1. When I was 10, I had a crowd of kids surrounding me as I pulled a splinter out of another girl’s foot. I had a makeshift pair of pliers made out of two pointy sticks and a hair tie. These homemade chopsticks did the trick, and looking back, this may have been one of the formative experiences that solidified my interest in healthcare. I wanted to be able to use my skills and knowledge to help others. Eight years later, little has changed. I keep a first aid kit in the back of my car, should anyone ever need it, which turns out to be a lot. Usually, I use it to disinfect and dress my friends’ wounds, but I aspire to one day help people recover from more than superficial cuts and scrapes. Recently, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to volunteer at my local hospital - the same one where I was born - and see advanced care in action. I observed what pushing medicines through an IV looked like and the compassion of the nurses who carried out the procedures. During my time as a volunteer, I volunteered in the Pediatric Emergency Department. Through seeing Peds nurses in action and the resilience of the kids they treated, I found that I wanted to specialize in Pediatrics. One time, this little boy came in with his dad, and I took them to X-Ray, where they found that the boy's arm was broken. The whole time the kid was bouncing off the walls, and to the naked eye, someone would never have guessed his arm was broken. I think that kids push us to see the good and be positive, which is what I want to bring into my career and my life as a whole. 2. To me, "human touch" means having empathy for others, seeing them as individuals, and working to make them feel safe and supported. In a world that sometimes feels like things are moving too fast, slowing down and valuing human connections becomes all the more important. Volunteering in the Pediatric Emergency Department showed me that healthcare is not just about treating injuries, but about meeting people where they are emotionally. Children don’t always understand what is happening to them, which makes the role of a nurse even more important. I learned how reassurance, patience, and positivity can change an experience that is scary into one that feels manageable. Outside of healthcare, I’d had the opportunity to see the impact that a “human touch” can have on kids. As a camp counselor, I got to lead kids through traditional camp activities, but more importantly, I also had the opportunity to see the kind of growth a kid can experience over just a week at camp. I think that one of my most important roles as a camp counselor was guiding kids through every aspect of camp, from how to paddle a canoe to how to handle feelings of homesickness. I don’t interact with every kid in the same way because every kid is different, and I think adjusting the way I choose to communicate and guide each kid individually creates the most potential for growth and an overall fun camp experience. The applications of this in healthcare are clear to me, as I think the best way to build trust with patients is to meet them where they are emotionally and use that to give the best care possible. To me, this also means building empathy for patients and treating them like humans. Hospitals are overwhelming for most people, so recognizing the fear that a lot of people bring with them is important for being able to guide them through their care in a comfortable manner. By making a patient's experience as comfortable as possible, they’re more likely to return when something is wrong and receive the care they need, rather than being afraid to go back. In my career, I want to be the nurse who makes patients feel safe enough to come back.

It was the last day of camp, and one of the kids in the group I counseled, the Tide, was standing at the front of the dining hall with the microphone. He announced to the camp his gratitude for the support he had received during the cannonball competition at the water carnival. Not many adults, let alone a 10-year-old, would be willing to speak to a group of over one hundred, but he did. Moments like that are the reason that the most meaningful commitment I’ve had in high school has been a camp counselor at Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center. From the moment they get out of their parents' car, most kids are nervous and scared to be away from home. But over the week, that fear fades as they make new friends and try new things. One of my favorite things to do was to ask the campers to make up their own game. Even when personalities clashed, they struggled through and managed to figure it out. Throughout the week, I saw them gain the confidence to be themselves. By the end, the kid who wouldn't say a word on day one would be leading an enthusiastic game of “shipwreck.” The kid who avoided attention like the plague would be volunteering to speak in front of the whole camp. Seeing their growth is what makes this so meaningful to me. When they leave camp, even if they are just a little less scared to talk to a new person or to be their authentic self, I feel like I had a small part in that. As a future pediatric nurse, helping kids to be more confident is really important to me. Confidence isn’t just a social skill, it’s critical to their personal well-being and safety. Confident kids are more likely to speak up when something is wrong, whether that be medically or just standing up for their friend. At camp, I’ve witnessed more outgoing kids putting a stop to teasing before it even got severe enough that an adult had to get involved. These kids lift each other up and create this ripple effect where they in turn instill more confidence in their peers, creating a more confident culture where kids want their voices to be heard. Being a camp counselor has taught me that small moments, like encouraging a shy kid to speak up, can have huge impacts. The opportunity to create change in my community through working with kids has been incredibly fulfilling and it has helped me to realize that this is the kind of work that I want to spend the rest of my life doing.

