EBG Nursing Scholarship

I deserve this scholarship because I am hard worker, community driven and responsible. I am a nursing major and exercise science minor at Hardin-Simmons University. There I am also a student-athlete on the softball team as well as involved in many extracurriculars. This semester I will be taking on my second year in Student Government Association (SGA) as the executive administrator. As a board official, I oversee that SGA is striving to improve our already beautiful campus. I am also secretary of the pre-nursing club at HSU. This club is a convention of students working together to pioneer first cohort into the nursing program at HSU. I enjoy taking part in community service/volunteer events sponsored by HSU such as Serve Like Simmons, High Five Fridays at elementary schools and donation drives. I am so grateful to my parents for their efforts in paying off some of my tuition, but I know majority of this burden will be carried on my shoulders. I am taking out my first loan this semester, and know I will continue to do the same for my next 5 semesters as my families savings to pay for my college has already been depleted. I work a job part-time in the summers to fund my daily expenses during the school year, but my main "job" while at school is the responsibility I have towards my collegiate softball team. Softball has always been my passion growing up; I love competing, celebrating victories with my teammates, and pushing myself to new limits. Unfortunately, I had a season-ending injury last semester that resulted in surgery and 6 months of rigorous physical therapy. I was provided the opportunity to extend my degree plan for another year in order to use my extra year eligibility in sports. I am so excited have this opportunity but the downside is racking up another $20,000 in student loans. The ability and skills to play collegiate sports typically only comes around once in a lifetime, and I do not want to regret not taking advantage of this thrilling adventure because of financial need. When I finally graduate, a bachelor in science of nursing degree will allow me to get a job as a registered nurse while I continue my education in nursing at a higher level. As a nurse, I understand the duty I have to my patients to provide them with quality care and comfort, emotionally and physically. I hope to use my education to become a nurse practitioner, where I will explain firsthand to patients their diagnosis and treatments options. I want to shine light on them during their darkest times in the form of compassion and making sure that complicated world of medicine doesn't seem so scary.