When my grandmother was diagnosed with dementia in 2015, it became a turning point that recast life for our family and deepened our sense of responsibility. As she gradually declined, the burden fell squarely on my mother and I as her primary caretakers, even to the mundane tasks for her. It was a challenging experience that not only brought us to our physical and mental limits, but yet it brought us closer and taught us patience, resilience, and understanding. The care for my grandmother required constant vigilance: responding immediately to changes in her condition, physical or emotional. As her dementia progressed, she lost the clarity of communication and put my mother and me in a place where we'd have to observe or instinctively tell when something was not right. The feeling of this responsibility, as well as increasing frustrations from being overlooked by the healthcare system, sometimes made us feel alienated. Yet, we never gave up on our commitment to making sure that she was comfortable and safe. My grandmother died from sepsis in January 2024. The circumstances surrounding her death were extremely painful, not only because of the loss itself, but because we felt her passing could have been prevented. The healthcare professionals attributed the symptoms of sepsis to her dementia and ignored our concerns about a wound that became infected. The experience opened my eyes to how the healthcare system can fail the most vulnerable individuals-especially those who cannot advocate for themselves. It has strengthened my resolve to pursue a career where I am in the position to be a voice for those who are not heard, and to work on ensuring that each patient's voice-the voice of his family-is respected and heard. I am currently working toward a nursing degree and anticipate graduating in 2025. I am a future African American nurse committed to being an advocate for compassion within underserved communities. Currently, I need the extra financial support that will help pay for my last semester, and this scholarship will bring me one step closer to living my dream. I have come to realize that it is not possible for one person to change the healthcare system. However, I will be that voice for the absent-minded, ones so easily forgotten, and see to it that they are treated with respect and care. Thank you so much for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

A first-generation African American college student, I have been deeply respectful of the resilience of my parents and the life challenges they faced in making the lives of our family members better. Growing up, I witnessed how my parents fought through so many adverse conditions to sustain a bright future for me. This developed in my mind a strong urge not only to overcome these challenges but also to make sure that coming generations do not undergo the same difficulties. More than academic upgrading, college is about transformation and empowerment. I'm a first-generation college graduate, so I'm having to figure it all out myself. Whether it be understanding loans, scholarships, and grants, or being versed in the nuances of the college application process, I took full responsibility for making sure I was successful. While these challenges have indeed been difficult in and of themselves, they have equally as taught me resiliency, independence, and the importance of self-advocacy. I know that through their overcoming, I am more prepared to pay back to future generations the kind of guidance I never had so they, too, may pursue with confidence their dreams. My path in life has instilled in me deeply rooted beliefs about hard work, service, and community. I don't believe success is an individual thing; success is how our achievements uplift and serve others around us. These barriers have taught me that every struggle has a purpose greater than our personal battles, and often our growth is interwoven with others' empowerment. This belief catalyzes my urge to give back to society and create opportunities for the growth of people. This is paramount to me because education and career advancements are tools for effecting lasting impacts, not just on our lives but in society as a whole. Pursuing a nursing degree is therefore a direct manifestation of a deeper commitment that I have sought to make within my own community. Being an African American, the health disparities affecting minorities in the United States hit very close to home. From the inability to access quality health care to systemic biases in medical institutions, African Americans face unique challenges in getting equal care. As a nurse, I want to stand on the leading edge of healthcare and have a helping hand in bridging these disparities in care. I hope I could foster a system in which patients from different backgrounds received needed care, respect, and attention they deserved. The other than direct work with patients, I would want to advocate in policy changes that tackle the very root of the health care disparities. I believe in representation and changing systems in healthcare. When patients see healthcare professionals who look like them, have come from where they come from, it's much easier for them to feel seen, heard, and understood. A career in nursing was, therefore, the avenue to be sure that my presence makes a difference, particularly for African American patients, who are often treated like some mystery and enjoy minimal comprehensive and compassionate care. This journey has not been about personal success but a legacy that would extend a helping hand and help springboard my community into myriad possibilities. In my mind's eye, I foresee the day when my work and experience will help to break some of the cycles of poverty and educational disadvantages that have plagued African American communities. I want to make sure my children and others coming behind them will not have to struggle as I did but can benefit from the foundation that I am working so hard to establish. Ultimately, my interest in nursing is more than the desire to treat an illness, but rather to instill hope, establish trust, and create change. I am determined in using my education and career as tools to advocate for my community and fight for a future in which healthcare disparities no longer exist. With hard work, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to my goals, I know that I can positively affect my family and my community.

