Apart from being born at Baylor on the second floor, my mother has worked there in the rehab unit for 25 years as a technician. In elementary school, I would get dropped off at the side entrance after school by a transportation bus. My mom would be waiting to take me up to her floor so I could sit in the lobby while she finished work. Most days, I sat there with the TV on Disney Channel and ate graham crackers my mom gave me from the break room. Sometimes, patients would be wheeled in by nurses or physical therapists. Being raised in the hospital environment made the field of healthcare more personal to me and, most of all, meaningful. Choosing a career in healthcare as a rising high school senior was a series of light bulb moments—moments of sudden insight about what I wanted my life's work to be. One of the most pivotal moments of my decision to step into the world of healthcare after high school was discovering Serena Williams' delivery experience with her daughter, Olympia. Serena Williams gave birth to her daughter via C-section in 2017. After giving birth, she was concerned about blood clots in her lungs due to a health scare with pulmonary embolisms several years earlier. When she requested a CAT scan to check for blood clots, she was brushed off by a nurse who asserted that the medication she was on was perhaps driving her "crazy." However, after further inquiry from her physician, there were, in fact, blood clots in her lungs that could have been fatal. It was then that I knew I didn’t just want to work in healthcare; I wanted to make a difference in my community by having a hand in changing healthcare for the better. I hope to be the type of healthcare professional who can prevent regretful circumstances that result from neglecting to listen to patients and their concerns. As Serena Williams said, "being heard and appropriately treated was the difference between life or death for me," and that is why I want to become a Nurse Practitioner who speaks for all women—especially Black women and women of color. My vision in my future career as a Black woman in healthcare is to provide medically informed and culturally competent care. Healthcare is not one-size-fits-all. Every case is unique. Every woman is unique, and every concern deserves to be heard. I hope to use my platform as a healthcare provider to close the gap between the health concerns of so many women and the professionals they trust to hear them. Learning of Serena's experience did more than remind me how much I love the idea of nursing—it gave me my purpose. As a Nurse Practitioner, I will be an advocate for patients in the community I serve each time I enter the hospital. From the perspective of a woman of color, I will be mindful of the cultural background of each patient, strive to understand their perspective, and meet them in the middle with my clinical expertise and compassion. Bringing an end to Black women and women of color being unheard and harmed by medical biases will be my mission. Moreover, I aspire to enable the next generation of women in my area who wish to be nurses. I appreciated those who patiently and kindly led me when I was learning something new. I aspire to spread that light to inspire future nurses and remind them that they belong. Nursing, to me, is community service. And I'm ready to serve.

Choosing a career in healthcare as a rising high school senior was a series of light bulb moments—moments of sudden insight about what I wanted my life's work to be. One of the most pivotal moments of my decision to step into the world of healthcare after high school was discovering Serena Williams' delivery experience with her daughter, Olympia. Serena Williams gave birth to her daughter via C-section in 2017. After giving birth, she was concerned about blood clots in her lungs due to a health scare with pulmonary embolisms several years earlier. When she requested a CAT scan to check for blood clots, she was brushed off by a nurse who asserted that the medication she was on was perhaps driving her "crazy." However, after further inquiry from her physician, there were in fact blood clots in her lungs that could have been fatal. It was then that I knew that I didn't just want to work in healthcare; I wanted to make a difference and help change it for the better. I hope to be the type of healthcare professional that is capable of avoiding regretful circumstances that result from neglecting to listen to patients and their concerns. As Serena Williams said, "being heard and appropriately treated was the difference between life or death for me," and that is why I want to become a Nurse Practitioner who speaks for all women—especially Black women and women of color. My vision in my future career as a Black woman in healthcare is to provide medically informed and culturally competent care. Healthcare is not one-size-fits-all. Every case is unique. Every woman is unique, and every problem deserves to be heard. I hope to use my platform as a healthcare provider to close the gap between the health concerns of so many women and the professionals they trust to hear them. Listening to Serena's experience did more than remind me of how much I love the idea of nursing—it reminded me of why I'm here. As a Nurse Practitioner, I will be an advocate for patients each time I enter the hospital. From the perspective of a woman of color, I will be mindful of the cultural background of each patient, strive to deeply understand their perspective, and meet them in the middle with my clinical expertise and compassion. I will strive to be part of bringing an end to Black women and women of color being unheard, unnecessarily misdiagnosed, and harmed by medical biases. Moreover, I aspire to enable the next generation of women who wish to be nurses. I appreciated those who patiently and kindly led me when I was learning something new. I aspire to spread that light to inspire future nurses, remind them that they belong, and make a difference by leading by example. I am committed and excited to accept this role and leave a long-lasting impression in healthcare.

