A photographer, writer, artist, and now a registered nurse, Jennifer Huxta ’22 graduated with the first cohort of 51’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. Before attending 51’s School of Nursing, Jennifer worked as a photojournalist in East Africa, covering topics including deforestation, climate change, and maternal and child health in conflict and post-conflict zones.
Learn more about her journey and why she chose Cedar Crest:
I was born at Allentown General Hospital in 1977 and completed a BA in film studies 20 years ago. I’ve always been interested in who we are and why we do what we do. I’ve spent most of the past decade working as a photographer and journalist in East Africa.
Essentially, I took Rilke’s advice seriously when he advised the young poet to “Live the questions.” I was living my questions about global power dynamics, economic disparities in health care, and links between climate change and malnutrition. In my work, I seek to tell in-depth stories that show us more about how we are alike than how we are different.
I don’t look away when people are hurt, I don’t look away from the hard things in a society, that’s why I worked as a photojournalist up to this point. But over the years, I realized that I am an empath, and nursing is something that is also aligned with my personality and nature.
I chose Cedar Crest because I wanted the feeling of a smaller, closer community. The ABSN program was very rigorous, and the comprehensive clinical experiences were invaluable to learning the necessary nursing skills.
I plan to take my experience working alongside different groups and across cultures, as well as my language skills and interpersonal skills, into a career in nursing. In October, I’ll be starting a job at the Emergency Department at LVHN working with the care team to help patients find their own strength again.