Being a woman of African American descent has made me aware of how healthcare providers sometimes fail to consider my specific needs when it comes to mental health issues. The significance of health care cannot be overstated; however it is frequently simplified to medications and immediate solutions than delving into the root causes. This approach fails to recognize the nature of health that is impacted by diverse elements such as culture and socio economic status—a reality that holds particular relevance, for African Americans who encounter institutional bias and economic hardships alongside enduring intergenerational trauma. My aim is to introduce an culturally sensitive perspective, to health services that are cost effective and easy to reach out for everyone in need of care in this area of healthcare concern as I pursue a career as a nurse in the coming days ahead of me. I intend to establish environments where patients can share their thoughts without fear of judgment and receive the support they need while collaborating with groups to offer mental health assistance through various means such as workshops and counseling sessions that are convenient. Additionally my goal is to contribute to advocacy efforts for health policies aimed at enhancing backing and extending mental wellness services in communities that lack proper access, to such resources. I aim to transform health care into more, than a service – I want it to become a system built on empathy and fairness for all those seeking help.

As a first-generation African American college student, my journey toward higher education has been shaped by a profound respect for my parents' resilience and the challenges they faced to create a better life for our family. Growing up, I watched them navigate numerous obstacles, all while striving to create opportunities for me. Witnessing their struggles and sacrifices gave me a strong desire not only to overcome these challenges, but also to ensure that future generations will not face the same difficulties. College is more than an educational opportunity to me; it is a platform for transformation and empowerment. Coming from a family with no prior experience in higher education, I had to navigate every step alone. Whether learning about loans, scholarships, and grants or understanding the complexities of the college application process, I took on the responsibility of ensuring my own success. While these obstacles have been challenging, they have also taught me resilience, independence, and the importance of self-advocacy. In overcoming these challenges, I feel equipped to provide future generations with the guidance I did not have, empowering them to achieve their dreams with confidence. Pursuing a degree in nursing is a direct extension of my commitment to uplift my community. As an African American, I am acutely aware of the health disparities that disproportionately affect minorities in the United States. From limited access to quality healthcare to systemic biases within medical institutions, African Americans face unique challenges in obtaining equitable treatment. My goal as a nurse is to work at the forefront of healthcare, bridging the gap in these disparities. I hope to foster a system where patients of all backgrounds receive the care, respect, and attention they deserve. In addition to working directly with patients, I aim to advocate for policy changes that address the root causes of healthcare inequities. I believe that representation is essential in transforming healthcare systems. When patients see healthcare professionals who reflect their backgrounds and understand their experiences, they are more likely to feel seen, heard, and understood. By pursuing a career in nursing, I am committed to ensuring that my presence can make a difference, particularly for African American patients who often face unique barriers to receiving comprehensive and compassionate care. This journey has not only been about personal success but also about leaving a legacy that will serve as a stepping stone for others in my community. I envision a future where my knowledge and experiences can help break cycles of poverty and educational disadvantages within African American communities. I want to make certain that my children and others who follow do not have to struggle as I did, but can instead benefit from the foundation I am working so hard to establish. Ultimately, my pursuit of nursing is not just about treating illness but about inspiring hope, building trust, and enacting change. I am determined to use my education and career as tools to advocate for my community and work toward a future where healthcare disparities are a thing of the past. Through hard work, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to my goals, I am confident that I can make a meaningful difference in both my family and my community.

