On the outside, I am an average teenage girl who lives a normal life like most teens. When people see me, they see a normal, ordinary girl. On the inside, I am mentally and physically fighting battles every day in life in pain. The pain that spread throughout my body, causing me to sometimes cry to even get out of bed. Being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at an early age is something I would've never thought would happen. It has impacted my life both physically and mentally, but the lessons and obstacles I have overcome from this disease are what have shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up, I challenged myself with physical activities daily. I would run miles every day, play soccer, and even do competitive dance. I enjoyed working on myself, which gave me a sense of accomplishment. Junior year of high school was when my life took a turn. I was working a part-time job and completing multiple college classes for a 2-year associate's degree. At this time, I enjoyed going to the gym often and feeling my best. By the end of the year, I had started to notice extreme pain throughout my shoulder and swelling in my knees. I figured this pain would go away if I took medication, but from that moment, it only got worse. For weeks, I would cry from the extreme pain raging throughout my joints, which affected my ability to do things I enjoyed. I had to stop going to the gym and even considered quitting my job because it was so hard to live day to day. At this point, I suffered from pain no matter what and was both physically and mentally done with myself. Schoolwork was not something I was motivated to do anymore. I thought I had no purpose in life, as this was now my reality daily. I finally decided to open up to my parents about my experience, and I was immediately referred to by multiple doctors. After weeks of doctor appointments and multiple tubes of blood, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was upset by this, but also relieved to know something was wrong. I was put on medications to help alleviate the pain I experienced, which has helped me grow stronger. I have overcome the battles of waking up randomly with raging pain, crying while walking down the halls of school, and so much more. This disease has taught me to never quit on the goals that I have set for myself in life. Although it still impacts me to this day, I have to manage the battles I fight and push myself to succeed both physically and academically. As I move forward, I am grateful for the obstacles that I have overcome and strive to be someone people can look up to. After graduating, I plan to fulfill my dream of becoming a nurse. I will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to pursue a degree in nursing, where I will ultimately be able to provide aid to those who share a story similar to mine. In my journey, additional funds will not only ease the burden of tuition but also give me peace of mind to focus on my education. This financial support would lift the heavy burden of stress, ensuring that I won't have to compromise my academic goals. I am fully committed to immersing myself in education and pursuing the future with confidence, knowing I can make a positive impact on someone's life.

My aspiration to become a nurse was influenced by my mother. Throughout my life, I have seen how hard she has worked as a nurse herself. Hearing her stories of patient care, working long shifts, and all while remaining positive and hardworking. I always wondered why she was a nurse, given how stressed she got from time to time. My mother is always eager to help others, putting people before herself and overworking to ensure she succeeds. I then realized how similar we were, that we share the same passion for helping others, which is why I want to become a nurse someday. I have always been eager to help others or learn about the fundamental aspects of the healthcare field. In my senior year, I completed a medical internship, during which I witnessed life-changing moments for patients for the first time. On my first day, I witnessed a trauma patient who had suffered from severe injuries. While some would find this uncomfortable, I was interested in the teamwork the nurses showed with one another. I observed how they worked together, questioned themselves about the patient's diagnosis, and helped the patient recover from their injuries. Seeing this made me ask multiple questions and excited me about witnessing other moments like this in the future. From that moment on, I fell in love with the emergency department setting. The thrill that comes out of nowhere and the way bedside nurses provide emotional and physical support to patients, no matter their situation. After each experience, I am left with a sense of purpose for my future that I can someday accomplish. I discovered that nursing truly interests me, with a strong dedication to patient advocacy. After each moment I witnessed in the emergency department, I developed a passion for the teamwork and collaboration among medical professionals providing aid to patients. How they would work together to administer care, and how the nurses truly cared for each other. Nursing is not only a job that helps others. It's a lifelong learning experience that prepares you for each step of the way as a nurse. From my experience at my medical internship, I have learned the stress and weight that nurses carry, which I am prepared to take on. Knowing that someday I can meet someone's needs and provide emotional support to others is what brings me a sense of happiness. A feeling of accomplishment and excitement for my future. I am prepared to experience setbacks and obstacles as a nurse, but also eager to see what my future holds. Someday, I will be able to accomplish my goals and find a devotion to a particular nursing role. As a nurse, I hope to be a quality nurse who can provide comfort to my patients while providing care. I am willing to learn from my mistakes and prepare for each step I take in life as a nurse, which is what I am dedicated to doing someday. I found this scholarship through bold.org.

