The UBC Midwifery Program is proud to spotlight Joanna Nie, a first-year student who has been recognized with the Beedie Luminaries Shine Scholarship. This scholarship supports resilient, community-minded students across British Columbia who are committed to their education, leadership, and giving back.
The Shine Scholarship was created through the generosity of the Beedie Luminaries Foundation, which aims to remove barriers to higher education and empower promising students to achieve their full potential.
Joanna was recently featured in a Beedie Luminaries spotlight, where she reflected on her journey to UBC Midwifery at just 19 years old. Her commitment to community and passion for supporting families are at the heart of her studies, and she is eager to grow into her role as a midwife.
We asked Joanna to tell us about her motivation for midwifery and how her scholarship is supporting her goals.
Photos courtesy of Joanna Nie.
“ This moment made me realize there are so many other families out there who are facing this exact struggle too, and I want to be a part of changing that.” — Joanna Nie
What motivated you to choose midwifery at this stage of your life?
There are so many things that led me to choose midwifery, but ultimately, I’d have to say: the gap in Chinese-speaking midwives. I remember growing up, hearing my mom talk about the mistreatment she faced during her pregnancy with me because she couldn’t speak English. She always emphasized that my voice is a powerful tool and the value of receiving health care in your first language. Listening to the struggles she faced, from restarting her life here in Vancouver with no money or support, especially during such a vulnerable time, truly broke my heart.
When I started developing a passion for working in healthcare, I had the privilege to volunteer at the Crossroads OBGYN clinic at 15 years old. I worked alongside so many incredible doctors, MOAs, and nurses who made me realize this was the field I wanted to go into. I remember having a conversation with an OB, talking about how few Chinese-speaking midwives there were in Vancouver, and I automatically thought about my mom. Who was confused navigating this healthcare system while pregnant and alone with me. This moment made me realize there are so many other families out there who are facing this exact struggle too, and I want to be a part of changing that.
How has receiving the Beedie Luminaries Shine Scholarship supported your studies and future goals?
Receiving the Beedie Luminaries scholarship has been so much help, more than my family or I could ever imagine. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to restart my first year of university in Midwifery– something I’m truly passionate about– with Beedie giving me the financial freedom to solely focus on my studies.
While taking my pre-requisites in Arts last year, I realized I had the ability to take any course that piqued my interest, like Calculus, Spanish, Psychology, Family Studies, etc. Through this experience, I was able to confirm that these fields are not ones I see myself going into and confirming my choice in pursuing Midwifery. Not only that, but especially now that I’m in Midwifery, I’ve been able to buy all my textbooks, and equipment BRAND NEW, without having to worry about my parents being able to afford them or not.
Beyond the financial freedom, the community Beedie has given me is truly so inspiring and uplifting. Everyone I’ve met has been so supportive of my journey in Midwifery. Especially my friend and mentor, Avital Kline, who is now a registered Midwife and also a Beedie recipient. Avital has made such an impact on me, guiding me through this transition with no judgment and just pure kindness. They constantly remind me why I chose this career path.
What has been most rewarding about your learning and clinical experiences so far?
I’ve only been in the program for a short while now, and it’s safe to say, I love it so much. The most rewarding part about the learning so far is that everything is meaningful and connects to future practice. It’s such a change from the classes I took last year. Everything I was taught felt so dense, and especially in the 300 person lecture hall style of teaching, it was definitely not helping with learning at all. Especially if you weren’t doing great, they wouldn’t notice because you blended in with other students.
In comparison to Midwifery, the class sizes are small. I notice that I’m much more engaged and grasping the material well. Instructors know who I am, and I feel seen as more than just another student. They actually want you to succeed, which is such a change! To also add, the topics being taught have been so inspiring, and it makes me want to be the best midwife in the future. I literally walk out of class thinking, “I’m getting smarter every day and one day closer to being a midwife”. Something I never felt last year.
What message would you share with other young people who are considering a career in midwifery?
Do it!! I applied to this program so young, only wanting to gain experience in the application process, because I was sure they’d reject me because of my age and or lack of life experience. But look at me now!
From my perspective, I think a lot of young people are afraid of applying to Midwifery because we haven’t given birth/ witnessed one ourselves, but that’s okay! They don’t expect you to have all the answers or be anything close to a Midwife—the goal is to learn, be open, and show empathy.
There is no “ideal” student to fit into this program. I will say however, this is not your typical 4 year bachelors program and is extremely unique from those you see online. Don’t fear though, this program is so special, it makes up for that college experience.
If you think Midwifery is something you want to do in the future, I’d definitely recommend looking at the scope of practice and the philosophy of care Midwives provide on the BCCNM website, to see if that’s what interests you. Have faith that your past, your experience, and your perspective can all have an impact. You can make a difference. We are the change in the world!
We congratulate Joanna on this recognition and thank the Beedie Luminaries Foundation for their generosity in supporting the future of midwifery.
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