The world uniquely guides us through life’s challenges, shaping our paths in unexpected ways. In my second year of college, I was at a crossroads, deciding whether to continue my computer engineering degree or shift my focus. I returned home and completed my associate’s degree at a community college. This decision unexpectedly coincided with one of the most challenging periods of my life, igniting my respect for healthcare professionals and underscoring the importance of empathy and dedication in caregiving. In January 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage three triple-negative breast cancer. This diagnosis was particularly daunting due to her already declining health over the previous five years. I supported her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. Just as our family was coping with our mother's illness, the situation intensified when my younger sister was hit by a public transit vehicle in June, just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU, required multiple surgeries, and barely escaped death, staying in the hospital for a month. During her recovery, the right side of her body was unusable, and I helped her with various tasks, such as meal prep, moving her around in her hospital bed, and pushing her around in a wheelchair for three months. Throughout this ordeal, I witnessed firsthand the critical role of empathetic healthcare professionals. Their unwavering support, knowledge, and dedication provided not only medical care but also emotional support. They were very transparent about procedures and the timeline for both my sister’s and mother’s recovery. This experience solidified my respect for the medical field and underscored the importance of compassionate patient care. While my sister dealt with physical injuries instead of illness like my mother, she didn’t have many questions. My mother, however, was highly skeptical of her care throughout her recovery. My mother’s historical fear of doctors passed down through generations, highlighted the need for trust and confidence in our healthcare system. She constantly sought second opinions from family members in Costa Rica who are doctors, even when their advice mirrored that of her local doctors. Her skepticism often led her to seek reassurance from me, even after receiving consistent advice. With familial support, she gained confidence in her care, emphasizing the importance of trusted relationships in healthcare. This journey taught me the necessity of building trust and providing empathetic care to patients. I am committed to becoming a nurse who reassures patients and listens to their concerns. As the eldest sibling, I have always been heavily relied upon. I have always cherished children, from changing diapers as a seven-year-old to being a devoted aunt. Their success and quality of life are paramount to me, and by achieving my goals, I hope to inspire them to excel in life. As I prepare to graduate this fall with a dual degree in Associate of Arts and Science, I am eager to start my journey at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Spring 2025, pursuing a BSN in nursing. My long-term goal is to obtain a DNP in Midwifery and become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I want to address critical disparities in healthcare by ensuring parents trust their healthcare providers to give their children the correct immunizations and healthcare needs early to prevent chronic illness and disease and help parents make the best decisions for their children's care. This scholarship will enable me to continue my education without the financial burden that often accompanies re-entering a four-year university as a transfer student. Your support is an investment in the new generation of healthcare professionals. Thank you for considering my application.

The world uniquely guides us through life’s challenges, shaping our paths in unexpected ways. In my second year of college, I decided to continue with my computer engineering degree or shift my focus. I returned home and completed my associate’s degree at a community college. This decision unexpectedly coincided with one of the most challenging periods of my life while simultaneously igniting my respect for healthcare professionals and underscoring the importance of empathy and dedication in caregiving. In January 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage three triple-negative breast cancer. This diagnosis was particularly daunting due to her already declining health for the previous five years. I supported her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. Just as our family was coping with our mother's illness, the situation intensified when my younger sister was hit by a public transit vehicle in June, just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU and required multiple surgeries, barely escaping death, staying in the hospital for a month. During her recovery, the right side of her body was unusable, and I helped her with various things, such as her meal prep, moving her around in her hospital bed, and pushing her around in a wheelchair for three months. Throughout this, I witnessed firsthand the critical role of empathetic healthcare professionals. Their unwavering support, knowledge, and dedication provided not only medical care. They also were very transparent about procedures and the timeline for both my sister’s and mother’s recovery. This experience solidified my respect for the medical field and underscored the importance of compassionate patient care. While my sister dealt with physical inflictment instead of illness like my mother, she didn’t have many questions. My mother, however, was highly skeptical of her care throughout her recovery. My mother’s historical fear of doctors passed down through generations, highlighted the need for trust and confidence in our healthcare system. She constantly sought second opinions from family members in Costa Rica who are doctors, even when their advice mirrored that of her local doctors. Her skepticism often led her to seek reassurance from me, even after receiving consistent advice. With familial support, she gained confidence in her care, emphasizing the importance of trusted relationships in healthcare. This journey taught me the necessity of building trust and providing empathetic care to patients. I am committed to becoming a nurse who reassures patients and listens to their concerns with genuine care. As the eldest sibling, I have always been heavily relied upon. I have always cherished children, from changing diapers as a seven-year-old to being a devoted aunt. Their success and quality of life are paramount to me, and by achieving my goals, I hope to inspire them to excel in life. As I prepare to graduate this fall with a dual degree of an Associate of Arts and Science, I am eager to start my journey at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Spring 2025, pursuing a BSN in nursing. My long-term goal is to obtain a DNP in Midwifery and become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I want to address critical disparities in healthcare by ensuring parents trust their healthcare providers to give their children the correct immunizations and healthcare needs early to prevent chronic illness and disease early on and help parents make the best decisions for their children's care. This scholarship will enable me to continue my education without the financial burden that often accompanies re-entering a four-year university as a transfer student. Your support is an investment in the new generation of healthcare professionals. Thank you for considering my application.

