“Slow down!” I screamed as the car began flipping over and over. At sixteen, I learned how quickly life can change. One moment, I was a normal teenager focused on school, sports, friends, and family. The next, I was hanging upside down in a car after it had fallen forty five feet into a ravine. I’d suffered multiple fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung, and facial lacerations that required reconstructive plastic surgery. My recovery was long, but it changed the direction of my life in ways I never expected. During my recovery, I experienced what it felt like to be completely dependent on others. I had to rely on others for simple tasks, getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was life for now. I also experienced the fear and uncertainty that comes with being a patient. The medical professionals did more than treat my physical injuries. They reassured me when I was afraid, answered my questions, and showed me compassion when I needed it most. Their kindness left a lasting impression on me and sparked my desire to pursue a career in healthcare. Throughout high school, I remained committed to my education and worked hard to achieve my goals. I’m proud to have graduated as valedictorian of my class. This fall, I’ll begin my nursing education at the University of Arkansas, with the goal of eventually becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. I’m excited about the opportunity to continue learning and serving others. I want to use my education to build a meaningful career, and to make a lasting difference in the lives of the people in my community. One of the biggest changes I hope to make is improving health literacy. During my own experience as a patient, I learned how overwhelming medical terminology can be. I believe every patient deserves to understand what is happening to them and feel comfortable asking questions. As a future nurse and CRNA, I want to explain medical information clearly, listen to my patients' concerns, and make sure they never feel like just another diagnosis or room number. My greatest inspiration is my grandmother. She has always shown me what it means to serve others with compassion and without expecting anything in return. She has dedicated her life to caring for others and serving through her church. When I was recovering from my accident, she dropped everything to help care for me. She cooked, cleaned, and took me to appointments. She taught me that true leadership is not about recognition, but about being willing to serve when someone needs you. I want to give back to the community that has supported me. Volunteering, mentoring younger students, helping families better understand their healthcare, or simply being there for someone going through a challenging time, I want to use my experiences to encourage others. My accident taught me that difficult circumstances do not have to define your future. They can become the beginning of something meaningful. My education will allow me to turn one of the hardest experiences of my life into a purpose. I want to provide skilled medical care, but more importantly, I want to provide compassion, reassurance, and hope. My vision for the future is to become a healthcare professional who serves with the same selflessness my grandmother has. If I can help even one person feel less afraid, more informed, or more hopeful during one of the most vulnerable moments of their life, I will know that I am making the difference I was called to make.

Slow down! Slow down, I screamed! The car flipping over and over. I can still hear the sound of metal crushing and twisting. Small trees snapped as we rolled down the hill, and glass shattered, flying everywhere. When the car came to a stop, I was hanging upside down, still buckled into my seatbelt. I could hear a dripping sound. I tried to open my eyes, but my vision was blurry. I realized the dripping sound was my blood hitting the roof of the car. We’d just fallen into a forty-five foot ravine, landing upside down. I was sixteen. Iv’s being placed, scans being done, trying to figure out all the damage our bodies had just endured. I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung, and deep lacerations that required reconstructive plastic surgery. I was scared, not knowing what the future would look like. By the grace of God we survived that day. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked a passion in nursing. The passion comes from my experience and understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible and be the nurse that shows kindness and compassion. After a year of appointments, I was cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that many of us take for granted. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything I can to pursue my dreams. This accident has altered my life but helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Becoming a nurse means I’ll never stop learning and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and change me for the better. I’ll empower patients and bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. My accident doesn’t define me, it’s just a part of my story now, but has also given me the opportunity to have a second chance. I will live my life full of kindness and compassion. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life, and that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. I’m taking college courses while still in high school and after graduation, I’ll begin working at the hospital to gain experience. I’ve volunteered at blood drives. I help provide care, attention and assistance if needed to the donors and ensure that the nurses have all the essential necessities. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and be a positive contributor in this world. With education and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

"Slow down!" I screamed. Then the car began flipping over and over. When it finally came to a stop, I was still buckled into my seat, hanging upside down. We had just survived a forty-five-foot fall into a ravine. I was sixteen years old. The accident left me with six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung, and deep facial lacerations that required reconstructive plastic surgery. While in recovery, I developed a strong interest in nursing. I can combine my love of learning while helping others overcome their challenges and goals. I will use my personal experience to make a meaningful difference in the lives of my future patients. In the fall I will attend the University of Arkansas as a first generation college student. There, I will work toward earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. After completing my degree, I will pass the NCLEX exam, and become a registered nurse. I’m planning on working in a hospital in the critical care unit, helping patients feel cared for and supported. I will continue to learn, get hands on experience, and build a life where I can be successful. After two years of critical care, I will continue my education and enter an anesthesia program to become a CRNA. Becoming a nurse means I will never stop learning and I will continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and change me for the better. I will empower patients and bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. My accident doesn’t define me, but has given me the opportunity to have a second chance. I will live my life full of kindness, compassion, and purpose. I will be dedicated to my education and focused on becoming a nurse who makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives. I hope to use my experience to inspire others to believe that they, too, can overcome the challenges they face in life. I feel that I am worth the investment for this scholarship due to my passion to succeed and to achieve future success that will benefit others. This scholarship would bring me one step closer to give back to others, the way I was supported during my recovery. Receiving financial aid such as scholarships will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on financial stress. I will be able to work toward my goals while making the most of every opportunity I am given. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and be a positive contributor in this world. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down, I screamed! Then the car flipping over and over. I can still hear the sound of metal crushing. Small trees snapped as we rolled down the hill, and glass shattering. When the car came to a stop, I was hanging upside down, still buckled into my seatbelt. We’d fallen into a forty-five foot ravine, landing upside down. I was sixteen. I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung, and deep lacerations that required reconstructive plastic surgery. I was scared, not knowing what the future would look like. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to go to college. As a first generation student, I want to validate my dreams and make way for my future generations. There is no parental guidance, as we are learning this process together. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace relying on friends and family to do simple tasks. Needing help getting in and out of bed and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. While in recovery, it sparked an interest in nursing. That interest comes from my experience and understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand how critical nurses make on most often one of the worst times in our lives. I understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. After a year of appointments, I was able to get back to doing things that many of us take for granted. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I’m far more resilient and stronger than I ever imagined. Becoming a nurse means I’ll never stop learning and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable lessons and change me for the better. My accident doesn’t define me, but has given me a second chance. I’ll live my life full of kindness, compassion, and purpose. I’ll be dedicated to my education and focused on becoming a nurse who makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives. I hope to use my experience to inspire others to believe that they, too, can overcome the challenges they face in life. I knew that achieving that goal would require financial support, beyond what my family alone could provide. This scholarship would bring me one step closer to give back to others, the way I was supported during my recovery. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and be a positive contributor in this world. My goal is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Drugs on the table and empty alcohol bottles on the floor. A half coherent mom lying on the couch and another new guy lying next to her. At ten years old that is what my friend Zoe had to endure daily. Divorced parents, whose father worked out of town. She was the caretaker to her own mother and her little sister. She cleaned, cooked, and made sure they got to school. The way Zoe was living wasn’t normal or good and I chose not to stay silent. I knew I had an amazing family and Zoe was a friend. She deserved to be happy and to be a kid, so I did the only thing I knew to do. I explained everything to my parents and they decided to move her in with us. There was no fight from her mom or back and forth, just acceptance. She lived with us and we treated her as our own. She was loved and she didn’t have to witness the atrocities that she was previously having to face. My family treated her with compassion and showed her what life was suppose to look like. We taught her to value and respect herself and to accept nothing less in return. Our room was often filled with laughter but sometimes sadness, and when the sadness came we were there for her in any way she needed. We didn’t offer her any grand gestures, but a safe space. I was present for her and offered her a listening ear to pour out all of her fears and frustrations. Eventually her dad got a job that kept him in town and Zoe moved in with him. She is now thriving, living a happy, healthy life. We talk often, she tells me how thankful she is, but we're the grateful ones. She taught us so much along the way. She taught me that doing the right thing may not be the easiest choice, but can be life changing. That is just a part of my story. My name is Ava, I am a high school senior. I work, play basketball, volleyball, and I am an active church member. I am involved in student council, a student ambassador, FCA and on the junior bank board. I volunteer in food, toy and blood drives, backpack for kids, peewee basketball games and in youth volleyball and basketball camps. I love animals, reading, and family time. Selflessness is vital to this world and can potentially be life changing. Helping people can have a magnifying impact on all of those who are involved. It is a choice that we can make daily, a simple act that can make an everlasting impact, one act at a time. It isn’t always as big as moving a child in to your household but could be as small as a hug, helping someone move, or checking in on a friend that had a bad day. Selflessness is about being there, noticing the small things, and making people feel heard and not alone. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down! Slow down, I screamed! The car flipping over and over. I can still hear the sound of metal crushing and twisting. Small trees snapped as we rolled down the hill, and glass shattered, flying everywhere. When the car came to a stop, I was hanging upside down, still buckled into my seatbelt. I could hear a dripping sound. I tried to open my eyes, but my vision was blurry. I realized the dripping sound was my blood hitting the roof of the car. We’d just fallen into a forty-five foot ravine, landing upside down. I was sixteen. Iv’s being placed, scans being done, trying to figure out all the damage our bodies had just endured. I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung, and deep lacerations that required reconstructive plastic surgery. I was scared, not knowing what the future would look like. By the grace of God we survived that day. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked a passion in nursing. The passion comes from my experience and understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible and be the nurse that shows kindness and compassion. After a year of appointments, I was cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that many of us take for granted. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything I can to pursue my dreams. This accident has altered my life but helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Becoming a nurse means I’ll never stop learning and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and change me for the better. I’ll empower patients and bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. My accident doesn’t define me, it’s just a part of my story now, but has also given me the opportunity to have a second chance. I will live my life full of kindness and compassion. I stand out because, the accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life, and that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down! Slow down, I screamed! The car flipping over and over. I can still hear the sound of metal crushing and twisting. Small trees snapped as we rolled down the hill, and glass shattered, flying everywhere. When the car came to a stop, I was hanging upside down, still buckled into my seatbelt. I could hear a dripping sound. I tried to open my eyes, but my vision was blurry. I realized the dripping sound was my blood hitting the roof of the car. We’d just fallen into a forty-five foot ravine, landing upside down. I was sixteen. Iv’s being placed, scans being done, trying to figure out all the damage our bodies had just endured. I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung, and deep lacerations that required reconstructive plastic surgery. I was scared, not knowing what the future would look like. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked a passion in nursing. The passion comes from my experience and understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. Wieland stands for more than just furniture, they provide quiet, behind the scenes support during, for me a difficult time. Recliners and sleeper sofas gave my family a place to sleep and rest throughout my hospital stay. Nurses are similar by providing comfort and are there for people during the hard moments. That’s the kind of nurse I strive to be, one that shows kindness and comforts in a time that it’s needed most. After a year of appointments, I was cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that many of us take for granted. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I’m resilient and stronger than I imagined. This accident has altered my life but helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Becoming a nurse means I’ll never stop learning and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and change me for the better. I’ll empower patients and bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and be a positive contributor in this world. With education and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. I will be a dedicated student, focused and driven by my passion to succeed and to achieve future success that will benefit others. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem. I found this scholarship on Bold.org.

