I am a freshman at the University of Akron, and I am pursuing a nursing degree with a minor in psychology. I will graduate in 2027 and I will register for the NCLEX-RN exam. After passing the nursing exam, I will work in a hospital or a clinic to gain first-hand experience with nursing. In 2028, I will enter a graduate program and earn my Master’s in Nursing. My career goal is to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner because I want to make great contributions to mental health wellness. I want to ensure that those who are struggling with mental illness receive the proper care and treatment they deserve. My past experiences have largely influenced my current passion for mental health wellness and nursing. Growing up, I learned how to bottle up my emotions inside while I put on a mask of perfection. Mental illness is a difficult topic to address, so it is often swept under the rug. It’s almost as if this topic is strictly prohibited in my home and community. Every time someone would openly discuss their plight, they would be shunned and perceived as a failure. For many years, I was afraid to address my issues with mental health because of the lack of support I received from my home and community. I felt so alone and broken. I believed I was a failure. As I grew older, my illness gradually worsened. When I finally decided to reach out for help, I learned that I was struggling with a relatively rare mental illness called Schizoaffective Disorder. This disorder is a combination of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. I have faced many cycles of depression, mania, unstable mood swings, and even psychosis. My life improved significantly when I finally reached out for help. It became easier for me to make practical goals in my life with confidence. I developed a deeper understanding of psychology and emotion. Additionally, my mental health journey has encouraged me to develop a stronger sense of empathy and compassion for the people around me. This fueled my passion of wanting to become a psychiatric nurse to assist others and improve their quality of life. In our society, people have learned to bottle in their emotions and ignore their mental health. This is mainly due to social stigmas and misconceptions about mental disorders and treatment. There is a strong belief that those who are suffering from depression or any type of mental illness are weak and incompetent. These beliefs are harmful and untrue and it is time for professionals in the psychiatric field to challenge them. It is time for a positive change. People should no longer feel as if they are broken and rejected because of their mental health. Everyone deserves support and effective care. My primary inspiration to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner comes from an innate desire to care for people in their time of need. I have chosen to specialize in psychiatric nursing because of my own experiences with mental illness. With my education and my own experience with mental illness, I can help any person who is mentally ill receive the treatment and therapeutic services they need. My mission as a nurse is to provide phenomenal mental health care with compassion. I will dedicate myself to excellence in patient care, medical research, mental health education, and other health services to improve the mental health and well-being of everyone I serve.

Living with a chronic condition can feel like running in a race with weights and chains that slow you down. While you’re still near the starting line, everyone else seems to be crossing the finish line. I often felt like I was falling behind and not living up to my potential, or like I was just losing in life. As I matured, I came to realize that this was not true at all. For starters, I do not believe life is a competition that you either win or lose. Life is more like a journey, and on this journey, everyone moves at their own pace. My heart condition may have slowed me down, but it never prevented me from pursuing my career dream field. At birth, I was diagnosed with Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery (ARSA). ARSA is a rare anomaly of the right subclavian artery. With this condition, the right subclavian artery stems directly from the aortic arch rather than the brachiocephalic artery. This congenital aortic syndrome directly affects the thoracic aorta, which is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Due to this condition, my physical performance was always subpar. The common symptoms of ARSA are ischemia, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and difficulty swallowing. I also had symptoms of abnormal heart rates with this condition. When I was a child, I had to take longer breaks more often than my sisters or my friends when I was playing. If I strained myself too much, then I would have great difficulty breathing at a normal rate. There were times when I almost fainted from playing too long. I was often discouraged from playing sports when I was in school. I remember that I wanted to try out for the volleyball team at my high school. I was so hurt and disappointed when I realized that I couldn’t keep up with my teammates. I was hurt because I felt as if my condition would always be here to slow me down. I felt this way frequently when I was in high school. Unfortunately, I missed many days of school and valuable learning due to the overbearing symptoms of chest pain and difficulty breathing. I may have experienced many setbacks and hindrances in my journey of life so far, but I never gave up on myself. My condition has taught me that I need to take a much slower pace than others around me. I have learned to accept that I am moving at the best pace for me. When it comes to physical activity, I just like to do low-intensity exercises such as walking or jogging. I never needed to stop myself from doing what I liked. I just needed to adjust my actions in ways that benefit me and my heart health. As for my education, I never allowed my congenital heart defect to prevent me from studying or working hard in school. Now, I am a freshman at the University of Akron. I am pursuing a nursing degree with a minor in psychology. I will graduate in 2027 and I will register for the NCLEX-RN exam. After passing the nursing exam, I will work in a hospital or a clinic to gain first-hand experience with nursing. In 2028, I will enter a graduate program and earn my Master’s in Nursing. My career goal is to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner and make great contributions to mental health wellness.