The world has a funny way of showing you your path from the toughest challenges. My journey through hardship has profoundly shaped my passion for nursing and commitment to selfless, unconditional care for others. In my second year of college, I was unsure about continuing my computer engineering degree. I decided to return home and finish my associate's degree at a community college while figuring out my next steps. I didn't realize this decision would lead to one of the most brutal years of my life. In January 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. This diagnosis hit hard, especially since her health had been on the decline for the past five years. I had to step up and support her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. Just as we were trying to cope, my younger sister was hit by a public transit vehicle in June, just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU and underwent multiple surgeries, barely escaping with her life. The hospital staff who cared for my family were incredible. Their compassion and dedication made us feel heard and supported. This experience gave me a newfound respect for healthcare professionals and showed me the profound impact of empathy and care. With my mom's cancerous tumor now removed as of this July, her recovery underway, and my sister back to her studies, I realized how much I wanted to give back to the community that had supported me. I am set to graduate this Fall with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science. Starting Spring 2025, I will attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, pursuing my BSN in nursing and a minor in Nutrition. I aim to eventually earn a DNP in Midwifery and become a Women's Health Practitioner. I am mainly driven to address the disparities in maternal healthcare, where Black women face a mortality rate during childbirth that is three times higher than that of white women. My mother feared doctors, something passed down from her mother in the 1960s. Throughout her cancer treatment, she constantly received second opinions from our family members in Costa Rica, who were doctors telling her the same thing as the American doctors would. With them consigning almost every medical decision she made, she felt more confident in her care, helping her recover faster than just her previous doubts. I want to be the nurse who walks into a room, and my presence makes patients feel reassured and know they will feel listened to and that their concerns, no matter how small they assume them to be, will be taken seriously. I joined the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in 2022. Founded in 1896, they are an organization dedicated to service and bettering the conditions and education of their respective communities. Our organization's Motto is "Lift as We Climb." I want to embody that in my career field, treat women and children with the knowledge I have gathered, and share information with anyone who needs it to help people better understand their health. With this scholarship, I can continue my studies uninterrupted by the financial burdens of reentering a four-year university as a transfer student and achieve my dream of obtaining my Doctorate in nursing practice. Thank you for considering my application. Your support is not just an investment in my education but also the quality of care I will provide to future patients.

