It may be cliché but my greatest achievement(s) is the steps I took in 2018 to pursue a new and brighter future for myself and my daughter. I had been in an abusive marriage since 2014 and over the four years of that relationship I had become a shell of my former self. Always deferring to my partner and never standing up for myself or for what I knew was right. Every day felt like walking on egg shells, with the sole purpose of avoiding making a mistake and only seeking to appease my spouse. The problem was that no matter what I did—a mistake would always be made. Some days the offense would be as simple as not opening the windows that morning to let in fresh air, other days it would be because I had family over to visit when he had not give express approval. My obstacles sound so small when I put them to paper, yet having experienced them I know they were not insignificant. Over coming them and beginning to live and build a future for myself instead of merely surviving: that is my achievement. My first step was beginning online classes through my local college, with a pell grant and doing them at night, he didn't stop me. I was looking for a way out and making an escape plan so to speak. That November I decided I would do a three month EMT program starting in January. Telling him of these plans caused quite the backlash. I was told I couldn't be a good mother to my two year old and that it was an unacceptable course of action that he wouldn't pay for. Luckily for me, I had an excellent credit score and had already been approved for a new credit card with a 0% interest promotion for the next year and a half. Naturally, I paid for the course using that new card and continued to plan my escape. It was a few days into December, the tree was up and decorations filled the house. As you may have guessed by now, my house was anything but peaceful, festive, or happy. I told him that morning before he left for work that I was done being mistreated, I was done being a prisoner, that I knew I deserved a good life filled with all the things I had lived without up until that day: Peace, Joy, Respect, happiness, Love, Stability, and most importantly a life without Fear. He didn't believe me, waterworks were turned on and he told me to wait until he got home and he'd make it right. Having heard that song and dance more than a time or two I knew the truth, I still had to get out. My then husband went to work and I called my sister, in a matter of hours we gathered my personal belongings, my daughter, and left. I went to my parents home and for the first time in four years I could breath. As soon as he learned of what had happened the threats started to roll in. Consequently, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I had done the right thing. The following moths were filled with terror and encompassed the hardest time in my life. I did complete the EMT program, I faced my oppressor in court, and applied to a nursing program (into which I was accepted the following August). Court was an easy enough affair after being told he'd have to pay child support he dropped all rights to my daughter rather than pay to contribute to her care and raising. Since then I have diligently taken every step and opportunity offered to me to better my life and my daughter's life. From this victory and achievement I learned so much about myself. I learned that I am strong, intelligent, resilient, and a survivor in my own right. I learned that self care is integral to living a happy life and that the environment I put myself and my daughter in plays an central role in our state of being. More than anything I learned that no matter how unsure my future is, that I am capable of achieving whatever I set my mind to. I am beyond grateful that they are now within reach, and that through generous gifts and scholarships I am able to pay for an education that I know I will be able to put to good use.

It may be cliché but my greatest achievement truly is a sequence of steps I took in 2018 to pursue a new and brighter future for myself and my daughter. I had been in an abusive marriage since 2014 and over the four years of that relationship I had become a shell of my former self. Always deferring to my partner and never standing up for myself or for what I knew was right. Every day felt like walking on egg shells, with the sole purpose of avoiding making a mistake and only seeking to appease my spouse. The problem was that no matter what I did—a mistake would always be made. Some days the offense would be as simple as not opening the windows that morning to let in fresh air, other days it would be because I had family over to visit when he had not give express approval. My obstacles sound so small when I put them to paper, yet having experienced them I know they were not insignificant. Over coming them and beginning to live and build a future for myself instead of merely surviving: that is my achievement. My first step was beginning online classes through my local college, with a pell grant and doing them at night, he didn't stop me. I was looking for a way out and making an escape plan so to speak. That November I decided I would do a three month EMT program starting in January. Telling him of these plans caused quite the backlash. I was told I couldn't be a good mother to my two year old and that it was an unacceptable course of action that he wouldn't pay for. Luckily for me, I had an excellent credit score and had already been approved for a new credit card with a 0% interest promotion for the next year and a half. Naturally, I paid for the course using that new card and continued to plan my escape. It was a few days into December, the tree was up and decorations filled the house. As you may have guessed by now, my house was anything but peaceful, festive, or happy. I told him that morning before he left for work that I was done being mistreated, I was done being a prisoner, that I knew I deserved a good life filled with all the things I had lived without up until that day: Peace, Joy, Respect, happiness, Love, Stability, and most importantly a life without Fear. He didn't believe me, waterworks were turned on and he told me to wait until he got home and he'd make it right. Having heard that song and dance more than a time or two I knew the truth, I still had to get out. My then husband went to work and I called my sister, in a matter of hours we gathered my personal belongings, my daughter, and left. I went to my parents home and for the first time in four years I could breath. As soon as he learned of what had happened the threats started to roll in. Consequently, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I had done the right thing. The following moths were filled with terror and encompassed the hardest time in my life. I did complete the EMT program, I faced my oppressor in court, and applied to a nursing program (into which I was accepted the following August). Court was an easy enough affair after being told he'd have to pay child support he dropped all rights to my daughter rather than pay to contribute to her care and raising. Since then I have had the power to cut off all ties to that man and have diligently taken every step and opportunity offered to me to better my life and my daughter's life. From this victory and achievement I learned so much about myself. I learned that I am strong, intelligent, resilient, and a survivor in my own right. I learned that self care is integral to living a happy life and that the environment I put myself and my daughter in plays an central role in our state of being. More than anything I learned that no matter how unsure my future is, that I am capable of achieving whatever I set my mind to. That with the support of those around me, I can achieve heights that I previously had only ever dreamed of. I am beyond grateful that they are now within reach, and that through generous gifts and scholarships I am able to pay for an education that I know I will be able to put to good use. Ultimately I plan to become a CRNA, but this semester has had a huge focus on mental health and survivors of abuse. I feel as though I have a unique empathy and understanding for individuals that have suffered through these things. Part of me is beginning to wonder how I can contribute as a Nurse to their care and rehabilitation. One thing is for certain—I do plan on being the best person I can be, Nurse, Student, advocate, or otherwise. Thank you for consideration and I hope that you decide to support me in my endeavors.