My name is Aaliayah Tufts, and I am a freshman at the University of Akron. I am pursuing a nursing degree with a minor in psychology. I will graduate in 2027 and I will register for the NCLEX-RN exam. After passing the nursing exam, I will work in a hospital or a clinic to gain first-hand experience with nursing. In 2028, I will enter a graduate program and earn my Master’s in Nursing. My career goal is to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner because I want to make great contributions to mental health wellness. I want to ensure that those who are struggling with mental illness to receive the proper care and treatment they deserve. My past experiences have largely influenced my current passion for mental health wellness and nursing. Growing up, I learned how to bottle up my emotions inside while I put on a mask of perfection. Mental illness is a difficult topic to address, so it is often swept under the rug. It’s almost as if this topic is strictly prohibited in my home and community. Every time someone would openly discuss their plight, they would be shunned and perceived as a failure. For many years, I was afraid to address my issues with mental health because of the lack of support I received from my home and community. I felt so alone and broken. I believed I was a failure. As I grew older, my illness gradually worsened. When I finally decided to reach out for help, I learned that I was struggling with a relatively rare mental illness called Schizoaffective Disorder. This disorder is a combination of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. I have faced many cycles of depression, mania, unstable mood swings, and even psychosis. My life improved significantly when I finally reached out for help. It became easier for me to make practical goals in my life with confidence. I developed a deeper understanding of psychology and emotions. Additionally, my mental health journey has encouraged me to develop a stronger sense of empathy and compassion for the people around me. This fueled my passion of wanting to become a psychiatric nurse to assist others and improve their quality of life. In our society, people have learned to bottle in their emotions and ignore their mental health. This is mainly due to social stigmas and misconceptions about mental disorders and treatment. There is a strong belief that those who are suffering from depression or any type of mental illness are weak and incompetent. These beliefs are harmful and untrue and it is time for professionals in the psychiatric field to challenge them. It is time for a positive change. People should no longer feel as if they are broken and rejected because of their mental health. They deserve support and effective care. My primary inspiration to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner comes from an innate desire to care for people in their time of need. I have chosen to specialize in psychiatric nursing because of my own experiences with mental illness. I am extremely passionate about mental health awareness and wellness. With my education and my own experience with mental illness, I can help any person who is mentally ill receive the treatment and therapeutic services they need. No one should ever feel like they have to suffer alone in the dark with a mental illness. The kind nurse who diligently and patiently worked with me through my darkest hour is the same nurse that I aspire to be for others.

Affordable and accessible mental health care is a right and a necessity. We need to stop treating this as a luxury. Financial barriers prevent people from seeking out mental health care because their insurance may not cover all expenses. Another barrier to mental health care would be the shortage of professionals with specialized training in mental health. There is a dire need for a change in this system. Many people are unable to access vital medication or therapeutic services as a result of these barriers. I know one way that I can contribute to making mental health care affordable and more accessible. I can invest in technology to improve the accessibility and affordability of mental health care. In our current society, individuals are heavily reliant on technology to exchange information and assist them in their daily lives. I believe we can use technology to share information about mental illnesses and the variety of treatments for mental health. With the help of other people in my community, I would create an app that is free for all. This app would provide information about all mental illnesses, the symptoms, and the process of diagnosis. This app would also provide healthy coping mechanisms and therapeutic approaches as well as medical treatment. I would make sure that this app features low-cost professionals that accept your insurance, or professionals that fit within your budget. I would also like this app to feature a social aspect to allow people to socialize and form support groups.

