Reflection On Russell Nellys Story - Essay Example

Reflection on Russell Nelly’s Story Name Institution Reflection on Russell Nelly’s Story Russell Nelly is a 58-year-old Aboriginal, who had the opportunity to experience or encounter diverse issues in the course of becoming the person he is in the modern world. According to the Russell’s story, Nelly had to experience diverse challenges and obstacles in his childhood development. I believe that Nelly grew up in childhood and adolescent stages. Nelly was born in Borden under a tree and had to spend his childhood in Gwonangerup Mission. The mission offered substantial solutions for incarceration of Aboriginal people who need a better word in relation to government policies as well as powers. The mission failed in its obligations and objectives because of issues such as lack finance, insufficient staff, and related problems, which led to sale of the place prior to transferring of the individuals such as Russell from the mission. In spite of random distribution of the children in the mission, Russell had the opportunity to move to Marribank Mission. One of the problems faced by Russell in childhood stage was ineffective health services. For instance, Aboriginal individuals were limited from attending health facilities, thus the need and tendency to go to the tent that was underneath the big tree. In addition, Russell had to content with the fact that his parents did not want him or anything to do with him, hence the reason why he was in the mission at that early age of development. Moreover, Russell had challenges in understanding and recognizing who his parents were since he had spent much of his childhood and adolescent in the mission. It is also essential to note that Russell had to face different life contexts as well as challenges after coming from the Mission until he was 22 years old. In the first instance, I believe Russell had the opportunity to experience a different environment in the course of developing into the person he is in the modern context. In the Mission, they had to depend on constant guidance and directives in handling daily issues. On the other hand, the life after the Mission did not have any rules or regulations. Russell had the obligation of managing his actions and daily activities to survive effectively and efficiently in the outside life. According to his story, he might have seen this as an opportunity to experience freedom. The life outside the Mission did not provide the perfect platform for development because of elements such as drugs, sex, violence, and other aspects, which limited success of an individual. In addition, Russell had to deal with lack of financial resources hence the need to secure employment to provide for his needs. Nevertheless, the experience was not friendly since he had to experience the racism slangs in relation to the notion that Aboriginal did not have people any brain, hence knew nothing about global issues or general knowledge. Russell faced diverse challenges and obstacles in relation to health issues and conditions. For instance, he had to deal with heart problems, blood clots, and diabetes. In addition, he had an allergy to penicillin. However, he had the courage to survive snakebites, kick in the head from a horse, and being in a car accident. Moreover, his engagement in drugs such as cocaine and alcohol had massive implications and development of liver and kidney issues. In order to overcome or handle these issues, Russell was fortunate to have individuals well versed in the Aboriginal knowledge of where medicinal bushes were as well as how to fix it up for persons to use them in handling diverse diseases. Russell had the opportunity to experience firsthand information through knowing the stuff. According to him, this was the difference between his traditional life and the contemporary life lived by girls and young blokes who are long gone. From this perspective, Russell was able to find the bush medicine to cure his health conditions or challenges. It is essential to note that these bush medicine have the ability to cure diverse diseases and health issues such as diabetes, cancer, kidney problems, and heart complications. The construction of identities relates to diverse traits as well as experiences. It is essential to note that identity issues or characteristics are open to diverse interpretations. One of the essential racial issues in this story relates to race. Skin colour proves to be one of the significant markers of identity in different societies, but in others, it is of minimal influence. Russell had to experience the racial abuse against the Aboriginal people for having no brain. These individuals (black) were considered useless to the development of the society, hence elements of racial slangs and prejudice or stereotypes on their behaviour. In order to overcome these issues, it is essential to note that Russell focused on adhering to the societal expectations, but seeking an effective blend between contemporary and traditional aspect of living. In addition, he focused on achieving his goals and targets rather than depend on assistance from certain individuals. From this story, it is essential to note that there are numerous factors and issues, which made Russell to be the individual he is in the modern society. In the first instance, Russell fought to be an example to the Aboriginal people and outsiders that everything is possible in spite of the societal negatives or obstacles. In addition, the opportunity to strive for every opportunity from his birth has been ideal in the development of Russell. He also focuses on developing an effective balance between traditional and contemporary elements of survival to the development of the person he is today. Being a health practitioner or professional, I am able to identify diverse life experiences mentioned by Russell in the development and presentation of the case study. For instance, Aboriginals were never allowed to visit health centres because of the existing prejudice as well as stigmatisation. In addition, the opportunity to experience life in jail following altercations in the street proves to be a significant life experiences. He also had diverse health issues such as diabetes, kidney problems, heart trouble, and blood clot. Other significant life experiences in this case study include growing up in a mission without substantial information about relatives, engagement in drugs, sex, and street violence, and encounter of racial discrimination. There are diverse factors, which led to the ill health of Russell Nelly in this case study. Some of these factors include excessive eating without physical exercises, engagement in drugs while experiencing freedom from the mission, life in prison, and the unfriendly street life. Russell did not have the basic needs to sustain his survival upon leaving the mission. I believe that the reasons given that made him face his mortality in the case study are culturally instigated. The information or reasons tend to focus on stereotypes in relation to the limited opportunities for the success of the Aboriginal people. In facing his mortality, Russell focused on understanding his traditions and customs while integrating elements of contemporary life. I believe that with the attitude and similar perceptions to Russell, all Aboriginal people have the perfect platform to experience different life-changing events like in this case study. It is essential to note that these elements are both plausible and possible for the individuals from the same cultural contexts with the intention of trying to overcome cultural, identity, and racial issues within the Australian community or society. From health practice perspective, it is essential to note substantial experiences with the health system. For instance, limited accessibility to health centres by the Aboriginal people is an expression of exploitation of the individuals on racial or discrimination grounds. In addition, ineffectiveness of the health systems to help Russell overcome his problems, thus focusing on the bush medicine to handle his health problems is an illustration of experiences of the health system in the case study. From a professional point of view, I would advice individuals like Russell to focus on exploiting tested and tried medicine products and surgery approaches in the course of overcoming of diabetes. Nevertheless, traditional herbs are gaining substantial ground in the contemporary society, would be an interesting topic of health research on how to improve the living conditions of individuals by such products. The term empowerment means the opportunity to experience substantial level of information, freedom, and opportunities to make valuable decisions to enhance my survival without seeking assistance from other outlets. Numerous factors have been essential in my empowerment as an individual student. Some of these factors include access to information, interaction with other professionals and students, participation in diverse seminars, and undertaking different course as an individual student. I am aware of the values underlying my health profession, which define the code of conduct. These values relate to privacy, confidentiality, quality, ethics, honesty, and commitment towards the provision of essential health products and services in accordance with the needs of the patients. From this case study, I am able to gain substantial insights such as the need to eliminate racial issues in the provision of health products and services. In addition, I have been able to gain adequate information on the bush medicine to initiate further research on their effectiveness and limitations in relation to the needs and preferences of the patients seeking to improve their health or living conditions. Read More