My name is Ava Williams and I’m a senior at Elkins High School. I work, play basketball, volleyball, and I’m an active church member. I’m involved in student council, a student ambassador, FCA and on the junior bank board. I volunteer in food, toy and blood drives, backpack for kids, peewee basketball games and in youth volleyball and basketball camps.  I love animals, reading and family time. $1.8 trillion! Let me say that again, $1.8 trillion. That is the amount of student loan debt in the U.S. I want to be able to manage and pay for college through scholarships and having to take the least amount in student loans as possible. I do not want to be part of the national average. I would like to graduate college and not have that burden of debt looming. As graduating high school is getting closer, I know my responsibilities will soon change. I will be moving out of my parent’s house and going to college, and with that comes a lot of new changes and financial challenges. I will be pursuing a career as a nurse. I was in a terrible car accident at sixteen. I fractured six bones in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung, and required reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. I was in a neck brace, couldn’t drive, go to school, or even shower by myself. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in nursing. I want to be the nurse that shows kindness and shows comfort in a time that it us needed the most. Becoming a nurse means I will never stop learning something new and I will continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I will have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. With education costs spiraling ever higher, a college education is beyond the financial reach of many outstanding students. Scholarship programs like yours can allow many deserving students a chance to further their education. This scholarship would help me focus on school instead of worrying about financial burdens. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. Scholarships will be my main source of being able to further my education financially. I know that there are many deserving applicants but I feel that I am worth the investment for this scholarship due to my passion to succeed and to achieve future success that will benefit others. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem. Applying for scholarships can be daunting but if you are fortunate enough to win, that is what makes it all worth it. Winning scholarships will help you focus on school instead of the financial barriers that can alter your educational path. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down! Slow down! I remember screaming at my sister. I can still hear the sound of metal crushing and twisting. As we rolled down the hill, and glass shattering, flying everywhere. We’d just fallen into a forty-five foot ravine, landing upside down. I was sixteen years old. The hospital was chaotic, nurses running in and out. IV’s, being placed, X-rays and scans being done, trying to figure out all the damage our bodies had just endured. I fractured six bones in my neck and spine, had a collapsed lung, and required reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. I was in a neck brace, I couldn’t drive, go to school, or even shower by myself. The community rallied behind me and my family when we needed it most. Volunteering gives a great sense of purpose and helps me give back to a community that was there for us. Giving back is a way to show compassion and appreciation. Being part of a community, can bring hope, build trust, and has shown me even the smallest of actions can make a difference in people’s lives. This has also helped me realize I want to be a critical care nurse by leading me into a field where I can make a positive impact. My name is Ava Williams and I’m a senior at Elkins High School. I work, play basketball, volleyball, and I’m an active church member. I’m involved in student council, a student ambassador, FCA and on the junior bank board. I volunteer in food, toy and blood drives, backpack for kids, peewee basketball games and in youth volleyball and basketball camps.  I love animals, reading and family time. Overall, being involved and helping in my community has helped me grow as a person. I’ve learned many invaluable lessons through my experiences. It has prepared me for opportunities in the future. These experiences will help to guide me as I work toward my goals and continue to serve my community. As I approach graduating high school, I’ll be able to use these skills to prepare me for college. I now have a greater appreciation for life and I have learned that I’m resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. Being involved in the community helped me realize that I want to pursue a career as a nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical nurses make on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. Becoming a nurse means I’ll never stop learning something new and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I’ll have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and take these skill to be a positive contributor in this world. With education and experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. I will be a dedicated student, focused and driven by my passion to succeed and to achieve future success that will benefit others. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Drugs on the table and empty alcohol bottles on the floor. A half coherent mom lying on the couch and another new guy lying next to her. At ten that is what my friend Zoe had to endure. Divorced parents, whose father worked out of town. She was the caretaker to her own mother and her little sister. She cleaned, cooked, and made sure they got to school. I wasn’t sure what the right thing to do was, but I knew I couldn’t stay silent. Zoe was not only a friend, but a part of our community. I explained everything to my parents and they moved her in with us. There was no fight from her mom, just acceptance. She lived with us and we treated her as our own. She was loved and didn’t have to witness the atrocities that she was having to face. My family treated her with compassion and showed her what life was suppose to look like. We taught her to value and respect herself and to accept nothing less in return. We didn’t offer her any grand gestures, but a safe space. I was present for her and offered her a listening ear to pour out all of her fears and frustrations. Her dad got a job in town. Zoe moved in with him and is now thriving. She taught me that doing the right thing may not be the easiest choice, but can be life changing. Through all of this, I’ve learned that I’m passionate about nursing. The passion comes from my experience and understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. Becoming a nurse means I’ll never stop learning and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and change me for the better. I’ll empower patients and the bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations to be a positive contributor in this world. With education and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

My name is Ava Williams and I’m a senior at Elkins High School. I work, play basketball, volleyball, and I’m an active church member. I’m involved in student council, a student ambassador, FCA and on the junior bank board. I volunteer in food, toy and blood drives, backpack for kids, peewee basketball games and in youth volleyball and basketball camps.  I love animals, reading and family time. I was in a terrible car accident at sixteen. I fractured six bones in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung, and required reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. I was in a neck brace, couldn’t drive, go to school, or even shower by myself. The community rallied behind me when I needed it most. Volunteering gives a sense of purpose and helps me give back to a community that was there for me. Giving back is a way to show compassion and appreciation. Being part of a community, brings hope, and builds trust, showing me even the smallest of actions can make a difference in people’s lives. This has also helped me realize I want to be a nurse. Being involved in my community has helped me grow as a person. I’ve learned many invaluable lessons through my experiences. These experiences will help to guide me as I work toward my goals and continue to serve my community. As I approach graduating high school, I will be able to use these skills to prepare me for college. I now have a greater appreciation for life and I’ve learned that I’m resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. Becoming a nurse means I’ll never stop learning and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and change me for the better. I’ll empower patients and bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith, and experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. If I could start a charity, it would be called Kindness is Power. The charity would make sure that every kid had supplies for school and provide tutoring if needed. It would have a space in each school to have basic needs such as, clothes, shoes, and hygiene products. Even as a young girl, I knew life wasn’t as easy for some kids as it was for others. I’ve witnessed children wearing shoes that were too big for them or in such bad shape, there was more duct tape than shoe. I watched one boy walking down the hallway, having to hold his pants up because they were way too big. Even then, it made me sad for these kids, not to have these basic needs. I wanted to help so we always donated our clothes and shoes to the school. Kindness is Power would be my charity and help our youth, because our youth is our future. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