My name is Brianna Williams and in the future, I see myself as a proud First Generation African American Certified Nursing Midwife. Right now? I am a nursing student who is having trouble paying for her last semester of nursing school. I am extremely passionate about helping others and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to patients. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionately affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants and medical mistrust, which is another thing I am very passionate about. There is a lot of mistrust in healthcare, especially amongst the African American community and this is due to a variety of factors. These factors could be from widely known unethical experiences, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploration of African American Slaves, or even experiences that people have been though personally with their healthcare providers that they just were not comfortable with. Although medical mistrust is not talked about a lot, it is a very important topic. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the providers orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and this is something that I am passionate about because this is something that directly affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. Relating it back to why I want to be a nurse, as an African American female, I completely understand the hesitance with seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that was subpar at best and it made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care really does deter you from seeing them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. Especially to those who are underrepresented and disregarded in healthcare. Thank you so much for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

My name is Brianna Williams and my dream is to be a nurse. To specify, I want to work as either a labor and delivery nurse, a women's health nurse, or a pediatric nurse. I am extremely passionate about aiding others and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to patients. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionately affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants and medical mistrust, which is another thing I am very passionate about. There is a lot of mistrust in healthcare, especially amongst the African American community and this is due to a variety of factors. These factors could be from widely known unethical experiences, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploration of African American Slaves, or even experiences that people have been through personally with their healthcare providers that they just were not comfortable with. Although medical mistrust is not talked about a lot, it is a very important topic. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the providers orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and is something that I am passionate about because this is something that affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. Relating it back to why I want to be a nurse, as an African American female, I completely understand the hesitance with seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that was subpar at best and it made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care really does deter you from seeing them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. Thank you for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

My name is Brianna Williams and my dream is to be a nurse. To specify, I want to work as either a labor and delivery nurse, a women's health nurse, or a pediatric nurse. I am extremely passionate about aiding others and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to patients. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionately affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants and medical mistrust, which is another thing I am very passionate about. There is a lot of mistrust in healthcare, especially amongst the African American community and this is due to a variety of factors. These factors could be from widely known unethical experiences, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploration of African American Slaves, or even experiences that people have been through personally with their healthcare providers that they just were not comfortable with. Although medical mistrust is not talked about a lot, it is a very important topic. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the providers orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and is something that I am passionate about because this is something that affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. Relating it back to why I want to be a nurse, as an African American female, I completely understand the hesitance with seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that was subpar at best and it made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care really does deter you from seeing them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. Thank you for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

My name is Brianna Williams and I aspire to be a nurse. I knew that nursing was something I wanted to do since I was a little girl. Helping people was something that always came naturally to me. I was previously enrolled in an associate's nursing program, but certain events transpiring at school combined with the circumstances going on at home, caused my downfall, leaving me to start over completely. My grandmother was diagnosed with dementia in 2017. Along with her dementia, she was dealing with depression from no longer being able to work or go out on her own anymore. I had to pick up the slack at home and take care of my grandmother when my mom was at work. It was hard to study at home with my grandmother’s dementia progressing and her needs had to come before anything. When I was home, I did not have time for myself between caring for my grandmother and watching after my siblings. I questioned whether or not I should quit school at this time. The inability to find study methods that worked for me along with the inability to find the time to study, with my already limited time, is what really affected my grades. Clinically I excelled, but it was not enough to bring my grades up. I do not regret having to care for my grandmother, but I do regret that my grades started to drop. I was dropped from the program, but I applied to other nursing programs after this. Unfortunately, I was not accepted into any of them. I thought I would never get another chance at nursing, so I gave up on my nursing dream. I contemplated many other career options. I was hoping to find a career that would be equally as fulfilling as nursing, but deep down inside, I knew I would never find one. I know this is something that I was meant to do, but it was just not the right time for me. I know that I have the potential to be a successful nurse one day. Various colleges and universities have not considered me for admission due to my past academic hardship. I am currently a Dean's and President's List student with a cumulative GPA of 4.0. I now have my Bachelors in Health Science with a Public Health concentration and have been accepted to three nursing programs. I am a qualified and highly motivated individual and I know that I have a bright future ahead of me. I have learned from my past mistakes and overall, I believe that my current grades indicate the kind of student I am and how committed I am to advancing my education. I am not a perfect student, but my grades have improved drastically and I have better control of my home circumstances. I know that this time around there will be a different outcome. The only issue that I am facing now is paying for school. I cannot take out any loans and I do not have a creditworthy cosigner. Getting this scholarship would put me one step closer to paying for my nursing degree. Thank you for this opportunity.

