My name is Aliyah Louise Keeton, and I am currently a junior in college at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. I am studying to pursue a career in nursing, with the long-term goal of becoming a forensic nurse. I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and over the years, I have developed a passion for helping others. That beautiful feeling of helping others feel safe, supported, and understood, especially in moments of vulnerability and need, has made me who I am today. I am a person who leads with empathy, believes in the power of togetherness, and works my hardest when no one is watching. At the age of 16, I experienced a pain that I would never wish upon anyone – the death of a parent. Although my mother raised me under her roof without my father present, he still supported me financially from a distance. I visited my father when the opportunity was available and grew up with a void of reassurance that everything would be okay. You see, he was an alcoholic for most of his life, and mine. However, as he finally was able to win that daily battle, his life had been taken from him. Because of his death, the relationship between my mother and me changed. We both had lost a sense of belonging and were facing more struggles than before. Despite my financial and life challenges, I am determined to make the most of my life and continue pursuing a degree to achieve the career I believe I am meant to pursue. I am adamant about using my empathy and compassion to help others as a forensic nurse and an advocate for victims. The sole purpose of my chosen career path is to make a difference, one person at a time, in a world that stigmatizes victims, deterring them from speaking up and reaching out for help. I may not be becoming a lawyer, a police officer, a psychologist, or a doctor, but I am aspiring to become one of the best forensic nurses the IAFN has ever seen. I want to help treat victims who are in a state of most vulnerability and allow them to feel safe, supported, and comfortable; a victim advocate who uses trauma-informed care to treat those in need. The Department of Education announced that it will not fund loans or financial assistance for those pursuing a list of degrees because they are deemed “unprofessional”. Nursing is one of these degrees. I disagree that Nursing is not a “professional” career. My education requires me to take rigorous classes, learn the human body inside and out, complete clinical hours, learn to work with patients, have a higher GPA than other degrees, face potential burnout, and risk losing my sense of self – all for a degree. Nurses are the heart and soul of healthcare, and without them, healthcare would not be what it is. But no matter what, I plan to be a part of the heart and soul of healthcare; it is not just a degree, but a lifelong career of compassionate care to those who truly need to see a friendly face and experience a sense of comfort, safety, and belonging while receiving the healthcare and emotional support they need. My father became a victim of inadequate healthcare because he had no one to speak up and advocate for him. I will be that voice. Not only for the victims I meet, but in honor of the person I miss most dearest, and my best friend, who is a victim of sexual abuse as a child.

We break the pattern, or the pattern breaks us. That is what I remind myself every morning since the day I heard the news that changed everything: my father had passed away. "Your dad passed away sometime in the night last night. He hadn’t gotten up for work this morning, and your grandma went to check on him. When she did, she found him unresponsive." My mother said this when she broke the news to me. In that moment, my heart dropped. My world flipped upside down; everything I thought I had felt, everything I thought I knew about myself and my relationship with my dad was pulled right out from under me. I couldn’t believe it. As a 16-year-old in high school, years of time with my dad have been ripped away from me. You see and hear about young teenagers losing their parents early on, but never truly imagine that pain upon yourself. Who would ever expect it? I sure didn’t. I had never felt hurt like this before; my heart was broken. My dad was an alcoholic. He had a disease that he fought long and hard his whole life, starting at the age of 12 years old. He grew up poor with a toxic family environment, and his parents never showed acts of care to keep him out of trouble. Additionally, my grandmother never told him who his biological father was. He grew up with this constant question, and it ate at him every day. Because of this, I like to believe that is part of the reason why he showed back up time after time, mistake after mistake. He faced many demons throughout his lifetime, but always told me I was the angel he had to keep him going. Ever since his passing, I replay the memories in my head like the songs on a soundtrack. There is not a moment when I am not thinking of him. I reread his texts, listen to his voicemails, look at all our pictures, just wishing I could have one more moment, one more word, one more touch. Regrettably, I will never have another, and I have to accept that. I still can’t find it in me to understand why God, why the world would do this to me so young, but there is no explanation. The bible says, “God has a reason for allowing things to happen. We may never understand his wisdom, but we simply have to trust his will.” All I can do is keep that trust and move on. Although I will feel this guilt, regret, and pain for the rest of my life, I also feel alleviated at the same time. In the worst way possible, this has taught me the true meaning of love and what comes with it, and that there is no true happiness without hurt. I have learned that it is okay to let go, and that just because you love someone from a distance, it doesn’t mean you don’t love them at all. His passing has truly opened my eyes to more emotions and possibilities than I could ever imagine. It is now because of him that I refuse to do anything other than make something amazing of my life and make him proud. I am told that I am all the best parts of him, but truly, his worst parts shaped me to be who I am today, and honestly, I wouldn't change a thing. Even in his absence, he will always be a part of me.

