Divers Women Scholarship

Coming from a low-income minority family has given me many obstacles on my journey for an education. While I have faced those obstacles it has kept me motivated to continue fighting for myself and my future. As an adult learner, I am currently a single mother of two with a dream and a passion. My ultimate goal is to not only award my children with a great life, but to become a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology nurse. My passion is to not only provide care for these patients but to be the voice and advocate for children coming from low-income homes. I consistently work on these goal as the months and years go by. Fortunately, I have not given up no matter how many times I have fallen. Providing for my children is always my priority, however there are often times where I am left with deciding between paying for a necessity or paying for my tuition. It is a path I have chosen to pursue, but it is my passion and I have always remained driven. I am no stranger to sacrifice and am so much prouder of where I am today because of it. Wholeheartedly, I want my children to see that if there is anything they want out of life, if they set their mind to they can do it! At the same time I hope to show them that even if we weather our own storms, caring for others, especially those that need it the most is not only fulfilling but needed in our world. My passion for making patients smile even in the hardest journeys they face, like cancer, is just the beginning of how I intend to do so. Ultimately once I graduate with my Bachelors, I would love to go back for my Doctorates and become a nurse practitioner. This would give me the ability to provide care more independently in the communities with children that are under-served and may be facing the same trials and tribulations I once faced by no fault of their own. They have a voice and I intend to make it be heard. I love to imagine a world where healthcare is equal. A world where everyone regardless of where they live, come from, or look like receive great unbiased quality care. Having more healthcare providers of color that come from difficult backgrounds helps in making this happen. It provides children of similar backgrounds to feel seen and understood. It helps inspire those who may think they could never make it, know that anything is possible. Remembering the daily struggles my mother faced always replays in my mind when I face some of those same struggles today. I hold these memories near and dear to me as I am now a mother. I value the sacrifices my mother made to give me the best life she could. I value the hours of volunteer work I did way back when, in a hospital during high school. These experiences helped me find my purpose. I remember those hours of studying for exams and working a part time job to help my mother with bills, and I remember that these experiences made me who I am today. Without her perseverance I wouldn't be so resilient. I look at my children and think of the life I want them to have and I will never stop trying until I get there. I owe it not only to them, but to my mother. I especially owe this to all the patients whose lives I have yet to touch! Thank you for your consideration.

My name is Nicket Hamilton, I am 37 years old and originally from Jamaica. I have a 3-and-a-half-year-old son that is my motivation in everything I do. Also, I am the second person in my entire family to attend college. Ever since I came to the United States, I have been constantly trying to better myself. I have an inborn desire to care for people in times of their need. Ever since I was mentally capable of making my own decisions in life, I have wanted to become a nurse. My experience raising a family is the most challenging yet most rewarding experience. It is a huge responsibility to be able to care for my son and husband, I love to cook for them and I love to make our home nice and comfortable. I love to watch my son grow and go through each stage of growth. Also, I am always worried about his well-being when he is away from me. I used to work full time but had to stop to go to nursing school full time, lots of sacrifices on this journey but I am doing it for my family and in the end, it will be worth it. I will make them proud. Every person who has ever gone into the nursing field has an inspiration behind the decision. What inspired me to get into the nursing field was when my dearest uncle got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I was here in the United States, and he was back home in Jamaica. It was very hard being so far away throughout his illness. I would work hard here and send money back home to help with his medical bills. Whenever I would visit, I would notice all the great work the nurses did. One nurse was so kind and caring toward my uncle. The nurse had many patients and treated each of them with the same compassion and professionalism. All her patients felt special, and well cared for. Another reason that inspired me even further toward nursing, was my experience giving birth to my son. I had complications during birth and had to get an emergency C-section. The labor and delivery nurses were so amazing. I was extremely scared, but they made the process so much easier by providing great care, patience, knowledge, and understanding. After that, I decided that when I become a nurse, I want to one day work in labor and delivery to pay it forward to other pregnant women in labor. Those experiences taught me how much I belong in the field, I am eager to do more to bring about change and touch as many lives as possible.