The nursing profession interests me because it gives me the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives through compassion, empathy, and care. Ever since working in healthcare, I have realized that patients may not always remember every medication or treatment they received, but they will always remember how someone made them feel. That understanding is what inspired me to pursue nursing, especially hospice care. I want to be the kind of nurse who can bring comfort and peace to patients and families during some of the most difficult and emotional moments of their lives. I believe that simply being present for someone, listening to them, or offering reassurance can have a lasting impact. My interest in hospice nursing comes from my passion for caring for people on a deeper level. Hospice care focuses not only on physical needs, but also emotional and spiritual support. I admire the compassion and patience hospice nurses show every day, and I hope to provide that same level of care to others. I want patients and families to feel supported, respected, and cared for during times when they may feel overwhelmed or afraid. Being able to provide comfort during those moments would be incredibly meaningful and rewarding to me. For the past seven years, I have worked as a pharmacy technician, and that experience has played a major role in shaping my passion for nursing. Working in pharmacy taught me the importance of responsibility, attention to detail, communication, and teamwork. It also gave me firsthand experience interacting with patients from many different backgrounds and situations. I learned how important kindness and patience are in healthcare, especially when patients are stressed, sick, or struggling emotionally. Even small acts of compassion, such as taking extra time to listen or explain something clearly, can make a huge difference in a patient’s day. In addition to working as a pharmacy technician, I also worked as an assistant to the Vice President of Pharmacy Technology at Publix for two years. This opportunity helped me grow both professionally and personally. I strengthened my communication and organizational skills while learning how important leadership and teamwork are in healthcare settings. Working closely with healthcare professionals gave me a greater appreciation for the dedication and hard work required to provide quality patient care. One of my biggest goals for a successful nursing career is to become a nurse that patients and families can trust and rely on during vulnerable moments in their lives. I want to continue learning and growing throughout my career so I can provide the best possible care to my patients. I also hope to inspire comfort and confidence in the people I care for by treating every patient with dignity, compassion, and respect. My past healthcare experience has confirmed that nursing is the right career path for me. I truly enjoy helping others and being someone people can depend on. I believe my background in pharmacy, my strong work ethic, and my passion for compassionate care will help me become a successful and caring nurse in the future.

My decision to pursue a degree in healthcare, specifically Registered Nursing, is the result of a profound convergence of necessity and vocation. Necessity, forged in the fires of rebuilding my life as a single mother, dictated the need for an inherently stable and robust career that could guarantee a secure future for my children. Nursing provides the financial platform and professional autonomy required to finally break cycles of precarity. Vocation, however, is the fuel; my seven years as a pharmacy technician gave me deep clinical knowledge in pharmacology and patient safety, yet it also instilled a powerful longing to move from technical service to direct, autonomous patient advocacy. I want to be at the bedside, making critical decisions and providing holistic care, not simply processing prescriptions. This calling is anchored in my personal experience overcoming emotional challenges, which has led me to specialize in Hospice and Palliative Nursing. I choose this path because I recognize that the greatest form of service is ensuring human dignity at the most vulnerable stages of life. Having fought so hard for my own stability and emotional security, I am compelled to champion that same dignity for others. This is why I am driven to healthcare; it is the field where my resilience, my empathy, and my hard,won organizational skills can translate directly into healing and support. As a woman entering the healthcare field, I hope to make a positive impact through two primary channels, leadership in compassionate care and mentorship. First, I believe women must continue to lead the evolution of care by championing emotional literacy and holistic patient engagement. My personal history has refined my capacity for empathy, teaching me that the unseen emotional and mental health burdens a patient or family carries are just as critical as their physical symptoms. My goal is to normalize and integrate comprehensive emotional support within palliative settings, ensuring that compassion is treated as a clinical necessity, not merely a soft skill. I will approach every patient, especially those facing cognitive decline or terminal illness, with a commitment to maintaining their personhood and their connection to their families, counteracting the devastating isolation I witnessed with my own grandfather. Second, as a woman and a non traditional student, I hope to serve as an authentic mentor to others facing similar systemic obstacles. By achieving my degree and establishing a successful career despite being a single mother and a first generation student, I demonstrate that resilience can overcome any barrier. I aim to actively support and encourage other women and parents who are navigating the demanding world of clinical education, showing them that it is possible to be both a devoted caregiver at home and a highly competent, purposeful professional in the healthcare field. My impact will be felt not only at the bedside but also in the lives of those I inspire to join this vital profession.

The most defining chapter of my life has been the journey through profound emotional health challenges and trauma recovery, a struggle that fundamentally shifted my understanding of personal strength and dedication. This experience was not a passive endurance, it was a conscious, painful act of dismantling chaos and meticulously rebuilding a life based on integrity, stability, and purpose. The initial crisis began during the years spent in an abusive marriage, a period that severely eroded my self-worth and mental well-being, leading to a constant state of anxiety and emotional depletion. Recognizing that this environment was fundamentally destructive to myself and my children marked the beginning of my active recovery. The act of leaving, of facing the world as a single mother with immense fear and limited financial resources, was the single most demanding act of emotional labor I have ever undertaken. Recovery meant rigorously addressing the psychological damage; establishing absolute physical and emotional boundaries, rejecting victimhood for self-sovereignty, and cultivating the organizational resilience necessary to stabilize our external lives. This process transformed me. The initial paralyzing fear eventually gave way to profound confidence, teaching me that the human spirit's capacity for rebuilding is limitless. This personal growth, forged in a crucible of necessity and survival, is the unshakeable foundation for everything I pursue today. My resilience is not theoretical; it is tested daily through the concurrent demands of managing my household, providing care for my five,month,old foster child, and excelling in the rigorous academic environment of the nursing program. This hard-won recovery directly dictates my educational and professional goals. I am pursuing a Registered Nursing degree with a singular focus on specializing in Hospice and Palliative Nursing. This vocation is the ultimate expression of my recovery journey, turning my past vulnerability into professional strength. Having fought so hard to secure stability and dignity for myself and my children, I am compelled to champion that same dignity for others at their most vulnerable stage of life. My experience with emotional trauma has given me a refined capacity for empathy and an intuitive understanding of suffering, allowing me to see beyond a patient's diagnosis and recognize their inherent human worth. My goal is to ensure that a patient facing the end of life never feels isolated or powerless. I will combine my clinical mastery, supported by my previous seven years of pharmaceutical experience, with this deep well of compassion to provide care that is both technically flawless and profoundly human. I seek to be the nurse who stands as an advocate, transforming the end of life process into one defined by peace and acceptance. My plan for continuing to manage recovery and maintain my mental and emotional health is proactive, structured, and non-negotiable. First, it involves the absolute prioritization of stability. My academic success and the stability of my home are inextricably linked; I manage this through meticulous micro-scheduling and leveraging my external support network for childcare, thereby eliminating unnecessary stress and chaos before it can overwhelm me. Second, I adhere to a regimen of intentional self-care and reflection. This includes dedicated, uninterrupted time for quiet prayer or meditation, which acts as a mental reset, and ensuring I maintain my cherished family traditions, such as our weekly board game night, which acts as an essential emotional anchor. Third, I practice professional boundaries and emotional literacy. In my future nursing career, particularly within the demanding hospice environment, I will actively seek professional peer support and mentorship, recognizing that engaging in high,emotional labor demands a healthy framework for processing difficult experiences. Finally, I commit to advocacy and mentorship. By using my platform to share my story and mentor other non,traditional students and single parents, I reinforce my own strength by helping others find theirs. My recovery is not a static state, it is a commitment to continuous, proactive self-management, ensuring I am always grounded, present, and capable of giving the best of myself to my family and my patients. My journey from instability to purposeful service is the blueprint for the nurse I am becoming.

