Have you ever had a dream where you think you have overslept and you panic because you had somewhere to be at seven am and the clock says nine am – and just as you are getting more frustrated, you wake up and realize that the clock really only says 2 am. The feeling of being overwhelmed because you are so behind something has consumed me. As a society, we have based our lives on a certain timeline. Get through elementary and middle school, graduate high school within four years, applications done beginning of senior year, commit, go to college, graduate, get a job, get married, have kids, your kids have kids, retire, live happily for the last 30 years of our lives. we have this timeline so everyone knows where we will eventually end up. This timeline has never helped me feel secure. There really is no such thing as showing up late in life. Although getting ahead of the curve feels good. I made it to middle school. At that point, my mom left. I was not popular enough for some groups, and I tried too hard in school for others. So, in a compromise, I chose the wrong group of friends and in order to fit in. At that time, I looked at my teammates on the modified swim team, and I was extremely behind when it came to their academics, and their race times. I felt the worst at this point, I had no mom to go home and talk about my day anymore like the other girls. I felt I truly did not fit in anywhere. Finally, I made it to high school. I thought that things would be different because there were significantly more kids, so I could not be that behind. Then, on varsity swim, I realized I was the worst one on the team. As much as I did not want to admit it, I was the slowest person on the team. That realization whipped me into shape. I started putting a ton of effort into the off season and saw that I was making progress. I came back the next season and noticed I was not behind anymore, but I was not ahead either. Even academically I still pushed through the idea of being behind, I forced myself to take harder classes. Throughout all of this I thought I finally felt like I was never going to be behind again. Eventually I realized there is always someone smarter, faster, braver, wealthier, and tougher than you. The only thing you can do is aspire to be them and push yourself to work even harder. Although aspiring to be like them is important, I also needed to learn how to forget about them and somehow be proud of where you started. If I never woke up from that dream, I would never have realized how far I have come and would still feel that feeling of rushing to get there. I thankfully have woken up, sometimes I still fall back into that state, but I know that it is not real anymore, it is all in my head. I have chosen to never let anyone else’s life affect how I feel about mine. I will not let myself live in that dream anymore.

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left, I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to have the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was nothing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. My mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it is comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen to on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left, I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to have the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was nothing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. My mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it is comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen to on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.

I am a high school senior planning to pursue nursing in college. I am currently enrolled to attend Hartwick College for nursing and as a swimmer this upcoming fall semester. Throughout my childhood I watched many member of my family struggle with their health. My aunt suffered from ovarian cancer, my grandfather had multiple open heart operations, and most of all my mom was in and out of the hospital my whole childhood. My mother had so many health complications that I cannot even remember them all. She was also a nurse, unfortunately she lost her license because she grew addicted to painkillers, that she was given to help cope with pain from all of her issues. She chose to take advantage of the system she used to care so deeply about. It was used for her to continue to get and abuse painkillers. My goal is to be able to help people, like the ones in my family, but do it the right way. I want to work in a system that not only helps people, but also supports them in many difficult periods of their lives. I know that as a nurse I will be with people on, sometimes the worst day of their life, their best day, their first, or even their last. Being the person that is there for such significant moments in a person life is incredible and also heart breaking at the same time, but I want to be the person who can make it just a little bit better by supporting them. I do not care if they remember my name, or even the way I look. I want them to remember that someone cared. I am on a competitive club swim team, it goes year round, while I also swim for my varsity team at my local high school in the fall. I have been given the opportunity to travel within my sport. I have gone to North Carolina, for a national meet, while I also travel to Buffalo and Rochester New York for more state level meets. This past fall me and five other girls on my team attended the state meet for our 200 freestyle relay. I also have taken many AP and duel enrollment classes through my local community college. I am currently in all college level classes, as a senior in high school. In my free time in the spring I volunteer for special Olympics, we help coach/ teach those with disabilities to swim competitively. I am also a lifeguard. I currently ma working every morning before school guarding the open swim at my high school, and working every Saturday teaching swim lessons. In the summer, I work at our local state park, where we have many medical emergencies throughout the season. I believe just last summer we had twenty-two saves!

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left, I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to have the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was nothing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. My mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it is comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen to on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left, I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to have the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was nothing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. My mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it is comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen to on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left, I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to have the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was nothing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. My mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it is comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen to on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left, I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to have the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was nothing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. My mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it is comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen to on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to do the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also, became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was not a thing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. my mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it's, comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to do the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also, became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was not a thing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. my mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it's, comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to do the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also, became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was not a thing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. my mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it's, comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to do the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also, became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was not a thing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. my mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it's, comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to do the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also, became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was not a thing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. my mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it's, comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.

Have you ever watched someone struggle with something, and there is nothing you can do? My mother was a BSN-RN, I watched her struggle with health along with mental health, throughout my childhood. Her struggle did then lead to a severe narcotic addiction. She was my role model, even though we do not speak anymore, I still remember seeing her at work and admiring the way nurses were the secret superstars behind the show. After my mother left I relied a lot on family friends. One of those family friends is a nurse practitioner. I did not think I would ever want to do the same career as my mom did, but Becki taught me about how much it is worth it. I watched her make someone's worst day of their life a little better and truly be able to do something to help them. She does not need to be remembered or thanked; she truly just wanted to help them. After noticing how much it made a difference in someone's life, I noticed exactly what I wanted to do with my life. She also, became my new role model after my mom left. She chose to take her career and turn it into something she enjoys and wants to do for the rest of her life. With my mother I watched her struggle for a decade, and there was not a thing I could do to help her. I never want to feel as though I cannot do anything for someone again. my mother is no longer a nurse, due to her choices, but my goal in life is no longer to be like her, it is to be nothing like her. While I still love her and always will, I cannot be her, or anything close to her. I want to be able to do something, whether it's, comforting, physically helping them, making them laugh, or just being able to be someone to listen on the worst day of their life. My mother had a gift for nursing, but she chose to abuse her knowledge to help maintain her addiction. While I know sharing this may deter some scholarship organizations. I would like to explain how I cannot and will not ever abuse my knowledge of a system to help me personally. She may have been my role model growing up, but now she is my fear. I have been given an amazing opportunity to attend an amazing school to gain my bachelor's degree in nursing, and I never want to take that for granted.