Sigirci-Jones Scholarship

I was a CNA for 17 years and have always been a caretaker in every aspect of my life. Helping others has always been a passion of mine. I took time to volunteer at the local hospital as a candy striper for a couple years. During high school I used to help with the special needs classes to assist some of the students with their class work. My mother was a CNA for years and I watched her struggle while going to school and working to support and take care of her family. I believe caretaking is in my blood, but I also believe I had a role model to instill the values in me. I am now an LPN currently enrolled in my RN bridge. I am a single mother to a disabled little girl who had a grade IV intraventricular hemorrhage in utero. I was told she would grow up and remain infant like for her entire life. I was told she would not walk and 90% chance that she would be mentally challenged. My little girl was born blind, was not very strong, and had trouble maintaining her vitals on her own. I did not take any of that laying down! I found a program through Duke Medical University that had an experimental procedure for children with diagnoses like my daughter. Stem cells, that were harvested from my daughter's umbilical cord and placenta were infused back into her body at 3 different times; 5 months, 9 months and 13 months of age. After the very first infusion she began to see, and after the 3rd infusion we noticed her strength getting much more increased and she began meeting milestones that were initially delayed. I fought everyday for my little girl and together, through therapies, procedures, appointments and more today she can run, skip, jump and is smarter than I could have ever imagined. She does have cerebral palsy and is visually impaired, but she has surpassed everything that was predicted of her. She has been my reason for living and has sparked a passion in me to do more, to be more. I went to school for my LPN during COVID al while taking care of her and transitioning her schooling to online as well. We have had our struggles but we fight every single day and will always continue to do so. This money would help me fulfill my nursing bridge program so that someday, hopefully soon, I can begin helping fight for other little babies who are born with the same ailments as my daughter. I want to help as many babies as I can but not only do I want to help them, I want to be there as a support for their families. I will never forget our NICU nurses and I hope that I can become unforgettable for one of those families who are struggling through their new unknown world of disabilities and unknown futures. I pray I can spark hope in them that was ignited in me. I can, and I WILL make a difference. Thank you so much for the opportunity to apply.

As an aspiring nurse who has worked as a professional in the healthcare field for over 18 years, there have been many experiences that have inspired me to become the woman that I am today. However, above anything or anyone, my five children are my greatest inspiration. Undoubtedly, single parenting requires consistency, patience, and sacrifice. Every single moment of my life revolves around my children, as they are my top priority. Working twice as hard to make sure that all my children’s needs are met is certainly not an easy task, especially since their father passed away from heart failure. There have been moments where I let guilt, doubt, and anxiety consume me, and I had no desire to live in my true purpose. Even so, I never gave up. I knew that I wanted better for myself and my family, so I returned to school. In doing so, I completed my nursing prerequisites and graduated from Community College of Philadelphia with an Associate in Arts in Healthcare Studies. Thereafter, I was accepted to Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions. Since beginning my nursing studies at Drexel University, I have joined the National Student Nurses Association and the National Black Nurses Association. I believe that joining these associations will help me to grow and thrive as a nursing student. Networking and making connections with other nursing students and faculty will prove to be very beneficial to my nursing career. As well, I choose to focus on Maternal/Fetal Health in disadvantaged communities. I chose this specialty because I want to help improve the safety and welfare of pregnant women through various preventative care measures. What is most concerning to me is that pregnancy related deaths are on the rise. The factors that contribute to pregnancy-related deaths include access to care, older maternal age, missed or delayed diagnoses, or women not recognizing significant warning signs. I hope to learn more about how I can incorporate reproductive health into my field of study, and how I can do more to advocate for women that do not have access to adequate health care. I also plan to complete my master’s degree in Nurse Midwifery. As well, I would like to open a community center that serves women that do not have access to health care. With the right connections and support, I would provide family planning services, prenatal and postpartum care, nutritional services, breastfeeding support, preventative health screenings and treatment, as well as social services and counseling. I know this will require an abundance of resources, diligence, and sacrifice, but I want to be a part of the movement that keeps my community healthy and safe. I believe that a career in nursing will be extremely rewarding, because I know I will have genuine opportunities to make a difference in the lives of many.