My name is Ava Williams and I am a senior at Elkins High School. I work, play basketball, volleyball, and I am an active church member. I am involved in student council, a student ambassador, FCA and on the junior bank board. I volunteer in food, toy and blood drives, backpack for kids, peewee basketball games and in youth volleyball and basketball camps.  I love animals, reading and family time. Faith has always been a big part of my life. My mom says it started with her grandparents, who passed the love of God to their children, who passed it to their children and now that faith has been passed to me and my siblings. I was taught to always see the best in everyone and judge no one. To always lend a helping hand where it is needed. I am active in my church, organizing and facilitating volunteer opportunities. I was in a terrible car accident at sixteen. I fractured six bones in my neck and spine, had a collapsed lung, and required reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. I was in a neck brace, I couldn’t drive, go to school, or even shower by myself. The community rallied behind me and my family when we needed it most. Volunteering gives a great sense of purpose and helps me give back to a community that was there for us. Giving back is a way to show compassion and appreciation. Being part of a community, can bring hope, build trust, and strengthen bonds has shown me even the smallest of actions can make a difference in people’s lives. This has also helped me realize I want to be a critical care nurse by leading me into a field where I can make a positive impact. Overall, being involved and helping in my community has helped me grow as a person. I have learned many invaluable lessons through my experiences. It has prepared me for opportunities in the future. These experiences will help to guide me as I work toward my goals and continue to serve my community. As I approach graduating high school, I will be able to use all of these skills to prepare me for college. I now have a greater appreciation for life and I have learned that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. Being involved in the community helped me realize that I want to pursue a career as a nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical nurses make on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. Becoming a nurse means I’ll never stop learning something new and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I’ll have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and take these skill to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith, and experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down! Slow down! I remember screaming at my sister. I can still hear the sound of metal crushing and twisting. As we rolled down the hill, and glass shattering, flying everywhere. We’d just fallen into a forty-five foot ravine, landing upside down. I was sixteen years old. The hospital was chaotic, nurses running in and out. IV’s, being placed, X-rays and scans being done, trying to figure out all the damage our bodies had just endured. I fractured six bones in my neck and spine, had a collapsed lung, and required reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. I was in a neck brace, I couldn’t drive, go to school, or even shower by myself. The community rallied behind me and my family when we needed it most. Volunteering gives a great sense of purpose and helps me give back to a community that was there for us. Giving back is a way to show compassion and appreciation. Being part of a community, can bring hope, build trust, and strengthen bonds has shown me even the smallest of actions can make a difference in people’s lives. This has also helped me realize I want to be a critical care nurse by leading me into a field where I can make a positive impact. I volunteer in food, toy and blood drives, backpack for kids, peewee basketball games and in youth volleyball and basketball camps. Overall, being involved and helping in my community has helped me grow as a person. I have learned many invaluable lessons through my experiences. It has prepared me for opportunities in the future. These experiences will help to guide me as I work toward my goals and continue to serve my community. As I approach graduating high school, I will be able to use all of these skills to prepare me for college. I now have a greater appreciation for life and I have learned that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. Being involved in the community helped me realize that I want to pursue a career as a critical care nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical nurses make on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. Becoming a nurse means I will never stop learning something new and I will continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I will have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and take these skill to be a positive contributor in this world. With education and experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. I will be a dedicated student, focused and driven by my passion to succeed and to achieve future success that will benefit others. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Drugs on the table and empty alcohol bottles on the floor. A half coherent mom lying on the couch and another new guy lying next to her. At ten that is what my friend Zoe had to endure. Divorced parents, whose father worked out of town. She was the caretaker to her own mother and her little sister. She cleaned, cooked, and made sure they got to school. At first, I wasn’t sure what the right thing to do was, but I knew I couldn’t stay silent. Zoe was not only a friend, but a part of our community. Zoe deserved to be happy and to be a kid, so I did the only thing I knew to do. I explained everything to my parents and they decided to move her in with us. There was no fight from her mom, just acceptance. She lived with us and we treated her as our own. She was loved and didn’t have to witness the atrocities that she was previously having to face. My family treated her with compassion and showed her what life was suppose to look like. We taught her to value and respect herself and to accept nothing less in return. We didn’t offer her any grand gestures, but a safe space. I was present for her and offered her a listening ear to pour out all of her fears and frustrations. Eventually her dad got a job that kept him in town. Zoe moved in with him. She is now thriving, living a happy, healthy life. We talk often, she tells me how thankful she is, but we're the grateful ones. She taught us so much along the way. She taught me that doing the right thing may not be the easiest choice, but can be life changing. Being involved in our community has taught me many things and has helped prepare me for my future. My experiences has helped me grow as a person, it has taught me how to work with others, gave me confidence, and showed me how to help my community through volunteerism. Sports and my club involvement has given me opportunities to take on leadership roles. From being the captain on my team, rallying and leading on the court, to helping organize events like prom, or getting something done when it is needed. Volunteering can bring a community together and can promote trust across diverse groups. I volunteer in food, toy and blood drives, backpack for kids, peewee basketball games and in youth volleyball and basketball camps. I was in a terrible accident when I was sixteen years old. The community rallied behind me and my family when we needed it most. Volunteering gives a great sense of purpose and helps me give back to a community that was there for us. Giving is a way to show empathy and compassion to others. Being part of a community that gave to us, can bring hope, build trust, and be there for others has shown me even the smallest of actions can make a difference in people’s lives. With these experiences, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. This has led me to want to be a nurse by leading me into a field where I can make a positive impact. Overall, bringing communities together and helping one another brings a sense of well being and is vital in this world.