1). Inspiration to me is like that Gettys image—a big yellow light bulb above the head that flickers on and ignites something inside. It's an “aha” moment—a rush of clarity where suddenly everything makes perfect sense and the path seems clear. I’ve had a few “aha” moments when it came to knowing what I wanted to do after high school as a career. I now truly know that I want to go to nursing school and eventually become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in women’s health. But beyond the career title, I had to ask myself: Who did I truly want to be as a professional? What did I stand for? Sometime last year, I saw the story of Serena Williams’ birth experience on social media for the first time. After she had her daughter, Olympia, via C-section, she was at high risk for blood clots due to a pre-existing condition. When she requested a CAT scan to check for blood clots in her lungs, she was dismissed by a nurse. It was later found that there were, in fact, blood clots in her lungs that could have been fatal. When I heard this story, I thought to myself, “The 23-time Grand Slam Champion was dismissed?” If Serena Williams was dismissed, then what about other women who aren't a household name? That was another light bulb moment. I wanted to be the kind of Nurse Practitioner that not only cared for her patients, but cared to listen to them. In Serena Williams’ words, “being heard and appropriately treated was the difference between life and death for me,” and this is why I want to become a Nurse Practitioner who advocates for all women—specifically Black women and women of color. My mission in my future career as a Black woman working in healthcare is to provide medically sound and culturally sensitive care. Healthcare is not “one size fits all.” Every case is unique. Every woman is unique, and every concern should be taken seriously. I aspire to use my future platform to close the gap between the health concerns of many women and the professionals they rely on to hear them. Hearing Serena’s experience not only reinforced my passion for nursing—it inspired my purpose. With my platform as a Nurse Practitioner, I will strive for patient advocacy each time I walk into the hospital. From the perspective of women of color, I will be mindful of the cultural background of each patient, try to deeply understand their perspective, and meet them in the middle with my clinical point of view. I will make it a point to be part of the solution to Black women and women of color being unheard, misdiagnosed unnecessarily, and misunderstood. Additionally, I aspire to support the next generation of nurses. I appreciated those who guided me with patience and kindness when I was learning something new. I want to share that light to inspire future nurses, remind them they belong, and uplift them by leading as an example. 2). Inspiring others isn’t always done through grand gestures or big accomplishments. Sometimes, inspiration is quiet— perhaps through a small smile. I’ve worked as a Junior Volunteer at Baylor Scott and White for the past two summers in high school. Each June, we attend orientation before starting rotations. We’re taught hospital protocols and how to carry ourselves, especially when our role involves interacting with patients. The main advice I took from orientation was that a smile and positive body language go a long way in making someone’s hospital stay more pleasant. Every Tuesday and Thursday, that advice sets the tone when I clock in for my shift at the front desk. At one volunteer info session, the hospital’s COO shared a story that stuck with me. A patient being discharged thanked her for the hospital’s excellent care and said he wanted to repay them. Jokingly, she told him the staff wanted a Starbucks but there weren’t enough funds. Weeks later, a $2 million check was on her desk—the rest of the money needed to build the new Starbucks. That moment showed me how even a positive experience or attitude can inspire big acts of change. I’ve practically grown up at Baylor Scott and White. My mom has worked there for 25 years. Still, I was nervous my first day because I wasn’t going to the comfort of the rehab floor where she works. I was stepping into a new environment with new expectations. Since I’d been a volunteer before, I was better equipped to help new volunteers on their first rotations. Whether it was directing them what floor they're going to or giving them advice to make conversation with staff to make their experience less awkward. I inspire others by doing things intentionally to make a person's day simpler. I've found that inspiring leadership isn't about advancement down the road; it's about people and how I treat them at this moment. As a Junior Volunteer, I have worked through different departments and have been assigned small but meaningful tasks on the Labor and Delivery unit and in the Pathology lab. In L&D, I helped nurses prepare IV bags and baby bags that hold hats and diapers for the newborns. In the pathology lab, my current rotation, I restock shelves with supplies like tourniquets and IV tubing. One lab tech explained how the lab supports the whole hospital. He said, “No matter how knowledgeable the doctors are, they can’t treat patients without the tests the lab runs.” The lab is behind-the-scenes work as he summarized. I see my volunteer role in a similar way, no matter how small the task, it matters. Inspiration is often behind the scenes, showing up consistently, doing your job well, and taking pride in it. That’s how I show up each day. If I’m volunteering, at volleyball summer workouts, or working with the student council to plan senior activities, I show up with effort and a positive attitude. That’s how I lead, and that’s how I inspire. 