The hospital is a place of both suffering and healing. Many find the environment of a hospital quite overwhelming and daunting, but I find peace knowing eventually my strengths will be used to help save lives. Back in February 2025, my family and I spent days in the ICU waiting room while my grandma was battling through brain surgery. While many tears and doubtful thoughts were shared, the nurses moved efficiently which brought both grace and comfort to my struggling family. When I went in to see her, I remember feeling the kind compassion the nurses felt for my grandma. We walked out knowing she was in amazing care. As people go through tragedies like that, I know I will give not just the patients but family members and friends the emotional support they need. From a young age, helping people has always been part of my life. My family includes generations of empathetic and selfless people as both my grandparents and parents were pastors. It never felt like an obligation to me, just a lifestyle. As I’ve gotten older, it has become more clear how important it is to be kind and compassionate. However, there have been seasons in my life when I have felt that I was weighed down by my emotions. One of the challenges that I had was learning how to express my emotions, as my tendency was to hold them inside. There were times that it seemed I was on a path that was difficult to dig out of. My friends and family didn’t always know the intensity of my emotions, while I kept things locked up inside. I was hesitant to show people my real authentic emotions. At times, I battled with myself between what my heart wanted and what my brain wanted. I often questioned why I felt my emotions so strongly. My school provides the opportunity to participate in Unified Basketball, where we can volunteer to help students with special needs play non-competitive basketball. Even though it was non-competitive, the excitement from watching a player make their first basket was a feeling I wanted to be a part of. Now going into my fourth year of Unified basketball, I can further see the need for supporting people who aren’t given the same chances that I am. Prior, I was often unaware of the struggles some kids go through daily, trying their best to fit in. Seeing kids overcome such significant challenges has given me a more healthy perspective as I evaluate challenges that I face. Feeling so passionate about helping these kids feel seen and appreciated gave me a different perspective towards life. When I look forward to my future career as a nurse, I hope to help my patients live the full lives they deserve. Being a part of Unified Basketball has shown me that feeling emotions passionately can lead me to impact others lives. Being in health care is much more than medical care, it is about creating hope for patients during their most challenging moments. My goal is to combine my empathy and experiences to empower my patients to live life with joy and resilience each and every day. My long-term goal is to work in pediatric oncology. Receiving this scholarship would help me focus on my academics while battling through nursing school without the financial burden. By investing in my education, you are supporting a future nurse committed to treating the person, not just the chart, ensuring that every patient and family member feels the same "grace and comfort" my family received in 2025.