Mary Alice Kramer Aspiring Nurse Scholarship

My name is Abigail Bowen. I live in a rural area in Illinois and I am a single mom of three wonderful kids. I have always known I wanted to be a nurse. I became a licensed practical nurse in 2007 and have been working in the healthcare industry since. I have worked mostly in pediatrics. I've worked for two different pediatricians and currently work at an elementary school. While I love my job and my students, I know that I'm meant for something different. My goal is to obtain my bachelor's degree in nursing and work with pediatric oncology patients. I'm currently enrolled at Indiana State University in the pre-LPN-BSN program. It's hard to work full-time while going to school and raising three children, but I am willing to put in the work and I know I can do it. I currently have a 4.0 GPA at Indiana State all while being very involved in my children's school and activities. The reason I want to become a pediatric oncology nurse is because of my nephew, Reid. Reid was diagnosed with cancer at the very young age of four. Our family is very close and I spent a lot of time with them at the hospital. I watched his nurses care for him every day knowing they have one of the hardest jobs in the world, yet they never showed it on their faces. They made Reid smile and laugh and went out of their way every day to make sure he felt safe and comfortable. They were very knowledgeable about the many questions we asked and never showed an ounce of impatience toward us. Those nurses inspired me. The day Reid died was the hardest day of my life. He was only seven years old. It was so hard for me to even look at him, so I focused on the nurses. They knew what they needed to do. Reid had six IV's in his body and while he still had a faint heartbeat, the nurses unhooked him so fast and rushed him into my sister's arms so he could pass while being held by his mother. I was in awe of them. I know I would make a great pediatric oncology nurse and I'm willing to put the hard work in to make it happen. Paying for college is very difficult while being a single mom and any help I could get would be the most amazing gift. Please consider me for this scholarship and know that if I'm chosen, this gift will be going toward my future career in helping the many families that are going through the worst time of their lives. Thank you for your consideration, Abigail Bowen

I have always been interested in the medical field; I just didn’t realize I wanted to be a nurse. My dad was diagnosed with cancer when I was fourteen and this opened my eyes more to the medical field. I wasn’t certain I wanted to be a nurse until my grandma completed her recovery at our house from a hip replacement that had complications. She needed antibiotics everyday via her peripherally inserted central catheter. I was the only one at home to learn how to do this, so I pushed antibiotics through the PICC line daily. I loved learning how to administer medicine. During the same time, my grandpa was dealing with a brain-bleed due to melanoma on this brain. I was fascinated with all the information the Doctors educated us with. My grandparents were always there for our whole family, so it was super hard to see them struggle with their health. My grandma was so proud of me and how I was able to help take care of her. She never knew she was a big part of the reason why I decided to become a nurse. They both ended up passing away. I have been fascinated with the medical field ever since. My high school offers a Certified Nursing Assistant class through a community college, and I decided after this experience that I wanted to try this class. During this class, you work to get your CNA and we get hands-on experience in hospitals and locations of our choosing. I got to work in a Childrens Hospital and with an ambulance. I loved the Childrens Hospital and the environment of all the children. I decided that this is my dream environment. At the ambulance, I got to learn how an ambulance functions and everyday life for them. I loved the schedule they work and how everyone was very welcoming. I ended up spending every afternoon for seven months doing ride-alongs and learning the fire side to paramedical. This pushed me to try an EMT Basic class. I am currently enrolled in a class to get my EMT-B certification. My dad’s health declined fast with his cancer. My mom and I became his daily caregivers. It was tough seeing my dad in this condition and having to care for him. All my experiences helped with this time because I knew what to do and could show my mom how to take care of him easier. He was so proud of me and how I was able to use my knowledge to care for him. He told everyone who came to visit that his daughter was taking care of him. This is something I will hold close for the rest of my life. My dad passed away in September of 2023. It was tough, but we all got super close during this time, and everyone worked together to help each other. I am currently working as a caregiver for a non-verbal and autistic 5-year-old child. I have learned the difference between working with adults and children. I prefer children because I get a lot of joy from his reactions to our interactions. I worked at a local nursing home during the summer. I got lots of exposure to elderly and special needs adults. I hope to obtain my associate in nursing at Lake Land College. Then I will earn my bachelor's in nursing at Indiana University. I am also considering pursuing a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner through Baylor University. After I graduate, I want to find a job in a medical facility where my knowledge can make a difference.