It is often said that your path reveals itself through hardship. In my sophomore year, I was unsure about continuing my computer engineering degree. I decided to return home and finish my associate's degree at a community college while figuring out my next steps. I didn't realize this decision would lead to one of the most brutal years of my life. In January 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. I had to step up and support her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. Just as we were trying to cope, my younger sister was hit by a public transit vehicle in June, just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU and underwent multiple surgeries, barely escaping with her life. The hospital staff who cared for my family were incredible. Their compassion and dedication made us feel heard and supported. This experience gave me a newfound respect for healthcare professionals and showed me the profound impact of empathy and care. With my mom's cancerous tumor now removed and her recovery underway, and my sister back to her studies, I realized how much I wanted to give back to the community that had supported us. I'm now set to graduate this fall with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science. Next, I'll attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to pursue a BSN in nursing and a minor in Nutrition. I then will earn DNP in Midwifery and become a Women's Health Practitioner. I am mainly driven to address the disparities in maternal healthcare, where Black women face a mortality rate during childbirth that is three times higher than that of white women due to ignoring their needs. My mother feared going to the doctor, something passed down from her mother in the 1960s. During her entire cancer treatment journey, she constantly has gotten second opinions from our family members in Costa Rica, who were doctors telling her the same thing as her American doctors would. Nevertheless, she felt a lot more confident in her treatment due to the support of our family in healthcare.. I want to be the nurse who walks into a room and makes patients feel reassured and heard, breaking down barriers and stereotypes. I joined the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in 2022. Founded in 1896, they are an organization dedicated to service and bettering the conditions and education of their respective communities. Our organization's Motto is "Lift as We Climb." I want to embody that in my career field, and treat women whose concerns were previously put to the side as a priority. With the money from this scholarship, I can continue my studies uninterrupted by financial burdens and achieve my dream of obtaining my Doctorate in nursing practice. Thank you for considering my application. Your support is not just an investment in my education but also in the quality of care I will provide to future patients.

It is often said that your path reveals itself through hardship. In my sophomore year, I was unsure about continuing my computer engineering degree. I decided to return home and finish my associate's degree at a community college while figuring out my next steps. I didn't realize this decision would lead to one of the most brutal years of my life. In January 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. I had to step up and support her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. Just as we were trying to cope, my younger sister was hit by a public transit vehicle in June, just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU and underwent multiple surgeries, barely escaping with her life. The hospital staff who cared for my family were incredible. Their compassion and dedication made us feel heard and supported. This experience gave me a newfound respect for healthcare professionals and showed me the profound impact of empathy and care. With my mom's cancerous tumor now removed and her recovery underway, and my sister back to her studies, I realized how much I wanted to give back to the community that had supported us. I'm now set to graduate this fall with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science. Next, I'll attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to pursue a BSN in nursing and a minor in Nutrition. I then will earn DNP in Midwifery and become a Women's Health Practitioner. I am mainly driven to address the disparities in maternal healthcare, where Black women face a mortality rate during childbirth that is three times higher than that of white women due to ignoring their needs. My mother feared going to the doctor, something passed down from her mother in the 1960s. My mother had already been ill for the last couple of years, but was simply too afraid to go to treatment fearing she would be ignored or waved off. During her entire cancer treatment journey, she constantly has gotten second opinions from our family members in Costa Rica, who were doctors telling her the same thing as her American doctors would. Nevertheless, she felt much more confident in her treatment due to the support of our family in healthcare. I want to be the nurse who walks into a room and makes patients feel reassured and heard, breaking down barriers and stereotypes. I joined the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in 2022. Founded in 1896, they are an organization dedicated to service and bettering the conditions and education of their respective communities. Our organization's Motto is "Lift as We Climb." I want to embody that in my career field, and treat women whose concerns were previously put to the side as a priority. With the money from this scholarship, I can continue my studies uninterrupted by financial burdens and achieve my dream of obtaining my Doctorate in nursing practice. Thank you for considering my application. Your support is not just an investment in my education but also in the quality of care I will provide to future patients.

