I am proud to have a firefighter as a father. Despite the sacrifices we have to make as a family when he works for days at a time, I am proud to know that each shift, he steps forward to help people in critical need, sacrificing his own comfort and safety. His meaningful work has inspired me to pursue a healthcare career of my own. I hope to embody the same selflessness and strength of character that my dad has modeled for me my whole life. Currently, I am planning to work on a Labor and Delivery unit. I have never been present for a birth, but I know it is exciting and intense. The emergence of a new life into the world is one of those not-so-small miracles that happens every day. I want the privilege of participating in that miracle – providing a calm and supportive presence and giving people the care that they need, with an extra dose of compassion. There's something special about caring for newborn babies; so much potential is contained in each little bud of humanity, and they are the physical picture of the sheer miracle of life. They are also just hands-down adorable. I have a close friend who could claim empathy as her middle name (if she weren't so humble). It radiates from her, inviting and warm, and is evident as soon as you talk to her. Whatever you share with her, from the most frivolous complaint about homework to a devastating family tragedy, she gives it her full attention and endeavors to comprehend the situation. She never ignores or dismisses someone because they are uninteresting or problematic. Those around her feel noticed, understood, and cared for because she views everyone as important and makes an effort to identify with them. Through my interactions with her, I have learned that having someone empathize with you is one of the most life-giving experiences imaginable. Those in the healthcare field, such as nurses, should embrace empathy as a key component in their life-giving profession. In the medical field, nurses are the primary providers of physical care and are a vital source of empathy. Unfortunately, as they tend to patient after patient, day in and day out, many nurses mentally dehumanize and fail to consider the unique needs of each patient. They might speak harshly to a patient, ignore their wishes, or neglect the grooming tasks that keep them comfortable and dignified. However, nothing could be more detrimental to a patient’s outcome. They need to know that they are valued and cared for, no matter their circumstances. Nurses often work with individuals from challenging backgrounds and those with complex medical conditions. For their job, empathy is as necessary as their scrubs and stethoscopes. Every day, nurses reach down into the blood, drugs, and dirt, to bring healing to those who are suffering. For them, empathy is a way of life that they must choose over and over. It means seeing the child who is screaming and thrashing hysterically and choosing to show them compassion, acknowledging the physical and emotional trauma they have been through. It means seeing a comatose, drooling senior sprawled helplessly on a bed, and choosing to faithfully clean and comfort them, keeping in mind what it must be like to have your abilities gradually stolen away by age. It means placing a warm, wrinkled newborn into a mother’s arms for the first time, and allowing yourself to share in the overwhelming emotion that accompanies the arrival of new life into the world. I chose to become a nurse because of my desire to help people who are in critical need. More than a job, it is a calling to serve those who are in pain and sorrow. Remembering my friend who showed me so much empathy, I will strive to view each interaction with a person as an opportunity to have a positive impact. My career will be human-focused: each shift a mission to brighten a person's day, ease their suffering, and bring them hope. When my job becomes difficult, I will persevere in empathy by reminding myself of the intrinsic value and humanity of each patient in my care.

