Having two older sisters who are nurses was my first exposure to the intimate and individual importance of nurses in the medical field. Listening to them come home everyday and describe the impact they’ve made in people's lives is part of what inspired me to want to become a nurse. I’ve always looked up to my sisters, and have always wanted to follow in their footsteps to become a nurse, just as they are. As I continue to grow into my own individual self, I am constantly discovering my own reasons for wanting to go into the nursing field. When someone is laying in a hospital bed as a patient for any reason, it is never ideal. While a patient is waiting for a doctor in a bright, and often cold, hospital room, and overwhelmed with anxiety and dread of the unknown, a nurse is the first person you see and speak with. The temperament and personality of your nurse, coupled with your nurse's bedside manner can dictate the anxiety and dread in either a positive or negative way. No matter who I meet in my life, I immediately want them to feel comfortable around me, and comfortable with themselves and where they are, and especially in their most vulnerable moments. I always make it a point to show that I’m actively listening, and most importantly not judging. Patients in a hospital are in their most vulnerable state, with no control over the outcomes of their visits, and have to put their full trust in the medical staff they are encountering. I want to become a nurse so I can make people feel comfortable, heard, and not judged during that time. As with everyone else, my moral character has been built through trials and triumphs in life. Throughout my high school soccer career, I received multiple awards, and won championships for all four years. Although, when I think back to that time, I don’t think those accomplishments accurately depict who I am as a person. The grueling years of training, the failures that built humility, and the teamwork needed to get there forged with a group of every different personality you could think of, it all culminated in the greatest achievements in that time of my life. And without realizing it, that journey made me who I am. When my coach chose me as a captain of the team my senior year, I was nervous to fill such an important role in leadership. I have not always been that loud, confident leader that I’d seen past captains be. Looking past this, I knew my coach had chosen me for a reason. I soon realized, I didn’t have to be that type of leader, that there were other ways I was able to lead my team. I led by always supporting everyone on and off the field. I spoke to my teammates with empathy, and showed them I could relate to them, despite all of our differences. I made sure every single girl felt included and seen, because I’ve felt that sinking feeling of not feeling like you “fit in.” I still continue to prioritize those same values with everyone I meet, and plan to carry them out in the nursing field as well. The time and dedication I put into soccer has shaped me into the person I am today. I want to be a nurse so I can continue to help people. Not just administering medicine, or changing bed pans, but being emotionally available and making each and every patient feel comfortable, seen, heard, and cared for.

Having two older sisters who are nurses was my first exposure to the importance of nurses in the medical field. Listening to them come home everyday and describe the impact they’ve made in people's lives is part of what inspired me to want to become a nurse. As I continue to grow into my own individual self, I am constantly discovering my own reasons for wanting to go into the nursing field. When someone is laying in a hospital bed as a patient for any reason, it is never ideal. While a patient is waiting for a doctor in a bright, and often cold, hospital room, and overwhelmed with anxiety and dread of the unknown, a nurse is the first person you see and speak with. The temperament and personality of your nurse, coupled with your nurse's bedside manner can dictate the anxiety and dread in either a positive or negative way. No matter who I meet in my life, I immediately want them to feel comfortable around me, and comfortable with themselves and where they are, and especially in their most vulnerable moments. I always make it a point to show that I’m actively listening, and most importantly not judging. Patients in a hospital are in their most vulnerable state, with no control over the outcomes of their visits, and have to put their full trust in the medical staff they are encountering. I want to become a nurse so I can make people feel comfortable, heard, and not judged during that time. I want my disposition to make a difference. As with everyone else, my moral character has been built through trials and triumphs in life. Throughout my high school soccer career, I received multiple awards, and won championships for all four years. Although, when I think back to that time, I don’t think those accomplishments accurately depict who I am as a person. The grueling years of training, the failures that built humility, and the teamwork needed to get there forged with a group of every different personality you could think of, it all culminated in the greatest achievements in that time of my life. And without realizing it, that journey made me who I am. When my coach chose me as a captain of the team my senior year, I was nervous to fill such an important role in leadership. I have not always been that loud, confident leader that I’d seen past captains be. Looking past this, I knew my coach had chosen me for a reason. I soon realized, I didn’t have to be that type of leader, that there were other ways I was able to lead my team. I led by always supporting everyone on and off the field. I spoke to my teammates with empathy, and showed them I could relate to them, despite all of our differences. I made sure every single girl felt included and seen, because I’ve felt that sinking feeling of not feeling like you “fit in.” I still continue to prioritize those same values with everyone I meet, and plan to carry them out in the nursing field as well. The time and dedication I put into soccer has shaped me into the person I am today. I want to be a nurse so I can continue to help people. Not just administering medicine, or changing bed pans, but being emotionally available and making each and every patient feel comfortable, seen, heard, and cared for.

