At the age of 18, I was a mother to two children, and while my family reminded me of the disgrace I caused, I will never forget the respect and care that I received from the nursing staff. The nurses treated me respectfully without guilting me for my choice to have a baby and supported me to be a successful and caring mother for my children without judgment. As a mother at a young age, I was determined to work hard and be worthy of someone whom my children would be proud to call mom. Similar to the nurses who cared for me, I will treat my future patients with respect and dignity during their medical emergencies. After my children began school, I knew I wanted to work in a way that provides help to those in need. I began volunteering, first at Head Start, then as a Chaplain with my church. At Head Start, I learned to advocate for the needs of children and their future growth by spending time with every level of the organization to learn from them what was needed to improve the quality of attention the children and families received. As a chaplain, I was trained to attend to people during and after a traumatic event in their lives and provide resources for future assistance. I learned from first responders and went through a trauma course to know how to address and meet the needs of those experiencing the worst day of their lives. Training in these skills has provided me with the foundation and tools to care for patients and their family’s emotional and physical conditions. When my volunteering time ended, I began working at a pain management clinic. Over the nine years I spent there, I was fortunate to have many encounters with patients and opportunities to learn from physicians about injection therapy treatments and medication management. The passion and care demonstrated by the physicians in their approach to spinal procedures and the medical field left me intrigued with the industry. My life experiences and education have given me a foundation to provide patients with high-quality care and guidance. The knowledge of the inner workings of a medical practice and medical system will allow me to assist patients at a greater capacity, utilizing the resources to the fullest. My goal is to share my knowledge with patients to help them use the medical system to their benefit. As a teen mom, I never expected to soon be graduating college, let alone the chance to earn a Master's in nursing. My recent acceptance into the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is my dream. The representation of diverse healthcare providers is important in providing accurate and efficient care to a range of patients. The Women’s health community is an especially important area I wish to work and advocate for. Thousands of women are suffering from reproductive issues and often feel as though their healthcare provider is not listening, or are shamed as I was for being a teen mother and I want to listen and help. I started by becoming a Volunteer Doula at my local hospital. I have the honor of assisting families through the laboring process and providing them with tools and resources to advocate for themselves and their newborns. I will be able to help at a higher capacity once I earn my MSN, RN degree. This scholarship will provide me with the support to continue to provide excellent patient care and relief from the financial burden accompanying post-graduate education. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

At the age of 18, I was a mother to two children, and while my family reminded me of the disgrace I caused, I will never forget the respect and care that I received from the nursing staff. The nurses treated me respectfully without guilting me for my choice to have a baby and supported me to be a successful and caring mother for my children without judgment. As a mother at a young age, I was determined to work hard and be worthy of someone whom my children would be proud to call mom. Similar to the nurses who cared for me, I will treat my future patients with respect and dignity during their medical emergencies. After my children began school, I knew I wanted to work in a way that provides help to those in need. I began volunteering, first at Head Start, then as a Chaplain with my church. At Head Start, I learned to advocate for the needs of children and their future growth by spending time with every level of the organization to learn from them what was needed to improve the quality of attention the children and families received. As a chaplain, I was trained to attend to people during and after a traumatic event in their lives and provide resources for future assistance. I learned from first responders and went through a trauma course to know how to address and meet the needs of those experiencing the worst day of their lives. Training in these skills has provided me with the foundation and tools to care for patients and their family’s emotional and physical conditions. When my volunteering time ended, I began working at a pain management clinic. Over the nine years I spent there, I was fortunate to have many encounters with patients and opportunities to learn from physicians about injection therapy treatments and medication management. The passion and care demonstrated by the physicians in their approach to spinal procedures and the medical field left me intrigued with the industry. My life experiences and education have given me a foundation to provide patients with high-quality care and guidance. The knowledge of the inner workings of a medical practice and medical system will allow me to assist patients at a greater capacity, utilizing the resources to the fullest. My goal is to share my knowledge with patients to help them use the medical system to their benefit. As a teen mom, I never expected to soon be graduating college, let alone the chance to earn a Master's in nursing. My recent acceptance into the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is my dream. Being a non-traditional student has provided me with a perspective on where I wish to go in my life. Currently, I attend school with students the age of my children and I offer them support and resources because they deserve to be successful. Even though the path I have taken was untraditional, it has provided me with skills, passion, and realistic expectations for the healthcare industry. My past has fueled my desire to work hard to achieve my goals of being an example to my children and other teen mothers, that with hard work and a strong support system, you can overcome anything. This scholarship will provide me with the support to continue to provide excellent patient care and relief from the financial burden accompanying post-graduate education. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