Finances are something that I did not have to worry about until high school. Throughout childhood, I was blessed with amazing parents who provided for me and cared for me as I grew up. As I grew older, I realized how much responsibility it takes to manage money wisely. Although I have two siblings, I feared financial stress as I got older. During the past few years, my family has suffered from financial overload due to medical expenses. My older sister has been newly diagnosed with eczema and PCOS, which has taken a toll on medical expenses. I myself have also been recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, which is Rheumatoid Arthritis. The constant doctor appointments, medications, and medical tests all happened so quickly and suddenly. There have been times recently when my family has barely been able to pay the bills, living paycheck to paycheck. With the financial strain my family has been under recently, I have also started to worry about my educational future after high school. After graduating, I plan on attending the University of NC at Chapel Hill to pursue a career in nursing, which will cost a fortune. My two older sisters, who are both currently enrolled at universities, are also expected to pay full tuition just like me. Along with medical expenses and college tuition, I fear it will push my parents even deeper into financial stress. Realizing how much responsibility money management entails, I started budgeting. I currently work a part-time job, typically 25-30 hours a week, in addition to high school, to pay for my own expenses, such as my car and gas. While this doesn't financially help out with my family's expenses, it helps me realize how much responsibility it takes to manage money wisely for my future goals. Now that I am almost done with my studies, I feel more prepared for my future and for managing my finances maturely. In the future, my parents will still be expected to pay several medical expenses, such as my injections for rheumatoid arthritis, along with my sister's injections for her eczema. Now that I have realized how much my family is expected to pay for my two siblings and me to pursue degrees, I have a plan to help cover the costs of my own path. I am currently applying for multiple scholarships in hopes of receiving additional funds to help pay my college tuition. I will also be working a job on campus to help cover some of the tuition I owe. I hope this plan will help cover my college tuition and not cause as much financial stress for my parents. With everything that has happened in the past few years with my family, I felt as if I had matured greatly and become even more prepared for my future. Seeing how easily financial stress can arise has motivated me to pursue my career goals and make a change in my life. In the future, I hope that my parents will not suffer financially any more than they are now, with the courage to budget wisely and make an effort to cover college tuition. With the help of scholarship aid or student loans, I will be able to pursue my lifelong goal of becoming a nurse and ultimately help pay for my college tuition along the way.

Most of my life, I had always wanted to be a veterinarian, or maybe even a lawyer. For the longest time, I was confused about what I really wanted to do in life. Thinking about my future wasn't something that I had thought about until I got to high school, where I discovered my passion for obtaining medical knowledge and ultimately someday helping change the lives of those in need. During my junior year, I started a dual-enrollment program to earn an associate's degree in art, a year that changed my perspective. That same year, I started feeling symptoms of pain throughout my joints. My body had felt as if it was shutting down, and then I knew something was wrong with me. I decided to tell my parents rather than just ignoring what I was going through. From that moment, I went to the hospital multiple times. I had to get several blood tests, MRIS, and see many healthcare professionals. Ultimately, after receiving my blood work test, I came back positive with Rheumatoid Arthritis. After my diagnosis, I was extremely scared for my future and how it would impact my life. Upon receiving treatment, I had back-to-back doctor appointments with a pediatric rheumatologist, Dr. Sarkissian, who changed my life for the better. She gave me hope and courage that this diagnosis would not set me back, but make me stronger as a person. Her words of wisdom grew my inspiration to someday make an impact on others' lives. Not only did she encourage me, but the nurses I met also inspired me to someday become a nurse. Throughout my junior year, my inspiration to become a nurse grew even stronger. As I took classes such as anatomy and physiology and learned the fundamental aspects of the human body, I became even more encouraged about my career goal. From my experience and seeing how different healthcare professionals have impacted my life, I set the goal of doing the same. Fast forward to senior year, I have completed a medical internship at Atrium Health, where I have observed patient care and worked alongside nurses. This experience has also led me to pursue a career as a nurse. I have witnessed life-changing moments for patients, which always remind me of my own experience. I have witnessed many examples of how nurses work together to provide aid to those in need, no matter their situation. Because of this, I am now enrolled at the University of NC at Chapel Hill with assured admission to the BSN program, to conquer my passion ultimately. From my personal experiences and seeing how others' lives have been changed, I want to do the same someday. I want to be the nurse who listens to their patients, providing them with emotional and physical support towards their situations. My experience has ultimately driven me towards my career goals, knowing that someday I can provide aid to someone in a similar situation to mine.