My name is Brianna Williams and I aspire to be a nurse. To specify, I want to work as either a labor and delivery nurse, a women's health nurse, or a pediatric nurse. I am extremely passionate about aiding others and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to patients. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionately affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants and medical mistrust, which is another thing I am very passionate about. There is a lot of mistrust in healthcare, especially amongst the African American community and this is due to a variety of factors. These factors could be from widely known unethical experiences, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploration of African American Slaves, or even experiences that people have been through personally with their healthcare providers that they just were not comfortable with. Although medical mistrust is not talked about a lot, it is a very important topic. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the providers orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and is something that I am passionate about because this is something that affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. Relating it back to why I want to be a nurse, as an African American female, I completely understand the hesitance with seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that was subpar at best and it made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care really does deter you from seeing them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. Thank you for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

My name is Brianna Williams and I want to be a nurse. I am extremely passionate about aiding others and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to patients. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionately affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants and medical mistrust, which is another thing I am very passionate about. There is a lot of mistrust in healthcare, especially amongst the African American community and this is due to a variety of factors. These factors could be from widely known unethical experiences, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploration of African American Slaves, or even experiences that people have been through personally with their healthcare providers that they just were not comfortable with. Although medical mistrust is not talked about a lot, it is a very important topic. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the provider's orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and I am very passionate about them because this is something that affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. Relating it back to why I want to be a nurse, as an African American female, I completely understand the hesitance with seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that was subpar at best and it made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care really does deter you from seeing them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. Thank you for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

My goal is to be a nurse. I knew that nursing was something I wanted to do since I was a little girl. I was previously enrolled in an associate's nursing program, but certain events transpiring at school combined with the circumstances going on at home, caused my downfall, leaving me to start over completely. My grandmother was diagnosed with dementia in 2017. Along with her dementia, she was dealing with depression from no longer being able to work or go out on her own anymore. I had to pick up the slack at home and take care of my grandmother when my mom was at work. It was hard to study at home with my grandmother’s dementia progressing and her needs had to come before anything. When I was home, I did not have time for myself between caring for my grandmother and watching after my siblings. I questioned whether or not I should quit school at this time. The inability to find study methods that worked for me along with the inability to find the time to study, with my already limited time, is what really affected my grades. Clinically I excelled, but it was not enough to bring my grades up. I do not regret having to care for my grandmother, but I do regret that my grades started to drop. I was dropped from the program, but I applied to other nursing programs after this. Unfortunately, I was not accepted into any of them. I thought I would never get another chance at nursing, so I gave up on my nursing dream. I contemplated many other career options. I was hoping to find a career that would be equally as fulfilling as nursing, but deep down inside, I knew I would never find one. I know this is something that I was meant to do, but it was just not the right time for me. I know that I have the potential to be a successful nurse one day. Various colleges and universities have not considered me for admission due to my past academic hardship. I am currently a Dean’s and President's student with a cumulative GPA of 4.0. I now have my Bachelors in Health Science with a Public Health concentration and have been accepted to three nursing programs. I am a qualified and highly motivated individual and I know that I have a bright future ahead of me. I have learned from my past mistakes and overall, I believe that my current grades indicate the kind of student I am and how committed I am to advancing my education. I am not a perfect student, but my grades have improved drastically and I have better control of my home circumstances. I know that this time around there will be a different outcome. The only issue that I am facing now is paying for school. I can not take out any loans and I do not have a creditworthy cosigner. Getting this scholarship would put me one step closer to paying for my nursing degree. Thank you for this opportunity.

My inspiration for nursing comes from the lack of support nurses receive. Nursing staff shortage has been an issue across the nation, even more so now with the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the pandemic is slowing down, the nursing shortages haven’t. Although hospitals and other healthcare facilities in my community haven’t had to shut down, they are struggling with nursing shortages. This presents a challenge to the nurses to take on heavier loads which can overall result in not only provider burnout, but a decreased quality of care. This decreased quality of care can lead to medical mistrust. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the provider's orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and are something that I am passionate about because this is something that affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. Relating it back to why I want to be a nurse, I am extremely passionate about aiding others and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to patients. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionately affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants. As an African American female, I completely understand the hesitance in seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that was subpar at best and it made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care about you definitely deters you from wanting to see them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. My ultimate goal and what I hope to get out of nursing is to help my community. There are many people in my community, even those I know firsthand, that go without necessary medical attention and healthcare and I aspire to change this. Thank you.

