Breast health education is important to me because I have seen firsthand how life changing awareness, early detection, and support can truly be. Before cancer touches someone close to you, breast health can sometimes feel like one of those things people know they should pay attention to, but often put off or do not think much about. For me, it became deeply personal after watching one of my best friends fight one of the hardest battles of her life, breast cancer. Seeing someone you love go through something so physically and emotionally difficult changes your perspective in ways you never expect. My best friend is not just someone I care about. She is family to me in every sense that matters. Watching her journey through breast cancer came with moments of fear, uncertainty, heartbreak, hope, and strength all at once. There were days where things felt heavy, days filled with waiting, worrying, praying, and hoping for good news. Cancer affects more than the person diagnosed. It impacts the people who love them too. What stayed with me most throughout her journey was her strength. Even in moments where things felt uncertain, she continued fighting. There were hard days, emotional days, and moments where fear could have easily taken over, but somehow she kept going. Today, I am beyond grateful to say she won her battle with breast cancer. Watching her overcome something so difficult reminded me how important early detection, education, support systems, and access to care truly are. Her journey opened my eyes to how important it is for people to understand their bodies and take breast health seriously. Too often, people put themselves last, especially women who are busy taking care of children, families, careers, and everyone around them. Many people ignore warning signs, delay appointments, or avoid screenings out of fear, lack of time, finances, or simply not knowing enough. That is one of the reasons breast health education matters so much to me. Education creates awareness, and awareness can save lives. I believe breast health education empowers people. It encourages women to perform self checks, pay attention to changes in their bodies, understand family history, and prioritize routine screenings like mammograms. More importantly, it helps remove fear and stigma around conversations that are sometimes uncomfortable but necessary. Knowledge can help people feel less afraid and more proactive about their health. As someone pursuing nursing, breast health education is also important to me because healthcare professionals play such a big role in helping patients feel informed, supported, and encouraged. Sometimes people are overwhelmed by medical information or afraid of what they may hear. I want to be the type of nurse who creates space for honest conversations and reminds patients that caring for themselves is not selfish. It is necessary. My friend’s journey also taught me the importance of community during hard times. Healing looks different when someone feels supported, prayed for, and surrounded by people who care. Her battle reminded me that strength comes in many forms and that hope matters, even during the scariest seasons of life. Breast health education matters to me because I have seen what is at stake. I have seen fear, resilience, healing, and survival up close. Most importantly, I have seen how awareness and early action can make a difference. If educating even one person encourages them to schedule an appointment, pay attention to changes, or catch something early, then those conversations are worth having. Lives truly depend on it.

Watching someone you love slowly change because of dementia is one of the hardest things to experience. For me, that person is my papa, someone I love more than words could ever fully explain. My papa has always been a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort in my life. To know him is to know warmth. Watching dementia gradually take pieces of the man I have always known has been heartbreaking in ways I never imagined possible. Over the last five years, his dementia has gotten drastically worse. What started as small moments of forgetfulness slowly became something much bigger. At first, there were little things that were easy to overlook, repeating stories, forgetting small details, or moments where he seemed confused. I think, like many families, we wanted to believe it was just normal aging. It felt easier to explain it away than face the reality of what was happening. As time passed, things became harder. There are moments now where conversations feel different, where confusion takes over, and where pieces of the man we know seem harder for him to hold onto. Watching someone you love struggle with memory feels like grieving while they are still here. It is painful because the person is physically present, but in many ways, dementia slowly changes the relationship you once had. One of the hardest parts for me has been seeing how much this disease affects not only the person living with it but the entire family. Dementia does not only change memories. It changes routines, roles, emotions, and relationships. It teaches families patience in ways they never expected. It also teaches heartbreak. There have been moments of sadness, frustration, and helplessness because no matter how much love you have for someone, you cannot stop the progression of the disease. At the same time, my papa’s journey has taught me lessons I will carry for the rest of my life. It has taught me the importance of patience and compassion. I have learned that sometimes people with dementia are not trying to be difficult or forgetful. They are navigating a world that no longer feels familiar to them. I have learned to slow down, to repeat myself without frustration, and to cherish moments that may seem small to others. More than anything, I have learned not to take time for granted. Dementia has shown me how precious memories are and how quickly life can change. It has reminded me to hold onto the stories, the laughter, and the moments of connection while they are still here. Even on difficult days, I try to focus on loving my papa exactly where he is instead of grieving who he used to be. As someone pursuing nursing, this experience has also shaped how I view caregiving. It has deepened my empathy and helped me understand the emotional toll illness can have on both patients and families. It reminds me that compassion matters just as much as care. Although dementia has brought heartbreak into our lives, it has also taught me something powerful about love. Love changes form, but it does not disappear. Even when memories fade, love remains, and I will continue loving my papa through every version of this journey.