My journey as a first-generation college student has been shaped by unexpected challenges and deeply personal experiences, leading me to pursue a career in nursing. Often, our paths become evident during the most challenging times, and my own has been profoundly influenced by my family's struggles and the impactful role of healthcare professionals. In my second year of college, I faced a critical decision about whether to continue my computer science degree. Unsure of my future, I returned home and completed my associate's degree at a community college. This decision, however, coincided with one of the most challenging periods of my life. In January 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. Her longstanding fears of medical treatments made this diagnosis incredibly challenging. As I grappled with my uncertainties, I needed to demonstrate resilience to support her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. The situation intensified in June when my younger sister was struck by a public transit vehicle just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU and underwent multiple surgeries, barely escaping with her life. These experiences underscored the crucial role of empathetic healthcare professionals. The staff who cared for my family provided not only medical treatment but also transparent communication and emotional support. This exposure gave me a newfound respect for the medical field and highlighted the importance of compassionate care. As the oldest sibling, I have always been a source of support for my younger family members. From changing diapers as a child to being a devoted aunt, children have always held a special place in my heart. Their well-being and success are important to me, and I am driven to positively impact their lives by achieving my educational and career goals. These past years have reinforced my commitment to nursing, shaping my aspiration to provide selfless, compassionate care. I am set to graduate this fall with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science. I will then attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to pursue a BSN in nursing with a minor in Nutrition. My goal is to earn a DNP in Midwifery and become a Women's Health Practitioner, focusing on addressing maternal healthcare disparities, particularly the higher mortality rate among Black women during childbirth. My mother's mistrust of the healthcare system, a legacy of her own experiences, highlighted the importance of building trust and delivering compassionate care. Her reliance on second opinions from family members in Costa Rica emphasized the need for healthcare professionals who listen and address patients' concerns. Through nursing, I aim to be the kind of professional who reassures patients and breaks down barriers. As a member of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, I am committed to their motto, "Lift as We Climb," I plan to extend this principle throughout my career by delivering care and sharing knowledge to empower others. This scholarship will ease the financial burden of my studies and help me achieve my goal of obtaining a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. Your support is an investment not only in my education but also in the quality of care I will provide to future patients. Thank you for considering my application and helping me make a meaningful impact in healthcare.

It is often said that your path reveals itself through hardship and despair. My journey has profoundly shaped my passion for nursing and commitment to selfless, unconditional care for others these past three years. In my second year of college, I was unsure about continuing my computer engineering degree. I decided to return home and finish my associate's degree at a community college while figuring out my next steps. I didn't realize this decision would lead to one of the most brutal years of my life. In January 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. This diagnosis hit hard, especially since she had always been wary of doctors and medical treatments for the past five years. I had to step up and support her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. Just as we were trying to cope, my younger sister was hit by a public transit vehicle in June, just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU and underwent multiple surgeries, barely escaping with her life. The hospital staff who cared for my family were incredible. Their compassion and dedication made us feel heard and supported. This experience gave me a newfound respect for healthcare professionals and showed me the profound impact of empathy and care. With my mom's cancerous tumor now removed and her recovery underway, and my sister back to her studies, I realized how much I wanted to give back to the community that had supported us. Inspired by these experiences, I'm set to graduate this fall with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science. Next, I'll attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to pursue a BSN in nursing and a minor in Nutrition. I aim to eventually earn a DNP in Midwifery and become a Women's Health Practitioner. I am mainly driven to address the disparities in maternal healthcare, where Black women face a mortality rate during childbirth that is three times higher than that of white women. My mother feared to trust healthcare professionals, something passed down from her mother in the 1960s. During her entire cancer treatment journey, she constantly has gotten second opinions from our family members in Costa Rica, who were doctors telling her the same thing as the American doctors would. With them consigning almost every medical decision she made, she felt a lot more confident in the care she was given because she trusted people who were closer to her and knew would listen to her concerns. I want to be the kind of nurse who walks into a room and makes patients feel reassured and heard, breaking down barriers and stereotypes. I joined the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in 2022. Founded in 1896, they are an organization dedicated to service and bettering the conditions and education of their respective communities. Our organization's Motto is "Lift as We Climb." I want to embody that in my career field, treat women who want and need it, and share information with anyone who needs it to help people better understand their overall health. With the money from this scholarship, I can continue my studies uninterrupted by financial burdens and achieve my dream of obtaining my Doctorate in nursing practice. Thank you for considering my application. Your support is not just an investment in my education but also in the quality of care I will provide to future patients.

