Maureen C. Pace Memorial Nursing Scholarship

There was no defining moment that caused my desire to go into nursing; a collection of events occurred throughout the entirety of my life that influenced my decision. Not only did I grow up with a grandmother who was in and out of hospitals for the last 20 years of her life due to several chronic illnesses, but I also grew up with a diabetic mother. On one occasion her blood sugar spiked while I was home alone with her. I was the one who called 911 and told them my mommy was sick, I was the one opening the door for the first responders to treat and transport her, and I was the one calling my dad, begging him to come home from my brother's hockey practice. Shortly after I started high school, a close friend of mine died. His passing hit home for me — it opened up so many floodgates of emotion that I’ve since come to realize I want to help others through. My first step in doing so was shadowing a nurse in the ED at Yale New Haven. I learned so much from her: patient care, health, hygiene, and even life advice. This spurred me to accept a dental assistant opportunity that arose in the following months, so I could continue to learn about healthcare through more practical experience. The first thing I learned on the job was the importance of communication. Having the ability to communicate with patients in Spanish was a game changer and will make my career more impactful. These experiences ignited more interest in the STEM field for me, prompting me to take advanced classes such as Human Anatomy and Physiology, Future Healthcare Leaders, and apply to a selective college-level Science Research program that is considered elite in my school. This program has taught me the basics of innumerable skills, both in research and in life. I have read countless graduate-level research papers, gained vast amounts of knowledge on my topics of interest, conducted my own research, and worked alongside my peers to improve each other's writing and presentation skills. It has also taught me that I don’t want to work in a lab doing research as a career — I would like to be hands-on in helping others. In Anatomy, I am learning the foundations of the human body to provide a basic understanding for future classes. I have always been fascinated by physiology and learning how everything works in our body has been nothing short of enthralling. My Future Healthcare Leaders class provides me ample opportunities to learn more about healthcare through weekly physician visits, an internship I applied for at my local ambulance corporation, and the confidence to know that nursing is my passion. I envision myself in a hospital, working days, nights, and the hours in between to help make people feel better. Even now, with just over 4 years until I’m in the world of professional work, I am giddy to start and am constantly adding onto my plans for my future: becoming a nurse, specializing in the Emergency Department, becoming a travel nurse, working per diem as I work towards my masters degree. Becoming a Nurse Practitioner.