My experience navigating the terrain of mental health, specifically the emotional resilience required to break free from instability and rebuild my life as a single mother, has not been a detour, but the main road to my present purpose. This journey of self-recovery and strategic rebuilding has profoundly shaped my goals, redefined my relationships, and fundamentally altered my understanding of the world. Regarding my goals, my mental health journey instilled an absolute, non-negotiable demand for stability. My academic pursuit of a Registered Nursing degree is not simply a career choice, it is a covenant with myself and my children to secure a future free from financial and emotional precocity. This experience is the direct source of my vocational calling to Hospice and Palliative Nursing. I know what it means to feel vulnerable, powerless, and profoundly alone. Therefore, my goal is to ensure that no patient in my care, particularly during the final, most vulnerable stage of life, ever feels stripped of their dignity or connection. My commitment to mental health advocacy extends to palliative care, where I plan to champion integrated grief and emotional support for families, addressing the trauma of loss with the same urgency as physical pain. This experience has rigorously refined my relationships. I learned to discard superficial connections and prioritize those founded on genuine support, honesty, and mutual respect. I now understand that being present is the highest form of care. This informs my relationship with my children, where I deliberately create pockets of uninterrupted time to ensure their emotional security, and it fuels my commitment to my foster child, providing the unconditional stability that is vital for early development. The greatest shift is recognizing that I must first be stable to be a stable presence for others, turning self care into a moral necessity rather than a luxury. Finally, my understanding of the world has been permanently shifted toward radical empathy. I learned that every person is fighting an unseen battle, and that the external facade often hides profound internal turmoil. This has eliminated judgment from my interactions. I understand human fragility and the immense strength required for daily perseverance. This worldview compels me to approach every patient, colleague, and stranger with profound humility and respect, recognizing the inherent worth of their struggle. My mental health journey has given me the capacity to see not just the problem, but the potential for restoration, making me a more determined student, a more empathetic parent, and an aspiring nurse committed to healing beyond the physical.

The impact of Alzheimer’s disease on my family was a crucible that redefined our understanding of love, care, and the painful limits of human control. The illness manifested in my beloved grandfather, transforming him slowly from the anchor of our family into someone increasingly distant and disoriented. What began as frustrating forgetfulness eventually necessitated the agonizing decision to move him to a full time care facility, as his needs exceeded the capacity of in-home care. Alzheimer’s taught us a hard earned lesson in grief; that loss is not always immediate but can be a protracted, years long process of letting go of the person you once knew, long before their physical departure. The greatest cruelty of his illness, however, was compounded by the devastating arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. My grandfather was in the care facility during the peak of the pandemic, a time of mandatory and absolute isolation. The disease, which had already eroded his cognitive connection to us, now enforced a physical separation that was emotionally unbearable. The impact on our family was a deep sense of helplessness. We were forced to rely on brief, often confusing phone calls and rushed video chats, unable to offer the physical presence that was his only remaining anchor to reality. This experience highlighted the profound ethical failure of modern elder care when stripped of human contact. Ultimately, my grandfather succumbed to COVID, a rapid and lonely end that we were powerless to prevent or witness firsthand. He died isolated, a victim of the disease and the necessary societal response to the pandemic, far from the comforting hands of his family. The convergence of Alzheimer’s and the pandemic instilled in me foundational lessons that now form the ethical core of my nursing vocation. I learned that for a patient experiencing cognitive decline, physical presence is the ultimate form of communication and care. When words fail, a gentle touch, a familiar voice, or a simple hand,hold becomes the sole bridge between the patient and reality. The anguish of being denied that presence during his final months solidified my professional promise, to never underestimate the therapeutic power of being fully present with a patient. Witnessing the logistical collapse of our family’s ability to care for him, and the immense emotional toll of the institutional separation, taught me the critical importance of advocating for the family unit. I learned that caregiving is a communal disease, affecting every relative. As a nurse, I will not only care for the patient but serve as a resourceful, empathetic guide for the family, helping them navigate the systemic and emotional chaos of chronic illness. My grandfather’s lonely death drives my passion for Hospice and Palliative Nursing. His end was sudden and isolated, lacking the dignity and peace he deserved. My goal is to use my expertise to ensure no patient in my care experiences a similar fate. I am committed to making sure that the final chapter of life is one of comfort, autonomy, and surrounded by the love that his illness and the pandemic cruelly stole from him. His memory inspires my daily commitment to academic rigor, ensuring I have the clinical mastery to provide the highest standard of care, transforming grief into generative purpose.

My commitment to earning my Registered Nursing degree is only possible through a deliberate strategy of balance, which transforms what seem like overwhelming demands into strictly manageable routines. As a single parent balancing full time academics, mandatory clinical rotations, and the constant care of my family, including my five month old foster child, I rely entirely on a profound organizational resilience and radical prioritization; my life is micro scheduled to utilize every moment, turning small windows of time into highly efficient study periods. This means studying during my foster baby's brief naps, aggressively reading medical texts while waiting in the car for school pick ups, and reserving late night hours only for high intensity academic work, ensuring no second is wasted. Crucially, I treat my children's dedicated time, such as our weekly family activities, as non,negotiable appointments, ensuring they feel secure and prioritized, which paradoxically reduces their neediness and allows me to focus during my designated study hours. I leverage every external support resource available to me, a vital skill I learned out of necessity as a first generation student, meticulously organizing reliable, extended hours childcare to accommodate the demanding, unpredictable schedule of clinical placements that can begin as early as 6:00 AM. Furthermore, I use the efficiency gained from my seven years as a pharmacy technician, which instilled a deep understanding of advanced pharmacology and patient safety, to reclaim study hours that other students must dedicate to foundational sciences, thus shortening my overall learning curve and maintaining my momentum. However, the true challenge is not my capacity for work, but the financial vulnerability that constantly threatens to fracture this meticulously planned balance. The cumulative burden of tuition costs, mandatory fees, and the substantial expense of reliable childcare is immense, creating a persistent pressure where a financial shortfall could immediately jeopardize my academic standing and derail years of sacrifice. This scholarship is the indispensable factor that will allow me to execute my plan and achieve my ultimate goals; by directly addressing the crushing weight of tuition and necessary childcare expenses, this funding alleviates the pressure to constantly choose between securing work and dedicating time to intensive study. This investment is an essential guarantee, ensuring that I can maintain my academic focus and graduate on schedule. By stabilizing my financial foundation, this scholarship allows my personal resilience to be fully deployed academically, ensuring I can complete my RN degree on time and immediately begin my vocational calling in Hospice and Palliative Nursing, thus transforming my hard-won life experience into a powerful platform of service dedicated to stability and the unwavering protection of human dignity.

