While working in the ER one night as an EMT, a Spanish-speaking female came in after being found unconscious. I jumped in and began taking vital signs while the nurse started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?”. She immediately responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. As the only bilingual staff member in the ER, it became clear that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. This woman’s experience resonates with me as it reminds me of my limited experience with medical professionals growing up in a rural area. My childhood experience with limited access to healthcare has made me sensitive to the fact that culture plays a crucial role in healthcare. Representation is vital and my experiences as a minority have pushed me to pursue a career in nursing to be that representation for others in my community. I began my education with a dual degree in Psychology and Spanish and then pursued a degree from an accelerated nursing program, graduating with honors and receiving a Nursing Leadership Award, a faculty award presented to one student who demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in nursing practice and among their peers. I then began my nursing career in a Neurological ICU where my abilities came to life. I possess a natural ability to remain calm in high-stress environments and I have found that this quality has been especially valuable while working in the ICU. A few months into my new position, I was caring for a patient recovering from brain surgery. His family was involved in his care as the patient was nonverbal and flaccid on one side. During their stay I became more than a caregiver; I became an educator, comforter, and advocate. When the patient's intracranial pressures spiked to a dangerous level, I immediately recognized the neurological change and notified the doctor to order a CT scan, which revealed that emergency surgery was imperative to avoid further brain damage. Involving patients and their families allows them to process and understand complex, unfamiliar information. I recognize that dealing with trauma is routine in my line of work, but for most, these situations are anything but normal. Fortunately, my patient recovered and left our unit. I want to become an NP to continue on this path to make a greater impact in medicine and patients' lives. l want to continue to learn new procedures and techniques to broaden my knowledge and medical expertise to help others. I want to formulate collaborative treatment plans with the patient’s best interest at the center and foster an environment for clinical care teams that is positive and inclusive. As an NP I will utilize my skills as a Spanish interpreter. I have seen firsthand how noticeably more effective bilingual providers are for a patient's health literacy and comfortability. Bringing my cultural competence will allow me to formulate treatment plans tailored to that individual’s cultural and medical needs. My journey consists of a multitude of experiences that have shaped me into the motivated, empathetic, and hard-working individual I am today. Not only do my experiences give me a unique perspective on patient care, but my strong work ethic and my aptitude to serve allow me to treat patients and help educate their families. With my dedication and understanding of diverse cultural experiences, I am determined to become an NP to continue to serve my community in a larger capacity and contribute to inclusive medical care.

While working in the ER one night as an EMT, a Spanish-speaking female came in after being found unconscious. I jumped in and began taking vital signs while the nurse started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?”. She immediately responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. As the only bilingual staff member in the ER, it became clear that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. This woman’s experience resonates with me as it reminds me of my limited experience with medical professionals growing up in a rural area. My childhood experience with limited access to healthcare has made me sensitive to the fact that culture plays a crucial role in healthcare. Representation is vital and my experiences as a minority have pushed me to pursue a career in nursing to be that representation for others in my community. I began my education with a dual degree in Psychology and Spanish and then pursued a degree from an accelerated nursing program, graduating with honors and receiving a Nursing Leadership Award, a faculty award presented to one student who demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in nursing practice and among their peers. I then began my nursing career in a Neurological ICU where my abilities came to life. I possess a natural ability to remain calm in high-stress environments and I have found that this quality has been especially valuable while working in the ICU. A few months into my new position, I was caring for a patient recovering from brain surgery. His family was involved in his care as the patient was nonverbal and flaccid on one side. During their stay I became more than a caregiver; I became an educator, comforter, and advocate. When the patient's intracranial pressures spiked to a dangerous level, I immediately recognized the neurological change and notified the doctor to order a CT scan, which revealed that emergency surgery was imperative to avoid further brain damage. Involving patients and their families allows them to process and understand complex, unfamiliar information. I recognize that dealing with trauma is routine in my line of work, but for most, these situations are anything but normal. Fortunately, my patient recovered and left our unit. I want to become an NP to continue on this path to make a greater impact in medicine and patients' lives. l want to continue to learn new procedures and techniques to broaden my knowledge and medical expertise to help others. I want to formulate collaborative treatment plans with the patient’s best interest at the center and foster an environment for clinical care teams that is positive and inclusive. As an NP I will utilize my skills as a Spanish interpreter. I have seen firsthand how noticeably more effective bilingual providers are for a patient's health literacy and comfortability. Bringing my cultural competence will allow me to formulate treatment plans tailored to that individual’s cultural and medical needs. My journey consists of a multitude of experiences that have shaped me into the motivated, empathetic, and hard-working individual I am today. Not only do my experiences give me a unique perspective on patient care, but my strong work ethic and my aptitude to serve allow me to treat patients and help educate their families. With my dedication and understanding of diverse cultural experiences, I am determined to become an NP to continue to serve my community in a larger capacity and contribute to inclusive medical care.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I encountered a pivotal experience that inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that inspired me to pursue nursing. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. Growing up in a low-income home meant I didn’t have access to many of the resources necessary for me to excel in school. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. I immediately began taking vital signs while the doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that I will not forget. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