At the age of 18, I was a mother to two children, and while my family reminded me of the disgrace I caused, I will never forget the respect and care that I received from the nursing staff. The nurses treated me respectfully without guilting me for my choice to have a baby and supported me to be a successful and caring mother for my children without judgment. As a mother at a young age, I was determined to work hard and be worthy of someone whom my children would be proud to call mom. Similar to the nurses who cared for me, I will treat my future patients with respect and dignity during their medical emergencies. After my children began school, I knew I wanted to work in a way that provides help to those in need. I began volunteering, first at Head Start, then as a Chaplain with my church. At Head Start, I learned to advocate for the needs of children and their future growth by spending time with every level of the organization to learn from them what was needed to improve the quality of attention the children and families received. As a chaplain, I was trained to attend to people during and after a traumatic event in their lives and provide resources for future assistance. I learned from first responders and went through a trauma course to know how to address and meet the needs of those experiencing the worst day of their lives. Training in these skills has provided me with the foundation and tools to care for patients and their family’s emotional and physical conditions. When my volunteering time ended, I began working at a pain management clinic. Over the nine years I spent there, I was fortunate to have many encounters with patients and opportunities to learn from physicians about injection therapy treatments and medication management. The passion and care demonstrated by the physicians in their approach to spinal procedures and the medical field left me intrigued with the industry. My life experiences and education have given me a foundation to provide patients with high-quality care and guidance. The knowledge of the inner workings of a medical practice and medical system will allow me to assist patients at a greater capacity, utilizing the resources to the fullest. My goal is to share my knowledge with patients to help them use the medical system to their benefit. As a teen mom, I never expected to soon be graduating college, let alone the chance to earn a Master's in nursing. My recent acceptance into the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is my dream. The representation of diverse healthcare providers is important in providing accurate and efficient care to a range of patients. The Women’s health community is an especially important area I wish to work and advocate for. Thousands of women are suffering from reproductive issues and often feel as though their healthcare provider is not listening. This is clear in minority communities and I want to listen and help. I started by becoming a Volunteer Doula at my local hospital. I have the honor of assisting families through the laboring process and providing them with tools and resources to advocate for themselves and their newborns. I will be able to help at a higher capacity once I earn my MSN, RN degree. This scholarship will provide me with the support to continue to provide excellent patient care and relief from the financial burden accompanying post-graduate education. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

At the age of 18, I was a mother to two children, and while my family reminded me of the disgrace I caused, I will never forget the respect and care that I received from the nursing staff. The nurses treated me respectfully without guilting me for my choice to have a baby and supported me to be a successful and caring mother for my children without judgment. As a mother at a young age, I was determined to work hard and be worthy of someone whom my children would be proud to call mom. Similar to the nurses who cared for me, I will treat my future patients with respect and dignity during their medical emergencies. After my children began school, I knew I wanted to work in a way that provides help to those in need. I began volunteering, first at Head Start, then as a Chaplain with my church. At Head Start, I learned to advocate for the needs of children and their future growth by spending time with every level of the organization to learn from them what was needed to improve the quality of attention the children and families received. As a chaplain, I was trained to attend to people during and after a traumatic event in their lives and provide resources for future assistance. I learned from first responders and went through a trauma course to know how to address and meet the needs of those experiencing the worst day of their lives. Training in these skills has provided me with the foundation and tools to care for patients and their family’s emotional and physical conditions. When my volunteering time ended, I began working at a pain management clinic. Over the nine years I spent there, I was fortunate to have many encounters with patients and opportunities to learn from physicians about injection therapy treatments and medication management. The passion and care demonstrated by the physicians in their approach to spinal procedures and the medical field left me intrigued with the industry. My life experiences and education have given me a foundation to provide patients with high-quality care and guidance. The knowledge of the inner workings of a medical practice and medical system will allow me to assist patients at a greater capacity, utilizing the resources to the fullest. My goal is to share my knowledge with patients to help them use the medical system to their benefit. As a teen mom, I never expected to soon be graduating college, let alone the chance to earn a Master's in nursing. My recent acceptance into the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is my dream. The representation of diverse healthcare providers is important in providing accurate and efficient care to a range of patients. The Women’s health community is an especially important area I wish to work and advocate for. Thousands of women are suffering from reproductive issues and often feel as though their healthcare provider is not listening. This is clear in minority communities and I want to listen and help. I started by becoming a Volunteer Doula at my local hospital. I have the honor of assisting families through the laboring process and providing them with tools and resources to advocate for themselves and their newborns. I will be able to help at a higher capacity once I earn my MSN, RN degree. This scholarship will provide me with the support to continue to provide excellent patient care and relief from the financial burden accompanying post-graduate education. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