My decision to pursue a career in Registered Nursing is not a sudden aspiration, but a powerful convergence of practical necessity and a deep vocational calling, meticulously forged over years of personal resilience and professional service. My inspiration stems not from a single moment, but from the cumulative lessons learned while navigating life as a single mother and a dedicated healthcare worker. I am moving from a job that provided income to a profession that provides profound purpose, stability, and the chance to champion human dignity. The initial catalyst for this pursuit was the absolute need for unwavering stability for my family. My life, marked by the difficult process of rebuilding stability after leaving an abusive marriage, taught me that self,sufficiency is the highest form of empowerment. As a first,generation college student, I recognized that only a career like nursing could provide the robust income, essential benefits, and job security necessary to secure my children’s future permanently. My return to education is, therefore, an act of fierce determination to break cycles of precarity, ensuring my family benefits from the secure foundation that my hard work will build. For seven years, I prepared for this transition by working as a certified pharmacy technician. This experience provided the clinical bedrock for my nursing career, immersing me daily in the intricate science of pharmacology, patient safety, and regulatory compliance. I became adept at managing complex medication regimes, a skill that will be invaluable in advanced clinical settings. However, my time behind the counter also exposed the limits of my role. I longed to move beyond the transaction of the prescription and into the space of genuine, whole,person care, to connect directly with the patient’s experience, not just their medication list. This realization ignited the vocational desire to become the direct caregiver and advocate. This desire crystallized into the specific goal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. This specialty is the ultimate expression of my inspiration, merging my life’s most difficult lessons with my highest professional purpose. My personal resilience, including my current commitment as a foster mother to a five,month,old, has given me a profound capacity for empathy and an appreciation for the sanctity of life across all its stages. In hospice, the nurse’s role is to stand as an advocate for dignity during the final, most vulnerable transition. My inspiration is to bring high,level clinical expertise, coupled with my commitment to a "happy, positive mindset," to transform a patient’s end,of,life experience. Ultimately, I am inspired to pursue nursing because it is a profession that demands not just intellect, but character. It allows me to transform my personal hardships into professional strength, ensuring that my journey, a story of rebuilding, resilience, and compassion, culminates in a lifelong service dedicated to providing stability and protecting human dignity.

1. My faith is the unwavering anchor upon which my life has been rebuilt. It has profoundly influenced the person I am today by instilling the core values of radical compassion, perseverance, and the belief in the inherent dignity of every human being. This conviction is the source of the emotional strength I draw on daily as a mother and as a student. My faith guided me through the most difficult situation of my life, finding the courage and clarity to leave an abusive marriage as a single mother. In moments of deep fear and instability, my faith provided the essential strength to pursue safety and self-sufficiency, fueling my determination to return to school and pursue a stable profession. This journey cemented my future goals, guiding me toward Hospice Nursing, which I view as a direct, spiritual act of service. It is the logical extension of my faith, dedicating my professional life to ensuring that the sacred dignity I fought to secure for myself and my children is afforded to every patient in their final, most vulnerable moments. 2. My current and most profound act of service is my commitment as a foster mother to a five-month-old. This is not a traditional volunteer role, but a 24/7 service that provides protection, stability, and unconditional love to life at its most fragile stage. My motivation stems directly from my belief in safeguarding vulnerable life and providing immediate support where the need is greatest. 4. Family, whether biological or chosen, is the sacred sanctuary where resilience is nurtured and love is unconditionally experienced. It is the core unit of society, and for me, it is the primary source of my strength and purpose. My family has shaped me by demanding resourcefulness and tenacity; being a single mother means I learned to be the anchor, the chief advocate, and the source of stability. Family is important because it provides the ultimate reason for my professional ambition. The pursuit of my nursing degree is the most significant action I have taken to support and strengthen my family, directly guaranteeing a future defined by security and opportunity. Additionally, I strengthen our connection daily by preserving simple traditions, such as designating Sunday mornings to shared activities without distraction, ensuring that despite the rigorous demands of school and work, my children always feel prioritized. Furthermore, my commitment to foster motherhood is a tangible way I expand my concept of family, opening our home and hearts to a child in need. 6. My hopes for the future are ambitious and deeply interconnected. Educationally, I hope to graduate at the top of my RN class and obtain specialty certification in Hospice and Palliative Care. Spiritually, I hope to deepen my commitment to service, allowing my faith to fully inform my ethical practice at the bedside. Familial, I hope to provide a future entirely free of financial stress, where my children can pursue their dreams without the barriers I faced. Personally, I hope to become a leading advocate for dignity in end-of-life care. Receiving this scholarship would be utterly transformative, directly helping me live out the values of Ed and Aline Patane, values that prioritize stability, education, and service. This financial support would alleviate the immense pressure of balancing childcare costs, tuition, and full-time studies, ensuring I do not have to compromise my academic focus. By supporting my education, the Patane legacy would directly fuel my capacity to provide the kind of kind, compassionate, and generous care that honors the sanctity of life and human dignity until its natural end. 7. Dear Family of Ed and Aline Patane, I write with immense gratitude for the opportunity granted through the legacy of two remarkable people. My name is Abbey Armstrong; I am a single mother, a first-generation college student, and currently the foster parent to a five-month-old. My life, defined by hard-won resilience and the pursuit of stability, reflects the deep family and service values I believe Ed and Aline championed. I hope to honor their legacy by dedicating my entire professional life to Hospice and Palliative Nursing. I view this field as the highest expression of kindness, compassion, and human dignity. I aspire to be the nurse who stands at the bedside, using meticulous care and a peaceful, positive presence to ensure every patient feels valued and comfortable until their final day. Just as your parents left a legacy of warmth and generosity, I aim to provide unwavering support for families facing their most difficult moments. Your support enables me to complete my nursing education without compromise, guaranteeing my readiness is fully utilized in compassionate care. Thank you for making my purpose possible. I promise to carry the spirit of service and commitment to human dignity forward every day. With deep respect and gratitude, Abbey Armstrong