Watch out! That was the last thing I remember screaming. It all happened so fast. The car began flipping over and over. I can still hear the sound of metal crushing and twisting. Small trees and branches snapped as we rolled down the hill, and glass shattered, flying everywhere. When the car came to a stop, I was hanging upside down, still buckled into my seatbelt. It was quiet except for a dripping sound. I tried to open my eyes, but my vision was blurry. That’s when I realized the dripping sound was my blood hitting the roof of the car. We’d just fallen into a forty-five foot ravine, landing upside down. I was sixteen. The hospital at first was chaotic, nurses and doctors scrambling. Iv’s being placed, scans being done, trying to figure out all the damage our bodies had just endured. They told me I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung, and deep lacerations that required reconstructive plastic surgery. I was scared, not knowing what the future would now look like. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. The physical therapist in the hospital was friendly but pushed me. While in recovery, it sparked an interest in nursing, which in turn became a passion. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the nurse that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. After a year of appointments, I was cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I’m resilient and stronger than I ever could’ve imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career as a critical care nurse. Becoming a critical care nurse means I will never stop learning something new and I will continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I’ll have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and take these skill to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. I’ll be a dedicated student, focused and driven by my passion to succeed and to achieve future success that will benefit others. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

10 Things I Hate About You is a 1999 romantic teen comedy. It is loosely based on a William Shakespeare’s play, The Taming of a Shrew. The movie has many different personalities, impactful moments, and life lessons. 10 Things I Hate About You is about a new student, Cameron who falls for Bianca and wants to ask her out. He learns that her dad, an ob/gyn, is anxious about his daughters’ safety and teen pregnancy has a house rule. The rule that will not allow Bianca to date until her older, rebellious, anti social sister Kat dates. Cameron and his friend, Michael come up with a plan but needs money. That is where they convince a vain and arrogant Joey, who also wants to date Bianca, to pay for their scheme. They pay Patrick, the mysterious bad boy to try to get Kat to go out with him so Bianca can date. He agrees to the bet and persistently challenges Kat and continues to engage with her. He makes a grand gesture and publicly serenades her with “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, dancing in the bleachers with the marching band playing. It is one of the most iconic scenes of the movie. It is the turning point in the movie, she agrees to go on a date with him. Joey pays Patrick more money to take Kat to prom so he can take Bianca. Kat refuses at first but then agrees for Bianca. Kat tells Bianca that she dated Joey her freshmen year and that she had given in to his peer pressure and had relations with him, he then broke up with her. Bianca was already seeing how self consumed he was and chose to go to prom with Cameron. At prom Joey was infuriated, approaches Cameron and Michael talking about paying Patrick to date Kat, Kat overhears the conversation and leaves. Joey punches Cameron but Bianca hits Joey for hurting her, Kat and her friends. While initially being paid to date Kat, he is falling for her. In class, students were asked to write a poem. Kat reads her poem in front of the class showing her frustrations with him but also her true feelings, she is falling for him as well. This is another iconic part of the movie, not only does this show her feelings but it wasn’t in the script for her to cry. She did this in one take and that rawness made the poem that more heartfelt. Kat goes to her car after school and sees the guitar she has been wanting in her front seat. Patrick had used the money that Joey had paid him to buy it for her. When he appears, he confesses his love for her and just like every happy ending, she forgives him and they kiss as the movie ends. The movie has all the high school stereotypes and shows different personalities. It gives drama, comedy, love and shows growth and maturity. It had an impact on me by showing me it was okay to be a little fiery and unapologetic at times but also be smart and considerate. It showed me that there is always more to people that what is on the surface and that there is no single way to be a teenage girl. The best description of this movie is from a critic who said this about the film, “we don’t hate it, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all”.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I will never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.   As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled in, all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is extremely blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It wasn’t until then that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. After X-rays and scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. God was watching over us and it is by His grace that we survived that day. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. I am truly blessed to have the best family. They were there for me every step of this long process. I had moments that I was down and I could have let darkness consume me but I chose to have faith and trust in God. My grandma dropped everything and moved in with us to help cook, clean, doctor appointments, take my sister to school, whatever was needed she did. My aunts would come and help with showers and bring food. The community and my school rallied behind us, prayed for us, brought us meals, and if we needed something, it was done. Everyone came together and helped us when we needed them most. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in medicine which in turn became a passion. That passion has led me to nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the medical professional that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. After a year of follow up appointments, I was finally cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted daily. I am back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and will allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. Without the support that I had from my family, friends, school, and my community, I don’t know if I would have been able to get through that trying time. They were a godsend and my lifeline and I will be forever grateful for all of their support. My faith is what I leaned on to get me through the accident and the recovery process. Faith brought me comfort and hope during a difficult and trying time. Life is precious and only God knows when our time is done here on Earth. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem. With education costs spiraling ever higher, a college education is beyond the financial reach of many outstanding students. This scholarship would help me focus on school instead of worrying about the financial barriers. Scholarships will be my main source of being able to further my education financially. I know that there are many deserving applicants but I feel that I am worth the investment for this scholarship due to my passion to succeed and to achieve future success that will benefit others.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I will never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions. As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled in all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It wasn’t until then that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. God was watching over us and it’s by His grace that we survived that day. After X-rays and scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. I’m blessed to have the best family, friends and community. The physical therapist was great, she was firm when she needed to be but kind and comforting at the same time. I could’ve let darkness consume me but I chose to have grace, trust in God and have faith. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked a passion in nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be a nurse that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and will allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could’ve imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Faith can have a major impact in patient care. Faith can bring comfort and hope during difficult and trying times. Faith to me is personal, it is genuine, it is kindness and it is support. Becoming a nurse means I will never stop learning something new and I will continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I will have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. Life is precious and only God knows when our time is done here on Earth. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem. Through all of this I have learned that faith is vital in this world and can potentially be life changing. Faith was there for me when I was struggling emotionally and physically. Faith will always be a part of who I am, as that is how I was raised. Helping one person at a time and then that person paying it forward could have a magnifying impact on all of those who are involved. It is a choice that we can make daily, a simple act of kindness can make an everlasting impact, one act at a time.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. Flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I’ll never forget. Small trees snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.   