Nothing is better that hiking with your brestfriend! My favorite past time is taking my boy on hikes or camping in the mountains of Arkansas and telling everyone as they pass by and remark about him being the most beautiful husky they've seen, "He's not a Husky." Then they ask us his name (it's Grey) and we get to hear a snarky comment on how he's not grey, he's red! Only fellow malamute owners will appreciate the struggle we go through to educate the public on our lovable one of a kind breed. BriannaPaigeSon

As you will find on my profile, I was once a victim of abuse. During my transition from victim to survivor I experienced moments of clarity, some of which were realizing that I was not me anymore. At one point as I went to take a shower I saw a post stating that someone can tell you over and over again to leave or walk away from a bad situation, but it will not matter until they are ready. Something clicked and I knew I was almost ready. The time that sticks out the most was my light bulb moment. My husband had been home that morning and spent the majority of his time outside while I made him tea and breakfast. He came in, ate, and then sat on the couch on his phone. Around 2pm came and as I looked at him I began to beam with utter happiness, it almost felt like euphoria. Then he looked at me and asked me why I looked to happy, and as the words left my mouth to answer his question I at once realized how broken I was, "Its just today had been so good, I'm so happy and I wish every day could be like this." As soon as I finished the sentence I left the room and sat down, stunned. There was nothing special about that day. A few hours of not being yelled at, berated, or abused was all that I had been given. Every day was supposed to be like that. There I was acting like he had just given me tickets to Paris or preformed some grand romantic gesture, when in reality all he had done was forget that I existed for a day. That was the beginning of my new life. I knew that I wanted to experience each day like that and that life had so much more to offer than what I had been settling for. Soon after I left, took my daughter, and filed for divorce. He was served with papers on my birthday, I even kept the receipt as a reminder of the best gift I ever gave myself: Freedom.

I chose to go into nursing because of familiarity and necessity at first. I escaped an abusive relationship in December of 2018, on my birthday in fact. I needed a way to provide for myself and my daughter and launched myself onto a path I never knew I would love so dearly. My mother is a nurse, so naturally as a teen she encouraged me to follow her path and I rejected the idea because I wanted to be my own person and find my own way. I had no idea what all nursing meant then, or how many avenues and options are available to you when you chose to pursue it. Even now, as I approach my associates degree graduation date, and have tentative plans for the future, new ideas constantly pour into my head about what I could do in the future. Recently I was speaking to a friend about why I enjoyed clinical so much. The truth is, I love being a good person. I like being able to give kindness, honesty, empathy, and understanding without having to expect anything un return from them. When I leave clinical everyday, I feel in my soul, I was meant for this, this is my path. It is a feeling I think we all pursue and wish to experience. Times that showcase my abilities and potential as a nurse are the days when I get to be there for a patient, advocate for, and listen to them. Most all of us can learn nursing skills, we can ventilate, insert a foley, clean a central line, and learn to insert a picc line if we set our minds to it. What makes a great nurse is not any of those things though. It is something that can not be taught, it is the feeling you have when co-workers are talking about the crazy patient down the hall and you want to go to her and understand her. It the desire to ensure they recieve the highest standard of care, not because its policy, but because they are people who we get to impact and have the potential to be a force of good and positivity in their lives. I believe I embody these traits. Last semester I had the crazy patient at the end of the hall. A type one diabetic who also happend to be homeless and have a substance abuse problem. She was my patient for the day and I was determined to understand and help her. The diagnosis that brought her in was DKA. She was far from crazy, her disease was poorly managed and even though she had been living with type 1 since she was a teen she didn't have the education or the resources to manage it properly. I before releasing her I asked about her medications, which she could barely afford. She informed me that she didn't even have syringes to be able to administer her insulin. That day I did my best to educate or on self care and advocate for her to be able to recieve resources. At the very least I wanted to ensure she had insulin syringes so that she would be able to administer what insulin she did have after discharge. The main thing remember about this story, is the feeling I had, it was a compulsion to advocate for her and ensure that I gave her the best chance she could have regardless of what others thought.