I am Abbey Armstrong, a dedicated single mother and non-traditional student transitioning into the rigorous Registered Nursing program. My journey into healthcare is a narrative defined by resilience, forged during the necessary work of rebuilding stability for my family. This path includes seven years of hands-on experience as a certified pharmacy technician, providing me with a meticulous, evidence-based understanding of patient care, and, currently, the deeply personal commitment of being a foster mother to a five month old. This dual role, nurturing life at its beginnings while professionally managing its complexities, has instilled in me an unwavering commitment to human dignity across every stage of life. I plan to make a profound positive impact on the world through my chosen career specialization: Hospice and Palliative Nursing. My vision is to transform the most difficult human experience, end of life, from one of fear and medical detachment into one of peace, dignity, and deep human connection. This is where my unique background becomes my greatest professional asset. My personal resilience and faith-driven commitment to maintaining a happy, positive mindset will be the foundation of my practice. I plan to use this emotional strength not as a form of superficial cheerfulness, but as a deliberate shield against despair, ensuring the patient's final chapter is marked by acceptance and connection. My extensive pharmacy experience means I will be clinically adept at managing complex pain and symptom protocols flawlessly, freeing me to focus my energy on the human-centered aspects. I will serve as a tireless advocate for patient autonomy, ensuring their wishes are honored and their comfort is paramount. I aim to create a lasting memory for families that is defined by the peace, grace, and human warmth I provided. Just as I am currently dedicated to providing stability for my foster child, I will use my RN platform to support vulnerable patients and their families navigating the fragmented healthcare system. I plan to advocate for increased resources for psychological and spiritual support within palliative care, recognizing that the family unit needs to be treated alongside the patient. By successfully completing my nursing degree as a single, first-generation mother, I will model a legacy of perseverance and professional service for my own children. My career will be a demonstration that hardship can be transformed into purpose, inspiring them to pursue careers that positively impact their communities. Ultimately, I view my future as a Hospice Nurse as a continuous act of giving back, a dedicated service that provides comfort and affirmation to those who need it most, ensuring that every life concludes with the same profound dignity and care that I am currently providing to life at its beautiful beginning.

My vision for myself as a Registered Nurse in the future is not simply a career trajectory; it is the culmination of a life defined by resilience, profound empathy, and an unwavering commitment to dignity at every stage of the human experience. I am Abbey Armstrong, a single mother whose educational path was forged not in youthful idealism, but in the necessity of securing a stable, professional future for my family. This path, though delayed, has been enriched by seven years of meticulous service as a certified pharmacy technician and is currently grounded in the deeply fulfilling work of being a foster mother to a five month old. My future in nursing is the ultimate convergence of my clinical preparation, my spiritual conviction, and my life’s most challenging lessons. The first pillar of my vision is built on Clinical Excellence and Preparation. My seven years spent managing medications and counseling patients in the pharmacy provided an intensive education in pharmacokinetics, patient safety, and clinical coordination. I enter the Registered Nursing program uniquely prepared to handle complex medication regimes, anticipate potential interactions, and serve as an expert resource on drug therapy, skills often acquired only years into a nursing career. As a future nurse, I envision leveraging this knowledge to enhance patient safety and education dramatically. I will transform the clinical task of medication administration into a moment of human-centered teaching, ensuring patients and their families possess a clear, confident understanding of their care plan. I foresee myself becoming a specialist in pain and symptom management within my chosen field, utilizing my pharmaceutical expertise to craft precise and effective comfort protocols. This commitment to clinical rigor is essential, as it is the foundation that frees me to focus on the holistic needs of the patient without distraction. The second, and most vital, pillar is my Vocational Vision for Hospice and Palliative Care. My faith and my deeply held Pro-Life principles guide me to the most vulnerable frontiers of human existence. For me, the Pro-Life commitment extends far beyond the earliest stages of life, demanding that we equally safeguard the sanctity and dignity of life until its natural conclusion. Hospice Nursing is the ultimate expression of this belief. It is where all pretense falls away, and the human being requires not a cure, but comfort, peace, and validation. My life, marked by the strength required to rebuild after leaving an abusive marriage, has instilled in me a deep appreciation for inner fortitude and the power of a happy, positive mindset. As a hospice nurse, I will embody this mindset, consciously creating an environment of peace and acceptance for both the patient and their grieving family. This is not about superficial cheerfulness, but about the spiritual act of acknowledging fear and sorrow while gently directing focus toward the preciousness of remaining moments and profound human connection. I envision leading a hospice team where every interaction is infused with respect, and where the patient's autonomy and dignity are protected as sacred ground. My vision is to help transform a patient’s final chapter from a fearful descent into a period of acceptance and grace. My third pillar is the Advocacy and Systemic Impact I intend to enact with my education. My experience as a single mother returning to education, coupled with my current service as a foster mother, gives me a distinct voice to champion vulnerable populations. I recognize the immense mental and emotional toll that crisis, caregiving, and financial strain place on individuals, whether they are navigating advanced illness or managing the demands of life as a non-traditional student. In the future, I plan to use my RN credentials to advocate for integrated mental health support within healthcare systems, particularly for grieving families and for caregivers facing burnout. Furthermore, I will advocate for better resources and representation for students like myself within nursing colleges, ensuring the pathway to this profession is accessible to those who bring invaluable life experience to the bedside. My education will be used as a platform to elevate conversations around comprehensive palliative care, ensuring that communities understand it not as a last resort, but as a proactive, interdisciplinary approach that enhances the quality of life from the moment of diagnosis. I aim to influence policy at the local level to ensure that the vulnerable, the unborn, the neglected foster child, and the hospice patient, receive the holistic protection and care that my personal faith demands. Finally, my vision is inextricably linked to Personal Stability and Legacy. Achieving my Registered Nursing degree and establishing myself as a skilled hospice professional will fulfill the practical promise I made to my family: to secure a future of unwavering stability. This is not just a personal victory; it is the legacy I am building for my children and the child currently in my care through fostering. It demonstrates that perseverance and professional purpose can overcome any hardship. My success will allow me to dedicate my time and resources to service without the crushing pressure of financial insecurity. My ultimate vision is to be a nurse who is not only clinically excellent and profoundly empathetic but also a dedicated educator and community advocate, a testament to the fact that a life rebuilt on principles of faith, resilience, and service is a life capable of providing comfort and dignity to others, from life’s beginnings to its end. My journey has prepared me to lead with compassion, and my future as a nurse is dedicated entirely to this sacred calling.

