Bergen Community College

Bergen Community College nursing student Kaydian Barrett, ‘26, wholeheartedly believes in her personal anchor phrase “it takes a village.”

“At Bergen, I didn’t just find a nursing program- I found a village,” said Kaydian, of Teaneck. Crediting Bergen Community College Associate Director of Health Services and College nurse Dania Huie-Pasigan, she said, “Dania is part of that village.”

Kaydian recognizes Dania for standing at the core of what makes a community “a community” at Bergen and for providing the necessary support for her and her younger brother, Jahnoi Barrett, ‘20, who was born with Dandy Walker Malformation. Jahnoi was a Bergen student in the College’s Turning Point program.

“While he has limitations, Bergen has not limited him, and souls like Dania have been there every step of the way,” said Kaydian. “Dania has stood in the gap, giving quality care, and attention until my mother or I could arrive to tend to him.”

Kaydian first met Dania when her younger brother, Jahnoi, attended and graduated from Bergen’s Turning Point program in 2020. When Kaydian asked Jahnoi how he would describe Dania, he said, “She is funny, hardworking, respectful, and my ‘school mom.’”

As a full-time day nursing student who worked full-time at night in a hospital, she has relied on Dania’s support more than she can express. “Dania has been a constant source of both academic and emotional encouragement,” she said.

After a night shift, Kaydian would attend school with Jahnoi, who had class later in the day. Kaydian felt secure and comforted knowing that she could drop off Jahnoi in Bergen’s Office of Health Services so that he could “hang out” with Dania.

There have been several moments when Jahnoi didn’t feel well. Kaydian recalled being in the middle of a lecture and she received a call from her mother that Jahnoi was in the nurse’s office and his “school mom” was with him.

“I felt relief in that moment because Dania gave me the comfort and assurance of a supportive mother,” said Kaydian. “I remember walking into the room where he was staying, with heavy concern, and there she was sitting with him, and the first thing Dania said was, ‘Did you check his vitals? How are his breath sounds?’”

“In that moment, even in worry, we shared a laugh—turning the situation into a teaching experience,” said Kaydian who reflected on the series of teaching moments beyond the classroom.

For one of Kaydian’s college assignments, she had to complete a community agency project. Unfortunately, the agency that she was going to work with fell through last minute. As she was trying to figure out how to complete her assignment, Jahnoi had a brilliant idea and suggested to speak with Dania. “You should talk to Dania,” said Jahnoi. “She is on vacation, but maybe you can do the assignment with her.”

Since then, Dania has educated Kaydian on how health services operates and shared opportunities to participate in “Lunch and Learn” programs and Health Week events. Through Dania’s mentorship, Kaydian has received support and guidance in the nursing field.

“I gained confidence through her guidance in developing clinical skills and communication with clients or patients,” said Kaydian. During Kaydian’s clinicals, she was asked to serve as the “student charge nurse” during a rotation and to support Level 1 students with manual blood pressure readings.

Recalling a time when Kaydian was navigating health concerns, Dania checked in on her to make sure that she was doing well. “Her communication is meaningful,” said Kaydian. “She truly has mastered the art of genuine follow-up.”

According to Kaydian, one seemingly simple interaction with her younger brother has created a ripple effect of immense growth for a future nurse.

“I was blessed to come in contact with nursing professors and staff at Bergen like Dania from Health Services who provided a listening ear,” said Kaydian.

“Dania is a rarity in the Bergen community,” said Kaydian. “I am honored and deeply grateful that she saw my brother and me, and we consider Dania to be a part of our community.”

Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls more than 24,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.

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