Nursing staff shortage has been an issue across the nation, even more so now with the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the pandemic is slowing down, the nursing shortages haven’t. Although hospitals and other healthcare facilities in my community haven’t had to shut down, they are struggling with nursing shortages. This presents a challenge to the nurses to take on heavier loads which can overall result in not only provider burnout, but a decreased quality of care. This decreased quality of care can lead to medical mistrust. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the provider's orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and are something that I am passionate about because this is something that affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. Relating it back to why I want to be a nurse, I am extremely passionate about aiding others and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to patients. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionately affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants. As an African American female, I completely understand the hesitance in seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that was subpar at best and it made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care about you definitely deters you from wanting to see them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. My ultimate goal and what I hope to get out of nursing is to help my community. There are many people in my community, even those I know firsthand, that go without necessary medical attention and healthcare and I aspire to change this. Thank you.

My name is Brianna Williams and I plan to make a positive impact on the world by becoming a nurse. To specify, I'd like to work as a pediatric nurse, women's health nurse, or labor and delivery nurse. I have a strong desire to help people, and I am sure that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to contribute to my future patients. I conducted a great deal of study on infant and maternal morbidity and mortality for my previous Health Science degree. In light of the fact that African American families suffer disproportionately from infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, I'd like to see what I as a nurse can do to help these numbers and how we can get them to steadily decrease. Although there are many causes of infant and mother morbidity and mortality, the ones I have observed most frequently involve socioeconomic determinants of health and medical mistrust, two other issues about which I am genuinely passionate about. There is a great deal of skepticism in the healthcare system, especially in the African American population, and there are endless reasons for this. These causes may result from well-known unethical events like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the investigation of African American Slaves, or they may also be the result of personal encounters that people have had with their healthcare professionals that they simply did not feel comfortable with. Despite the fact that it is not frequently discussed, medical mistrust is a crucial issue and it has a detrimental impact on care.  Because it impacts patient experience and their overall opinion of medical care, medical mistrust is a very important problem. Health outcomes are directly impacted if people do not feel safe with and trust their healthcare practitioner. When a patient receives subpar care, they are less likely to adhere to the suggested course of treatment and may be discouraged from seeking more medical attention in the future, both of which have a detrimental effect on their long-term health. These issues are of utmost importance to me, and I am passionate about them because they have an impact on my community and may one day have a personal impact on me. As an African American woman, I absolutely understand the reluctance to seek medical care, which brings me back to my motivation for wanting to be a nurse. I have personally had care from professionals that was, at best, mediocre, and it stopped me from wanting to get medical help. I never want my patients to feel like this. I need to be that individual that gives patients that trust back and show them that the medical services field is continually advancing and that we are only going to keep improving for the better. Thank you so much for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

The thing that inspired me the most to pursue another degree was my longing for nursing. I have wanted to pursue nursing for as long as I can remember. The reason that my first degree is not in nursing was because I had a very bad experience with a nursing school in the past and I was convinced that nursing was not what I wanted to do anymore and I did not want to be selfish and waste any more of my parent's money for a degree that I was beginning to be unsure about. What drew me back into nursing was remembering the joy I got from helping my parents during my clinical rounds and thinking about why exactly I was interested in nursing in the first place...I wanted to make a difference in the lives of those in my community. In terms of my personal goal with nursing, I want to work as a labor and delivery nurse, a women's health nurse, or a pediatric nurse. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionally affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants and medical mistrust, which is another thing I am very passionate about. There is a lot of mistrust in healthcare, especially amongst the African American community and this is due to a variety of factors. These factors could be from widely known unethical experiences, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploration of African American Slaves, or even experiences that people have been though personally with their healthcare providers that they just were not comfortable with. Although medical mistrust is not talked about a lot, it is a very important topic. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the providers orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and is something that I am passionate about because this is something that affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. As an African American female, I understand the hesitance with seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care really does deter you from seeing them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. Thank you so much for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