It is often said that your path reveals itself through hardship. These past three years, my journey has shaped my passion for nursing and selfless, unconditional care for others. I was unsure about continuing my computer engineering degree in my sophomore year. I decided to return home and finish my associate's degree at a community college while figuring out my next steps. I didn't realize this decision would lead to one of the most brutal years of my life. In January 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. This diagnosis hit hard, especially since she had always been wary of doctors and medical treatments for the past five years. I had to step up and support her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. Just as we were trying to cope, my younger sister was hit by a public transit vehicle in June, just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU and underwent multiple surgeries, barely escaping with her life. The hospital staff who cared for my family were incredible. Their compassion and dedication made us feel heard and supported. This experience gave me a newfound respect for healthcare professionals and showed me the profound impact of empathy and care. With my mom's cancerous tumor now removed and her recovery underway, and my sister back to her studies, I realized how much I wanted to give back to the community that had supported us. Inspired by these experiences, I'm set to graduate this fall with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science. Next, I'll attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to pursue a BSN in nursing and a minor in Nutrition. I aim to eventually earn a DNP in Midwifery and become a Women's Health Practitioner. I am mainly driven to address the disparities in maternal healthcare, where Black women face a mortality rate during childbirth that is three times higher than that of white women. My mother feared to trust healthcare professionals, something passed down from her mother in the 1960s. During her entire cancer treatment journey, she constantly has gotten second opinions from our family members in Costa Rica, who were doctors telling her the same thing as the American doctors would. With them consigning almost every medical decision she made, she felt a lot more confident in the care she was given because she trusted people who were closer to her and knew would listen to her concerns. I want to be the kind of nurse who walks into a room and makes patients feel reassured and heard, breaking down barriers and stereotypes. I joined the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in 2022. Founded in 1896, they are an organization dedicated to service and bettering the conditions and education of their respective communities. Our organization's Motto is "Lift as We Climb." I want to embody that in my career field, treat women who want and need it, and share information with anyone who needs it to help people better understand their overall health. My journey has taught me the power of empathy and the importance of giving back, and I'm excited to channel these lessons into my nursing career and make a positive difference in the lives of those I serve. With the money from this scholarship, I can continue my studies uninterrupted by financial burdens and achieve my dream of obtaining my Doctorate in nursing practice. Thank you for considering my application. Your support is not just an investment in my education but also in the quality of care I will provide to future patients.

It is often said that your path reveals itself through hardship. These past three years, my journey has profoundly shaped my passion for nursing and commitment to selfless, unconditional care for others. In my second year of college, I was unsure about continuing my computer engineering degree. I decided to return home and finish my associate's degree at a community college while figuring out my next steps. I didn't realize this decision would lead to one of the most brutal years of my life. In January 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. This diagnosis hit hard, especially since she had always been wary of doctors and medical treatments for the past five years. I had to step up and support her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. Just as we were trying to cope, my younger sister was hit by a public transit vehicle in June, just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU and underwent multiple surgeries, barely escaping with her life. The hospital staff who cared for my family were incredible. Their compassion and dedication made us feel heard and supported. This experience gave me a newfound respect for healthcare professionals and showed me the profound impact of empathy and care. With my mom's cancerous tumor now removed and her recovery underway, and my sister back to her studies, I realized how much I wanted to give back to the community that had supported us. Inspired by these experiences, I'm set to graduate this fall with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science. Next, I'll attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to pursue a BSN in nursing and a minor in Nutrition. I aim to eventually earn a DNP in Midwifery and become a Women's Health Practitioner. I am mainly driven to address the disparities in maternal healthcare, where Black women face a mortality rate during childbirth that is three times higher than that of white women. My mother feared to trust healthcare professionals, something passed down from her mother in the 1960s. During her entire cancer treatment journey, she constantly has gotten second opinions from our family members in Costa Rica, who were doctors telling her the same thing as the American doctors would. With them consigning almost every medical decision she made, she felt a lot more confident in the care she was given because she trusted people who were closer to her and knew would listen to her concerns. I want to be the kind of healthcare professional who walks into a room and makes patients feel reassured and heard, breaking down barriers and stereotypes. I joined the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in 2022. Founded in 1896, they are an organization dedicated to service and bettering the conditions and education of their respective communities. Our organization's Motto is "Lift as We Climb." I want to embody that in my career field, treat women who want and need it, and share information with anyone who needs it to help people better understand their overall health. With the money from this scholarship, I can continue my studies uninterrupted by financial burdens and achieve my dream of obtaining my Doctorate in nursing practice. Thank you for considering my application. Your support is not just an investment in my education but also in the quality of care I will provide to future patients.