At the age of 18, I was a mother to two children, and while my family reminded me of the disgrace I caused, I will never forget the respect and care that I received from the nursing staff. The nurses treated me respectfully without guilting me for my choice to have a baby and supported me to be a successful and caring mother for my children without judgment. As a mother at a young age, I was determined to work hard and be worthy of someone whom my children would be proud to call mom. Similar to the nurses who cared for me, I will treat my future patients with respect and dignity during their medical emergencies. After my children began school, I knew I wanted to work in a way that provides help to those in need. I began volunteering, first at Head Start, then as a Chaplain with my church. At Head Start, I learned to advocate for the needs of children and their future growth by spending time with every level of the organization to learn from them what was needed to improve the quality of attention the children and families received. As a chaplain, I was trained to attend to people during and after a traumatic event in their lives and provide resources for future assistance. I learned from first responders and went through a trauma course to know how to address and meet the needs of those experiencing the worst day of their lives. Training in these skills has provided me with the foundation and tools to care for patients and their family’s emotional and physical conditions. When my volunteering time ended, I began working at a pain management clinic. Over the nine years I spent there, I was fortunate to have many encounters with patients and opportunities to learn from physicians about injection therapy treatments and medication management. The passion and care demonstrated by the physicians in their approach to spinal procedures and the medical field left me intrigued with the industry. My life experiences and education have given me a foundation to provide patients with high-quality care and guidance. The knowledge of the inner workings of a medical practice and medical system will allow me to assist patients at a greater capacity, utilizing the resources to the fullest. My goal is to share my knowledge with patients to help them use the medical system to their benefit. As a teen mom, I never expected to soon be graduating college, yet alone the chance to earn a Masters in nursing. The recent acceptance into the Betty Irene Moore School of nursing is my living dream. This scholarship will provide me with the support to continue to provide excellent patient care. I will also receive relief from the financial burden that accompanies post graduate education. Winning this scholarship will go towards: books, uniform, and gas to get to school and clinicals. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

At the age of 18, I was a mother to two children, and while my family reminded me of the disgrace I caused, I will never forget the respect and care that I received from the nursing staff. The nurses treated me respectfully without guilting me for my choice to have a baby and provided me support to be a successful and caring mother for my children without judgment. As a mother at a young age, I was determined to work hard and be worthy of someone who my children would be proud to call mom. Similar to the nurses who cared for me, I will treat my future patients with respect and dignity during their medical emergencies. I had a second child at 18 and was still finding my way through life. When my children started school, I began volunteering, first at Head Start, then as a Chaplain with a local church. At Head Start, I learned to advocate for the needs of children and their future growth by spending time with every level of the organization, and learning what was needed to improve the quality of attention the children and families received. As a chaplain, I was trained to attend to people during and after a traumatic event in their lives and provide resources for future assistance. I learned from first responders and went through a trauma course to try and meet the needs of those experiencing the worst day of their lives. Training in these skills has provided me with a foundation and some tools to care for patients and their family’s emotional and physical conditions. When my volunteering time ended, I began working at a pain management clinic. Over the nine years spent there, I was fortunate to have many encounters with patients and opportunities to learn from physicians about injection therapy treatments and medication management. The passion and care demonstrated by the physicians encouraged me to continue in the medical field. My life experiences and education have given me a foundation to provide patients with high-quality care. My current knowledge of the inner workings of a medical practice and medical system is only the starting point to a dream that becomes complete with a Master’s in Nursing degree. My goal is to provide exceptional care in my community and to help patients use the medical system to their benefit. As a teen mom, I never expected to be able to soon graduate college, let alone the chance to earn a Masters in nursing. My recent acceptance into the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is my dream. This scholarship will support me on my journey to continue providing excellent patient care. It will also receive relief from the financial burden accompanying post-graduate education. Winning this scholarship will help me with gas to get to school and clinicals every day, or go towards books and uniforms required by the school. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

