Pağlan, atiitia Aktchaq. Hello, my name is Bessie Mae Bethany Star Ertel. I am a proud Inupiaq woman and mother who is seeking higher education to become a registered nurse. I am from Qikiqtaġruk, or Kotzebue, Alaska. During my high school years, I moved from my small village to a town I saw as a city. In this transition, I left everything familiar to me. It was my choice to transfer to the new school; I left my entire family, friends, and everything I was a part of. My mother encouraged my education and allowed me to leave home at the early age of sixteen. I must give thanks to my mother; she raised four children herself, and she worked, sometimes multiple jobs, with dedication and love for her children. I will be a nurse to care for her in return. My current grade point average with Nightingale College is 3.59. I am considered a sophomore. Now enrolled full-time in a nursing college, I spend between 7 to 10 hours working on assignments and studying each day. As a new full-time parent and a full-time student, it is a great balancing act indeed. If I may share a memory from my youth, an elder held my hands and told me God would bless these hands. I did not understand then, but now I treasure it as a marker in my life guiding me to where I am as a medical professional. As a prior EMT, I volunteered to lead CPR-BLS and babysitting teaching courses. I also became a Registered Behavioral Technician where I worked directly with adolescents with Down syndrome. I have been told I have a naturally nurturing personality, and this has served me well in motherhood and the medical field. As my goal is to become a registered nurse, I plan to work in specific fields of emergency medicine and pediatrics. I have a great love for children and those in need; I feel adept at handling high-stress situations in a calm and collected manner. I have a drive to excel. In that drive, I am determined to succeed in college and obtain my nursing degree. My identity lies in my culture and newfound motherhood: resilient, caring, respectful, and a thriving community. I am a proud Inupiaq woman. I was raised in traditional Inuit ways, respecting the land and our elders, and so I hope my goal in nursing is honorable to my heritage. I want to honor my mother; I am the first in my family to strive for a college degree, and I plan to take care of all her financial stresses and provide my home as her home. I am now attending clinical rotations for hands-on nurse training. The college requires travel and lodging at the student’s expense. Balancing the responsibilities of a family while pursuing higher education presents financial challenges. The financial support provided by scholarships will allow me to focus more wholeheartedly on my studies and achieving my educational goals, without the constant worry of financial strain, and provide a stable environment for my family during this important phase of my academic journey. I remain determined to pursue a brighter future for myself and my daughter, upholding the values instilled by my culture and my mother's example. I would like to thank the Stephanie Staggers Curtis Memorial Scholarship for this opportunity. Taikuu (thank you)