“My nurse was the best person ever, we couldn’t have done it without her!” “I don’t remember everything, but I do remember my nurse!”; “It was hard, but the nurse was great and that made it better.” These are the types of things that I have heard people say when talking about their experiences with nurses. My own encounters with them have painted an ideal picture of a nurse in my mind as a cool-headed person who is sympathetic, professional, and cares for people in the best way they can. Currently, I am planning to work on a Labor and Delivery unit. I have never been present for a birth, but I know it is exciting and intense. The emergence of a new life into the world is one of those not-so-small miracles that happens every day. I want the privilege of participating in that miracle – providing a calm and supportive presence and giving people the care that they need, with an extra dose of compassion. Caring for babies after they are born would be a wonderful career. There is so much potential in each little bud of humanity, and they are the physical picture of the sheer miracle of life. They are also just hands-down adorable. As a scholarship donor, you want your money to be used for something meaningful. Few careers have as intimate an impact on the world as nurses do. I chose nursing because of my desire to help people when they are in critical need. More than a job, it is a calling to serve those who are in pain and sorrow. Every patient in my care will know that they are seen and cared for. My career will be human-focused: each shift a mission to brighten someone’s day, ease their suffering, and bring them hope. Some nurses may mentally dehumanize patients as they care for person after person, day in and day out, and eventually think of them as just “part of the job”. But I don’t plan to let that happen. Every encounter with a person is an opportunity to connect with them and make them feel valued and seen. The impact of your scholarship will not end after I graduate. Every day after that, all that I accomplish for patients at the bedside will be a continuation of the generous gift that you have offered. This scholarship will do more than pay my way through college. It will alleviate my own anxiety from worrying about student debt, and allow me to flourish and conquer nursing school strong. It will touch the lives of those whom I will serve throughout my career. My experience with the military is through people like my grandfather, who have served their country and have survived to tell their story. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for his service. He embodied the values of selflessness, courage, and loyalty as a Navy medic and risked his own safety multiple times to rescue wounded comrades. He would say that he wasn't naturally a brave and selfless person; in fact, he joined the Navy in hopes of avoiding combat. But when it came down to it, he did what he knew was the right thing. I hope that I will be able to serve the patients in my care with the same level of integrity and compassion that my grandfather exemplified in service and in life.

I discovered my passion for people at one of my favorite places: The Cincinnati Zoo. I became a “ZooTeen” the summer before my freshman year. Until then, everyone who knew me would have agreed that I was a shy and socially withdrawn person who rarely drew attention to myself.  Conversing with strangers seemed like a daunting feat of bravery, which I avoided as much as possible. My plan since middle school had been to become a zookeeper so that I could spend more time with animals than with people. I had initially joined the ZooTeen program without fully understanding all that it entailed. I just loved animals and figured that a zoo was the place for me to be. Little did I know that the program would change my personality and my life. During my time at the zoo, I educated visitors about the animals and their conservation stories, and I assisted with the weekly summer camps. Initially,  the constant interaction with strangers during shifts was unnerving, but I continually challenged myself, and gradually inched out of my introverted shell. Four summers and 630 volunteer hours later, I emerged as a profoundly changed person. Although I still enjoy my quiet time, being surrounded by people now makes me happy instead of anxious. I used to be reserved and shy around strangers; now, I lead camp songs at the top of my lungs throughout a crowded zoo. I used to listen to people speak in public and wonder in awe how they could do it; now, I expound upon the many wonderful qualities of vampire bats in front of groups of guests. I used to quietly worry about the state of the environment and wonder what I could do about it; now, I speak up and urge others to take action. This past summer, I expanded my involvement and leadership in the community even more. I was nominated by a zoo employee for a new position as a “ZooTeen Lead”. In that role, I coached new teens as they took their first steps to becoming conservation leaders themselves. I could remember the nerves that came with my first few days of visitor engagement, so supporting the new volunteers and cheering them on as they went through the same experience meant a lot to me. I cherished the budding enthusiasm that I saw in those teens and felt so privileged to contribute to and witness their success. Additionally, I was able to support and promote the program as a whole by interviewing past and present ZooTeens about their experiences, and creating a story poster to showcase the skills that they gained and how the program contributed to their future success. This story was presented to ZooTeen families at the end-of-summer celebration and shared with the board of the zoo's Conservation Impact department. Ironically, after volunteering in a zoo, I am no longer planning work in the zoology field. Recently, I felt called to the entirely different, but equally wild world of healthcare. As a scholarship donor, you want your money to be used for something meaningful. Few careers have as intimate an impact on the world as nurses do. I chose to become a nurse because of my desire to help people when they are in critical need. More than a job, it is a human-focused calling: each shift a mission to brighten someone’s day, ease their suffering, and bring them hope. The impact of your scholarship will not end after I graduate; it will continue to touch the lives of those that I serve throughout my career.