At the age of 18, I was a mother to two children, and while my family reminded me of the disgrace I caused, I will never forget the respect and care that I received from the nursing staff. The nurses treated me respectfully without guilting me for my choice to have a baby and provided me support to be a successful and caring mother for my children without judgment. As a mother at a young age, I was determined to work hard and be worthy of someone who my children would be proud to call mom. Similar to the nurses who cared for me, I will treat my future patients with respect and dignity during their medical emergencies. After my children began school, I knew I wanted to work in a way that provides help to those in need. I began volunteering, first at Head start, then as a Chaplain with my church. At Head Start, I learned to advocate for the needs of children and their future growth by spending time with every level of the organization to learn from them what was needed to improve the quality of attention the children and families received. As a chaplain, I was trained to attend to people during and after a traumatic event in their life and provide resources for future assistance. Training in these skills has provided me with the foundation and tools to care for patients and their family’s emotional and physical conditions. When my volunteering time came to an end, I began working at a pain management clinic. Over the course of the nine years I spent there, I was fortunate to have many encounters with patients and opportunities to learn from physicians about injection therapy treatments and medication management. The passion and care demonstrated by the physicians in their approach to spinal procedures and the medical field, left me intrigued with the industry. A certain event confirmed my interest in this field. One day while rooming a patient for a follow up visit, I went to take his vitals and found an irregularity with the blood pressure reading on his left arm, measuring higher than his historical readings. Believing it was a machine error, I followed my training and took his blood pressure on his right arm using a manual cuff. The manual reading was significantly much lower. I mentioned the inconsistency to the physician. After the visit, I was informed that catching this irregularity saved the patient's life. He had a family history of cardiovascular disease with sudden deaths in his family. The patient was referred to the emergency department and treated by a cardiologist.It was at that moment that I knew I wanted to care for patients as more than a medical assistant. My life experiences and education have given me a foundation to provide patients with high quality care and guidance. The knowledge of the inner workings of a medical practice and medical system will allow me to assist patients at a greater capacity, utilizing the resources to the fullest. My goal is to share my knowledge with patients to help them use the medical system to their benefit. My intention to pursue a Master’s in nursing is in part to be an example to other teen mothers, that with hard work and support they can overcome the adversities in their life. While treating each patient with respect and decency and focus on paying attention to the details which may in turn save a life.

Within my life, the most important experiences started when I became a mother and through the journey of volunteering and working. When I first became a mother at the age of sixteen, I was practically still a child myself. I thought about the type of person I wanted to be. I knew that from that point on there would always be a set of eyes looking up to me, observing, and learning from my behavior and actions. If I were to create a decent human being, I first would have to become someone worth emulating. My husband and I grew up in dysfunctional, manipulative, and abusive households. We did not want this for our children so we made the decision to break away from our toxic families to protect our children and give them hope for the future. I’m fortunate to have met mentors who worked with me to change my family's impoverished state and instill richness of history, art, and philosophy as our core values too. Throughout my journey as a mother, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Head Startas the Board President locally and as a Region 9 Board member, nationally. Being involved in the education process in the classroom and boardroom was inspiring and insightful. The process not only included organizing activities for the class, but also supporting the teachers and parents to make the best learning environment. I learned a lot about early child development, communication skills, and the impact we could have on our children’s future by being a voice in the boardroom. Once my son entered kindergarten, my time at home with my children as a stay at home mom concluded. It was time for me to help provide for my family. That is when my work experience began. I started working part time at a medical office doing data entry. What was supposed to be a temporary position, turned into a 9 year journey with the practice. I learned all positions including receptionist, medical assistant, medical biller, authorization coordinator, new patient coordinator, surgery scheduler, and eventually, office manager for two locations. My experience being a mom helped me be successful in my capacity to take on challenges, covering up to three positions simultaneously, coaching and training new staff. The doctors provided me with great hands-on education and opportunities for growth. As my children began to grow older, I realized that my desire for an education did not end and I was young enough to have a 20-30 year career after they leave for college. At that time I expressed my desire to return to school to my employers who were very supportive and encouraged me to continue in the medical field. My work experience led me back to completing my education. I have met numerous times with mentors to guide me through this endeavor that ended prematurely when I first became a mother. I’ve had help from junior college counselors and UC representatives in laying out a course plan for my major that best utilizes time and resources. My experience in failing a subject lead to me working closely with tutors and professors to better grasp subject matter, retake the failed courses, and earn better grades. While employed at the private practice I noticed a trend of medical providers in the area reducing due to retirement and relocation. I do not plan on stopping at an undergraduate degree either. My five year plan includes a Masters in Nursing and establishing myself in the healthcare industry in the Sacramento area in order to help care for the growing population.

