I truly understood the weight of a nurse's presence not in a college lecture room, but in a quiet hospital room when I was only five years old. While most children my age where learning how to ride bikes or go to dancing class, I was watching my single mother recover from battling a tumor. In that moment of fear and uncertainty, I was more than just a daughter because I was a witness to healthcare givers who where more dependable that ever. I saw how a nurse could transform the cold and terrifying room into a space of safety and comfort during my confusion. It was then, at five years old, that I knew I wanted to become that person. I wanted to go out into the world and help people recover just as my mom had. I wanted to be the one who stands as a steady anchor for others in the middle of their own storms. Today, as a sophomore at the University of Alabama, that childhood calling has evolved into my pursuit to apply for nursing school this year. However, the path has not always been straight, but rather challenging. I am currently navigating financial instability and the stress of a shifting family dynamic. There is a specific kind of worry and stress that comes with financial trouble, which is a feeling that the ground is now completely shifting. When I enter situations, I carry that understanding with me because I never want my patients to feel like their lives are ending. I want to be the reason they can breathe a little easier, knowing that their health is in the hands of someone who is not only technically but someone who is aware of the struggles of human life. I want to be someone's why. My interest in nursing school is the famous belief that a patient is a person first and a diagnosis second. I do not just want to be the person who comes and preforms a tasks an leaves without saying anything, I want to be a catalyst for change in my patient's lives. To me, a great nurse is someone who is highly skilled and professional while maintaining a connection with patients. In the high stakes environment of healthcare, especially in pediatrics, the technical mechanics of medicine are only half the battle. The other half is building trust with your patient and making sure they are as comfortable as possible during recovery. I want to be the advocate who listens to the patients unspoken fears and the nurse who can hold a child's hand of fear and return a smile on their face. Overall, I am pursing nursing to honor the resilience I learned from my mother and he sacrifices she has taken to get me where I am today to reach a higher education. My background and life has not been easy, as it has been the very thing that shaped my work ethic and my "first in, first out" mentality. By receiving this award, I will be able to help put money towards my education and school tuition so I can continue my dreams. This allows me to focus entirely on becoming the most dependable and empathetic nurse possible. I am ready to face on the challenges this field has, and continue to ensure that in the future my patients that I treat will remember me just as I have remembered their impact on my life.

I truly understood the weight of a nurse's presence not in a college lecture room, but in a quiet hospital room when I was only five years old. While most children my age where learning how to ride bikes or go to dancing class, I was watching my single mother recover from battling a tumor. In that moment of fear and uncertainty, I was more than just a daughter because I was a witness to healthcare givers who where more dependable that ever. I saw how a nurse could transform the cold and terrifying room into a space of safety and comfort during my confusion. It was then, at five years old, that I knew I wanted to become that person. I wanted to go out into the world and help people recover just as my mom had. I wanted to be the one who stands as a steady anchor for others in the middle of their own storms. Today, as a sophomore at the University of Alabama, that childhood calling has evolved into my pursuit to apply for nursing school this year. However, the path has not always been straight, but rather challenging. I am currently navigating financial instability and the stress of a shifting family dynamic. There is a specific kind of worry and stress that comes with financial trouble, which is a feeling that the ground is now completely shifting. When I enter situations, I carry that understanding with me because I never want my patients to feel like their lives are ending. I want to be the reason they can breathe a little easier, knowing that their health is in the hands of someone who is not only technically but someone who is aware of the struggles of human life. I want to be someone's why. My interest in nursing school is the famous belief that a patient is a person first and a diagnosis second. I do not just want to be the person who comes and preforms a tasks an leaves without saying anything, I want to be a catalyst for change in my patient's lives. To me, a great nurse is someone who is highly skilled and professional while maintaining a connection with patients. In the high stakes environment of healthcare, especially in pediatrics, the technical mechanics of medicine are only half the battle. The other half is building trust with your patient and making sure they are as comfortable as possible during recovery. I want to be the advocate who listens to the patients unspoken fears and the nurse who can hold a child's hand of fear and return a smile on their face. Overall, I am pursing nursing to honor the resilience I learned from my mother and he sacrifices she has taken to get me where I am today to reach a higher education. My background and life has not been easy, as it has been the very thing that shaped my work ethic and my "first in, first out" mentality. By receiving this award, I will be able to help put money towards my education and school tuition so I can continue my dreams. This allows me to focus entirely on becoming the most dependable and empathetic nurse possible. I am ready to face on the challenges this field has, and continue to ensure that in the future my patients that I treat will remember me just as I have remembered their impact on my life. I found out about this scholarship through bold.org that matched me with this opportunity!

I truly understood the weight of a nurse's presence not in a college lecture room, but in a quiet hospital room when I was only five years old. While most children my age where learning how to ride bikes or go to dancing class, I was watching my single mother recover from battling a tumor. In that moment of fear and uncertainty, I was more than just a daughter because I was a witness to healthcare givers who where more dependable that ever. I saw how a nurse could transform the cold and terrifying room into a space of safety and comfort during my confusion. It was then, at five years old, that I knew I wanted to become that person. I wanted to go out into the world and help people recover just as my mom had. I wanted to be the one who stands as a steady anchor for others in the middle of their own storms. Today, as a sophomore at the University of Alabama, that childhood calling has evolved into my pursuit to apply for nursing school this year. However, the path has not always been straight, but rather challenging. I am currently navigating financial instability and the stress of a shifting family dynamic. There is a specific kind of worry and stress that comes with financial trouble, which is a feeling that the ground is now completely shifting. When I enter situations, I carry that understanding with me because I never want my patients to feel like their lives are ending. I want to be the reason they can breathe a little easier, knowing that their health is in the hands of someone who is not only technically but someone who is aware of the struggles of human life. I want to be someone's why. My interest in nursing school is the famous belief that a patient is a person first and a diagnosis second. I do not just want to be the person who comes and preforms a tasks an leaves without saying anything, I want to be a catalyst for change in my patient's lives. To me, a great nurse is someone who is highly skilled and professional while maintaining a connection with patients. In the high stakes environment of healthcare, especially in pediatrics, the technical mechanics of medicine are only half the battle. The other half is building trust with your patient and making sure they are as comfortable as possible during recovery.vI want to be the advocate who listens to the patients unspoken fears and the nurse who can hold a child's hand of fear and return a smile on their face. Overall, I am pursing nursing to honor the resilience I learned from my mother and he sacrifices she has taken to get me where I am today to reach a higher education. My background and life has not been easy, as it has been the very thing that shaped my work ethic and my "first in, first out" mentality. By receiving this award, I will be able to help put money towards my education and school tuition so I can continue my dreams. This allows me to focus entirely on becoming the most dependable and empathetic nurse possible. I am ready to face on the challenges this field has, and continue to ensure that in the future my patients that I treat will remember me just as I have remembered their impact on my life.