As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled in, I can hear a dripping sound. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. That dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.   A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. After scans, I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked a passion in nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be a nurse that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and will allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. I now realize how “human touch” can have a major impact in patient care. Human touch can mean many different things but to me it is personal, it is genuine, it is kindness and it is support. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, but something as small as a hug or a pat on the back can mean everything to a person. Kind words of support or checking in on someone shows human touch and can be just as impactful. The recovery from the accident was long, I was in a neck brace and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. I’m blessed to have the best family, friends and community. The physical therapist was great, she was firm and direct when she needed to be but kind and comforting at the same time. I am thankful for the medical staff for doing an amazing job putting me back together but also for having compassion. Becoming a nurse means I will never stop learning something new and I will continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I will have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem. Through all of this I have learned that “human touch” is vital to patient care in this world and can potentially be life changing. Helping one person at a time and them paying it forward could have a magnifying impact on all of those who are involved. It is a choice that we can make daily, a simple act of kindness can make an everlasting impact, one act at a time.

Slow down! Slow down! That’s what I remember screaming. Flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I’ll never forget. Small trees and branches snapping, glass being shattered and flying in all directions.   As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled, all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we’d just survived.  I was sixteen. After X-rays and scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. The doctor said I was millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace and had to rely on others to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a brace was my life for now. I was truly blessed to have the best family and nurses. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in medicine which in turn became a passion. That passion has led me to nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the medical professional that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. After a year of appointments, I was cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that many of us take for granted. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I’m resilient and stronger than I ever could’ve imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and will allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. The compassion shown to me from my family, community, nurses and physical therapists was a true blessing that got me through that trying time. They were a godsend and my lifeline and I’ll be forever grateful for their support. They are the reason that I have found my passion. They have shown me the person, professionally and personally, who and how I want to live my life. Becoming a nurse means I’ll never stop learning something new and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I’ll have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. Life is precious and only God knows when our time is done here on Earth. My goal is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down! Slow down! That’s what I remember screaming. Flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I’ll never forget. Small trees and branches snapping, glass being shattered and flying in all directions.   As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled, all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we’d just survived.  I was sixteen. After X-rays and scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. The doctor said I was millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace and had to rely on others to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a brace was my life for now. I was truly blessed to have the best family and nurses. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in medicine which in turn became a passion. That passion has led me to nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the medical professional that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. After a year of appointments, I was cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that many of us take for granted. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I’m resilient and stronger than I ever could’ve imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and will allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. The compassion shown to me from my family, community, nurses and physical therapists was a true blessing that got me through that trying time. They were a godsend and my lifeline and I’ll be forever grateful for their support. Becoming a nurse means I’ll never stop learning something new and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I’ll have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. Life is precious and only God knows when our time is done here on Earth. My goal is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I’ll never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.   It was spring break, a chilly, early morning. Little did any of us know the events that were about to transpire and the course it would take to get back to our new “normal”. As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled, all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It was then that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. After X-rays and scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. The doctor said I was mere millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace for months and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in medicine which in turn became a passion. That passion has led me to nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the medical professional that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. After a year of follow up appointments, I was finally cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I’m resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and will allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. Becoming a ER nurse means I’ll never stop learning something new and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I will have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I’ll never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.   It was spring break, a chilly, early morning. Little did any of us know the events that were about to transpire and the course it would take to get back to our new “normal”. As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled, all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It was then that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. After X-rays and scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. The doctor said I was mere millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace for months and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in medicine which in turn became a passion. That passion has led me to nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the medical professional that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. After a year of follow up appointments, I was finally cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I’m resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and will allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. Becoming a nurse means I’ll never stop learning something new and I’ll continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I will have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I will never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.   It was spring break, an early morning and a chilly one.  My mom, me and my sister were headed to my nanny’s house to visit with her and to take her shopping. Little did any of us know the events that were about to transpire and the course it would take to get back to our new “normal”. As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled in all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is extremely blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It wasn’t until then that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. After X-rays and scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. The doctor said I was mere millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace for months and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. I am truly blessed to have the best family. They were there for me every step of this long process. My grandma dropped everything and moved in with us to help cook, clean, doctor appointments, take my sister to school, whatever was needed she did. My aunts would come and help with showers and bring food. Everyone came together and helped us when we needed them most. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in medicine which in turn became a passion. That passion has led me to nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the medical professional that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. After a year of follow up appointments, I was finally cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted daily. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and will allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. Without the support that I had from my family, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to get through that trying time. They were a godsend and my lifeline and I will be forever grateful for all of their support. Becoming a nurse means I will never stop learning something new and I will continue to build on my strengths. Every patient will teach me invaluable life lessons and continue to change me for the better. I will have the opportunity to empower patients and the ability to bring understanding and comfort during difficult times. Life is precious and only God knows when our time is done here on Earth. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I will never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.   It was spring break, an early morning and a chilly one. Little did any of us know the events that were about to transpire and the course it would take to get back to our new “normal”. As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled, all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It wasthen that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old.The ambulance ride seemed fast and we got to the hospital in no time. The hospital at first was chaotic, nurses and doctors scrambling. Iv’s being placed, scans and X-rays being done, trying to figure out all the damage our bodies had just endured. I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. The doctor said I was mere millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace for months and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. We are truly blessed to have the best family, friends and community. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in medicine which in turn became a passion. That passion has led me to nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the medical professional that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. After a year of follow up appointments, I was finally cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and will allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I am committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I will never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.   As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled in, all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It wasn’t until then that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. After scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. The doctor said I was mere millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace for months and had to rely on family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. My grandma moved in with us to help cook, clean, doctor appointments, whatever was needed she did. My aunts helped with showers and brought food. Everyone came together and helped us when we needed them most. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in medicine which in turn became a passion. That passion has led me to nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the medical professional that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. After a year of follow up appointments, I was finally cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted daily. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and will allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. With education costs spiraling ever higher, a college education is beyond the financial reach of many outstanding students. As a first generation college student, I want to make my family proud. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem. An education will help me do that.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I will never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.   As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled in, all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It wasn’t until then that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. After scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. The doctor said I was mere millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace for months and had to rely on family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. My grandma moved in with us to help cook, clean, doctor appointments, whatever was needed she did. My aunts helped with showers and brought food. Everyone came together and helped us when we needed them most. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in medicine which in turn became a passion. That passion has led me to nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the medical professional that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. After a year of follow up appointments, I was finally cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted daily. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and will allow me to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. Without the support from my family, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to get through that trying time. They were a godsend, my lifeline, and I will be forever grateful for their support. Life is precious and only God knows when our time is done here on Earth. My goal in life is to “come as you are but leave as you are meant to be”. I’m committed to having a positive impact and being intentional by improving the lives of others, no matter how small the action might seem.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I will never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.   As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled in all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is extremely blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It wasn’t until then that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. After X-rays and scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. The doctor said I was mere millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. The recovery was long, I was in a neck brace for months and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. Getting in and out of bed was a two person job and showering in a neck brace was my life for now. I am truly blessed to have the best family. They were there for me every step of this long process. My grandma dropped everything and moved in with us to help cook, clean, doctor appointments, take my sister to school, whatever was needed she did. My aunts would come and help with showers and bring food. Everyone came together and helped us when we needed them most. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in medicine which in turn became a passion. That passion has led me to nursing. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better nurse. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the medical professional that shows grace, kindness and comforts in a time that it is needed most. After months in a brace and a year of follow up appointments, I was finally cleared by the doctors. I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted daily. I’m back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. The accident has taught me to have a greater appreciation for life and that I am resilient and stronger than I ever could have imagined. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in nursing. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and take these skill to be a positive contributor in this world. With education, faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back. Without the support that I had from my family, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to get through that trying time. They were a godsend and my lifeline and I will be forever grateful for all of their support.

The smell of homemade banana bread and homemade biscuits coming from my nanny’s kitchen is a memory that I will never forget. She loved her family and loved watching all her grandchildren play in whatever sport they were in at any given time. We made the best memories staying in hotels at all of our travel games. She was so full of life. In October, that all changed when my parents told us that nanny had cirrhosis of the liver. I couldn’t fully comprehend cirrhosis because I never saw that side of her, I guess that was by design. The cirrhosis was vicious to her and quickly you could see the effects of her liver shutting down. She started to turn yellow and the pounds were just melting off of her. She wouldn’t eat and a liver transplant seemed to slip further away day by day. It was devastating watching her go from being such a vibrant person to someone who was so weak and frail. She could barely walk on her own and was almost unrecognizable. It was the last day of spring break, an early morning and a chilly one. My mom, me and my sister were headed to my nanny’s house to visit with her and take her shopping. We wanted to get her out of the house and to lift her spirits. She has always loved to shop. Without any of us having to say it out loud, we all knew the shopping trip would not last long. She was so weak at that point, we would be lucky if she could make it through one store. Even at sixteen years old, I could feel the uneasiness, tension and worry in the air. In knowing all of this, we still wanted to try and give her a fun uplifting day. Little did any of us know that the course of all of our lives was about to change forever. I never made it to my nanny’s house that day nor did I ever get to see her again. We were so close, maybe two miles to go. We were in a horrible car accident, flipping twice down a forty five foot ravine. I fractured my neck and spine in six spots, had a collapsed lung and had to have plastic surgery for all my facial lacerations. I was in a neck brace for months and could barely get around. The accident happened March 22nd and two and a half weeks later on April 9th, my nanny passed away. I never got to say goodbye and it all seemed so unfinished. I have found that writing helped as an emotional outlet for me. It can have the most astonishing healing power and given me some peace with it all. Writing doesn’t judge, it allows me to express my feelings and has gotten me through some very tough times. I know it’s a little cliche but my family is the biggest influence in my life. We have been through a lot but are always there for each other and have never faltered. With everything medically we have encountered, I have found that I want to go to college to be a CRNA. With education and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I will never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.  