Within my life, the most important experiences started when I became a mother and through the journey of volunteering and working. When I first became a mother at the age of sixteen, I was practically still a child myself. I thought about the type of person I wanted to be. I knew that from that point on there would always be a set of eyes looking up to me, observing, and learning from my behavior and actions. If I were to create a decent human being, I first would have to become someone worth emulating. My husband and I grew up in dysfunctional, manipulative, and abusive households. We did not want this for our children so we made the decision to break away from our toxic families to protect our children and give them hope for the future. I’m fortunate to have met mentors who worked with me to change my family's impoverished state and instill richness of history, art, and philosophy as our core values too. Throughout my journey as a mother, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Head Startas the Board President locally and as a Region 9 Board member, nationally. Being involved in the education process in the classroom and boardroom was inspiring and insightful. The process not only included organizing activities for the class, but also supporting the teachers and parents to make the best learning environment. I learned a lot about early child development, communication skills, and the impact we could have on our children’s future by being a voice in the boardroom. Once my son entered kindergarten, my time at home with my children as a stay at home mom concluded. It was time for me to help provide for my family. That is when my work experience began. I started working part time at a medical office doing data entry. What was supposed to be a temporary position, turned into a 9 year journey with the practice. I learned all positions including receptionist, medical assistant, medical biller, authorization coordinator, new patient coordinator, surgery scheduler, and eventually, office manager for two locations. My experience being a mom helped me be successful in my capacity to take on challenges, covering up to three positions simultaneously, coaching and training new staff. The doctors provided me with great hands-on education and opportunities for growth. As my children began to grow older, I realized that my desire for an education did not end and I was young enough to have a 20-30 year career after they leave for college. At that time I expressed my desire to return to school to my employers who were very supportive and encouraged me to continue in the medical field. My work experience led me back to completing my education. I have met numerous times with mentors to guide me through this endeavor that ended prematurely when I first became a mother. I’ve had help from junior college counselors and UC representatives in laying out a course plan for my major that best utilizes time and resources. My experience in failing a subject lead to me working closely with tutors and professors to better grasp subject matter, retake the failed courses, and earn better grades. While employed at the private practice I noticed a trend of medical providers in the area reducing due to retirement and relocation. I do not plan on stopping at an undergraduate degree either. My five year plan includes a Masters in Nursing and establishing myself in the health care industry in the Sacramento region to help care for the increase in the population.

Within my life, the most important experiences started when I became a mother and through the journey of volunteering and working. When I first became a mother at the age of sixteen, I was practically still a child myself. I thought about the type of person I wanted to be. I knew that from that point on there would always be a set of eyes looking up to me, observing, and learning from my behavior and actions. If I were to create a decent human being, I first would have to become someone worth emulating. My husband and I grew up in dysfunctional, manipulative, and abusive households. We did not want this for our children so we made the decision to break away from our toxic families to protect our children and give them hope for the future. I’m fortunate to have met mentors who worked with me to change my family's impoverished state and instill richness of history, art, and philosophy as our core values too. Throughout my journey as a mother, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Head Startas the Board President locally and as a Region 9 Board member, nationally. Being involved in the education process in the classroom and boardroom was inspiring and insightful. The process not only included organizing activities for the class, but also supporting the teachers and parents to make the best learning environment. I learned a lot about early child development, communication skills, and the impact we could have on our children’s future by being a voice in the boardroom. Once my son entered kindergarten, my time at home with my children as a stay at home mom concluded. It was time for me to help provide for my family. That is when my work experience began. I started working part time at a medical office doing data entry. What was supposed to be a temporary position, turned into a 9 year journey with the practice. I learned all positions including receptionist, medical assistant, medical biller, authorization coordinator, new patient coordinator, surgery scheduler, and eventually, office manager for two locations. My experience being a mom helped me be successful in my capacity to take on challenges, covering up to three positions simultaneously, coaching and training new staff. The doctors provided me with great hands-on education and opportunities for growth. As my children began to grow older, I realized that my desire for an education did not end and I was young enough to have a 20-30 year career after they leave for college. At that time I expressed my desire to return to school to my employers who were very supportive and encouraged me to continue in the medical field. My work experience led me back to completing my education. I have met numerous times with mentors to guide me through this endeavor that ended prematurely when I first became a mother. I’ve had help from junior college counselors and UC representatives in laying out a course plan for my major that best utilizes time and resources. My experience in failing a subject lead to me working closely with tutors and professors to better grasp subject matter, retake the failed courses, and earn better grades. While employed at the private practice I noticed a trend of medical providers in the area reducing due to retirement and relocation. I do not plan on stopping at an undergraduate degree either. My five year plan includes a Masters in Nursing and establishing myself in the healthcare industry to help care for the increase in population in the region.