My experience with mental health has taught me lessons that go far beyond emotions or difficult seasons. It has shaped the way I see people, the way I approach relationships, and the kind of person I want to become both personally and professionally. More than anything, it has taught me that you never truly know what someone is carrying, and because of that, compassion matters more than most people realize. Like many people, there have been moments in my life where stress, exhaustion, self doubt, and emotional overwhelm felt heavier than I expected. Balancing responsibilities, navigating challenges, and trying to show up for everyone around you while also taking care of yourself is not always easy. There have been seasons where I had to learn that being strong does not always mean pretending everything is okay. Sometimes strength looks like asking for support, giving yourself grace, and learning how to keep moving forward even when things feel difficult. These experiences have shaped my goals in a meaningful way, especially in healthcare. As someone pursuing nursing, I have become even more aware of how deeply mental and emotional health affect every part of a person’s well being. So often, people are struggling silently while still trying to function, care for others, and carry responsibilities. I want to be the kind of nurse who understands that healing is not only physical. I want to create a space where patients feel safe, heard, and respected, especially during moments where they may feel vulnerable or overwhelmed. My experiences have also changed the way I approach relationships. I have learned to lead with more patience and empathy because I understand that everyone is fighting battles we may never fully see. I try to listen more, judge less, and remind people that they do not have to have everything figured out to deserve kindness and support. Sometimes people simply need someone who genuinely listens without trying to fix everything. Mental health has also deepened my understanding of the world. It has shown me that struggles do not always look the way we expect them to. Someone can appear strong and still be carrying a heavy burden. Someone can be smiling and still need encouragement. Because of that, I believe kindness matters. Small acts of compassion, patience, or simply checking on someone can make more of a difference than we realize. Most importantly, these experiences have taught me resilience. I have learned that difficult seasons do not last forever and that growth often comes from the moments that challenge us most. They have taught me to be gentler with myself and others while continuing to move forward with faith, purpose, and compassion. If anything, my experience has reminded me that healing is not always linear, but hope, support, and understanding can make the journey feel a little less lonely.

One of the most challenging parts of being both a student and a single parent is learning how to carry so many responsibilities at once while still trying to give your best in every area of life. There are days when it feels like there are not enough hours in the day. Balancing work, school assignments, studying, parenting, finances, and everyday responsibilities can feel overwhelming at times. As a mother, there is always that internal struggle of wanting to be fully present for my children while also knowing that I have to continue investing in my education to build a better future for us. The hardest part is probably the sacrifice that comes with it. There are nights when I am studying after a long shift while everyone else is asleep, running on exhaustion but reminding myself why I started. There are moments when mom guilt creeps in because I cannot always give my children every bit of time or energy I wish I could in the moment. Missing small things or having to say, “Mommy has homework,” is never easy. At the same time, I know this season of sacrifice is temporary and rooted in something much bigger than today. Being a single parent has taught me resilience in ways I never imagined. It has taught me how to keep showing up even when I am tired, stressed, or unsure. My children are my biggest motivation. When things feel hard, I remind myself that I am not only doing this for me. I am doing this for them. I want them to grow up seeing what perseverance looks like and understanding that even when life feels difficult, you do not stop believing in yourself or your goals. This scholarship would mean more than financial assistance. It would feel like support during a season that often feels heavy. The cost of education, books, tuition, and everyday living expenses can create stress that sometimes makes the journey feel harder than it already is. Receiving this scholarship would help ease some of that burden and allow me to focus more fully on school, clinicals, and continuing to grow into the nurse I aspire to become. More importantly, I see this scholarship as an investment in my future and the future of my children. By continuing my education and earning my nursing degree, I will be able to create greater stability, open more opportunities, and provide a life with more security for my family. I want my children to see firsthand that hard work, faith, and determination can change the direction of your life. I also hope my journey teaches them something valuable. I want them to know that circumstances do not define your future and that it is okay if the path is not easy. What matters is continuing to move forward. For me, this scholarship would not only help me reach my goals. It would help pave the way for my children to believe bigger, dream bigger, and know that anything is possible when you refuse to give up.