Having two older sisters who are nurses was my first exposure to the intimate and individual importance of nurses in the medical field. Listening to them come home everyday and describe the impact they’ve made in people's lives is part of what inspired me to want to become a nurse. I’ve always looked up to my sisters, and have always wanted to follow in their footsteps to become a nurse, just as they are. As I continue to grow into my own individual self, I am constantly discovering my own reasons for wanting to go into the nursing field. When someone is laying in a hospital bed as a patient for any reason, it is never ideal. While a patient is waiting for a doctor in a bright, and often cold, hospital room, and overwhelmed with anxiety and dread of the unknown, a nurse is the first person you see and speak with. The temperament and personality of your nurse, coupled with your nurse's bedside manner can dictate the anxiety and dread in either a positive or negative way. I always remember the story my mom told me from when she had surgery of a rude and impersonal nurse she had, and how it really affected her recovery during her hospital stay. More importantly for my nursing journey, I’ll never forget how I personally felt just hearing that story. It was the pivotal moment that I realized I not only wanted to make a difference in the nursing field, but I needed to. I never want someone’s mom, sister, brother, cousin, or especially someone that has no one else, to ever feel the way my mom felt. No matter who I meet in my life, I immediately want them to feel comfortable around me, and comfortable with themselves and where they are, and especially in their most vulnerable moments. I always make it a point to show that I’m actively listening, and most importantly not judging. Patients in a hospital are in their most vulnerable state, with no control over the outcomes of their visits, and have to put their full trust in the medical staff they are encountering. I want to become a nurse so I can make people feel comfortable, heard, and not judged during that time. I want my disposition to make a difference. If I am the lucky winner of this scholarship, I'd be able to put it towards the cost of my education. Higher education is very costly, and I believe every bit of money helps when having to pay for college.

Having two older sisters who are nurses was my first exposure to the intimate and individual importance of nurses in the medical field. Listening to them come home everyday and describe the impact they’ve made in people's lives is part of what inspired me to want to become a nurse. As I continue to grow into my own individual self, I am constantly discovering my own reasons for wanting to go into the nursing field. When someone is laying in a hospital bed as a patient for any reason, it is never ideal. While a patient is waiting for a doctor in a bright, and often cold, hospital room, and overwhelmed with anxiety and dread of the unknown, a nurse is the first person you see and speak with. The temperament and personality of your nurse, coupled with your nurse's bedside manner can dictate the anxiety and dread in either a positive or negative way. No matter who I meet in my life, I immediately want them to feel comfortable around me, and comfortable with themselves and where they are, and especially in their most vulnerable moments. I always make it a point to show that I’m actively listening, and most importantly not judging. Patients in a hospital are in their most vulnerable state, with no control over the outcomes of their visits, and have to put their full trust in the medical staff they are encountering. I want to become a nurse so I can make people feel comfortable, heard, and not judged during that time. I want my disposition to make a difference. As with everyone else, my moral character has been built through trials and triumphs in life. Throughout my high school soccer career, I received multiple awards, and won championships for all four years. Although, when I think back to that time, I don’t think those accomplishments accurately depict who I am as a person. The grueling years of training, the failures that built humility, and the teamwork needed to get there forged with a group of every different personality you could think of, it all culminated in the greatest achievements in that time of my life. And without realizing it, that journey made me who I am. When my coach chose me as a captain of the team my senior year, I was nervous to fill such an important role in leadership. I have not always been that loud, confident leader that I’d seen past captains be. Looking past this, I knew my coach had chosen me for a reason. I soon realized, I didn’t have to be that type of leader, that there were other ways I was able to lead my team. I led by always supporting everyone on and off the field. I spoke to my teammates with empathy, and showed them I could relate to them, despite all of our differences. I made sure every single girl felt included and seen, because I’ve felt that sinking feeling of not feeling like you “fit in.” I still continue to prioritize those same values with everyone I meet, and plan to carry them out in the nursing field as well. The time and dedication I put into soccer has shaped me into the person I am today. I want to be a nurse so I can continue to help people. Not just administering medicine, or changing bed pans, but being emotionally available and making each and every patient feel comfortable, seen, heard, and cared for.