In 2006, I stopped my educational goals to care for my two children, an infant and a toddler. I was 18 and thought I would go back to school within a couple of years. Shortly after, the great recession hit our country and my hopes for continuing my education fizzled out. It took me thirteen years to be in a position to return to school. Preparations for the Human Development major came through my experience in the Head Start Program for child education and through my work experience in the medical industry. When my son was attending preschool, I became the parent advocate for the Region 9 board of Head Start. Being involved in the education process in the classroom and boardroom was inspiring and insightful. The process included organizing activities for the class and also supporting the teachers and parents to make the best learning environment. I learned a lot about early child development, communication skills, and the impact we have on our children’s future by being a voice in the boardroom. Once my son entered kindergarten, my time with Head Start concluded and my work experience began. I started working part time at a medical office doing data entry. What was to be a temporary position, turned into a nine year journey with the practice. I learned all positions including receptionist, medical assistant, medical biller, authorization coordinator, new patient coordinator, surgery scheduler, and eventually, office manager for two locations. I learned about the industry but also about my capacity to take on challenges, covering up to three positions simultaneously, coaching and training new staff. The doctors provided me with great hands-on education and opportunities for growth. When I expressed my desire to return to school, they were very supportive and encouraged me to continue in the medical field. I had the privilege to meet with mentors to guide me through this endeavor that ended prematurely. I had help from junior college counselors and UC representatives in laying out a course plan for my major that best utilizes time and resources. I worked with tutors and professors to better grasp subject matter and earn better grades. While employed at the private practice I noticed a trend of medical providers in the area retiring and relocating while the population kept growing. Therefore, I do not plan on stopping at an undergraduate degree. My five year plan includes a Masters in Nursing and establishing myself in the healthcare industry. Establishing myself as a medical provider in this area, I plan to help care for the increased population. I can accomplish this in a number of ways: working at an established private practice, urgent care clinic, or hospital. Winning this scholarship would significantly impact my family's finances. It would allow me to reduce the amount of student loans I have to take out. This scholarship would help me to focus more of my time and energy on my education. I would like to extend my gratitude for considering me for this scholarship

Hello, I’m Aesara Rhys, a continuing education student at Sierra College, who will to transfer to the University of California at Davis in Fall 2022; with a passion for caring, which is apparent through my work at a medical practice for over nine years, chaplain volunteer work, and parent advocacy with Head Start. The leadership of the medical practice inspired me to return to school to get an education so that I would be able to care for people at a higher capacity. In 2004, at the age of sixteen I became a mother. In 2007, at the age of eighteen I was unmarried with two children, a high school education, and no job. When my son was attending preschool, I became the parent advocate for the Region 9 board of Head Start. Being involved in the education process in the classroom and boardroom was inspiring and insightful. Once my son entered kindergarten, I started working part time at a medical office. What was supposed to be a temporary position, turned into a 9 year journey with the practice. My mentors' help allowed me to be in a position to return to school. Therefore, my five year plan includes a Masters in Nursing and establishing myself in the healthcare industry. Then I plan to help care for the community. As someone who has first hand experience working instead of attending college after high school, I would discuss with a peer my personal experience of working verses my return to school. While working provides for one during the moment, it does not provide a long term value for the employee. I remember working as a medical assistant in the medical practice and another medical assistant would get hired and because of her certification she was paid more than I was, even though I knew more about the company and the position better than the new hire. Over the course of 6 years, this would occur over and over again. At that moment I realized that I know that I am worth more, and a degree is the only path to take obtain a wage worth my experience. Additionally , from experience it is easier to raise a family while one is not also focusing on their education while working to provide for their family. The work- life balance is important and discussed often in the workplace. Work, life, and education are rarely mentioned. I heard the phrase, “it’s going to be hard.” Hard does not begin to describe the fight I had to endure to pass some classes while making sure my children had the support they needed to be successful in school, while maintaining the quality of work I was doing. I don't want anyone to have to struggle the way in which I had to. It is because of this, that I understand the importance of an education and life without distraction and its impact on a person's life. Thank you for the opportunity to apply to this scholarship.

