Student Profile: Shalesh Aspires to Inspire
By Brent Davis (with help from ChatGPT based on a transcript of an interview with Greg Byers)
From Fiji to the Frontlines of Care: The Journey of Shalesh Prasad
Shalesh Prasad’s journey to nursing began far from Southern California, on the islands of Fiji. Raised and educated there, he completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree and began his professional life as a high school teacher, serving students for ten years. Teaching shaped his early career and instilled in him a commitment to education and service. After relocating to the United States with his family fifteen years ago, he transitioned into the corporate world, working in accounting and business for more than two decades.
Yet over time, he began to question whether corporate life was the path he wanted to follow indefinitely. Although stable and successful, it did not fully align with his desire to make a direct and meaningful difference in people’s lives. Encouraged by someone close to him, he began considering nursing—a profession that would allow him to combine scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and compassionate service in acute care settings.
At the same time, his daughter, now a high school junior, expressed interest in becoming a nurse. That shared aspiration further strengthened his resolve. Nursing became not only a personal career change but a collaborative journey at home, where father and daughter now study together. As the first member of his family to enter the healthcare profession, Shailesh embraced the challenge of starting anew—proving, as he says, that it is never too late to pursue a more meaningful calling.
Today, he is in his third year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at American University of Health Sciences (AUHS). His decision to enroll at AUHS was grounded in a desire for rigorous scientific training combined with practical, hands-on clinical exposure. As someone transitioning from the corporate sector, he wanted comprehensive experience across multiple specialties before determining a long-term focus. Rather than prematurely narrowing his path, he has intentionally embraced a wide range of clinical rotations, including ICU and mental health placements, to understand the full spectrum of nursing practice.
Unlike many traditional students who enter nursing with a defined specialty in mind, Shalesh approaches each clinical rotation as an exploration. He recognizes that coming from outside the healthcare system presents a learning curve, particularly in understanding how hospitals operate behind the scenes. However, he views this not as a limitation but as an opportunity to learn broadly and deliberately before committing to a specialty.
In addition to his academic workload, Shalesh maintains an exceptionally demanding schedule. He works as a student nurse at a hospital, holds a position at an animal hospital, and serves the university through the Federal Work-Study Program. His seven-day schedule reflects both discipline and purpose, balanced alongside his responsibilities as a husband and father of two.
One of his most impactful roles at AUHS is within the Center for Academic Excellence, where he serves as the coordinator of the Aspire2Inspire (A2I) program. Aspire2Inspire is designed to mentor and academically support students while cultivating future leaders within the university community. The program offers both online and on-campus tutoring, allowing students to schedule academic assistance efficiently. Under Shalesh’s coordination, a dedicated team of tutors and faculty members works to ensure that no student is left behind.
Although his responsibilities as coordinator primarily involve leadership and coordination—liaising between faculty and tutors, strengthening systems, and expanding program access—his work embodies the program’s core philosophy: collective advancement. The guiding principle of Aspire2Inspire is simple yet powerful—everyone moves forward together. Over recent years, the team has expanded its services, improved accessibility, and reinforced its mentoring culture. For Shailesh, this role merges his background in teaching with his current pursuit of healthcare, allowing him to influence both academic excellence and student leadership development.
He often tells students that growth requires stepping beyond perceived limits. His own journey—from Fiji to corporate America, from accounting to nursing, from classroom teacher to healthcare trainee—serves as a living example of resilience and reinvention. He acknowledges that the path is challenging, but he emphasizes that it is equally rewarding.
Looking ahead, Shalesh intends to complete his BSN while continuing to explore clinical specialties. He remains open to discovering where his skills and passion align most effectively—whether in critical care, mental health, or another area of nursing. Simultaneously, he plans to continue strengthening Aspire2Inspire, expanding mentorship opportunities, and developing future student leaders at AUHS.
His story is one of transition, determination, and service. From island beginnings to intensive care rotations, from corporate accounting to compassionate patient care, Shalesh Prasad embodies a professional reinvention grounded in purpose. And as he continues forward, he carries with him a clear conviction: it is never too late to aspire—and in doing so, inspire others.
