MJ Strength in Care Scholarship

Service was never something my family talked about: it was something we lived. I grew up watching my dad spend his weekends cutting grass for widows at our church, repairing homes for families in need, and answering late-night calls to help our wheelchair-bound neighbor get safely inside when it rained. My mother was right beside him, driving kids to practice, buying shoes for students whose toes were poking through worn-out sneakers, and using her own paycheck to make sure the children in our community had what they needed. Watching them taught me that service means showing up for people without expecting anything in return. That example became part of who I am, long before I knew it would shape my career. Nursing was not always my calling. I told my parents one day that I wanted to be a nurse, but honestly, it was because I thought it was a stable, respectable career, and something that would let me "make good money." That mindset shifted completely during my first semester of nursing school, when I was assigned to a rotation at a community facility in Montgomery. That experience opened my eyes to what nursing truly is. It is not just a job; it is a calling that demands empathy, discipline, and resilience, especially when the work gets heavy. Some of my classmates could not continue after seeing the realities of that community. For me, it was the opposite. It was affirming. I knew this was exactly where I was supposed to be. Montgomery is a city with a rich history, but it is also a city struggling with healthcare access. There is a shortage of providers, especially nurse anesthetists, and that gap is felt most by underserved and rural communities. Chronic illness is common, and the need for skilled, compassionate care is urgent. I want to be one of the providers who meets that need. Over the past five years, I have built my clinical foundation at the bedside. I spent two years in the Emergency Department, learning to think quickly and stay calm when every second mattered. For the last three years, I have worked in cardiovascular nursing, caring for patients through some of the most critical and vulnerable moments of their lives. Each of those experiences taught me something different, but they all reinforced the same lesson: patients deserve providers who see them, know them, and genuinely care about their outcomes. That belief is what led me to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia. I want to deepen my impact, not only by delivering safe and compassionate anesthesia care, but by stepping into leadership, advocating for better health policy, and eventually mentoring the next generation of CRNAs, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Outside of my work and studies, my greatest source of joy and balance is my family, especially my two-year-old son and husband. Full-time school as an anesthesia student demands a lot, and there are days when the schedule feels relentless. But coming home to my son resets everything. There is something grounding about watching him discover the world, whether it is the pure joy on his face over something as small as a frog or his determination to do things "himself" even when he is not quite ready. He reminds me daily why balance matters and why I cannot pour into others without also pouring into my own family. Motherhood has also shaped the kind of nurse and future CRNA I am becoming. It has taught me patience I did not know I had, and it has sharpened my ability to stay calm and present even when I am exhausted. When I care for a frightened patient or comfort a family member waiting on news, I often think of my son and how I would want someone to care for the people I love. That perspective keeps me anchored to why I chose this path in the first place. Balancing motherhood, full-time nursing, and school is not easy, but it has taught me the same discipline and resilience I bring to patient care. My son is watching what it looks like to chase a calling even when it is hard, and that alone makes every long shift and every late study night worth it. He is not just my joy outside of nursing; he is part of the reason I am pursuing this next step at all.

I was very young when I first realized how powerful nurses can be. I remember sitting outside a hospital room after my brother’s selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery. The hallway felt overwhelming with machines beeping, voices echoing, people rushing past, and I sat there nervously waiting to see him. I was so young I had no idea what was going on. A kind nurse noticed me and came over, crouching down to my level. She talked with me, explained what was happening, and eased so many of the fears I couldn’t put into words. In that moment, she made me feel comforted and safe in a place that felt frightening. I didn’t know it then, but that experience planted a seed in me: I wanted to be that nurse someday. My brother has cerebral palsy, and over the years he has gone through many surgeries and medical challenges. Each time, nurses were the ones who stood by not just him, but our entire family. They gave us reassurance when things were scary and celebrated the little victories right alongside us. Later down the road, my grandpa needed open-heart surgery during the COVID pandemic, and I once again witnessed the courage and dedication of nurses. Even in the face of so much uncertainty, they showed up every day to care for their patients. Because of brave health professionals like them, my grandpa’s surgery was successful, and we got more time with him. Seeing their bravery and compassion during such a difficult time only deepened my desire to follow this path. Over the past two years, I’ve been able to live out some of that calling while working as a Certified Nursing Assistant. I’ve cared for residents through moments of joy and sadness, comforting them when they were lonely, celebrating when they were happy, and simply listening when they needed someone by their side. Some of the most profound experiences have been sitting at the bedside as residents took their last breath. Being able to hold their hand, comfort them, and care for them in their final moments changed me. It opened my eyes to what it really means to be there for another person. Those moments taught me that nursing is not just about skill or knowledge, it’s about presence, dignity, and compassion through every stage of life. I’ve also been blessed with nurses who have mentored me along the way. They’ve answered my endless questions, modeled patience and resilience, and shown me that being a great nurse means combining knowledge with heart. Their example has inspired me to grow into the kind of nurse who not only provides excellent care, but also makes patients and families feel supported and understood. Outside of nursing, I find joy and balance in my family’s purebred cow-calf operation. Whether it’s early mornings doing chores, late nights checking calves, or simply sitting in the pasture surrounded by the peacefulness of nature, that work grounds me. Growing up showing 4-H animals taught me responsibility and instilled in me a strong work ethic that carries over into my studies and my caregiving. Out there, away from phones and distractions, I’m reminded of the importance of slowing down and being present, something that also shapes the way I approach caregiving. I also love staying active. Golfing, playing sports with family and friends, or just finding ways to move keeps me happy. And I have found meaning in volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House, preparing rooms and helping create a welcoming space for families. It might seem like small tasks, but I know how important that sense of comfort can be when a family is going through a crisis. Volunteering there reminds me why I chose this path in the first place. For me, nursing is more than a career, it’s a calling born out of the kindness of a nurse who sat with me when I was scared, the dedication of those who saved my grandpa’s life, and the compassion I’ve both witnessed and practiced as a CNA. I want to be that nurse for someone else: the one who comforts a family member in the hallway, who celebrates victories big and small, and who brings dignity and presence even in life’s hardest moments. At the same time, I am grounded by the things that bring me peace, family, animals, sports, and service. Together, these experiences make me who I am, and they are what will guide me as I grow into the nurse I aspire to become.