Nursing Student, Inspired by Heroic Father to Face Life's Challenges, Persists to Graduation

When nursing graduate ShuQui Autrey ’23 crossed the stage to receive her degree at this year’s Mercy College commencement ceremony, it was the culmination of a tumultuous life journey. As a child, she, her father and her sister witnessed a terrifying event on the New York City subway tracks that transformed their destiny. Sixteen years later, on the day of ShuQui’s graduation, her family – including her 3-year-old son Day’Len - were granted a glorious day to be together and to celebrate her achievement with other family members. 

“Crossing the stage I thought, I did it!” ShuQui said. “Mercy got me there. There were many challenges that threatened to knock me down and keep me down. But the whole time my motto was, just do what you must do. This is game time. There was no time for me to lose.” 

ShuQui became pregnant with Day’Len as a sophomore in the nursing program at the College of New Rochelle. In the hospital, she said, “I pushed out a whole human while studying for my exams!” She committed to being a single mother and staying in school. Then the College of New Rochelle closed, and Mercy College took on more than 300 nursing students as part of a teach-out agreement. And then, COVID struck, and as a young mother she was both in college and working on the front lines to care for the sick. Through it all, she said, “My family was my greatest support.” 

Undeterred by the challenges, fear and risk that encompassed a pandemic, ShuQui said her life’s purpose is to help others, a philosophy instilled by her father.  
 
ShuQui’s father, Wesley Autrey, is New York City’s famed “subway hero” – a man who risked his life to save another’s by jumping onto a subway track right in front of his daughters’ eyes.  

In January 2007, the family was waiting for a subway train at a stop in Harlem near their home. Wesley watched a stranger suffer a seizure and stumble down onto the subway tracks, lying between the electric rails. ShuQui, then six, and her sister, then four, watched in horror as her dad made a split-second decision and jumped down to shield the man from an oncoming train. Wesley put his body on top of the man’s body and stayed there as some five subway cars rolled over them before the train came to a stop. Lying on top of a total stranger, Wesley’s body was just inches from the bottom of the train. 

“I remember my dad saying to that man, 'I have two daughters. Please don’t move’,” ShuQui said. “One wrong move and they could have been electrocuted.” 

Unbelievably, both Wesley – a construction worker and former Navy veteran – and the man he saved – a a film academy student named Cameron Hollopeter – came away unscathed. The incident, and Wesley’s instinctive bravery, generated headlines around the world. In true form, Wesley went right back to work and has worked hard ever since to support his family. As frightening as it was for her to see him risk his life, ShuQui says she has been inspired by her dad’s selfless heroism. 

At Mercy College’s commencement, Wesley watched in pride as his daughter enjoyed her day in the spotlight. ShuQui graduated from Mercy Cum Laude and has already been accepted to Mercy’s family nurse practitioner master’s program. She says she’s drawn to nursing due to a very personal experience.  

“My mom had a drug problem,” ShuQui explained. “I cared for her through recovery, then relapse, the whole cycle. It was a lot of responsibility as a young child. But it taught me that I loved to care for people. And to make sure that they’re ok.” Her mother’s recovery inspired and fueled her intention, but her pregnancy and experience as a young single mother put her need to create a strong future into focus. 

She went to class each day, watching as the white lab coat slowly became harder to close as the baby’s due date approached. Upon delivery, the 8-pound, 14-ounce boy became a motivator as she pressed on, returning to class just two weeks after his birth. “There were days and nights before where I would have to scavenge and find somebody to help me watch my son because I had a test or lab that day,” ShuQui said. Her aunt and cousin came to the rescue – making the impossible seem possible. 

ShuQui also credits many Mercy professors who helped push her when she faced obstacles. She says Mercy’s support surprised her in the best possible way; an institution she had not originally chosen, but fate made her alma mater.  

Initially, ShuQui feared her father’s disapproval about having a child. Instead, she says he gradually became even more proud of her as she continued in her studies despite all the sleepless nights and true challenges. At commencement, Wesley proudly supervised his grandson playing in the sunshine away from the ‘pomp and circumstance’ of the tent, wearing a toddler sized cap and gown to match his mom. 

ShuQui says Day’Len is right there on the journey with her. “He knows mommy does what she has to do.”