my mind. It could’ve backfired entirely on me – but it didn’t, and I’ve become exactly who I told my mom I would be and who I envisioned myself to be nearly 10 years ago.
You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Adulting isn’t a smooth road for anyone. When you go through different phases of adulting and try to learn from your mistakes, it can create so much more stress when you need the proper guidance. One of the most complex parts of my adulting journey has been figuring things out on my own, making a way even when I didn’t know all the directions yet. Through my experiences, I’ve always learned to have faith that things will work out and that everything I go through is necessary for my personal growth. I’ve worked through figuring out how to grieve the loss, how to get myself into college, how to get through nursing school, how to navigate a new career in a new city, how to be independent, how to learn from my mistakes (financial irresponsibilities, driving uninsured, things like that.) These were emotionally, mentally, and physically hard to go through and were quickly some of the most stressful times for me. Still, I ultimately came out of each experience a wiser, stronger, and more evolved version of myself.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently work in a Neuro Critical Care Unit where most patients have suffered from strokes, head traumas, and brain tumors. Aside from nursing, I’m known for creating lifestyle content on my social media platforms. The balance between the two is what sets me apart from others. When I’m Nurse Bella, I’m Nurse Bella 100% and what I’m most proud of is the care I provide to my patients. I genuinely enjoy being a bedside nurse; it gives me purpose when helping and serving others, and it keeps me humble by reminding me how precious life is. That said, I also enjoy a life outside of nursing. I have hobbies and interests that I want to share and pass on to others. Creating content gives me an outlet away from nursing. It prevents nursing burnout, fuels my creativity, and forces me to build my confidence the more I put myself out there. Overall, having multiple passions keeps me motivated as I inspire others to live their life to the fullest.
Are books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m in this era of my life where I want to understand myself more and grow in areas I may be lacking emotionally, mentally, and physically. I’ve been on this huge healing journey at the start of the year and gathered many resources to help me with that. I’ve been in therapy since February, faithfully seeing my therapist weekly. I’ve started reading more than ever, mainly self-help and therapy books. And I frequently listen to podcasts while I cook, like Relationshit with Kamie Crawford or Jay Shetty’s podcast (both of which, if you’re not familiar with them, are advice and therapy-like podcasts.) These resources have been fundamental in helping me grieve, heal, grow, and accept myself and my life experiences, allowing me to lead a healthier and happier life that I can share with others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thebellanguyen