I did not arrive at nursing through a single defining moment, but through a gradual understanding of how profoundly healthcare can shape the course of a person’s life. That understanding deepened through the loss of my father — a loss shaped not only by grief, but by unresolved concerns surrounding his medical care. Witnessing the consequences of medical neglect transformed my perception of healthcare and clarified my commitment to nursing as a profession rooted in ethical responsibility, advocacy, and service. When my father died, I was sixteen and completing clinical hours at New Mark Care Center as part of a CNA certification program. After taking bereavement leave, I returned to clinical still carrying the weight of fresh loss. During that time, a resident passed away, and our clinical group was asked to observe and participate in post-mortem care. Recognizing that the experience was still emotionally raw for me, I initially chose to step back, a decision my instructor supported out of respect for my well-being. However, after reflection, I chose to participate. I came to understand that death is an inherent part of life, especially seen in healthcare and that this woman’s life still held meaning, even in death, through the opportunity to educate future caregivers. Participating in that moment helped me recognize the importance of honoring patients with dignity at every stage of care and strengthened my resolve to approach nursing with both compassion and professionalism. Balancing personal loss with academic responsibility required resilience, discipline, and self-awareness. I learned how to manage emotional stress while remaining accountable and focused, skills that are essential in both nursing education and practice. I also developed a deeper appreciation for reflection and adaptability, recognizing that growth often emerges from adversity. These experiences have shaped how I approach challenges, collaborate with others, and take responsibility for my learning. My healthcare exposure and clinical observation further affirmed this path for me. I have seen how nurses serve as vital advocates within the healthcare system when they approach their responsibilities with accountability, attentiveness, and genuine commitment to patient care. Additionally, I have witnessed how compassionate communication can ease fear and build trust during difficult moments of uncertainty. These experiences reinforced my belief that nurses play a central role in community well-being by bridging gaps between providers, patients, and families. They exemplified the type of leadership and engagement I strive to bring into my own practice. I am drawn to nursing because it embodies service at both the individual and community levels. Nursing allows for meaningful engagement with patients during vulnerable moments while also addressing broader public health needs through education, advocacy, and prevention; It extends beyond clinical competence. It demands moral courage, cultural awareness, and the ability to engage with patients and families whose experiences, backgrounds, and resources may differ from one’s own. Illness does not occur in isolation; it is influenced by social, economic, and cultural factors that shape how individuals' access and experience care. As a future nurse, I aim to contribute through ethical decision-making, culturally responsive care, and consistent patient advocacy, while respecting each individual’s unique circumstances. My father’s loss will always be part of my story, but it has also become apart of the foundation of my purpose. It motivates me to become a nurse who listens with intention, communicates with clarity, and speaks up when advocacy is needed. I Through nursing, I hope to contribute meaningfully to my community by providing care that is compassionate, accountable, trauma-informed and grounded in respect — one person at a time.

Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to help people. I didn’t know exactly how I wanted to make my impact, but I knew I would do it somehow. Throughout the years my career choice changed time and time again from an anesthesiologist, to a veterinarian, to a lawyer, and now I have finally stumped upon a Forensic Nurse Practitioner. My goal is to attain my BSN in Nursing and graduate with a certificate in Victim Advocacy, then move forward to attaining a Masters degree to become a Nurse Practitioner. I believe I am a good applicant because I have a strong dedication to making a difference. This difference may not be especially important to the world as a whole, but it will to many lives. I want to give the best, most holistic and caring health care I can to those in need. After attaining my CNA license in 2023, I knew that nursing was for me. I love being able to help others when they need it most, while being able to make them feel as comfortable as can be while doing so. I gained so many relationships with residents that I did not expect, and it made the difference when I would see a smile light up on their face when I walked in to help them with whatever they needed. To some me up as a person, I am organized, dedicated, compassionate, caring, intelligent and incredibly loving. All these same characteristics are reflected onto my patients and residents as they deserve nothing less from me while being in their care. I admire quite a few people in this world, as there are many that I aspire to be. However, as cliche as it is, my mom has inspired me as well. My mom raised me practically as a single mom my entire life, while working in social work and continuously giving her support to all of her clients everyday. At the age of 3, my mom made the executive decision to leave my father, due to his alcoholism. He was the love of her life, and the father of her child, yet she did what she needed to do for the safety that I needed. As I got older, he fought the continuous battle of staying sober and it affected not only me, but her as well, and yet she persevered everyday to make my life the best it could possibly be. In 2023, he passed away, due to cardiac arrest. He had been turned away from the ER because of his history as an alcoholic, and he lost his life. Being a teenager and losing my father was incredibly difficult, but what upset me the most was the lack of holistic care within the nurses that saw my father. I, as a nurse, will never be that way, as everyone is human and deserves the same kind of care. After all the hardships, I could not of asked for a better person to raise me and push me to be a better person everyday. Additionally, some of her hardships include sexual abuse. I watched first hand how that affected her as a woman and a mother, and I want to be able to be that person that helps women, men, and children in need when they decide to get health care for sexual violence. A kind heart is what they need, and I am determined to be that for them. Those seeking health care deserve nothing but top notch holistic care. I found out about this scholarship through Bold.org.

Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to help people. I didn’t know exactly how I wanted to make my impact, but I knew I would do it somehow. Throughout the years my career choice changed time and time again from an anesthesiologist, to a veterinarian, to a lawyer, and now I have finally stumped upon a Forensic Nurse Practitioner. My goal is to attain my BSN in Nursing and graduate with a certificate in Victim Advocacy, then move forward to attaining a Masters degree to become a Nurse Practitioner. Although my career choice is within the health industry, it also relies on social work, and I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my health care. This difference may not be especially important to the world as a whole, but it will to many lives. I want to give the best, most holistic and caring health care I can to those in need of it, especially sexual violence and/or abuse victims. To some me up as a person, I am organized, dedicated, compassionate, caring, intelligent and incredibly loving. All these same characteristics are reflected onto my patients, residents, and clients as they deserve nothing less from me while being in their care. I admire quite a few people in this world, as there are many that I aspire to be. However, as cliche as it is, the person I admire most is my mom and she has pursued careers in the social work field for over 35 years. My mom raised me practically as a single mom my entire life. At the age of 3, my mom made the executive decision to leave my father, due to his alcoholism. He was the love of her life, and the father of her child, yet she did what she needed to do for the safety that I needed. As I got older, he fought the continuous battle of staying sober and it affected not only me, but her as well, and yet she persevered everyday to make my life the best it could possibly be. Because of her career, she was always on call and in need to help her clients. As this was hard, growing up without her around all the time, I also respected her so much more for it. She is continuously helping others in need, regardless of how tired she is or what she has going on in her life. In 2023, my father passed away. Being a teenager and losing my father was incredibly difficult, but I couldn’t imagine the pain that caused her. Despite it, my mom continued to push through and stayed as strong as she could for me, herself, and her clients to keep giving her support. Everyday she faces challenges and heartbreaks, yet she pushes herself to be the best she can for me and her clients. After all the hardships, I could not of asked for a better person to raise me and push me to be a better person everyday. Some of her hardships include sexual abuse. I watched first hand how that affected her as a woman and a mother, and I want to be able to be that person that helps women, men, and children in need when they decide to get health care for all kinds of sexual violence. A kind heart is what they need, and I am determined to be that for them. I am currently working to address sexual violence by supporting organizations specific to supporting sexual violence victims. Additionally, I make social media posts to address it as well.

Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to help people. I didn’t know exactly how I wanted to make my impact, but I knew I would do it somehow. Throughout the years my career choice changed time and time again from an anesthesiologist, to a veterinarian, to a lawyer, and now I have finally stumped upon a Forensic Nurse Practitioner. My goal is to attain my BSN in Nursing and graduate with a certificate in Victim Advocacy, then move forward to attaining a Masters degree to become a Nurse Practitioner. I believe I am a good applicant because I have a strong dedication to making a difference. This difference may not be especially important to the world as a whole, but it will to many lives. I want to give the best, most holistic and caring health care I can to those in need. After attaining my CNA license in 2023, I knew that nursing was for me. I love being able to help others when they need it most, while being able to make them feel as comfortable as can be while doing so. I gained so many relationships with residents that I did not expect, and it made the difference when I would see a smile light up on their face when I walked in to help them with whatever they needed. To some me up as a person, I am organized, dedicated, compassionate, caring, intelligent and incredibly loving. All these same characteristics are reflected onto my patients and residents as they deserve nothing less from me while being in their care. I admire quite a few people in this world, as there are many that I aspire to be. However, as cliche as it is, the person I admire most is my mom. My mom raised me practically as a single mom my entire life. At the age of 3, my mom made the executive decision to leave my father, due to his alcoholism. He was the love of her life, and the father of her child, yet she did what she needed to do for the safety that I needed. As I got older, he fought the continuous battle of staying sober and it affected not only me, but her as well, and yet she persevered everyday to make my life the best it could possibly be. In 2023, he passed away. Being a teenager and losing my father was incredibly difficult. Yet, my mom continued to push through and stayed as strong as she could for me. Everyday she faces challenges and heartbreaks, yet she pushes herself to be the best she can for me and her clients. After all the hardships, I could not of asked for a better person to raise me and push me to be a better person everyday. Some of her hardships include sexual abuse. I watched first hand how that affected her as a woman and a mother, and I want to be able to be that person that helps women, men, and children in need when they decide to get health care and being in that kind of situation. A kind heart is what they need. I also experienced first hand how sexual abuse affected my best friend, and her sister. It is heartbreaking. There are many persons in this world that face violence and abuse everyday and are scared to get help. My goal is to make getting that health care, just a little less scary in any way possible.

While growing up, I have consistently told myself I want to pursue a kind of career that makes a significant difference in this world. I wanted to be someone essential, someone that is needed by others, like my mom. She does anything and everything in her power to help others in and out of her career and never fails to be there. She is constantly putting others before herself, no matter the cost, simply because of how much she cares. She is the reason I truly believe I can accomplish anything I set my heart on. For this reason, I have thought about many different potential careers over the years that could fall under that category: an Anesthesiologist, Lawyer, Veterinarian, and now a Nurse Practitioner. All of these careers entail many years of schooling, but being in AVID throughout my school years has taught me to love school, have good time management and other skills that most do not learn without this class. With my current career goal, I need to go through nursing school. I plan to work towards my BSN, and up towards my NP, as well as a minor in Psychology. Then, I plan to specialize in Addiction. I have chosen to specialize in Addiction because of my dad. My dad was an alcoholic, and fought the disease since the age of 16 years old. In March of 2023, he passed away due to cardiac arrest and he was stripped away from me. He had been sober for 3 years previous and was doing his best to get better, however the damage to his body had started catching up to him. After being informed about his death, I learned that he had previously gone to KU Med to get checked out. When checked in, the medical staff was able to tell that he was a "regular", and a recovering alcoholic. Because of this, they treated him with little respect and attention. His blood pressure was through the roof with his hands swollen incredibly big. He had shown obvious signs of Edema, but was overlooked, ignored, and sent home. I refuse to ever let someone not feel seen while they are in pain under my watch. Disease or not, we are all human and should be treated equally. In essence, passion will help me achieve this goal as I push myself through the education I need to becoming a NP specializing in Addiction. After I reach my goal, I will not only do my absolute best to help those in need, but I will improve, save, and care for the lives of many who are struggling with addiction. It will further reward me with all I truly want in life by making a positive difference. My dad was treated poorly and it cost him his life. I refuse to ever let that happen under my watch and am going to try my hardest to help as many as I possibly can during my career. I am doing it not only for me, but for him and them. Every second, of every minute, of every hour is crucially important to us all. Life is a gift, and we shall not waste it.