My dream is to be a nurse. To specify, I want to work as either a labor and delivery nurse, a women's health nurse, or a pediatric nurse. I am extremely passionate about aiding others and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to patients. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionally affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants and medical mistrust, which is another thing I am very passionate about. There is a lot of mistrust in healthcare, especially amongst the African American community and this is due to a variety of factors. These factors could be from widely known unethical experiences, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploration of African American Slaves, or even experiences that people have been though personally with their healthcare providers that they just were not comfortable with. Although medical mistrust is not talked about a lot, it is a very important topic. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the providers orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and is something that I am passionate about because this is something that affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. Relating it back to why I want to be a nurse, as an African American female, I completely understand the hesitance with seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that was subpar at best and it made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care really does deter you from seeing them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. Thank you for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

While I do not plan as working as a doctor, I do want to be a nurse. To specify, I want to work as either a labor and delivery nurse, a women's health nurse, or a pediatric nurse. I am extremely passionate about aiding others and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to patients. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionally affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants and medical mistrust, which is another thing I am very passionate about. There is a lot of mistrust in healthcare, especially amongst the African American community and this is due to a variety of factors. These factors could be from widely known unethical experiences, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploration of African American Slaves, or even experiences that people have been though personally with their healthcare providers that they just were not comfortable with. Although medical mistrust is not talked about a lot, it is a very important topic. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the providers orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and is something that I am passionate about because this is something that affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. Relating it back to why I want to be a nurse, as an African American female, I completely understand the hesitance with seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that was subpar at best and it made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care really does deter you from seeing them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. Thank you for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

While I do not plan as working as a doctor, I do want to be a nurse. To specify, I want to work as either a labor and delivery nurse, a women's health nurse, or a pediatric nurse. I am extremely passionate about aiding others and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to patients. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionally affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants and medical mistrust, which is another thing I am very passionate about. There is a lot of mistrust in healthcare, especially amongst the African American community and this is due to a variety of factors. These factors could be from widely known unethical experiences, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploration of African American Slaves, or even experiences that people have been though personally with their healthcare providers that they just were not comfortable with. Although medical mistrust is not talked about a lot, it is a very important topic. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the providers orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and is something that I am passionate about because this is something that affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. Relating it back to why I want to be a nurse, as an African American female, I completely understand the hesitance with seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that was subpar at best and it made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care really does deter you from seeing them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. Thank you for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

While I do not plan as working as a doctor, I do want to be a nurse. To specify, I want to work as either a labor and delivery nurse, a women's health nurse, or a pediatric nurse. I am extremely passionate about aiding others and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to patients. During my previous Health Science degree, I did a lot of research regarding infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. I'd like to explore what I can do as a nurse to improve the figures of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst African American families, as they are disproportionally affected. Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality can stem from a variety of factors, but the most I have seen tend to be involving social determinants and medical mistrust, which is another thing I am very passionate about. There is a lot of mistrust in healthcare, especially amongst the African American community and this is due to a variety of factors. These factors could be from widely known unethical experiences, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploration of African American Slaves, or even experiences that people have been though personally with their healthcare providers that they just were not comfortable with. Although medical mistrust is not talked about a lot, it is a very important topic. Medical mistrust is a very important topic because this is something that influences the satisfaction of a patient and their overall experience with medical care. If patients are not comfortable and trusting of their healthcare provider, it has a direct effect on their health outcomes. After unsatisfactory care from a provider, patients are then less likely to follow the providers orders in terms of recommended treatments and it can deter them from seeking additional medical care in the future, which overall impacts their health negatively for the future. These things are very important to me and is something that I am passionate about because this is something that affects my population and this is even something that could even affect me in the future. Relating it back to why I want to be a nurse, as an African American female, I completely understand the hesitance with seeking medical care. I have personally experienced care from providers that was subpar at best and it made me not want to seek medical care anymore. Having to pay a high copay to see a medical provider that is showing you that they do not care really does deter you from seeing them again. I never want my patients to feel like this. I want to be that person that gives patients that trust back and show them that the healthcare field is constantly evolving and that we are only becoming more diverse and improving. Thank you for this opportunity, Brianna Williams

My name is Brianna and my dream is to become a Nurse. I specifically want to be either a Labor and Delivery Nurse, a Women's Health Nurse, or a Pediatric Nurse. I am extremely passionate about aiding others, and I am confident that this is the ideal profession for me. I am a strong candidate because I am not studying Nursing for the money; I am doing it because I truly want to make a difference in the lives of my patients and I am confident that as an African American woman, I will have a lot to offer to them.