Hugo Mota Santos grew up in Aracaju, Brazil. He loved being surrounded by beaches and dozens of cousins, yet he always dreamed of one day living abroad. His parents struggled to make ends meet, but they encouraged him to pursue an education and enrolled him in English classes at a young age to ensure he had the best chance of achieving his goals.

After completing his undergraduate degree in Brazil, Hugo moved to England to study marketing, but quickly realized it wasn’t for him—he wanted a career centered on taking care of people. He relocated to Ottawa and applied to work at a care home to see if he was truly passionate about healthcare. It turns out he was.

“As soon as I started working at the care home, I realized I needed to be a nurse,” says Hugo. “It was full of happiness and sadness, with every resident bringing their micro-universe into their room. All their lives, their belongings, their memories. In a way, hopping from room to room was like travelling in time through the lives of different people. I met nurses, pilots, teachers and people who couldn’t even remember what they used to do. The common denominator between everyone I met was that they seemed very happy and thankful to have me by their side. I felt like I had finally found my calling.”

In 2022 at the age of 36, Hugo was accepted into UBC’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and was thrilled to receive the Shelagh J. Smith Award for Mature Students in Nursing. This award is given to outstanding, mature nursing students, and was established by the estate of Shelagh Smith who was committed to supporting mature nursing students, as she was one herself.

“I was in a situation where I had no idea how I would pay for my fees and to me, winning this award was like a little miracle,” says Hugo. “Even 30 or 40 years from now, I will remember this award and the importance it had in my life.”

Hugo is now entering his final year of the nursing program, after taking a one year leave to be with his newborn son. He’s looking forward to trying different placements to discover which nursing pathway interests him most. And while school can be overwhelming, knowing that one day he will play an important role in the health and wellbeing of countless people keeps him motivated.

“Nurses are not only healers but also advocates for the betterment of the healthcare system, and I feel privileged to be in a position to make a difference,” says Hugo. “Sometimes people need a little bit of help to achieve their lifelong dreams, and the Shelagh J. Smith Award was the final step I needed to make sure I succeed not only in my career, but in my life.”