My commitment to giving back is not a separate pursuit; it is woven into the very fabric of my life. Currently, I am blessed with the opportunity to serve as a foster mother to a five month old. This daily act of service is the ultimate expression of my values: providing protection, stability, and unconditional love to life at its most vulnerable stage. Fostering a child requires patience, resourcefulness, and a profound commitment to putting another person’s needs above my own, qualities that perfectly mirror the demanding compassion required of a dedicated nurse. This immediate, hands-on commitment to nurturing life is how I actively give back to my community today. The responsibilities of motherhood have been the ultimate crucible for forging my character, instilling in me the resilience, organization, and relentless prioritization required to succeed under pressure. Now, extending this devotion through foster motherhood to a five month old, I am daily reminded of the profound vulnerability and value of life at its most dependent stage. This dual role has magnified my capacity for empathy, teaching me to love with detachment where necessary for the child’s well-being, while still providing unwavering stability and protection. It is this deeply personal, hands-on commitment to nurturing and safeguarding life, from its fragile beginnings to the demanding structure of a single-parent household, that has fully prepared me to transition into nursing, where the same patience, fierce advocacy, and dedication to dignity are required at the patient’s bedside. My future professional impact will be a logical extension of this current work, defining my life as one committed to protecting dignity across the entire human spectrum. The resilience I developed as a single mother, coupled with the meticulous organization honed over seven years as a pharmacy technician, is now being channeled into becoming a Registered Nurse. This career choice is designed to secure my family’s future, but my specific specialization, Hospice and Palliative Nursing, is where I plan to create the most profound positive change in the world. I view hospice care as the protective bookend to my current commitment to foster motherhood. If I am dedicated to safeguarding life at its beginning, I must be equally dedicated to safeguarding its dignity at its natural end. In a world that often fears or avoids death, I plan to be the presence that combats despair with peace, providing clinical expertise and a deliberate, happy, positive mindset that affirms the value of every remaining moment. As a future Hospice Nurse, I will positively impact the world in three key ways. First, I will utilize my advanced clinical education to ensure pain and symptom management are flawless, allowing patients to focus on connection rather than suffering. Second, I will practice human-centered care, translating my personal experience with navigating crisis into empathetic support for grieving families. Third, I will use my stable professional platform to advocate tirelessly for the quality of end-of-life care in my community, ensuring that every person is granted the peaceful, dignified conclusion to life they deserve. My entire journey, from resilience in hardship to dedicated fostering, is simply preparation for this larger, lifelong commitment to service.

My journey into the Registered Nursing program is not a typical educational path; it is a narrative of resilience forged in necessity. As a single mother, rebuilding a life defined by self-sufficiency after leaving an abusive marriage, my path has been governed by two constants: the unwavering needs of my family and the persistent drive toward professional stability. For seven years, my commitment manifested as a certified pharmacy technician, a role that was pragmatic, providing a secure income while immersing me in the meticulous science of healthcare. The decision to return to higher education to pursue a nursing degree was born from both ambition and challenge. The challenges I face are the complex logistics of any non-traditional student: balancing rigorous coursework with full-time family responsibilities. Financial strain is constant; the costs of tuition, textbooks, and, critically, reliable and extended childcare hours necessary for clinical rotations create a precarious calculation. Unlike traditional students, I do not have a robust support system, meaning every challenge, a sick child, a car repair, a financial shortfall, directly threatens my academic progress. However, this experience has profoundly shaped my goals and values. Navigating crisis has instilled in me a fierce, organized resilience, teaching me to prioritize stability above all else. This value now defines my professional purpose. The pursuit of an RN degree is, first and foremost, the tool to create a durable, secure future for my family. More deeply, my commitment to dignity, learned through hardship, guides me specifically toward Hospice and Palliative Nursing. This is the field where I can apply my hard-won appreciation for life's fragility and my dedication to fostering a happy, positive mindset. In hospice, the value of every life is affirmed, and my life’s lessons will serve as my greatest asset at the bedside. I plan to use my education to create a dramatically better future by achieving true, sustainable self-sufficiency. Beyond the financial security, I aim to be a powerful role model, demonstrating to my children that resilience, hard work, and education are the definitive tools for empowerment. My degree will not just provide a career; it will provide the professional platform to advocate for dignity and comfort for vulnerable patients, transforming my personal struggles into service. Receiving this scholarship would have a monumental, transformative impact on my life. It is the critical financial bridge that directly solves the central challenge: the need to work excessive hours merely to cover the costs of studying. With the scholarship’s support, I would be able to dedicate my full mental capacity to mastering the demanding clinical material, participating fully in mandatory rotations, and graduating on time. This support would remove the constant fear of academic interruption due to financial crises, guaranteeing that my hard-won readiness and deep vocational calling are fully realized in the compassionate, human-centered care of hospice. This scholarship is an investment not just in my future, but in the future stability of my family and the quality of care I will soon be able to provide to those who need it most.

The foundational experience that shaped both my educational journey and my life goals was becoming a mother at a young age and subsequently navigating life as a single parent, which included the necessary strength to leave an abusive marriage. This experience did not derail my education; rather, it fundamentally redefined it. My path to nursing was not linear, it was a delayed pursuit, marked by the practical necessity of immediate, stable income. This reality taught me the fierce value of prioritization, time management, and the relentless pursuit of self-sufficiency. For seven years, I channeled this drive into becoming a dedicated pharmacy technician. This role was pragmatic, providing reliable income while exposing me to the clinical rigor of healthcare. I gained invaluable, meticulous knowledge of medication regimes, patient compliance issues, and the critical importance of organization in preventing errors. However, this experience also highlighted a professional yearning: I was separated from the profound human interaction that drew me to care in the first place. I needed to move from analyzing the prescription to engaging with the patient. The decision to pursue a career in nursing is driven by this powerful confluence of needs and desires. Firstly, nursing provides the professional stability and robust income essential to securing a permanent, secure future for my family. This is the practical promise that honors the hard work and sacrifices made over the last decade. Secondly, nursing is the only profession that fully integrates my personal journey with my professional purpose. I chose nursing because it is a field that demands both clinical excellence and emotional availability, a combination I am uniquely prepared to offer. My commitment is specifically to Hospice and Palliative Care. My experience navigating personal crisis and consciously rebuilding my life with a commitment to a "happy, positive mindset" has instilled in me a deep appreciation for human vulnerability and the peaceful power of acceptance. In hospice, the nurse's role is not just to manage pain, but to facilitate dignity and peace during a final, sacred transition. I want to bring my hard-won resilience to the bedside, using my organizational skills to manage complex care plans efficiently, freeing me to focus on providing the deep human connection that transforms a medical procedure into an act of grace. The lessons learned as a young mother, being resourcefulness, having unwavering commitment, and the ability to thrive under pressure, are the greatest assets I bring to this program. They ensure that I enter nursing not just with career ambitions, but with a deep, personal understanding of what it means to advocate tirelessly for a life worth fighting for, right up to the very end.