When I was around 10, I had a crowd of kids surrounding me as I pulled a splinter out of another girl’s foot. I had a makeshift pair of pliers made out of two pointy sticks and a hair tie. These homemade chopsticks did the trick and looking back this may have been one of the formative experiences that solidified my interest in healthcare. I wanted to be able to use my skills and knowledge to help others. Eight years later, little has changed. I keep a first aid kit in the back of my car should anyone ever need it, which turns out to be a lot. Usually I just use it to disinfect and dress my friends’ wounds, but I aspire to one day help people to recover from more than superficial cuts and scrapes. Recently, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to volunteer at my local hospital - the same one where I was born - and have seen advanced care in action. This, I knew, was what I was meant to do. I observed what pushing medicines through an IV looked like and the compassion of the nurses who carried out the procedures. They made people feel safe during procedures and showed me what a good nurse is. During my time as a volunteer, I had the opportunity to volunteer in the Pediatric Emergency Department. Through seeing Peds nurses in action and the resilience of the kids they treated, I found that I wanted to specialize in Pediatrics. One time, this little boy came in with his dad, and I took them to X-Ray, where they found that the boy's arm was broken. The whole time the kid was bouncing off the walls, to the naked eye, no one would have guessed his arm was broken. As they left and said bye to me, he was still bouncing around, just with a cast added to his arm. I think that kids push us to see the good and be positive, which is what I want to bring into my career and my life as a whole. I learned how reassurance, patience, and positivity can change an experience that is scary into one that feels manageable. As a pediatric nurse, I hope to help kids feel safe and protected while being treated. I want to aid in their visits being as comfortable as possible so that they later grow into adults who have trust in medicine and healthcare, therefore encouraging that same trust in others, so that no one is afraid to seek the medical attention they may need.

It was the last day of camp when one of the boys in my group, the Tide, stood at the front of the dining hall holding a microphone with both hands. His voice shook at first, but he thanked the entire camp for cheering him on during the cannonball competition at our water carnival. A week earlier, he had barely spoken above a whisper. Now he was addressing over one hundred people. That moment affirmed why being a camp counselor has been the most meaningful commitment of my high school years. From the minute campers step out of their parents’ cars, many are nervous, homesick, or unsure of themselves. Over the course of the week, though, I see fear turn into belonging. Some of my favorite things to do to get campers out of their shell are to ask them to invent their own games, solve small conflicts on their own first, and encourage each other before I step in. When personalities clash, I guide them through the conflict in a way that promotes respect, rather than just separating them. By the end of the week, the quietest camper is often leading an energetic round of “shipwreck,” and the kid who was terrified of arrows is trying archery by the time they get picked up. These experiences have shaped how I think about safety in my community. Policies matter, but culture matters more. I believe the most effective way to protect children from bullying, both in person and online, is to build confidence and community before problems arise. By promoting community in kids, they’re more likely to do something about bullying when they see it. In real life, I’ve witnessed how the more confident kids are likely to step in before an adult even notices teasing or bullying. At camp, I emphasize that everyone deserves to be heard. I model how to respond when someone makes a hurtful comment, and I teach campers how to include others intentionally. Empowering kids to speak up and support one another creates an environment where bullying is less likely to thrive. Beyond camp, I am involved in volunteer work and school activities such as my high school’s red cross club and equity club. I enjoy volunteering at my local hospital and I work as a server. In addition to those activities, I enjoy playing softball and basketball, and I love getting to share that love with younger kids through volunteering at sports camps. Whether teaching a kid to do a lay-up helping to mitigate team conflicts, I try to lead in a way that prioritizes inclusion. I have learned that safety is not just about stopping harm, it is about fostering belonging. As I prepare to enter college and beyond, financial aid is essential for me. While my family has always prioritized education, the cost of tuition, housing, books, and my twin brother and I attending college at the same time present a significant burden I plan to pursue a career in healthcare, and minimizing debt will give me the flexibility to pursue internships, volunteer work, and eventually patient care. At camp, I watched a ten-year-old find the courage to speak in front of a crowd. That courage did not appear overnight; it grew from small moments of encouragement and inclusion. In my community, I strive to create those same moments. While I cannot control every challenge a kid will inevitably face, I can help them to build the tools they need to be able to handle those moments and help others as well.

