People of Georgian: Ana Stoican’s journey through nursing and poetry

People of Georgian is a series that celebrates the people behind the scenes, the learners, leaders and changemakers whose journeys reflect the lasting impact of the Georgian experience. In this edition, we meet Ana Stoican (class of 2017), a Georgian College nursing student whose path has been shaped by courage, compassion and creativity.

Born and raised in Romania, Ana immigrated to Canada in 2010 and began building a new life rooted in health care. Her journey eventually brought her to Georgian, where she continued her education through Pre-Health Sciences, Practical Nursing and now the Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing RPN to BScN Advanced Standing Pathway (Bridge) program.

Through Georgian, Ana has continued to grow as a nurse while also discovering a deeper connection to writing. For her, nursing and poetry are not separate paths, but two ways of caring for others, one through the body and one through the heart and mind.

Take it away, Ana!

My name is Ana Stoican.

If someone had asked me 20 years ago whether I was a writer, I would have said no. Looking back now, I realize I was always writing. I just didn’t recognize it at the time. I was born and raised in Romania and immigrated to Canada in 2010. Like many newcomers, I had to build a new life in an unfamiliar country. It was stressful, but it also led me toward nursing, a profession that felt natural to me.

Today, I work as a nurse. My profession has helped me develop inner strength, deepen my compassion and see people during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. I consider that a privilege and never take it for granted.

Georgian taught me that education is not only about gaining knowledge. It can also transform how we see ourselves and the possibilities ahead of us.

Finding a new path at Georgian

My journey eventually brought me to Georgian College. I began in the Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program before continuing into Practical Nursing. I am now studying in the Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing RPN to BScN Advanced Standing Pathway (Bridge) program.

I was excited to return to school, but I was nervous too. Balancing my education with work and the rest of my life required me to take a risk and trust that I could manage it.

Georgian taught me that education is not only about gaining knowledge. It can also transform how we see ourselves and the possibilities ahead of us. Through every assignment, clinical experience and conversation with my classmates, I began shaping new dreams and finding new ways forward.

What I never expected was how closely nursing and writing would become connected.

Nursing and writing share the same roots

As nurses, we are trained to observe. We notice the small details that can make a significant difference: a change in someone’s breathing, a subtle expression or the fear hidden behind a smile. Writing requires that same attention.

Nursing allows me to care for the body, while writing lets me care for the heart and mind.

I had written as a hobby in the past, but it was during the last year that I truly began to discover my voice. After experiencing profound loss, I found myself working through difficult emotions and grief. Instinctively, I reached for a pen.

Poetry became a way to explore pain, hope, faith, healing and transformation. Writing helped me express the things that conversation could not always hold.

My patients have taught me immeasurable lessons about strength and resilience. In many ways, my poems reflect those same lessons and reinforce my belief that every person has a story worth hearing.

As poetry became more important in my life, I began branching out into essays and longer stories. I hope to publish my work for two reasons. First, I genuinely love reading and writing. More importantly, I hope my words might offer someone else a small sense of hope.

If something I write helps another person believe healing is possible, I will feel that my writing has fulfilled its purpose.

Two branches of the same path

One of the most meaningful lessons I have learned is that nursing and writing are not two separate paths. They are two branches of the same one.

Both require empathy, curiosity and courage. They also ask us to listen to the experiences of others without judgment and to recognize the value within every person’s story.

My patients have taught me immeasurable lessons about strength and resilience. In many ways, my poems reflect those same lessons and reinforce my belief that every person has a story worth hearing.

My journey in nursing and writing is far from finished. I am taking meaningful steps to continue growing in both, exploring themes such as healing, identity and life after loss through poetry, essays and novels. I believe writing can inspire others, expand our understanding of the human experience and offer genuine therapeutic value.

Some of our deepest passions grow from our most painful experiences. Bringing those passions to life takes courage and effort.

Mine have led me along the winding and unexpected paths of nursing and writing. Together, they have given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be fully human, and I am excited to continue discovering where both paths will lead.

Poetry by Ana

As my connection to writing has grown, poetry has become one of the ways I make sense of grief, healing, identity and transformation. These two poems are examples of how I use writing to explore the emotions and questions that stay with me.

So vividly alive, I tremble

I thought I would die staring at the sky.
That my arms were stretching farther and farther,
my body dissolving.
That I was rising and expanding.
That I was floating and sinking.
I thought I was dying
and had never known life.
So vividly alive, I tremble.

In the Wheel of Time

In the wheel of time, I am the second.
A barely felt stirring
in the world’s invisible threads.
The blink of a sleeping god.
I am the fleeting illusion of existence.
Time, like a merciless father,
strokes me with years.
Love steals my youth
before the night can become day.
My mortal heart has grown weary;
it seems to me I have lived
a thousand years.
Yet the wheel of time
has turned only once.

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