The health of the mind is just as vital as the health of the body. Yet, mental health is often undervalued. Additionally, topics of mental health are often frowned upon or shunned due to harsh stigmas. It is so common for people in our society to believe that those who suffer from depression or any mental disorder are lazy and weak. People who are diagnosed with Schizophrenia or Bipolar disorder are often labeled as “unstable”. This harsh judgment is detrimental to people who suffer from a mental illness. People feel discouraged to reach out for help out of fear of being berated and ostracized. So they suffer in silence as their symptoms gradually worsen. This needs to stop. It is time for a positive change and I will use my voice to make it happen. I am extremely passionate about mental health wellness and I advocate for mental health awareness and the improvement of treatment for everyone. My past experiences have largely influenced my current passion for mental health wellness. Growing up, I learned how to bottle up my emotions inside while I put on a mask of perfection. Mental health illness is a difficult topic to address, but for the Black community, it is often swept under the rug. It’s almost as if this topic is strictly prohibited in my community. Every time someone would openly discuss their plight, they would be shunned and perceived as a failure. I believe this stems from a lack of information about the symptoms of mental health and the treatments necessary. For many years, I was afraid to address my issues with mental health because of the lack of support I received from my home and community. I felt so alone and broken. I suffered in the dark for many years as I dealt with my symptoms alone. As I grew older, my illness gradually got worse. I began to suffer from unstable mood swings, depressive episodes, and even psychosis during high periods of stress. I reached a point where I could no longer hide my pain away. I wouldn’t ignore my needs any longer. I broke down and I reached out for help. Now, I have been in therapy for years and I am taking medication to help with my symptoms. My life experiences with a mental illness have fueled my passion for becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I have learned how to become more empathetic, understanding, and accepting of my mental illness. I want to use my voice and the knowledge I gain from my time in college to encourage others to become more accepting and aware of their mental health as well. I am an up-stander for speaking out against the stigmas of mental health in our community and for standing up for those struggling with mental disorders. In the Black community, people are taught to just muscle through the pain. We are taught that crying will do us no good or that expressing sadness will make us weak. We are taught that our value comes from working hard or being useful to others. The pressure of being perfect and low maintenance is unrealistic and harmful. I will challenge this old system of beliefs with words. I will use my voice to spread information about mental illness. I will use my voice to uplift my community by providing a safe space of acceptance and validation for their emotions. I will use my voice to shed light on mental health and how it affects people. I will use my voice to support and aid those in their darkest hours.

My name is Aaliayah Tufts, and I am a freshman at the University of Akron. I am pursuing a nursing degree with a minor in psychology. I will graduate in 2027 and I will register for the NCLEX-RN exam. After passing the nursing exam, I will work in a hospital or a clinic to gain first-hand experience with nursing. In 2028, I will enter a graduate program and earn my Master’s in Nursing. My career goal is to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner because I want to make great contributions to mental health wellness. I want to ensure that those who are struggling with mental illness receive the proper care and treatment they deserve. I was raised in an African American household. As I grew up, I remember feeling like a burden, or like the black sheep of the family. I was suffering from a mental illness alone for many years. It is common for those in the Black community to stifle topics of mental health because it is considered taboo. This is common in other communities in our society as well. I felt as if I had no one to turn to. I thought that I was a useless burden. My mental illness was gradually getting worse. Once I became a young adult, I decided to reach out for help. I found out that I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a relatively rare disorder that shares symptoms with both Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. I suffered from symptoms of major depressive episodes, mania, psychosis, and even paranoia. The symptoms became more manageable when I sought help and medical treatment. My experience with my mental health has greatly influenced my career goals. My life improved significantly when I finally reached out for help. It became easier for me to make practical goals in my life with confidence. I developed a deeper understanding of psychology and emotions. Additionally, my mental health journey has encouraged me to develop a stronger sense of empathy and compassion for the people around me. This fueled my passion of wanting to become a psychiatric nurse to assist others and improve their quality of life. In our society, people have learned to bottle in their emotions and ignore their mental health. This is mainly due to social stigmas and misconceptions about mental disorders and treatment. There is a strong belief that those who are suffering from depression or any type of mental illness are weak and incompetent. These beliefs are harmful and untrue and it is time for professionals in the psychiatric field to challenge them. It is time for a positive change. People should no longer feel as if they are broken and rejected because of their mental health. They deserve support and effective care. I am very grateful to find opportunities that aid women from underrepresented demographics who are like me. I will continue to persevere and work hard in college to earn my degree and achieve my goal of assisting people in need. I have the passion and determination to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. With my education and my own experience with mental illness, I can help any person who is mentally ill receive the treatment and therapeutic services they need. This scholarship is not only aiding me with finances. It is going to improve the lives of so many facing adversities with mental health. My life will improve as well because I will be able to finally connect with others and create a safe space of healing.