When I was around 10, I had a crowd of kids surrounding me as I pulled a splinter out of another girl’s foot. I had a makeshift pair of pliers made out of two pointy sticks and a hair tie. These homemade chopsticks did the trick and looking back this may have been one of the formative experiences that solidified my interest in healthcare. I wanted to be able to use my skills and knowledge to help others. Eight years later, little has changed. I keep a first aid kit in the back of my car should anyone ever need it, which turns out to be a lot. Usually I just use it to disinfect and dress my friends’ wounds, but I aspire to one day help people to recover from more than superficial cuts and scrapes. Recently, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to volunteer at my local hospital - the same one where I was born - and have seen advanced care in action. This, I knew, was what I was meant to do. I observed what pushing medicines through an IV looked like and the compassion of the nurses who carried out the procedures. They made people feel safe during procedures and showed me what a good nurse is. During my time as a volunteer, I had the opportunity to volunteer in the Pediatric Emergency Department. Through seeing Peds nurses in action and the resilience of the kids they treated, I found that I wanted to specialize in Pediatrics. One time, this little boy came in with his dad, and I took them to X-Ray, where they found that the boy's arm was broken. The whole time the kid was bouncing off the walls, to the naked eye, no one would have guessed his arm was broken. As they left and said bye to me, he was still bouncing around, just with a cast added to his arm. I think that kids push us to see the good and be positive, which is what I want to bring into my career and my life as a whole. Volunteering in the Pediatric Emergency Department showed me that healthcare is not just about treating injuries, but about meeting people where they are emotionally. Children don’t always understand what is happening to them, which makes the role of a nurse even more important. I learned how reassurance, patience, and positivity can change an experience that is scary into one that feels manageable. Watching nurses balance technical skill with empathy reinforced my desire to pursue nursing and confirmed that this career aligns with both my strengths and my values. As a pediatric nurse, I hope to help kids feel safe and protected while being treated. I want to aid in their visits to be as comfortable as possible so that they later grow into adults who have trust in medicine and healthcare, therefore encouraging that same trust in others, so that no one is afraid to seek the medical attention they may need.

When I was around 10, I had a crowd of kids surrounding me as I pulled a splinter out of another girl’s foot. I had a makeshift pair of pliers made out of two pointy sticks and a hair tie. These homemade chopsticks did the trick and looking back this may have been one of the formative experiences that solidified my interest in healthcare. I wanted to be able to use my skills and knowledge to help others. Eight years later, little has changed. I keep a first aid kit in the back of my car should anyone ever need it, which turns out to be a lot. Usually I just use it to disinfect and dress my friends’ wounds, but I aspire to one day help people to recover from more than superficial cuts and scrapes. Recently, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to volunteer at my local hospital - the same one where I was born - and have seen advanced care in action. This, I knew, was what I was meant to do. I observed what pushing medicines through an IV looked like and the compassion of the nurses who carried out the procedures. They made people feel safe during procedures and showed me what a good nurse is. During my time as a volunteer, I had the opportunity to volunteer in the Pediatric Emergency Department. Through seeing Peds nurses in action and the resilience of the kids they treated, I found that I wanted to specialize in Pediatrics. One time, this little boy came in with his dad, and I took them to X-Ray, where they found that the boy's arm was broken. The whole time the kid was bouncing off the walls, to the naked eye, no one would have guessed his arm was broken. As they left and said bye to me, he was still bouncing around, just with a cast added to his arm. I think that kids push us to see the good and be positive, which is what I want to bring into my career and my life as a whole. Volunteering in the Pediatric Emergency Department showed me that healthcare is not just about treating injuries, but about meeting people where they are emotionally. Children don’t always understand what is happening to them, which makes the role of a nurse even more important. I learned how reassurance, patience, and positivity can change an experience that is scary into one that feels manageable. Watching nurses balance technical skill with empathy reinforced my desire to pursue nursing and confirmed that this career aligns with both my strengths and my values. As a pediatric nurse, I hope to help kids feel safe and protected while being treated. I want to aid in their visits being as comfortable as possible so that they later grow into adults who have trust in medicine and healthcare, therefore encouraging that same trust in others, so that no one is afraid to seek the medical attention they may need.

