As a young girl, Britney Hay felt the magnetic pull towards a career of caring and healing and she knew she wanted to be a nurse. Growing up, Britney, who was valedictorian of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the recent University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona, graduation was surrounded by a family dedicated to the nursing profession. She was particularly captivated by the stories of her grandmother, Myrtle Hay, a registered midwife and psychiatric nurse who was awarded the Order of Distinction in 2004 for her extraordinary contributions to nursing in Jamaica.

Hay said her grandmother’s stories deepened her admiration for nurses and solidified her aspirations to follow a similar career path and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

“I come from a family of nurses. My grandmother, older cousin, and three aunts are nurses, so I got introduced to the world of nursing from a young age. My grandmother’s passion for nursing, hearing her stories about patients, her care of patients always intrigued me. And I was like, ‘I want to do this too’,” Hay recalled.

And so she pursued a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

With her love for the profession, she quickly earned a reputation as a high achiever, consistently making the Dean’s List and the honour roll at UWI. Her excellence in academics along with her active participation on the University Guild representing the Medical Science Faculty and her active involvement as a first-year mentor set Hay apart as a well-rounded individual.

Hay said her grandmother’s stories deepened her admiration for nurses.

She is the second nursing student to receive the honour of being valedictorian in the history of the Faculty.

“I was a bit shocked at first because in 2023, we had the first nursing valedictorian in the history of Med Sci. And when they got it last year, I thought, ‘Well, we’re not getting it again anytime soon’. It’s not common for nurses to be valedictorians but I always knew I had the qualifications,” the 23-year-old said smiling.

In 2021, Hay was one of three nursing students who were awarded the IGL Legacy Scholarship for Nursing. This was her first scholarship and not only was she only grateful for but motivated by IGL’s generosity.

“The scholarship helped me in two ways; the first thing was the monetary donation. Even though, thankfully, I have parents who were able to fund my tertiary education, it allowed me to get all the things that I would have needed that technically I wouldn’t be able to get because, you know, all the funds have to go to school fees,” Hay explained. “It motivated me a lot during university because my hard work was being acknowledged.”

The partnership between UWI and the Ignite IGL Foundation dates back to 2007. Since the inception of the IGL Ignite Foundation, 44 scholarships have been awarded to 22 nursing students under the IGL Legacy Scholarship for Nursing and 22 medical students via the IGL Razai Azard Rahaman Scholarship for Medicine.

Margareth Antoine, Head of Procurement and Supply Chain at IGL, and a member of the Ignite IGL Foundation scholarship selection panel, applauded Hay’s commitment to excellence.

“The Ignite IGL Foundation, IGL, and Massy Gas Products Jamaica are elated that a recipient of one of our scholarships was chosen as the valedictorian. At selection, we recognised that Britney embraced excellence throughout her years in high school and this was maintained, even intensified, at the tertiary level,” Antoine said.

Noting that a lack of finances can disrupt academic pursuits, Antoine said the Foundation is committed to helping students realise their dreams, a pledge they kept even during the pandemic.

“We view the scholarships as enablers and ultimately, contributors to a desired healthcare system that will provide quality care to all residents of Jamaica irrespective of economic standing,” she added.

In 2021, speaking during the presentation of five scholarships to two students of medicine and three nursing students at The UWI Faculty of Medical Sciences by the Foundation, IGL was praised as ‘Gold Star’ supporter of UWI by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor. Sir Hilary commented, “Jamaica is in urgent need of this level of consciousness. You are not a fair-weather supporter.”

Britney’s journey to becoming a nurse was not without trials. The rigours of clinical rotations, demanding hospital shifts, and the ever-present weight of academic expectations tested her limits. Added to that, there were days when she was demotivated after seeing some batchmates quit the programme. Yet, amidst these challenges, her passion for nursing burned brighter, fuelled by her Ignite IGL Foundation scholarship, her solid family foundation, and the reassurance that nursing was her calling.

“It cemented the fact that this is for sure the right field for me because a lot of times we don’t know if we’re in the right field until we start our clinical rotations. I really enjoyed interacting with my patients and caring for them,” Hay said, smiling.

Now with her undergraduate degree, Hay is already looking toward the next phase of her career. She hopes that within the next four years, she will be able to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Anaesthesia, which will allow her to interact with and assist patients in the operating theatre and the intensive care unit, where she hopes to make a difference like her grandmother did.

Hay encourages students to apply for the IGL Ignite scholarship, emphasising its financial benefits and its potential to open doors to further opportunities.

“Applying for a nursing scholarship is a valuable opportunity, not just for financial support, but also for your personal and professional growth,” she said. “Don’t let self-doubt hold you back from pursuing an opportunity that could shape your future. Take a leap and see where it can lead you.”