The power of human connection is invaluable. Humans are very social beings that desire to be seen, valued, loved, and cared for by others. There are so many ways that we connect to others. One of the most beautiful ways we connect to other people is through acts of service. Helping others is said to be one of the ways that people create and cultivate healthy and positive bonds with other people. Helping others is one of the most powerful ways that one can show love and affection for the people in their community. It is important to help others and create social bonds. By doing so, you enrich your life as well as those around you. Acts of service for people in need, whether they reside in your community or elsewhere, offer many benefits. Offering assistance to those in need is a vital aspect of human life that encourages personal growth and fulfillment. When we offer aid or support to someone in need, individuals actively improve your life and the life of the other party involved, leading to a more harmonious and prosperous community. Another benefit that comes with helping others is the increased development of empathy and understanding. Individuals who reach out to people and offer assistance can gain a deeper understanding of different experiences and challenges faced by others. Helping others can also benefit mental wellness in a community. When we provide support to others, we are building strong relationships and building an environment where people feel like they belong. I strongly believe that it is important to help others. I like to help others by offering therapeutic talk sessions with others. I’m an advocate for mental health wellness. Mental health illnesses and disorders need to be properly addressed and cared for. Growing up in a Black Household, I was unable to address my mental health issues. Mental health is a taboo topic in the Black community. I suffered in silence for many years until I cracked. I couldn’t handle my symptoms without help. I decided to reach out and I found out that I had a disorder known as Schizoaffective Disorder. Schizoaffective is a rare disorder that has symptoms of psychosis, depression, mania, and paranoia. The day I reached out for help was the best day of my life. I felt as if I was finally headed in the right direction. I no longer crack under the pressure of my symptoms. I no longer feel alone or worthless. By reaching out for help, my mental wellness and self-esteem have greatly increased. I have built strong and healthy bonds with others. The People who have helped me encouraged me to return that same kindness to others. I now strive to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I want to help other people who suffer from any mental illness to receive the proper treatment they deserve. I have a strong desire to help people feel seen and heard. They do not have to suffer in silence unnoticed with a mental illness anymore. Human connection is truly a beautiful thing. Helping others allows us to connect with other people in our communities. This brings us closer which makes the world a kinder and healthier place.

I have always known that my mind was functioning differently than everyone else around me. This year, I was diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder. Schizoaffective Disorder is a relatively rare mental disorder that shares characteristics of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. There were so many days where I suffered in silence while I was dealing with symptoms such as mania, depressive episodes, and even psychosis. During my manic phases, I was extremely anxious. My thoughts were constantly racing. I often slipped into a psychosis when the mania appeared. My emotions were unstable and I just felt like an emotional wreck. During my depression phases, I felt like I was a worthless burden. I was in such a dark and painful place. I wanted to die. I was so tired of constantly switching from extreme highs to extreme lows. For over 15 years, I was a soldier in this invisible battle, and I was completely alone. Living with a mental illness is similar to standing in the middle of nowhere while a hurricane rages on. There is no shelter and no one around to help. That hurricane represents the turbulent and unstable emotions and phases in my life. My life experiences with a mental illness have made me strong and resilient. They have made me more compassionate and understanding of myself and others around me. I was not weak, incompetent, or even crazy. I was ill and I needed help. Once I realized that I was a person that was ill and in need, I started reaching out for help. This was the best decision I have ever made. I decided that I wanted to help others reach out too. My mental health journey has inspired me to pursue my goal of becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I have experienced the pain and the sorrow of living with a mental illness. I will use my experience to show compassion and thoughtfulness for all of my future patients who have suffered from a mental illness. It is important to bring awareness to mental health illness and treatment. People don’t need to feel ashamed or disappointed with themselves anymore. They deserve to know that they are not alone and that they can receive help. The kind nurse who diligently and patiently worked with me through my darkest hour is the same nurse that I aspire to be for others. My mental health journey has also inspired me to build healthy relationships with others. I believe it’s important for those of us who are suffering from any sort of mental disorder to have a supportive community. My supportive community would be my therapist and my lovely sisters. These are people that I can have heart-to-heart discussions with about serious mental health issues. My journey with schizoaffective disorder has greatly shifted my perspective of the world. A common theme with this disorder is black-and-white thinking. Psychologists describe black-and-white thinking as a cognitive distortion because it prevents you from seeing the reality of life. The journey of life is not an all-or-nothing game of extremes. It is more complicated, complex, and uncertain. I suffer from this cognitive distortion and I actively have to challenge myself to think of the bigger picture. For example, there are times when I would see a person yelling at another person and I would automatically assume that the person yelling was bad. I’d challenge myself to think of possible reasons as to why he was upset. Maybe this person was venting their frustrations and pain? The journey of life is complex and mysterious.

