Raya Burnham
First-generation student
Practical Nursing program, Southwest Campus
Growing up in Thailand, Raya Burnham worked in the hospitality industry but had a different vision of her life’s purpose.
“As a teenager, I worked as a babysitter and helped care for an elderly woman for a while,” she said. “At that moment, I saw clearly that I wanted to be a nurse – a person who is able to help others with kindness, love and caring.”
Burnham is part of the Practical Nursing program at PCC Southwest in Mancos. She already earned certifications as a nurse aide and medical assistant.
After moving to the United States in 2017, she completed PCC’s Nurse Aide program and worked as a CNA. That knowledge prepared her for a temporary return to Thailand to care for her mother during her final stages of cancer.
“I was able to care for her correctly and professionally,” Burnham said.
Now an American citizen, she decided to enroll in PCC’s Nursing program full time with lots of support from her husband, his parents and her employer, Axis Health System. She said her greatest challenge is learning everything in English since it’s not her native language, but she found many helping hands at the college.
“Everyone at PCC Southwest has shown support and been willing to help me,” she said. “They are like a teacher who rows a boat to help their student cross a river safely. It’s the most wonderful place to be a student.”
She encourages anyone thinking about becoming a college student to move beyond any fears they have about it.
“A lot of people are afraid to reach out for help – especially immigrants,” she said. “I know they’re afraid to move forward. They are afraid that they’re not capable (of doing) things. I just want them to believe in themselves.”
After getting her practical nursing degree in 2025, Burnham intends to continue her education and become a registered nurse.
“Knowledge is the best thing to invest in,” she said. “They can take material things away from you, but no one will ever be able to take your knowledge.”