How did we end up here?   As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled in all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is extremely blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It wasn’t until then that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down on our roof is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. After X-rays and scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. Mere millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. Isaiah 41:10 offers reassurance and strength from God, “Do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen, protect and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” I know God was with us that day of the accident and protected us from what could have been a train ending. My mom grew up in church and she instilled that same love of faith in all of her children. Faith is a big part of our lives and who we are. We are active in our church and I am a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes at my high school. The recovery was long, was in a neck brace and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. I could have let darkness consume me but I chose to have grace, trust in God and have faith. It is by God’s grace that we survived that day. Our suv now looked like a small car that had been through a compactor. It is when you pass a wreck and see a car that is so unrecognizable and you immediately start to pray for them, knowing that the likelihood of anyone surviving is highly unlikely, that is was what our suv looked like. Eventually I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted daily. I am back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. I now live with on and off back pain and facial scars but I’m alive. The accident has altered my life forever but God has showed me to have a greater appreciation for life. With education, my faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I will never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.  How did we end up here?   As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled in all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is extremely blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It wasn’t until then that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.     A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down on our roof is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. After X-rays and scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. Mere millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. Isaiah 41:10 offers reassurance and strength from God, “Do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen, protect and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” I know God was with us that day of the accident and protected us from what could have been a train ending. My mom grew up in church and she instilled that same love of faith in all of her children. Faith is a big part of our lives and who we are. We are active in our church and I am a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes at my high school. The recovery was long, was in a neck brace and had to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks. I could have let darkness consume me but I chose to have grace, trust in God and have faith. It is by God’s grace that we survived that day. Our suv now looked like a small car that had been through a compactor. It is when you pass a wreck and see a car that is so unrecognizable and you immediately start to pray for them, knowing that the likelihood of anyone surviving is highly unlikely, that is was what our suv looked like. Eventually I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted daily. I am back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. I now live with on and off back pain and facial scars but I’m alive. The accident has altered my life forever but God has showed me to have a greater appreciation for life. With education, my faith and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back.

Writing doesn’t judge. Writing doesn’t judge. Writing doesn’t care who you are or where you came from. People from all walks of life, whether it is the wealthy businesswoman or the janitor, writing can have the same impact to both. Writing can have the most astonishing healing power. It can be an emotional outlet on the best of days but most likely and more importantly the worst of days. It allows people to express their feelings and for some to tap into their creative imaginations. Those words are from your experiences and can be very insightful on your own personal growth. Writing permits communication from all across the world in an instant. It can be a personal connection between two best friends that now live hundreds of miles away. It could be of a professional nature with a dynamic connection between two corporations that may not even speak the same language. Writing impacts advocacy by providing a platform and raising awareness to a specific cause. Intentionally shaping how people think and encouraging them to act in a certain way can inspire action on a global scale. Metaphorically, writing can transport you to the endless possibilities of places that your imagination can take you. A compelling story can take a reader all over the world to different countries, different time periods or even a completely fictional world, all without having to leave their seats. My name is Ava Williams and I am from a small town Elkins, Arkansas. I love reading and have found that I am most drawn to the young adult novel classifications. In turn with my love for reading and reading an abundant amount of books, I am now writing my own novel. My novel may never see the light of day but I am proud of myself for being brave enough to put my own words to paper to make a story come to life. I will continue to write and one day finish my novel. Writing is a creative and a stress relieving outlet for me that will help me throughout my lifetime. It can help spark imaginations and for those few moments of time, nothing else matters. In conclusion, the power of writing is profusely impacting the world. It is a fundamental human skill that empowers individuals to inform each other, facilitates connections, impacts reflections, can have a creative impact and can be a tool for self expression making it a critical skill for influencing the world and the people.

Slow down! Slow down! That is what I remember screaming at my sister. The feeling of flipping over and over and the crunching sound of metal is something I will never forget. Small trees and branches snapping and glass being shattered and flying in all directions.  How did we end up here?   As I lie hanging upside down, still buckled in all I can hear is a dripping sound.  I try to open my eyes but my vision is extremely blurry. I wipe my face and feel my eyelid hanging over my eye. It wasn’t until then that I realized that dripping sound was my blood dripping on the roof of the car.   My name is Ava Williams and I am a senior at Elkins High School. I work, play basketball, volleyball, and I am an active church member. I am involved in student council, a student ambassador, FCA and on the junior bank board. I volunteer in food, toy and blood drives, backpack for kids, peewee basketball games and in youth volleyball and basketball camps.  I love animals, reading and family time. A forty five foot ravine, landing upside down on our roof is what we had just survived.  I was sixteen years old. After X-rays and scans, I was told I had six fractures in my neck and spine, a collapsed lung and needed reconstructive plastic surgery for my facial lacerations. Mere millimeters away from being paralyzed and losing an eye. The accident has provided first hand knowledge of how critical medical staff makes on most often one of the worse times in our lives. I now understand the frustrations and defenselessness you can feel during this time. I want to have a positive impact and make the best experience possible. I want to be the medical professional that shows grace and comforts in a time that it is needed most. Passion-an intense desire for something. While in recovery from the accident, it sparked an interest in medicine which in turn became a passion. I’ve been drawn to anesthesia. The passion comes from my experience and the understanding that I now have and will allow me to be a better CRNA. Eventually I was able to get back to doing things that so many of us take for granted daily. I am back to driving, sports, school, working, volunteering and doing everything that I can to pursue my dreams. I now live with on and off back pain and facial scars but I’m alive and now have a greater appreciation for life. This accident has altered my life forever but has also helped me realize that I know want to pursue a career in the medical field. I am grateful that I experienced these things in my life because it showed me why I want to be a CRNA. Furthering my education will help me achieve my dreams and aspirations and take these skill to be a positive contributor in this world. With education and my experience, I can magnify my impact to improve the lives of others and be able to give back.