I am Abbey Armstrong, a non-traditional student and single mother preparing for a second career with deep vocational purpose. I completed my secondary education at a local institution several years ago, and I now plan an attending Galen College of Nursing to pursue a degree in Registered Nursing, with the ultimate goal of specializing in Hospice and Palliative Care. My seven years as a pharmacy technician provided the clinical foundation, but my life experience navigating crisis and achieving stability as a single parent provided the drive. My decision to specialize in hospice nursing is inherently tied to the critical importance of mental health. In end-of-life care, the patient's anxiety, the family's anticipatory grief, and the caregiver's burnout are often as clinically significant as any physical symptom. I firmly believe in the power of a happy, positive mindset as an aid for those facing their final chapter. This is not about being cheerful, but about the mental fortitude to find acceptance, dignity, and peace. Consequently, my college experience will be defined by concrete actions to raise awareness and provide resources for mental health within the student and patient communities. My plan to raise awareness for mental health in college centers on three focused efforts. First, I will utilize my unique position as an older, returning student and parent to advocate for mental health resources specifically tailored for non-traditional students, single parents, and those balancing work with rigorous academics. I understand the intense financial and emotional pressure these students face, and I will seek out or establish a peer support group dedicated to managing this unique mental load. Second, within the nursing program, I will actively champion mandatory, in-depth coursework and clinical training focused on patient and family mental well-being, specifically emphasizing grief counseling and emotional-spiritual care—the very foundation of hospice work. Finally, I plan to volunteer with campus or local mental health initiatives, drawing on my resilience to show others how seeking help is a strength, not a weakness. I am prepared to enter my nursing program not only to gain clinical skill but to serve as a persistent advocate for mental wellness. My commitment to this field is a pledge to treat the whole person, recognizing that mental health is not separate from physical care. By actively promoting awareness and providing support within my campus community, I will ensure that the human-centered lens I apply to my hospice career is sharpened and utilized starting on day one of my nursing education.

I am Abbey Armstrong, a single mother and a dedicated student transitioning from seven years as a pharmacy technician into the rigor of a Registered Nursing program. My journey into healthcare is driven by dual imperatives: the practical necessity of securing a stable, professional future for my family, and a deeply felt calling to serve others at life’s most vulnerable juncture. The resilience I developed in navigating and rebuilding my life after an abusive marriage is the same quiet strength I intend to bring to the bedside. This experience taught me that stability is not a given but a precious commodity, reinforcing the profound importance of self-determination and human dignity, which I now seek to uphold for my patients. My time as a pharmacy technician was invaluable, providing me with a meticulous, evidence-based understanding of patient care from the pharmacological perspective. This background means I enter nursing school uniquely prepared to manage complex medication regimes and patient education with high competence. However, the repetitive nature of the transaction left me yearning for a deeper connection and involvement; I realized that my practical knowledge needed to be paired with direct, holistic intervention. The transition required courage, careful planning, and a deep belief that I was ready to leave the relative comfort of the pharmacy role to pursue a path with true emotional fulfillment. My desire to engage with the whole person, not just their prescriptions, now fully fuels my pursuit of a nursing degree. I am specifically committed to becoming a Hospice Nurse, where I believe my personal appreciation for inner peace and my dedication to a happy, positive mind set can offer the most profound impact. To me, hospice is not about surrender; it is about creating a sacred space for comfort, acceptance, and gentle joy in a patient’s final chapter. This requires the nurse to practice radical presence and to prioritize the patient's unique definition of a meaningful end. By maintaining a positive atmosphere, I can help shift the focus from loss to connection, empowering patients and their families to find grace and peace in their final interactions. This scholarship represents far more than just financial relief; it is the critical bridge between my current potential and my future service. Returning to school full-time while maintaining responsibilities as a single parent places significant demands on my time and financial resources. While I am determined to succeed, the financial burden is substantial. The costs of tuition, necessary textbooks, clinical fees, and, crucially, consistent, reliable childcare often create a challenging calculus. Receiving this support would immediately alleviate the severe financial pressure that necessitates working additional non-study hours. It would allow me to dedicate my full focus to clinical placements, mastering complex material, and achieving academic excellence. This investment ensures that I can complete my RN program efficiently, graduate on time, and immediately enter the workforce in the high-need sector of hospice care. By supporting my education, this scholarship directly supports my ability to bring skill, empathy, and stability to the patients who need it most, guaranteeing that my hard-won readiness is fully utilized in compassionate, human-centered care at the end of life.

I am Abbey Armstrong, a single mother and a dedicated student transitioning from seven years as a pharmacy technician into the rigor of a Registered Nursing program. My journey into healthcare is driven by dual imperatives: the practical necessity of securing a stable, professional future for my family, and a deeply felt calling to serve others at life’s most vulnerable juncture. The resilience I developed in navigating and rebuilding my life after an abusive marriage is the same quiet strength I intend to bring to the bedside. This experience taught me that stability is not a given but a precious commodity, reinforcing the profound importance of self-determination and human dignity, which I now seek to uphold for my patients. My time as a pharmacy technician was invaluable, providing me with a meticulous, evidence-based understanding of patient care from the pharmacological perspective. This background means I enter nursing school uniquely prepared to manage complex medication regimes and patient education with high competence. However, the repetitive nature of the transaction left me yearning for a deeper connection and involvement; I realized that my practical knowledge needed to be paired with direct, holistic intervention. The transition required courage, careful planning, and a deep belief that I was ready to leave the relative comfort of the pharmacy role to pursue a path with true emotional fulfillment. My desire to engage with the whole person, not just their prescriptions, now fully fuels my pursuit of a nursing degree. I am specifically committed to becoming a Hospice Nurse, where I believe my personal appreciation for inner peace and my dedication to a happy, positive mind set can offer the most profound impact. To me, hospice is not about surrender; it is about creating a sacred space for comfort, acceptance, and gentle joy in a patient’s final chapter. This requires the nurse to practice radical presence and to prioritize the patient's unique definition of a meaningful end. By maintaining a positive atmosphere, I can help shift the focus from loss to connection, empowering patients and their families to find grace and peace in their final interactions. This scholarship represents far more than just financial relief; it is the critical bridge between my current potential and my future service. Returning to school full-time while maintaining responsibilities as a single parent places significant demands on my time and financial resources. While I am determined to succeed, the financial burden is substantial. The costs of tuition, necessary textbooks, clinical fees, and, crucially, consistent, reliable childcare often create a challenging calculus. Receiving this support would immediately alleviate the severe financial pressure that necessitates working additional non-study hours. It would allow me to dedicate my full focus to clinical placements, mastering complex material, and achieving academic excellence. This investment ensures that I can complete my RN program efficiently, graduate on time, and immediately enter the workforce in the high-need sector of hospice care. By supporting my education, this scholarship directly supports my ability to bring skill, empathy, and stability to the patients who need it most, guaranteeing that my hard-won readiness is fully utilized in compassionate, human-centered care at the end of life.