“My nurse was the best person ever, we couldn’t have done it without her!”; “I don’t remember everything, but I do remember my nurse!”; “It was hard but the nurse was great and that made it better.” These are the types of things that I have heard people say when talking about their experiences with nurses. My own experiences with nurses have painted an ideal picture of a nurse in my mind as a cool-headed person who is sympathetic and professional and cares for people in the best way they can. I chose to become a nurse over a doctor because their job generally seems more hands-on and care-focused, whereas a doctor’s is more diagnosis and prescription-focused. As of now, I would like to go into Labor and Delivery as my specialty. I have never been present for a birth, but I have heard it is exciting and intense. The emergence of a new life into the world is one of those not-so-small miracles that happen every day. Every mother has a different situation, but giving birth is sure to be one of the most important days of her life. As a L&D nurse, I would get to be a part of that experience. I want to provide a calm and supportive presence and give people the care that they need, with an extra dose of compassion. I believe people can be empowered to do difficult things when they are supported and know they are safe and cared for. As another part of being an L&D Nurse, caring for babies after they are born would be a wonderful career. There is so much potential in each little bud of humanity, and they are the physical picture of the sheer miracle of life. They are also just hands-down adorable. Some nurses may tend to mentally dehumanize patients as they care for person after person, day in and day out, and eventually just think of those people as “part of the job”. But I don’t plan to let that happen. Every encounter with a person is an opportunity to connect with them and make them feel valued and seen. I love being able to help people when they need it most, and in that situation I can have a positive impact with what I do and say. I am a Christ-follower growing in my faith and God has blessed me with an empathetic nature and a love for helping people. I want to glorify Him with my career and I believe that I can do His work as a nurse.

“My nurse was the best person ever, we couldn’t have done it without her!”; “I don’t remember everything, but I do remember my nurse!”; “It was hard but the nurse was great and that made it better.” These are the types of things that I have heard people say when talking about their experiences with nurses. My own experiences with nurses have painted an ideal picture of a nurse in my mind as a cool-headed person who is sympathetic and professional and cares for people in the best way they can. I chose to become a nurse over a doctor because their job generally seems more hands-on and care-focused, whereas a doctor’s is more diagnosis and prescription-focused. Other reasons I would like to be a nurse are the growing job outlook, flexible schedule, and substantial salary. I want to be able to balance work and recreation well, and alternate indulging my love of work and my love of the outdoors, animals, and travel. My years at a rigorous hybrid classical school (Charis Classical Academy) have trained me well to manage my time and value learning. I hope to thoroughly enjoy my years in college and keep myself busy with volunteer work, different clubs and student organizations, and spending time outside. As of now, I would like to go into Labor and Delivery as my specialty. I have never been present for a birth, but I have heard it is exciting and intense. The emergence of a new life into the world is one of those not-so-small miracles that happen every day. Every mother has a different situation, but giving birth is sure to be one of the most important days of her life. As a L&D nurse, I would get to be a part of that experience. I want to provide a calm and supportive presence and give people the care that they need, with an extra dose of compassion. I believe people can be empowered to do difficult things when they are supported and know they are safe and cared for. Moms are the strongest people on the planet! Giving birth is just the beginning of a lifetime of devoted love and care for their children. Women go into the delivery room with a lot of emotions, I want to make them feel as comfortable and encouraged as possible during their labor, and watch them flower into mothers as they meet their babies for the first time. As another part of being an L&D Nurse, caring for babies after they are born would be a wonderful career. There is so much potential in each little bud of humanity, and they are the physical picture of the sheer miracle of life. They are also just hands-down adorable. Some nurses may tend to mentally dehumanize patients as they care for person after person, day in and day out, and eventually just think of those people as “part of the job”. But I don’t plan to let that happen. Every encounter with a person is an opportunity to connect with them and make them feel valued and seen. I am a Christ-follower growing in my faith and God has blessed me with an empathetic nature and a love for helping people. I want to glorify Him with my career and I believe that I can do His work as a nurse in the delivery room. Thank you for the opportunity to earn this scholarship. It warms my heart that so many people are willing to give money to students like me to help us pursue our goals.