Becoming a nurse is not simply a job or a career choice for me. Instead, it is a calling and I have decided to pursue my calling of becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I felt more compelled to choose the nursing specialty in psychiatry because I am extremely passionate about mental health. I have been blessed with the gifts of compassion and empathy. As an aspiring nurse, I am more than willing to share these gifts with any patient in need. Psychiatric nursing is very important to me. This particular field of nursing is often disregarded due to many social stigmas and misconceptions about mental health. Mental illness is often viewed as a sort of weakness. Those with a diagnosis like Bipolar disorder or Major Depressive Disorder are often labeled as “incompetent” or “crazy”. Because of this, many people often feel afraid to seek help and proper treatment. Additionally, nurses feel discouraged to enter the field of psychiatry due to the many social stigmas surrounding psychiatric care. The stigmas stem from a lack of information regarding mental health illnesses and treatments, and bias associated with people who are mentally ill. I would like to change that. As a nursing student, I believe that it’s important to acquire a vast amount of knowledge about physical health as well as mental health. Psychological and emotional health is not validated enough. As vital as mental and emotional health is, it is heavily undervalued in our society. It is time for a positive change. I am striving to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner because I value the mental health and well-being of other people. I, too, have faced many challenges with mental illness. For many years, I have been struggling with my schizoaffective disorder. This is a relatively rare disorder that can affect my thoughts, mood, and behaviors. Schizoaffective disorder can include symptoms of mania, depression, and psychosis. During my manic phases, I was extremely anxious. My thoughts were constantly racing. My emotions were unstable and I just felt like an emotional wreck. During my depression phases, I felt worthless or like a burden. I was in such a dark and painful place before I reached out for help. Once I received the proper diagnosis, I gained access to the medication and therapy services I needed. Now, I am in a much better place. I want to become a nurse to help others reach this healthy place as well. My long and hard mental health journey has motivated me to go into the psychiatric nursing field to bring more awareness to the importance of mental illness treatment. People don’t have to suffer in silence anymore. They don’t need to feel ashamed or disappointed with themselves anymore. People deserve to know that they are not alone and that they can receive help. The kind nurse who diligently and patiently worked with me through my darkest hour is the same nurse that I aspire to be for others. I have experienced the pain and the sorrow of living with a mental illness. I will use my experience to show compassion and thoughtfulness for all patients.

Health is wealth. I believe it's important to take care of our mental health just as much as our physical health. Too often, I have witnessed people completely disregard their mental health and pay the price. The main reason people utterly disregard such an important aspect of their health is because of fear. The fear stems from social stigma and misconceptions. A common misconception that I have heard is that people who are diagnosed with a disorder such as Borderline Personality Disorder or Bipolar disorder are often labeled as "crazy" or "incompetent" because of the severity of their symptoms. There is also the stigma of being labeled as lazy or weak for simply even mentioning symptoms. Unfortunately, mentioning any mental health-related topic is taboo. I reject the negative perception of mental illness completely. Mental health should not be taboo or undervalued in society. It should be held in much higher regard. For many years, I have suffered from a mental disorder known as Schizoaffective disorder. Schizoaffective Disorder is a relatively rare mental disorder that involves symptoms of both Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. The symptoms include mania, depressive episodes, hallucinations, and psychosis. I suffered in silence for so long because I was afraid of being stigmatized and negatively judged. Personally, dealing with a mental illness feels as if I am standing in the middle of nowhere, right in the heart of a raging hurricane. There is no shelter. Just me. This hurricane represents the turbulent emotions and phases that I'm slipping in and out of. My mental health has greatly improved when I sought help. I have decided to heal myself and improve my mental health by engaging in therapeutic services. My therapist helped me to realize that I wasn't alone and that I was not "crazy" or "incompetent". I simply needed help. This is why I believe mental health is important. If I were to continue to neglect myself, I would have never pursued my dream of becoming a nurse practitioner. My mental health would just deteriorate and I would continue to suffer in silence. Maintaining mental health wellness is just as important as increasing awareness of mental health. I maintain my mental wellness by consistently taking my medication and engaging in weekly therapy sessions. I also like to write in my journal. Writing is one of the best ways of self-expression. I believe it's important to release troubling emotions and thoughts rather than bottling up and forcing them down. Prayer and spiritual practices are other ways I maintain my mental health. Mental health awareness and wellness are important and valuable.