I volunteered as a Community Resource Member at JayDoc, a free health clinic that provides quality care for underserved populations in the Kansas City area. As a community resource member, I collected information on free and low-cost clinics and resources around Kansas City and relayed them to patients. In this position, I was able to help patients gain access to resources and refer them to other low-income clinics. I was also able to use my skills as a Spanish interpreter. I sat in on visits with student doctors and interpreted during appointments. This volunteer opportunity made me aware of the growing need for healthcare for minorities and low-income patients. I was excited to begin volunteering at JayDoc, as there is a strong need for Spanish-speaking providers in Kansas City. While working in the clinic, I quickly became aware that the majority of Spanish-speaking patients had inadequate health literacy. Patients had trouble reading and understanding appointment slips, pamphlets, patient rights and responsibilities documents, and discharge summaries. As an interpreter, I aimed to do more than my role as a community resource member by helping bridge this gap. I interpreted during appointments and took extra time to follow up directly after the appointment to ensure patients understood the information given to them. Additionally, I was able to use my cultural competencies to help educate fellow volunteers on the importance of treating low-income patients through a different lens. After explaining that low-income patients do not have access to the same resources (financially or educationally) as higher-income patients, we saw an improvement, as there were fewer returning patients each week. This experience cemented my desire to work with underserved populations. I was thrilled to see that through adjustments in equity and inclusion practices, patients could walk away from our clinic understanding information about their own health, resources, and referrals.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I encountered a pivotal experience that inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that inspired me to pursue nursing. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I encountered a pivotal experience that inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that inspired me to pursue nursing. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I encountered a pivotal experience that inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that inspired me to pursue nursing. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I encountered a pivotal experience that inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that inspired me to pursue nursing. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I encountered a pivotal experience that inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that inspired me to pursue nursing. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I encountered a pivotal experience that inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that inspired me to pursue nursing. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I encountered a pivotal experience that inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that inspired me to pursue nursing. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. Stemming from my Mexican heritage, my parents put precedence on family and were uninvolved in my schooling. Additionally, growing up in a low-income home meant I didn’t have access to many of the resources necessary for me to excel in school. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. I also started a lawn mowing and yard maintenance business to decrease the financial stress on my parents. Although I started working as a means to contribute financially, the odd jobs became more valuable than I initially thought as they taught me leadership, communication skills, and time management. When I entered high school, I challenged myself to read outside of school to expand my English vocabulary and joined an optional program, AVID, a nonprofit that targets minorities and aids in students' preparedness for college. Additionally, once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, I started to see (and build) a better future for myself. My experiences as a disadvantaged minority have taught me to embrace my identity and have instilled in me compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of providers that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I encountered a pivotal experience that inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that inspired me to pursue nursing. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I encountered a pivotal experience that inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that inspired me to pursue nursing. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. Growing up in a low-income home meant I didn’t have access to many of the resources necessary for me to excel in school. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. I also started a lawn mowing and yard maintenance business to decrease the financial stress on my parents. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I experienced my greatest achievement to date. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth; she was a Jane Doe. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that I will not soon forget. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. Stemming from my Mexican heritage, my parents put precedence on family and were uninvolved in my schooling. Additionally, growing up in a low-income home meant I didn’t have access to many of the resources necessary for me to excel in school. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. I also started a lawn mowing and yard maintenance business to decrease the financial stress on my parents. Although I started working as a means to contribute financially, the odd jobs became more valuable than I initially thought as they taught me leadership, communication skills, and time management. When I entered high school, I challenged myself to read outside of school to expand my English vocabulary and joined an optional program, AVID, a nonprofit that targets minorities and aids in students' preparedness for college. Additionally, once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, I started to see (and build) a better future for myself. My experiences as a disadvantaged minority have taught me to embrace my identity and have instilled in me compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of providers that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.

Throughout my upbringing, I have faced many challenges. I grew up in an underserved, rural, Spanish-speaking community that didn’t put precedence on education. My family spoke Spanish, so it wasn’t until kindergarten that I began to learn English. I didn’t have access to a computer until late in high school, making it difficult to complete homework, papers, and online tests. Growing up this way made it difficult for me to communicate and participate in schoolwork with my peers and teachers and I felt from a young age as if I did not belong. I overcame these adversities by working hard to give myself more opportunities. I would spend extended hours after school utilizing my school’s resources to write papers, research, and learn typing skills. Once I moved away to attend college, I developed new study habits by reaching out to professors, spearheading study groups, and finding free resources online. As I began studying, learning, and growing, my worldview widened. I began to believe that my dreams of higher education and becoming a professional was not out of reach. Empowered with this knowledge, once I graduated, I became an EMT. It was during this time that I encountered a pivotal experience that inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. While working in the Emergency Department late one night, a Spanish-speaking patient came in by ambulance. The only information we received from Emergency Medical Services was that the patient was a middle-aged female who was found unconscious by a coworker, in a prone position on the floor, blood pooling around her mouth. I immediately began taking vital signs. The doctor came in and started asking a series of rapid-fire questions that were all returned with silence. Through the chaos, I asked in Spanish, “What is your name?” Her head whipped around and her wide eyes met mine. She hastily responded with her name and I watched as the panic drained from her face. I introduced myself and began translating for her and the doctor. As the only bilingual staff member in the ED, it became very clear to me that I was the bridge between this patient and her ability to receive proper care. Although my upbringing was not ideal, it provided me with the necessary skills to empathize with and help treat this Spanish-speaking patient. She expressed her gratitude for having someone interpret for her and voiced that this was the first time she was able to clearly communicate with a medical provider, words that inspired me to pursue nursing. This experience taught me to embrace my identity and to use my compassion, resilience, and resourcefulness to help and empower others. I understand that every individual has a unique upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences, and no matter an individual’s race, gender, etc. everyone experiences life differently. The challenges that I have overcome have made me sensitive to the struggles minorities have and have made me aware that these struggles can affect generations of communities financially, emotionally, and educationally. That is why I am passionate about being part of a new generation of nurses that focus on breaking down the barriers in healthcare that are directly affecting disadvantaged populations. Although challenging, I am thankful for my experiences as they allow me to connect with others through empathy and have allowed me to forge a new path for myself through resilience. I will use these traits to continue learning and growing and will take them with me into my career to foster positive, trustworthy environments for patients.