It is often said that your path reveals itself through hardship. These past three years, my journey has profoundly shaped my passion for nursing and commitment to selfless, unconditional care for others. In my second year of college, I was unsure about continuing my computer engineering degree. I decided to return home and finish my associate's degree at a community college while figuring out my next steps. I didn't realize this decision would lead to one of the most brutal years of my life. In January 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. This diagnosis hit hard, especially since she had always been wary of doctors and medical treatments for the past five years. I had to step up and support her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. Just as we were trying to cope, my younger sister was hit by a public transit vehicle in June, just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU and underwent multiple surgeries, barely escaping with her life. The hospital staff who cared for my family were incredible. Their compassion and dedication made us feel heard and supported. This experience gave me a newfound respect for healthcare professionals and showed me the profound impact of empathy and care. With my mom's cancerous tumor now removed and her recovery underway, and my sister back to her studies, I realized how much I wanted to give back to the community that had supported us. Inspired by these experiences, I'm set to graduate this fall with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science. Next, I'll attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to pursue a BSN in nursing and a minor in Nutrition. I aim to eventually earn a DNP in Midwifery and become a Women's Health Practitioner. I am mainly driven to address the disparities in maternal healthcare, where Black women face a mortality rate during childbirth that is three times higher than that of white women. My mother feared to trust healthcare professionals, something passed down from her mother in the 1960s. During her entire cancer treatment journey, she constantly has gotten second opinions from our family members in Costa Rica, who were doctors telling her the same thing as the American doctors would. With them consigning almost every medical decision she made, she felt a lot more confident in the care she was given because she trusted people who were closer to her and knew would listen to her concerns. I want to be the kind of healthcare professional who walks into a room and makes patients feel reassured and heard, breaking down barriers and stereotypes. I joined the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in 2022. Founded in 1896, they are an organization dedicated to service and bettering the conditions and education of their respective communities. Our organization's Motto is "Lift as We Climb." I want to embody that in my career field, treat women who want and need it, and share information with anyone who needs it to help people better understand their overall health. With the money from this scholarship, I can continue my studies uninterrupted by financial burdens and achieve my dream of obtaining my Doctorate in nursing practice. Thank you for considering my application. Your support is not just an investment in my education but also in the quality of care I will provide to future patients.

It is often said that the most significant rewards come from the toughest challenges. My journey through hardship has profoundly shaped my passion for nursing and commitment to selfless, unconditional care for others. In my second year of college, I was unsure about continuing my computer engineering degree. I decided to return home and finish my associate’s degree at a community college while figuring out my next steps. I didn’t realize this decision would lead to one of the most brutal years of my life. In January 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. This diagnosis hit hard, especially since she had always been wary of doctors and medical treatments for the past five years. I had to step up and support her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. Just as we were trying to cope, my younger sister was hit by a public transit vehicle in June, just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU and underwent multiple surgeries, barely escaping with her life. The hospital staff who cared for my family were incredible. Their compassion and dedication made us feel heard and supported. This experience gave me a newfound respect for healthcare professionals and showed me the profound impact of empathy and care. With my mom’s cancerous tumor now removed and her recovery underway, and my sister back to her studies, I realized how much I wanted to give back to the community that had supported us. Inspired by these experiences, I’m set to graduate this fall with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science. Next, I’ll attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to pursue a BSN in nursing and a minor in Nutrition. I aim to eventually earn a DNP in Midwifery and become a Women’s Health Practitioner. I am mainly driven to address the disparities in maternal healthcare, where Black women face a mortality rate during childbirth that is three times higher than that of white women. My mother feared to trust healthcare professionals, something passed down from her mother in the 1960s. During her entire cancer treatment journey, she constantly has gotten second opinions from our family members in Costa Rica, who were doctors telling her the same thing as the American doctors would. With them consigning almost every medical decision she made, she felt a lot more confident in the care she was given, because she trusted people who were closer to her and knew would listen to her concerns. I want to be the kind of healthcare professional who walks into a room and makes patients feel reassured and heard, breaking down barriers and stereotypes. I joined the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in 2022. Founded in 1896, they are an organization dedicated to service and bettering the conditions and education of their respective communities. Our organization's Motto is "Lift as We Climb." I want to embody that in my career field, treat women who want and need it, and share information with anyone who needs it to help people better understand their overall health. With the money from this scholarship, I can continue my studies uninterrupted by financial burdens and achieve my dream of obtaining my Doctorate in nursing practice. Thank you for considering my application. Your support is not just an investment in my education but also in the quality of care I will provide to future patients.

