Like many children, when asked what I wanted to be, I exclaimed, “I want to be a doctor!”— a dream fueled by my love for science and caring for others.. That passion stayed strong through middle and high school. But while researching the path to becoming a doctor, I kept encountering one common medical school interview question: Why not become a nurse, NP, or PA instead? That made me stop and reflect—why hadn’t I ever considered nursing? The variety of healthcare paths was overwhelming. Community college or university? Certificate or degree? I turned to someone I trusted: my mom. She’s been a nurse in adolescent psychiatry for over 20 years. After each night shift, she would come home and share stories—about scared, angry, or hurting teens, and how she showed up with compassion and resilience. She never gave up on any patient, even during the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, when heavy PPE irritated the skin on her face. Watching her quiet strength and selflessness gave me my first real glimpse into the heart of nursing. The COVID-19 pandemic also opened my eyes to the nursing shortage and the essential role nurses play. I realized: in the next crisis, I want to be there—on the front lines—bringing warmth and comfort in uncertain times. Earning my BSN will also allow me to be part of the less than 10% of African American nurses in patient care. Representation matters. If I can show just one little Black girl that she belongs in healthcare, then I’ll know I’ve made a difference. This desire to support vulnerable children also led me to volunteer at Billy’s Place. My love for working with kids began at Billy’s Place Arizona, where I volunteered as a peer facilitator for children grieving the loss of loved ones. In that small office space every Tuesday night, I sat with elementary-aged children as they expressed complex feelings. We shared laughs, tears, and long hugs. Over nearly two years, I discovered that children—despite grief—are deeply compassionate, creative, and inspiring people. What surprised me most was how much I learned from them. They remember who listens. I want to be the nurse they remember—not just for providing care, but for seeing and honoring their feelings in every moment. I am set on becoming a pediatric nurse for this exact reason. I believe advocating for every child in my care is an urgent cause. A push for an extra test, charting every symptom and crucial information, and actively listening to each word and those which will go unspoken. Today, I am preparing to start the Nursing program. If all goes to plan, I will graduate in August 2026. From there, I intend to pursue a Master in Nursing Practice where I will be able to expand my clinical knowledge and autonomy. I have a long road until I reach my end goal and that means lots of expenses and fees will place a financial burden on me for the foreseeable future. Having the privilege to be awarded this scholarship would help me greatly. This scholarship would help ease the financial burdens I am facing, but help to put my full focus on continuing to progress through nursing school and serve children. I would like to say Thank You to the generous persons of Wieland Healthcare that are sponsoring this opportunity. Your financial support and encouragement for the next generation of nurses is greatly appreciated. I found this scholarship opportunity on bold.org.