My name is Beulah, and I am a proud Igbo girl from Nigeria, bearing my father's local surname, ONUZURIKE. It has always been my dream to practice in the medical field. Since I was in secondary school, I've wanted to pursue higher education in the United States. I always knew that education, especially in the medical profession provided more opportunities and experienced learning. Yes, there are good universities in my country, I just saw that higher education in the United States would offer me the best possible education I need to be an outstanding professional in my field of expertise. Coming to the US is a dream come true but has proven to be difficult to get through. As a Nigerian, being in a nursing class where you are the only black and the only international student can be challenging as it can be difficult to communicate. Also, experiencing culture shock in how people greet here, the food, and the weather was also part of the difficulty. But despite this, I have learned to adapt to all these changes. I have learned to embrace my differences and how to communicate clearly. I have even made friends with most of them by learning effective social skills. Also, having to pay school fees in dollars has proven to be difficult. The exchange rate back in my country keeps increasing and my parents keep sacrificing to pay my fees. Because of this,I became prudent in my spending and got a work-study job on campus at the health center. I got this job to assist my parents in the small way I can. Also, I work hard to maintain a high GPA so that their sacrifice is not in vain. One person that inspires me is my dad. My dad instilled in me a mindset that eliminated any form of impossibilities or doubt. My dad could not further his education at the university right after secondary school because of financial issues. This did not stop him later in life from going to the university. On January 19, 2022, my dad graduated with a Business Administration degree from the University of Lagos after 5 years of schooling there. Although he was a businessman with 4 children to take care of, this did not stop his dream of wanting to attend university. He worked so hard and was diligent in his academics. I remember in high school when I would wake up in the middle of the night to see my father reading lecture notes and textbooks. And it all paid off because he achieved that dream. My father always said that if he could achieve this at his age, we, his children, could aim higher and be better. And that is why I work so hard in my academics, just like my dad, to attain my dream of becoming an excellent nurse. Right after I graduate I plan to start working as a pediatrics nurse at any hospital where I am employed. I believe being a nurse is more than a career opportunity. It is a platform to impact life for the better. I would be compassionate, selfless in service, and caring to patients. I would also ensure that every patient receives the best quality healthcare provision during their stay in the hospital. I would ensure that the patient's needs are effectively communicated and attended to.