It is often said that the most significant rewards come from the toughest challenges. My journey through hardship has profoundly shaped my passion for nursing and commitment to Agape love—selfless, unconditional care for others. In my second year of college, I was unsure about continuing my computer science degree. I decided to return home and finish my associate’s degree at a community college while figuring out my next steps. I didn’t realize this decision would lead to one of the most brutal years of my life. In January 2023, my mom was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. This diagnosis hit hard, especially since she had always been wary of doctors and medical treatments. As I grappled with my uncertainty, I had to step up and support her through chemotherapy, hospital visits, and physical therapy. Just as we were trying to cope, my younger sister was hit by a public transit vehicle in June, just two days before her 20th birthday. She was rushed to the ICU and underwent multiple surgeries, barely escaping with her life. The hospital staff who cared for my family were incredible. Their compassion and dedication made us feel heard and supported. This experience gave me a newfound respect for healthcare professionals and showed me the profound impact of empathy and care. With my mom’s cancerous tumor now removed and her recovery underway, and my sister back to her studies, I realized how much I wanted to give back to the community that had supported us. Inspired by these experiences, I’m set to graduate this fall with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science. Next, I’ll attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to pursue a BSN in nursing and a minor in Nutrition. I aim to eventually earn a DNP in Midwifery and become a Women’s Health Practitioner. I am mainly driven to address the disparities in maternal healthcare, where Black women face a mortality rate during childbirth that is three times higher than that of white women. My mother feared to trust healthcare professionals, something passed down from her mother in the 1960s. During her entire cancer treatment journey, she constantly has gotten second opinions from our family members in Costa Rica, who were doctors telling her the same thing as the American doctors would. With them consigning almost every medical decision she made, she felt a lot more confident in the care she was given, because she trusted people who were closer to her and knew would listen to her concerns. I want to be the kind of healthcare professional who walks into a room and makes patients feel reassured and heard, breaking down barriers and stereotypes. I joined the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in 2022 before I left my first Institution, Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Founded in 1896, they are an organization dedicated to service and bettering the conditions and education of their respective communities. Our organization's Motto is "Lift as We Climb." I want to embody that in my career field and not only give treatment to women who want and need it but also share information with anyone who needs it to help people have better knowledge of their overall health. My journey has taught me the power of empathy and the importance of giving back, and I’m excited to channel these lessons into my nursing career and make a positive difference in the lives of those I serve.

In the modern world of anime and cartoons, some elements of cartoons are always established as childish or not attractive enough for adults. I have been watching anime for about 12 years, and as a 22-year-old, I can understand where they are coming from. I tend to have a more mature taste when it comes to storytelling and media, so a lot of the newer titles like My Hero Academia and some of the older classics such as Fairy Tale were hard to finish because it felt like a group of people who were protected by the fanbase and actors who were too scared to kill characters off. When you watch an anime fighting supervillains capable of mass destruction, when you realize nothing will happen to your main character and their friends, the thrill of the show tends to soften. It is not that you want your favorite character to die, of course, but after a while, a fair fight with twists and turns is a quality that makes a show invaluable. When Demon Slayer (Kimetsu No Yaiba) was first animated in late 2020, I was worried this would be the same show, but a friend persuaded me to watch some episodes of the first season. After about eight episodes, I was hooked. I ended up watching the rest without any breaks, skipping the opening and endings because I needed to know what happened next. I finished it but was heartbroken that the 2nd season movie would not be out for a few months. That's when I found out that the anime was adapted from a manga, which was completed at the time (January 2021)! Safe to say, I read the following 150 chapters and finished the manga within three days. I thought I would be content with just reading the manga. Still, with the animation constantly in production and with us in the final season, I cannot stop myself from watching now with everyone else just starting, and I can say this is one of my favorite animes to date. I rewatch it both by myself and find myself constantly talking about it. I even ordered a cosplay of one of the main hashira, Shinobu Kochou. It is a well-rounded story that gets straight to the point, establishes our main characters' strengths, and shows loss and wins on a well-balanced scale. These next movies will shake the world, and I am ready to watch them again with the world.