1. Personal Inspiration for Pursuing a Career in Nursing (250-300 words) My personal inspiration for pursuing nursing is twofold: a practical need for professional stability and a profound, hard-earned understanding of life’s terminal value. After navigating a challenging period as a single mother, stability became my primary goal. My seven years as a pharmacy technician provided a reliable income and immersed me in the science of medicine, but ultimately, it revealed a disconnect. While I understood the chemical pathways of every prescription, I was separated from the human experience of receiving that care. I realized that my resilience, the ability to rebuild, organize, and advocate for my own well-being, was a resource better spent at the patient’s bedside. This realization blossomed into a specific vocational desire for Hospice Nursing. Witnessing the fragile beauty of life’s final chapters, I became convinced that the most essential care is often the most humane. My true inspiration lies in the opportunity to alleviate existential distress as much as physical pain. I am inspired by the opportunity to bring my quiet strength and deliberate positivity to moments of profound vulnerability, ensuring that patients and their families feel seen, heard, and deeply respected. My passion is to manage the complex clinical details; the medications, the scheduling, the symptoms, with flawless efficiency, freeing me to focus entirely on being a steady, compassionate presence. Nursing, particularly in hospice, is where my need for professional rigor and my personal capacity for empathetic care align perfectly to serve humanity at its most critical juncture. 2. The Meaning and Impact of "Human Touch" (350-400 words) The phrase "human touch" transcends mere physical contact; it represents the intentional, non-verbal communication of presence, respect, and validation. To me, the "human touch" is the integration of empathy into the physical act of care. It is the steady hand placed on a shoulder during a difficult prognosis, the eye contact maintained during a sensitive conversation, and the patient, unrushed moment taken to listen to a fear that has nothing to do with a medical chart. It is the commitment to seeing the patient not as a list of required tasks, but as an irreplaceable individual. The impact of this quality on patient care is immense, particularly in high-stress, emotionally charged environments, and is absolutely foundational to my goal of Hospice Nursing. 1. Reduces Isolation and Fear: In healthcare, vulnerability breeds fear. A simple human touch—like warming a stethoscope before placing it on cold skin or taking a moment to fluff a pillow—sends a crucial message: "I see you, you are safe, and I am here." This connection alleviates the deep sense of isolation that often accompanies illness. 2. Enhances Clinical Trust: Trust is the currency of effective nursing. When a patient feels validated by a nurse’s genuine human touch. When they feel their pain and fear are recognized; they are far more likely to adhere to treatment plans, be honest about symptoms, and participate actively in their own care. This creates a better, safer clinical outcome. 3. Affirms Dignity in Hospice: In end-of-life care, the human touch becomes the most vital form of communication. It is a quiet promise of presence. For a hospice patient who may be non-verbal or experiencing cognitive decline, a gentle touch on the arm or a peaceful, reassuring demeanor becomes the only way to affirm their dignity and worth. It helps to settle fears and fosters the positive, peaceful mindset I aim to cultivate, ensuring that their final moments are characterized by comfort and connection rather than clinical detachment. Ultimately, the human touch transforms a necessary medical intervention into a healing experience, affirming the patient's humanity at every stage of their illness.

1. Personal Values and Passion for Wellness (200 Words or Less) I am Abbey Armstrong, a dedicated single mother and seven-year veteran of clinical healthcare, currently pursuing my Registered Nursing degree. My life has been fundamentally shaped by the value of resilience, forged during a necessary period of self-determination after leaving an abusive marriage. That experience taught me the profound importance of stability and proactive self-advocacy. This need for security was the practical driver for choosing nursing; a profession offering the expertise and stability necessary to build a secure future for my family. My passion for human health and wellness was truly honed behind the pharmacy counter. As a technician, I consistently observed the gap between prescribed care and a patient's lived reality. This showed me that true wellness extends far beyond medication; it requires diligent coordination, clear communication, and empathetic support for overcoming life’s barriers. This realization, coupled with my firsthand understanding of life's fragility, made me passionate about a holistic approach to care, positioning me to move from dispensing treatment to delivering comprehensive, human-centered health advocacy as a future RN. 2. Empathy and Human-Centered Care in Hospice Nursing (500 Words or Less) Empathy, to me, is not merely recognizing another person’s suffering; it is the courageous act of imagining their situation without judgment, and then using that understanding as the sole foundation for all clinical and relational decisions. It is the ability to see vulnerability not as weakness, but as a shared human state that demands dignity and respect. This quality is absolutely paramount in my chosen specialization: Hospice and Palliative Nursing. In hospice, the clinical goal shifts entirely from cure to comfort, and the patient’s primary need becomes emotional and spiritual peace. Without empathy, a nurse risks reducing the patient to a set of symptoms or a timeline. With empathy, the nurse sees the full history, the entire person, who is navigating a final, profound life transition. It means recognizing that a family’s silent fear is as important to treat as the patient’s physical pain. My human-centered approach to this work is directly informed by my belief that cultivating a happy, positive mindset is vital for both the caregiver and the patient during end-of-life care. This is not about superficial cheerfulness, but about intentionally creating an atmosphere of peace, acceptance, and gentle connection where appropriate. I will ensure my work remains human-centered in three core ways: 1. Patient-Defined Dignity: Every decision, from managing symptoms to structuring the day, will be guided by the patient’s stated wishes and personal definition of dignity. I will focus on helping them find meaning and complete small, meaningful goals, not just meet medical benchmarks. 2. Radical Presence: Leveraging the patience I developed as a single mother and the meticulous organizational skills of a pharmacy technician, I will prioritize being fully present. This means active listening without rushing, viewing silence as communication, and making time for small, non-clinical acts of kindness that affirm the patient's worth. 3. Family as the Unit of Care: Recognizing that the family unit is grieving and requires support, I will ensure they are integrated as valued partners in care. My human-centered lens acknowledges the immense emotional labor of the caregivers, offering clear, compassionate communication and practical tools for navigating the journey ahead. By consciously prioritizing the emotional and relational needs over solely the clinical task list, empathy will be the compass that guides my practice, ensuring the final chapter of a patient's life is marked by comfort, connection, and grace.

My journey toward a nursing degree has been paved by resilience and a profound commitment to stability, both for my family and for the patients I hope to serve. The necessity of rebuilding a life after leaving an abusive marriage instilled in me a fierce determination, teaching me that self-sufficiency is the bedrock upon which compassion is best built. For seven years, I found stability and crucial exposure to the healthcare world as a certified pharmacy technician. This role was instrumental; it provided a reliable income as a single mother while giving me an intimate understanding of pharmacokinetics, patient compliance challenges, and the vital role of coordination in medical care. However, standing behind the pharmacy counter, I often felt separated from the core of patient interaction. I longed for the opportunity to provide hands-on, sustained care that impacts a person’s daily life. My decision to pursue a full Registered Nursing degree was primarily pragmatic; it ensures the stable, professional income necessary to secure my family’s future. Yet, this practical goal has since merged with a profound vocational calling: the pursuit of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. The hospice setting is often viewed as difficult, but I see it as sacred ground. It is the final opportunity to prioritize comfort, dignity, and profound human connection when curative measures cease. My personal experience navigating crisis and emerging with an appreciation for life’s fragility has cemented my belief in the power of mental fortitude and positivity. I firmly believe that my own hard-won understanding of resilience can be a powerful tool for those at the end of their lives. A hospice nurse’s duty extends beyond pain management; it involves creating an atmosphere of peace, honesty, and even gentle joy. It means helping patients and their families reframe this final chapter not as a loss, but as a space for final, meaningful connection. I am drawn to nursing because it is the profession that demands both clinical excellence and boundless emotional intelligence. I aim to transition the meticulous organization and pharmaceutical knowledge gained as a pharmacy technician into the compassionate, direct care required of a hospice nurse. I want to be the steady presence who can administer the right medication precisely on time, while simultaneously holding a hand, sharing a quiet laugh, and fostering a happy, positive mindset that aids the patient in finding peace during their final days. My life experience has prepared me to face vulnerability, and I am ready to dedicate my future to offering this essential form of comfort and care.