My dream career is to become a Labor and Delivery nurse! I recently had the incredible opportunity to shadow at the St. Elizabeth Edgewood hospital as part of the Northern Kentucky University's nursing camp. I only had one short hour in the Labor and delivery department, but it was the highlight of the week and my entire summer! The nurses were lovely and it was so exciting to be literally side by side with someone in my dream position. I wish I could have stayed there longer and seen my nurse's patient deliver her baby, but this experience has thrown fuel on the fire of my college motivation! I can't wait to be in college on my way to earning my degree and achieving my goal. This scholarship would be used to cover college tuition or room and board. I want a school that gets me in clinicals ASAP, so Case Western Reserve University is my first choice right now. Thank you for the opportunity to earn this scholarship. It warms my heart that so many people are willing to help students like me achieve their dreams.

“My nurse was the best person ever, we couldn’t have done it without her!”; “I don’t remember everything, but I do remember my nurse!”; “It was hard but the nurse was great and that made it better.” These are the types of things that I have heard people say when talking about their experiences with nurses. My own experience with nurses from having broken a wrist and needing surgery, and also just general wellness visits, has painted an ideal picture of a nurse in my mind as a cool-headed person who is sympathetic and professional and cares for people in the best way they can. I chose to become a nurse over a doctor because their job generally seems more hands-on and care-focused, whereas a doctor’s is more diagnosis and prescription-focused. As of now, I would like to go into Labor and Delivery as my specialty. I have never been present for a birth, but I have heard it is exciting and intense. The emergence of a new life into the world is one of those not-so-small miracles that happen every day. Every mother has a different situation, but giving birth is sure to be one of the most important days of her life. As a L&D nurse, I would get to be a part of that experience. I want to provide a calm and supportive presence and give people the care that they need, with an extra dose of compassion. I believe people can be empowered to do difficult things when they are supported and know they are safe and cared for. Some nurses may tend to dehumanize patients as they care for person after person, day in and day out, and eventually, just think of these people as “part of the job”. But I don’t plan to let that happen. Every encounter with a person is an opportunity to connect with them and make them feel valued and seen. I love being able to help people when they need it because I can have a positive impact with what I do and say. I am a Christ-follower growing in my faith and God has blessed me with an empathetic nature and a love for helping people. I want to glorify Him with my career and I believe that I can do His work as a nurse. I think that caring for babies after they are born would be a wonderful career. There is so much potential in each little bud of humanity, and they are the physical picture of the sheer miracle of life. They are also just hands-down adorable. Other reasons I would like to be a nurse are the growing job outlook, flexible schedule, and substantial salary. I want to be able to balance work and recreation well, and alternate indulging my love of work and my love of the outdoors, animals, and travel. My years at a rigorous hybrid classical school (Charis Classical Academy) have trained me well to manage my time and value learning. I hope to thoroughly enjoy my years in college and keep myself busy with volunteer work and spending time outside along with schoolwork. Thank you for the opportunity to earn this scholarship. It warms my heart that so many people are willing to give money to students like me to help us pursue our goals.