Hello, I’m Aesara Rhys, a continuing education student at Sierra College, who applied to transfer to a 4 year university next year; with a passion for caring, which is apparent through my work at a medical practice for over nine years, chaplain volunteer work, and parent advocacy with Head Start. More specifically caring for people. My experience as an employee at a medical practice for nine years, strengthened my passion for caring for others. The leadership of the practice inspired me to return to school to get an education so that I would be able to care for people in a different capacity. In 2004, at the age of sixteen I became a mother. In 2007, at the age of eighteen I was unmarried with two children, a high school education, and no job. I had become a living statistic. I was struggling to feed my children and pay my bills each month. I only knew a life of struggle for basic survival. I did not want that lifestyle for my children. I knew that I couldn’t do it alone. In 2007 I discontinued my educational goals to care for my two children (an infant and a toddler). At the time I was 18 and after witnessing the devastation the housing industry collapse left, I did not think that I would have an opportunity to continue my educational dream. It took me thirteen years to be able to be in a position to return to school. After a thirteen year hiatus, I met with a counselor at Sierra College, and then my mentor to discuss my educational path. I thought, “ this will be easy!” Navigating through a new educational system, while balancing working full time and raising two children was an unexpected reality I soon had to face. First, I had to relearn how to learn in a new era of education. Education in the early 2000’s involved less technology and more in person interactions. That was not the case when I returned to school in 2018. There was less in person interaction and more technical instruction. Professors have a certain expectation for their students, which requires the student to open themselves up to the experience. I struggled to accept that I did not know what I was doing and the only way to continue my education is to embrace the professors' ways. After receiving a poor grade my mentor suggested having a tutor. Making that change set me up for success. There was one person who was a master of the field I could discuss the class with and build my confidence in the subject. The work- life balance is important and discussed often in the workplace. Work, life, and education are rarely mentioned. I heard the phrase, “it’s going to be hard.” Hard does not begin to describe the fight I had to endure to pass some classes while making sure my children had the support they needed to be successful in school, while maintaining the quality of work I was doing. This triggered a mental shift in me. There was no time for feeling, only for action. I learned how to fight for my education and future. Because of this I understand the importance of how an education can impact a person's life and mindset about the future. I hope to be able to achieve my educational goals in order to care for those in need. I have also witnessed the importance of financial planning and winning this scholarship would provide me an opportunity to focus more of my attention on my education than my finances.

A wise man once told me that people hear ten percent of what you say, and ninety percent of how you say it. This was true in the pain management medical office that I worked in for over nine years. People in chronic pain begin to feel as though they are not being heard due to the length of their symptoms. This was something I advocated to insurance companies often as I struggled with them to obtain authorization for the physicians to treat the patient. From a patient’s perspective, they know that they need help and hope that their pain will soon be okay. I do this by holding their hand, fighting on their behalf to insurance companies, and keeping them updated every step of the way. It’s important for me to show them, that the office cares. I wish to help more, which is why I, a teen mother, am returning to school after a thirteen year hiatus, to become a Nurse Practitioner to help people at a higher level than I currently am. Thank you for your time and consideration of me for this scholarship.

Hello, I’m Aesara Rhys, a continuing education student at Sierra College, who applied to transfer to a 4 year university next year; with a passion for caring, which is apparent through my work at a medical practice for over nine years and parent advocacy with Head Start. The leadership of the practice inspired me to return to school to get an education so that I would be able to care for people at a higher capacity. In 2004, at the age of sixteen I became a mother. In 2007, at the age of eighteen I was unmarried with two children, a high school education, and no job. I had become a living statistic. I was struggling to feed my children and pay my bills each month. I only knew a life of struggle for basic survival. I did not want that lifestyle for my children. I knew that I couldn’t do it alone. It took me thirteen years to be in a position to return to school, which I could not have done without the help of my mentors. Preparations for the Human Development major came through my life experiences in the Head Start Program for child education and through my work experience in the medical industry. When my son was attending preschool, I became the parent advocate for the Region 9 board of Head Start. Being involved in the education process in the classroom and boardroom was inspiring and insightful. The process not only included organizing activities for the class, but also supporting the teachers and parents to make the best learning environment. I learned a lot about early child development, communication skills, and the impact we could have on our children’s future by being a voice in the boardroom. Once my son entered kindergarten, my time with Head Start concluded and my work experience began. I started working part time at a medical office doing data entry. What was supposed to be a temporary position, turned into a 9 year journey with the practice. I learned all positions including receptionist, medical assistant, medical biller, authorization coordinator, new patient coordinator, surgery scheduler, and eventually, office manager for two locations. I learned much about the industry but also about my capacity to take on challenges, covering up to three positions simultaneously, coaching and training new staff. The doctors provided me with great hands-on education and opportunities for growth. When I expressed my desire to return to school, they were supportive and encouraged me to continue in, you guessed it: the medical field. While employed at the private practice I noticed a trend of medical providers in the area reducing due to retirement and relocation. Therefore, I do not plan on stopping at an undergraduate degree. My five year plan includes a Masters in Nursing and establishing myself in the healthcare industry. Once I have established myself as a medical provider in this area, I plan to help care for the increased population in my area. It is because of this, that I understand the importance of an education and life without distraction and its impact on a person's life. I hope to be able to achieve my educational goals in order to care for those in need. I have also witnessed the importance of financial planning and winning this scholarship would provide me an opportunity for a distraction free education. Thank you for the opportunity to apply to this scholarship. Offering a student a chance to reduce their financial burden is a display of the compassion that exists in the world. On behalf of everyone who has applied, thank you.