Core Pillar: Hungry One of the most defining moments in my academic and clinical journey where I exemplified the core pillar of being hungry occurred during my time working in pediatric pharmacy, while also managing full-time nursing school and raising my child as a single mother. This was a period of my life where the odds could have easily pushed me toward simply doing the minimum to get by. But instead, I found myself driven by a hunger to not only succeed but to improve patient care and contribute meaningfully to the clinical team. At the time, our department was dealing with a recurring issue involving incomplete or inconsistent medication histories for pediatric patients. This was a significant concern, especially because pediatric dosing is often weight-based and requires exact information to prevent underdosing or, worse, medication errors. These gaps in medication histories were creating confusion, delaying treatment plans, and placing added stress on both the pharmacy and nursing teams. Although it was not within my job description, I saw an opportunity to help solve a critical problem. I took it upon myself to research best practices for pediatric medication reconciliation. I stayed after shifts to review past documentation, spoke with pharmacists and nurses to understand their pain points, and explored workflow improvements that could support accuracy and efficiency. What began as a small idea quickly grew into a project I was passionate about. Using the information I gathered, I developed a streamlined medication history checklist that emphasized high-risk areas such as recent dosage changes, liquid medication conversions, and commonly overlooked over-the-counter drugs like children’s cold medicine or vitamins. I also created a brief training sheet summarizing pediatric medication reconciliation steps, and I offered to train new hires during orientation. None of this was expected of me, but I saw a gap, I saw a need, and I was hungry to be part of the solution. The impact of these efforts was both immediate and lasting. Within a few weeks, the frequency of medication clarification calls from nurses decreased noticeably. Staff began to adopt the checklist as part of their standard workflow, and several team members told me it helped them feel more confident when documenting complex pediatric cases. I was recognized informally by my supervisor for taking initiative, but what meant more to me was knowing that my actions directly contributed to safer, more efficient care for children and peace of mind for their families. This experience taught me that being “hungry” is not just about personal ambition, it’s about having the inner drive to improve outcomes, challenge yourself, and lead with purpose, even when you’re tired, overwhelmed, or outside your comfort zone. It’s about going above and beyond because you care. For me, that hunger is rooted in my lived experience, fighting for a better life for myself and my child, pushing through adversity, and pursuing a career where I can serve others in meaningful ways. I plan to bring this same hunger into my future as a nurse, not only by continuing to seek out ways to improve systems and patient care, but also by mentoring others, asking questions, and staying curious and engaged in every clinical environment I enter. I believe that hunger, when guided by compassion, has the power to create real change, and I am committed to carrying that energy forward in everything I do.

How do you plan to create a legacy in your future? I plan to create a legacy rooted in healing, resilience, and compassion. As a survivor of domestic violence and a single mother, I’ve walked a path filled with pain, hard choices, and ultimately, growth. Choosing to leave an abusive relationship was the hardest and most empowering decision I’ve ever made. That experience shaped the way I view the world and strengthened my resolve to build a better life for myself and my child. I want my legacy to reflect not only the care I provide as a nurse but also the strength I’ve found in overcoming adversity. Through my career in nursing, I aim to be a voice for those who feel voiceless and a safe presence for those in crisis. I hope to mentor others with similar experiences and show that it’s possible not only to survive, but to thrive. By dedicating myself to pediatric and community health, I will leave a legacy of compassion, advocacy, and hope that lives on in every patient, family, and future nurse I support. What type of business do you hope to create one day? One day, I hope to open a community health and wellness center that serves as a hub for families in crisis, particularly women and children affected by domestic violence. My goal is to create a space that offers not just physical healthcare, but emotional healing, support services, counseling, and education. This center would provide trauma-informed nursing care, health screenings, mental health therapy, and direct connections to safe housing and social services. I envision a place where survivors feel seen, supported, and empowered to rebuild their lives. As someone who has experienced the isolation and fear that come with domestic violence, I know how life-changing it is to have support. This business would be my way of giving back and creating the kind of safety net I once needed and found. It would reflect my commitment to holistic care and my belief that every person deserves a chance to heal and grow in dignity and safety. In what ways do you shine your light? I shine my light by choosing to turn pain into purpose. As a survivor, student, healthcare worker, and mother, I try to bring empathy, strength, and encouragement to every space I occupy. I shine by being open about my journey, not for pity, but to give others hope that healing is possible. I show up for others with sincerity, listen without judgment, and lead with compassion. Whether I’m helping a child in a pharmacy setting, offering a classmate support during exams, or simply being present for my child at the end of a long day, I aim to be a source of stability and light. I believe that even the smallest acts of kindness, an encouraging word, a moment of patience, a genuine smile, can light the way for someone else. Through my story, my work, and my care, I hope to remind others that they are not alone and that better days are always ahead.

The nursing field interests me because it brings together compassion, clinical skill, and a deep sense of purpose. As a single mother to one, I’ve learned the value of patience, empathy, and resilience; qualities that have naturally guided me toward a career in nursing. I want to care for others the way I’ve cared for my own child: with understanding, dedication, and heart. I currently work in pediatric pharmacy, where I assist in gathering medication histories, verifying dosages, and supporting the safe administration of medications. This role has given me valuable insight into pediatric care and helped me develop a strong foundation in medication safety, accuracy, and interdisciplinary teamwork. Collaborating closely with nurses and pharmacists has affirmed my decision to become a nurse and deepened my respect for the role nurses play in patient care. My passion for pediatric care stems from a deep desire to support and advocate for children and their families during some of their most vulnerable moments. Children aren’t just smaller patients, they require a different level of emotional care, trust, and communication. I’m inspired by their resilience and want to be a nurse who brings comfort, education, and compassion to both young patients and their loved ones. Working in pediatric pharmacy has given me a behind-the-scenes view of their care, but I’m eager to be at the bedside, offering both clinical support and emotional presence. One of the strongest motivations behind my decision to pursue nursing is my child. I returned to school not only to build a better life for us, but to set a positive example of perseverance, growth, and purpose. I want my child to see that challenges can be overcome and that it’s never too late to pursue a dream. Every step I take, every exam, every shift, every study session, is a step toward creating a more stable future and showing my child the power of determination. My goal is to become a registered nurse and specialize in pediatric or community health nursing. I hope to serve families in both clinical and educational roles, especially those in underserved communities. Long-term, I plan to earn my BSN and possibly continue into advanced practice or nurse education. Balancing school, work, and motherhood has been my greatest challenge and my greatest achievement. These experiences have shaped who I am and strengthened my commitment to this field. I am proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m excited about the future I’m building, not only for myself, but for my child and for every patient I will one day serve.