“My nurse was the best person ever, we couldn’t have done it without her!”; “I don’t remember everything, but I do remember my nurse!”; “It was hard but the nurse was great and that made it better.” These are the types of things that I have heard people say when talking about their experiences with nurses. My own experience with nurses from having broken a wrist and needing surgery, and also just general wellness visits, has painted an ideal picture of a nurse in my mind as a cool-headed person who is sympathetic and professional and cares for people in the best way they can. I chose to become a nurse over a doctor because their job generally seems more hands-on and care-focused, whereas a doctor’s is more diagnosis and prescription-focused. As of now, I would like to go into Labor and Delivery as my specialty. I have never been present for a birth, but I have heard it is exciting and intense. The emergence of a new life into the world is one of those not-so-small miracles that happen every day. Every mother has a different situation, but giving birth is sure to be one of the most important days of her life. As a L&D nurse, I would get to be a part of that experience. I want to provide a calm and supportive presence and give people the care that they need, with an extra dose of compassion. I believe people can be empowered to do difficult things when they are supported and know they are safe and cared for. Some nurses may tend to dehumanize patients as they care for person after person, day in and day out, and eventually, just think of these people as “part of the job”. But I don’t plan to let that happen. Every encounter with a person is an opportunity to connect with them and make them feel valued and seen. I love being able to help people when they need it because I can have a positive impact with what I do and say. I am a Christ-follower growing in my faith and God has blessed me with an empathetic nature and a love for helping people. I want to glorify Him with my career and I believe that I can do His work as a nurse. I think that caring for babies after they are born would be a wonderful career. There is so much potential in each little bud of humanity, and they are the physical picture of the sheer miracle of life. They are also just hands-down adorable. Other reasons I would like to be a nurse are the growing job outlook, flexible schedule, and substantial salary. I want to be able to balance work and recreation well, and alternate indulging my love of work and my love of the outdoors, animals, and travel. My years at a rigorous hybrid classical school (Charis Classical Academy) have trained me well to manage my time and value learning. I hope to thoroughly enjoy my years in college and keep myself busy with volunteer work and spending time outside along with schoolwork. Thank you for the opportunity to earn this scholarship. It warms my heart that so many people are willing to give money to students like me to help us pursue our goals.

“My nurse was the best person ever, we couldn’t have done it without her!”; “I don’t remember everything, but I do remember my nurse!”; “It was hard but the nurse was great and that made it better.” These are the types of things that I have heard people say when talking about their experiences with nurses. My own experience with nurses from having broken a wrist and needing surgery, and also just general wellness visits, has painted an ideal picture of a nurse in my mind as a cool-headed person who is sympathetic and professional and cares for people in the best way they can. I chose to become a nurse over a doctor because their job generally seems more hands-on and care-focused, whereas a doctor’s is more diagnosis and prescription-focused. As of now, I would like to go into Labor and Delivery as my specialty. I have never been present for a birth, but I have heard it is exciting and intense. The emergence of a new life into the world is one of those not-so-small miracles that happen every day. Every mother has a different situation, but giving birth is sure to be one of the most important days of her life. As a L&D nurse, I would get to be a part of that experience. I want to provide a calm and supportive presence and give people the care that they need, with an extra dose of compassion. I believe people can be empowered to do difficult things when they are supported and know they are safe and cared for. Some nurses may tend to dehumanize patients as they care for person after person, day in and day out, and eventually, just think of these people as “part of the job”. But I don’t plan to let that happen. Every encounter with a person is an opportunity to connect with them and make them feel valued and seen. I love being able to help people when they need it because I can have a positive impact with what I do and say. I am a Christ-follower growing in my faith and God has blessed me with an empathetic nature and a love for helping people. I want to glorify Him with my career and I believe that I can do His work as a nurse. I think that caring for babies after they are born would be a wonderful career. There is so much potential in each little bud of humanity, and they are the physical picture of the sheer miracle of life. They are also just hands-down adorable. Other reasons I would like to be a nurse are the growing job outlook, flexible schedule, and substantial salary. I want to be able to balance work and recreation well, and alternate indulging my love of work and my love of the outdoors, animals, and travel. My years at a rigorous hybrid classical school (Charis Classical Academy) have trained me well to manage my time and value learning. I hope to thoroughly enjoy my years in college and keep myself busy with volunteer work and spending time outside along with schoolwork. Thank you for the opportunity to earn this scholarship. It warms my heart that so many people are willing to give money to students like me to help us pursue our goals.