Hello, I’m Aesara Rhys, a continuing education student at Sierra College, who applied to transfer to a 4 year university next year; with a passion for caring, which is apparent through my work at a medical practice for over nine years and parent advocacy with Head Start. The leadership of the practice inspired me to return to school to get an education so that I would be able to care for people at a higher capacity. In 2004, at the age of sixteen I became a mother. In 2007, at the age of eighteen I was unmarried with two children, a high school education, and no job. I had become a living statistic. I was struggling to feed my children and pay my bills each month. I only knew a life of struggle for basic survival. I did not want that lifestyle for my children. I knew that I couldn’t do it alone. It took me thirteen years to be in a position to return to school, which I could not have done without the help of my mentors. Preparations for the Human Development major came through my life experiences in the Head Start Program for child education and through my work experience in the medical industry. When my son was attending preschool, I became the parent advocate for the Region 9 board of Head Start. Being involved in the education process in the classroom and boardroom was inspiring and insightful. The process not only included organizing activities for the class, but also supporting the teachers and parents to make the best learning environment. I learned a lot about early child development, communication skills, and the impact we could have on our children’s future by being a voice in the boardroom. Once my son entered kindergarten, my time with Head Start concluded and my work experience began. I started working part time at a medical office doing data entry. What was supposed to be a temporary position, turned into a 9 year journey with the practice. I learned all positions including receptionist, medical assistant, medical biller, authorization coordinator, new patient coordinator, surgery scheduler, and eventually, office manager for two locations. I learned much about the industry but also about my capacity to take on challenges, covering up to three positions simultaneously, coaching and training new staff. The doctors provided me with great hands-on education and opportunities for growth. When I expressed my desire to return to school, they were supportive and encouraged me to continue in, you guessed it: the medical field. While employed at the private practice I noticed a trend of medical providers in the area reducing due to retirement and relocation. Therefore, I do not plan on stopping at an undergraduate degree. My five year plan includes a Masters in Nursing and establishing myself in the healthcare industry. Once I have established myself as a medical provider in this area, I plan to help care for the increased population in my area. It is because of this, that I understand the importance of an education and life without distraction and its impact on a person's life. I hope to be able to achieve my educational goals in order to care for those in need. I have also witnessed the importance of financial planning and winning this scholarship would provide me an opportunity for a distraction free education. Thank you for the opportunity to apply to this scholarship. Offering a student a chance to reduce their financial burden is a display of the compassion that exists in the world. On behalf of everyone who has applied, thank you.

It was a cold January morning unlike any other in that winter when you last stepped inside my house. I stumbled to the door of my one story 2,500 square foot house, my bare feet thumping on the frigid tile floor to greet you. After entering my house, you flashed a quick smile and said good morning. I offered you breakfast, but you declined. As a first time mother at the age of 16 of a four month old, Exhaustion stopped me from offering to sit up with you until it was time to go to school. That was the arrangement, my mother would drive you to school since your mother was traveling and your father was a teacher in a school 45 miles away. That morning you left for school and never would I see you again. The suffering you endured must have left you feeling deserted in a heavily crowded room. The life you took that evening was not just your own. Everyone who sat next to you throughout school. Everyone who babysat you since you were 5 and was in the receiving end of your childhood pranks. Everyone who played football with you, died that night. Over the next two weeks I would visit your house everyday. The piercing scream of your mother’s sorrow haunts my dreams to this day. I live in fear that I too will lose a child and feel the void of agony in which I witnessed. Never will I forget, “Talk to someone EP1,” is an orange bracelet that is engraved into my heart. Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255.