CU Nursing - Commencement Spring 2021 - 4

4

G R A D U AT I O N

Honors
Student Wants
Every Voice
To Be Heard
By Deborah Sherman

W

hen Omarah Macias
was in middle school,
kids made fun of the
way she spoke. She
had learned most of
her English and Spanish from her
father, who had moved from Ecuador
to New York when he was 14 without
knowing the language. So, her voice
had a unique sound with a Spanish
and Bronx, New York accent.
When they later moved to
Pennsylvania, it became more evident
the way she spoke set her apart from
her classmates. Omarah was also one
of the only students of color in her AP
and honors classes. After heightened
taunting, she started to change the way
she talked.
" When I'm with certain people, I
put on a different voice. My mind
just started doing it automatically to
assimilate into the environment, so
that I didn't create more differences
between myself and the people I was
with, " said Omarah.

Nurses are the heartbeat of health care.
They don't get enough recognition for
everything they do. They are the face and
heart of the treatment. Patients wouldn't
progress without them. I was inspired
by the nurses and their compassion and
realized that's the role I want to play. " Omarah Macias

CU College of Nursing | May Commencement 2021

CODE-SWITCHING
Omarah, like many other people of
color, was code-switching or adjusting
her speech, appearance and behavior
to make others feel comfortable and
treat her fairly. The 29-year-old says
code-switching became ingrained.
However, since she became aware of
it, she is trying to fight it and remain
true to herself.
CU Nursing - Commencement Spring 2021

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