When I was around 10, I had a crowd of kids surrounding me as I pulled a splinter out of another girl’s foot. I had a makeshift pair of pliers made out of two pointy sticks and a hair tie. These homemade chopsticks did the trick, and looking back, this may have been one of the formative experiences that solidified my interest in healthcare. I wanted to be able to use my skills and knowledge to help others. Eight years later, little has changed. I keep a first aid kit in the back of my car, should anyone ever need it, which turns out to be a lot. Usually, I just use it to disinfect and dress my friends’ wounds, but I aspire to one day help people to recover from more than superficial cuts and scrapes. Recently, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to volunteer at my local hospital - the same one where I was born - and have seen advanced care in action. This, I knew, was what I was meant to do. I observed what pushing medicines through an IV looked like and the compassion of the nurses who carried out the procedures. They made people feel safe during procedures and showed me what a good nurse is. During my time as a volunteer, I had the opportunity to volunteer in the Pediatric Emergency Department. Through seeing Peds nurses in action and the resilience of the kids they treated, I found that I wanted to specialize in Pediatrics. One time, this little boy came in with his dad, and I took them to X-Ray, where they found that the boy's arm was broken. The whole time the kid was bouncing off the walls, to the naked eye, no one would have guessed his arm was broken. As they left and said bye to me, he was still bouncing around, just with a cast added to his arm. I think that kids push us to see the good and be positive, which is what I want to bring into my career and my life as a whole. Volunteering in the Pediatric Emergency Department showed me that healthcare is not just about treating injuries, but about meeting people where they are emotionally. Children don’t always understand what is happening to them, which makes the role of a nurse even more important. I learned how reassurance, patience, and positivity can change an experience that is scary into one that feels manageable. Watching nurses balance technical skill with empathy reinforced my desire to pursue nursing and confirmed that this career aligns with both my strengths and my values. As a pediatric nurse, I hope to help kids feel safe and protected while being treated. I want to aid in their visits to be as comfortable as possible so that they later grow into adults who have trust in medicine and healthcare, therefore encouraging that same trust in others, so that no one is afraid to seek the medical attention they may need.

When I was around 10, I had a crowd of kids surrounding me as I pulled a splinter out of another girl’s foot. I had a makeshift pair of pliers made out of two pointy sticks and a hair tie. These homemade chopsticks did the trick, and looking back, this may have been one of the formative experiences that solidified my interest in healthcare. I wanted to be able to use my skills and knowledge to help others. Eight years later, little has changed. I keep a first aid kit in the back of my car, should anyone ever need it, which turns out to be a lot. Usually, I just use it to disinfect and dress my friends’ wounds, but I aspire to one day help people to recover from more than superficial cuts and scrapes. Recently, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to volunteer at my local hospital - the same one where I was born - and have seen advanced care in action. This, I knew, was what I was meant to do. I observed what pushing medicines through an IV looked like and the compassion of the nurses who carried out the procedures. They made people feel safe while performing procedures, and they showed me what a good nurse is. During my time as a volunteer, I had the opportunity to volunteer in the Pediatric Emergency Department. Through seeing Peds nurses in action and the resilience of the kids they treated, I found that I wanted to specialize in Pediatrics. One time, this little boy came in with his dad, and I took them to X-Ray, where they found that the boy's arm was broken. The whole time the kid was bouncing off the walls, to the naked eye, no one would have guessed his arm was broken. As they left and said bye to me, he was still bouncing around, just with a cast added to his arm. I think that kids push us to see the good and be positive, which is what I want to bring into my career and my life as a whole. Volunteering in the Pediatric Emergency Department showed me that healthcare is not just about treating injuries, but about meeting people where they are emotionally. Children don’t always understand what is happening to them, which makes the role of a nurse even more important. I learned how reassurance, patience, and positivity can change an experience that is scary into one that feels manageable. Watching nurses balance technical skill with empathy reinforced my desire to pursue nursing and confirmed that this career aligns with both my strengths and my values.