During my second year of schooling, I had trouble deciding if my computer science degree was what I wanted. After some contemplating, I decided to go home last year and attend a community college to finish my associate's while deciding on what I would do about my career. Little did I know this would be the start of the most brutal year of my life. In January of 2023, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. While deciding on a new life for myself, I also had to support my mother through healing, hospital visits, chemotherapy, and physical therapy. Her health was in decline before her diagnosis, but she always had had fears of going to the doctor, being an older black woman, and not having trust in our medical services. While helping my mother, our family experienced another tragedy that struck my younger sister. She was struck by a public transit service in June of the same year, just two days before her birthday, and was rushed to the ICU, barely surviving with her life. The hospital staff that supported my family members was invaluable during both of these situations. They helped and supported us through everything, from my mother's progressive checkups to my sister's multiple surgeries in the ICU. We felt like we were heard throughout our concerns, and it truly made me feel that not only would my family be okay, but I now had a newfound respect and faith in the medical field. Since then, I am happy to say my mother has officially gotten her cancerous tumor removed this previous month and is recovering from what hopefully will be her last surgery. My sister has fully recovered and can continue her Bachelor's in Psychology. I understand that not everyone feels this way or has had an experience like mine. Many people have had bad experiences in the medical field and cannot say they have had the same positive experiences. After my sister had her foot surgery, I decided I wanted to be able to give back to the communities that built me and learn one of the only disciplines that would benefit both me in maintaining a strong career and helping my family in times of need by studying nursing. This fall, I will be graduating with both my Associate of Arts and Associate of Science, after which I will attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to earn my BSN in nursing while minoring in Nutrition, after which I will obtain my DNP in Midwifery and Women's Health Practitioner. Currently, three times as many black women die during childbirth as white women, with stereotypes of pain tolerance and the issue of not being heard still being rampant to this day. My dream now is to be the healthcare professional people look at and feel relieved when I walk in the room because they trust my education and feel like all of their questions and concerns are heard. Whether a woman is having her first baby and needs support or feels like something is off and needs someone with medical experience to speak to about medical concerns and not feel ignored, I want to help make the change and destroy the stereotypes and practices that have destroyed black people's faith in our healthcare system, one patient at a time.

There is a place for every type of player in Minecraft. When I started playing Minecraft, it was with a friend in college, and I had never picked up the game before then. I have always been an avid lover of open-world adventure games such as Skyrim and Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but I never had many friends who played this one. As soon as we started, and my friend gave me a brief explanation of how to build and gather supplies, it was like something in me clicked. After we got through our first couple of deaths and established camp, the first thing I wanted to do was adventure. I would just run in one direction until I found something interesting or worth taking back home. I loved both exploring the map and how beautiful this game was. My first priority was moving through the different regions and seeing what this world had to offer. At first, it frustrated my partner, so when at the base, I would lead supply storage (food and metals), farming, and crops. Maxing out our food supply and food made it easier for me to escape off into our random world seed without her being as angry as before, but to make sure my adventures meant something to us, I created a coordinate wall in our home that had locations of interests I found on my scouting missions as we would call them. It could have anything on it, from villages, oak wood regions, sand temples, large cave spots, and anything you could think of. If it could lead to an adventure or something we needed, it was on our coordinate wall. One particular mission, though, quickly led to one of our most extended adventures. Yearning for adventure after sitting in our home, I just walked left. I had no destination, just lots of food, armor, and essential tools in my inventory. There was a point where I had run into the ocean. Since I ran out of land, I got my boat and started riding the waves for about 15 minutes. At first, my comrade was laughing at me, completely shocked. I had decided to roam when we needed to progress in the Nether, but what I said next made her stop what she was doing, get my coordinates, and come straight to my location. "Ashley, I found an Island!! It looks cool! There are cows with mushrooms on them!" As soon as I said this, she freaked out and asked me how on earth I found it after interrogating me for the coordinates. With the roles reversed, I was now laughing at her during her journey to me. After making it to the rare Mushroom Island biome I found, she handed me a leash and told me we HAD to bring them home. After countless creeper flanks, zombie ambushes, and two full game days, we both ended up losing our cows within sight of our camp, but we knew where they were, and we were ready to go at it again, The opportunity for adventure and the journey makes this game so unique. Throughout all the challenges, creating routes through an open world and building our story truly makes this game magical. It doesn't matter how old you are; as long as you are willing to explore, Minecraft will deliver.