“My nurse was the best person ever, we couldn’t have done it without her!”; “I don’t remember everything, but I do remember my nurse!”; “It was hard but the nurse was great and that made it better.” These are the types of things that I have heard people say when talking about their experiences with nurses. My own experience with nurses from having broken a wrist and needing surgery, and also just general wellness visits, has painted an ideal picture of a nurse in my mind as a cool-headed person who is sympathetic and professional and cares for people in the best way they can. I chose to become a nurse over a doctor because their job generally seems more hands-on and care-focused, whereas a doctor’s is more diagnosis and prescription-focused. As of now, I would like to go into Labor and Delivery as my specialty. I have never been present for a birth, but I have heard it is exciting and intense. The emergence of a new life into the world is one of those not-so-small miracles that happen every day. Every mother has a different situation, but giving birth is sure to be one of the most important days of her life. As a L&D nurse, I would get to be a part of that experience. I want to provide a calm and supportive presence and give people the care that they need, with an extra dose of compassion. I believe people can be empowered to do difficult things when they are supported and know they are safe and cared for. Some nurses may tend to dehumanize patients as they care for person after person, day in and day out, and eventually, just think of these people as “part of the job”. But I don’t plan to let that happen. Every encounter with a person is an opportunity to connect with them and make them feel valued and seen. I love being able to help people when they need it because I can have a positive impact with what I do and say. I am a Christ-follower growing in my faith and God has blessed me with an empathetic nature and a love for helping people. I want to glorify Him with my career and I believe that I can do His work as a nurse. I think that caring for babies after they are born would be a wonderful career. There is so much potential in each little bud of humanity, and they are the physical picture of the sheer miracle of life. They are also just hands-down adorable. Other reasons I would like to be a nurse are the growing job outlook, flexible schedule, and substantial salary. I want to be able to balance work and recreation well, and alternate indulging my love of work and my love of the outdoors, animals, and travel. Thank you for the opportunity to earn this scholarship. It warms my heart that so many people are willing to give money to students like me to help us pursue our goals.

“My nurse was the best person ever, we couldn’t have done it without her!”; “I don’t remember everything, but I do remember my nurse!”; “It was hard but the nurse was great and that made it better." These are the types of things that I have heard people say when talking about their experiences with nurses. My own experience with nurses from having broken a wrist and needing surgery, and also just general wellness visits, has painted an ideal picture of a nurse in my mind as a cool-headed person who is sympathetic and professional and cares for people in the best way they can. I chose to become a nurse over a doctor because their job generally seems more hands-on and care-focused, whereas a doctor’s is more diagnosis and prescription-focused. Currently, I would like to go into Labor and Delivery as my specialty. I have never been present for a birth, but I have heard it is exciting and intense. The emergence of a new life into the world is one of those not-so-small miracles that happen every day. As a L&D nurse, I would get to be a part of that experience. I want to provide a calm and supportive presence and give people the care that they need, with an extra dose of compassion. I believe people can be empowered to do difficult things when they are supported and know they are safe and cared for. Some nurses may tend to dehumanize patients as they care for person after person, day in and day out, and eventually, just think of these people as “part of the job”. But I don’t plan to let that happen. Every encounter with a person is an opportunity to connect with them and make them feel valued and seen. I love being able to help people when they need it because I can have a positive impact with what I do and say. I am a Christ-follower growing in my faith and God has blessed me with an empathetic nature and a love for helping people. I want to glorify Him with my career and I believe that I can do His work as a nurse. I think that caring for babies after they are born would be a wonderful career. There is so much potential in each little bud of humanity, and they are the physical picture of the sheer miracle of life. They are also just hands-down adorable. Other reasons I would like to be a nurse are the growing job outlook, flexible schedule, and substantial salary. I want to be able to balance work and recreation well, and alternate indulging my love of work and my love of the outdoors, animals, and travel. Thank you for the opportunity to earn this scholarship. It warms my heart that so many people are willing to give money to students like me to help us pursue our goals.