3). If granted the Desire to inspire Scholarship, I will invest it in my nursing school education to advance and challenge myself with a college degree. This scholarship award would be used to pay for nursing school tuition and room and board expenses. Support like this scholarship opportunity would allow me to focus less on the cost of college and more on molding into the healthcare professional I know I can be. I have committed myself to learning and personal growth as an individual. Through volunteer experiences with Baylor Scott and White, I have gained lessons in humility and serving others despite how small a task might be. The Desire to Inspire Scholarship helps me continue this mindset into college. I would be able to focus on academic opportunities in college that could otherwise be overshadowed by cost. This award will allow me to invest in myself so that I can reach a bigger platform to inspire through my future career as a Black Nurse Practitioner with a goal of patient advocacy for Black women and women of color. I believe being a source of inspiration at times is merely being present. I want to use this scholarship to be present. By pursuing my aspirations, I hope to be able to show other young Black women that their hopes should be in every room, every hospital, laboratories, and boardrooms. The Desire to Inspire Scholarship will not only help me in fulfilling my goals but open doors for others.

Growing up, I was exposed to the rhythm of a hospital early on. In elementary school, my mom would drop me off at Baylor Scott and White Hospital’s side entrance. She worked on the 5th-floor rehab unit for 25 years. After we took the elevator to the lobby, she’d tell me to sit and watch TV while she finished work. Moments later, she’d return with graham crackers and a mini ginger ale—my favorite snack. I’d watch whatever show was on Disney Channel until she clocked out. While waiting, people would come and go, some saying “hello.” Sometimes patients wheeled into the lobby to take a break from their room and enjoy the view from the 5th floor windows. I remember one elderly man who wheeled close to the window and paused at the wooden ledge. For a while, he didn’t say anything, so I stayed silent too because I assumed he preferred the quiet. Then, with a slight chuckle, he said, “This view makes me forget I’m stuck in the hospital.” I agreed. The view is calming, with green trees stretching to the horizon and the tall buildings of Downtown Dallas in the far distance. He said he could always count on that view. After a few moments longer, he said “Bye now” and wheeled back to his room. Moments like these drew me to the medical field with a passion for serving others—specifically nursing. Nurses are the backbone of healthcare; hospitals can’t run without them. Nursing fits me because I’m a people person, and nurses connect to patients in ways doctors often cannot. My dream is to become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in women’s health. I’ve volunteered as a Junior Volunteer on the Labor and Delivery floor at Baylor Scott and White Hospital for two summers, shadowing medical professionals and observing births and C-sections. One accomplishment I’m proud of is assembling “baby bags” for newborns—small kits that include items like tiny hats. Knowing I helped make a newborn’s first day on earth special gave me a deep sense of fulfillment and strengthened my passion for nursing. I plan to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After graduation, I will work in the ICU or Emergency Room for at least a year to gain experience in critical care and emergencies. Then, I aim to move to a Labor and Delivery unit to focus more on women’s health. After acquiring this specialized experience, I will apply to a Master’s nursing program to become a Nurse Practitioner, allowing me greater autonomy in patient care. My journey on this path has only just begun as I am going to be a senior in high school this year; however, I look forward to nursing school. While the medical skills of a nurse are important, what the man in the lobby taught me is that the nursing field is more than IVs and vital tests. It’s about human connection. It’s being a source of calm for someone and maybe even offering laughter in a time of uncertainty. They say laughter is the best medicine. So maybe I can be that kind of nurse—a friendly face, a calm spirit, like the view from the rehab floor. I want to be the kind of nurse people remember for helping them get through one of the toughest moments of their lives. That’s the kind of impact I hope to make on the world.