Jon Cook Work Hard and Go Forth to Serve Scholarship

I am a 17-year-old high school senior preparing to graduate this May, and I will be attending Utah State University Eastern this fall to pursue a degree in nursing. My journey into healthcare began early, driven by a desire to care for others and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Over the past six months, I have worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Beaumont Assisted Living, where I have gained hands-on experience that has deeply shaped both my education and my perspective on patient care. Working as a CNA while completing high school has required discipline, time management, and resilience. Balancing long shifts with schoolwork has not always been easy, but it has strengthened my work ethic and reinforced my commitment to my goals. Every day at work, I am responsible for assisting residents with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility. These tasks, while routine, have taught me the importance of patience, compassion, and dignity in healthcare. I have learned that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a profound impact on someone’s quality of life. One of the most meaningful aspects of my experience at my facility was having the opportunity to work with Jon. Being able to care for someone whose life and legacy inspired this scholarship made my experience even more significant. Jon’s determination to stay mentally, socially, and physically engaged despite the challenges he faced left a lasting impression on me. He exemplified what it means to live fully and maintain dignity through hardship. Watching his strength and positive mindset reinforced why I chose to pursue a career in healthcare. My work experience has enhanced my education by giving me real-world applications for what I learn in the classroom. Concepts that might otherwise feel abstract become tangible when I see them play out in the lives of residents. I have developed strong communication skills, learned how to work as part of a healthcare team, and gained confidence in high-responsibility situations. These experiences have prepared me not only for nursing school but for a lifelong career dedicated to serving others. In addition to the skills I have gained, working as a CNA has also taught me the importance of emotional strength and empathy. Building relationships with residents means celebrating their good days and supporting them through difficult ones. It has shown me that healthcare is not just about physical care, but also about providing comfort, understanding, and human connection. As I move forward in my education, I am committed to continuing to grow both personally and professionally. My goal is to become a nurse who provides compassionate, patient-centered care while advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. I want to carry the lessons I have learned from my work, especially the example set by Jon, into every aspect of my future career. This scholarship would not only support my education financially, but it would also honor the impact that Jon had on my life and reinforce my dedication to the healthcare field. I am proud of the work I have done so far, and I am motivated to continue building a career centered on compassion, resilience, and service.

Seven months ago I began my nursing education and my work as a CNA in a long-term care facility. My workplace has a wide variety of patients, ranging from fully independent people who need their medications from a nurse, to completely dependent people with tracheotomies and are fully comatose. Although forming friendships with those patients who are able to interact well is very enjoyable, my heart has a special place for those who are unable to perform their own cares, speak, or even open their eyes. That tenderness began with a woman whom I will refer to as Diane. Diane is a patient on our tracheotomy floor. When I first met her, the introduction I was given was, "be careful: she's confused, a pincher, and refuses all cares." Naturally with that kind of background information, I was initially cautious going into her room and felt as though there was a barrier keeping me from having truly therapeutic interactions with her. The warning, however, proved to be true. She refused all cares, so I stopped asking and started telling her what would happen. She would reach out her one arm that worked and would try to pinch during any kind of interaction that was more than helping her eat. It wasn't until a month later when I was reassigned to be her CNA that I realized what was happening. I had been paired with another aid, whom I'll call Lindsey. When Lindsey and I entered Diane's room, Lindsey immediately brightened her mood and was excited to see Diane. She struck up a conversation, even though Diane's tracheotomy prevented her from verbally conversing; but I noticed that Lindsey was reading the patient's lips. Before I fully comprehended what was happening, I'd learned that Diane loved fishing. Her father took her out every weekend in the summer to fish. She even told us where her favorite fishing spot is. As the conversation came to a close, so did the care we were providing. It finally clicked for me. Because of my initial introduction, I'd had a preconceived expectation that no matter what I did, Diane would pinch or refuse. The opposite was true; in treating her just as any other client, she was pulled out of her confused and frightened state for a few moments. That not only enabled us to complete her care, but restored her dignity and provided her with the therapeutic interactions she was in need of. Since that experience, my approach to learning has been greatly enhanced. While prior to that experience I would run with whatever I was told, I strive to look beyond that. I do more than is required and find new ways to reach goals when obstacles arrive. I hope to continue putting those skills into practice educationally and in my workplace. Every patient deserves a nurse that will be creative in paving the way for their healing - and those needs go far beyond the medications, procedures, and daily cares.