My name is Caroline Drake, and I am from a small town in Anson County, North Carolina. This spring, I will be graduating from Anson High School with a 2-year associate's degree. My plans after high school are to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with assured admission into the nursing program. After earning a BSN, I plan to gain a few years of ICU experience as an RN. I then plan to attend a CRNA school to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and pursue my lifelong goal of helping others. Throughout high school, I have maintained a busy schedule and attended events that interest me. Freshman year, I played varsity soccer and planned on starting a part-time job. Ever since that summer, I have kept myself busy by working at my part-time job and maintaining a flexible schedule for college classes. While I enjoy staying busy, I also completed a medical internship at Atrium Health throughout the spring 2026 semester. My goal was to gain exposure to the healthcare setting and observe healthcare professionals to see what I most enjoyed learning about. Throughout my free time, I enjoy spending time with God and making memories with family and friends. In the future, my goal is to change the lives of those in need and provide high-quality patient care to my community. If I were to start a charity in my future, it would be dedicated to those who suffer from an autoimmune disease, like myself. Recently, I have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which has impacted my life significantly and opened my eyes to what others face daily with an autoimmune disease. My goal would be to provide funds to those who fight the same battle as I do, covering the costs of treatment, medications, and specialist care. The charity would help fund research to improve treatment and provide financial assistance to those who have an autoimmune disease Those who would participate in my charity would volunteer by organizing community events, such as 5Ks and fundraisers, or by raising awareness about autoimmune diseases. Volunteers could help organize support groups, provide encouragement, and spread awareness throughout social media platforms. Through compassion and positivity, the charity would aim to help those who suffer from an autoimmune disease and let them know they are not alone in this battle. The experiences I have had have taught me that challenges become motivation. In the future, I hope to journey my path into healthcare through faith and serve others with dedication and compassion. If my path is to be a nurse or a nurse anesthetist, my goal is to make a meaningful impact on my community and provide care to those who need it most.

Throughout my life, I have always had a passion for caring for those around me. Making sure that my family members are okay, or constantly checking up on my friends. I have always felt satisfied with myself by checking on others around me, which is what I am passionate about. I have always felt joy when I know I can positively impact someone's life in the slightest way, and taking care of others makes me happy. Taking care of others is not something I would have been passionate about. Whenever I was younger, I experienced the devastating moments of my older sister, who was diagnosed with epilepsy. Her first seizure is something that I will never forget, and from that moment on, I have always made sure to check up on others around, most importantly her. Throughout my childhood, I would constantly stress over my sister, seeing her experience seizure episodes, which frightened me. I remember a significant moment at school when I saw her there, which made my heart drop. For months, I saw my sister lose herself, her personality, due to the medications that she was on. These tragic moments throughout her life are what made me the person that I am today. Rather than dwelling on what could negatively happen in life, I remind myself of the positive things that can happen. Experiencing several incidents with my sister, multiple hospital trips, and seeing her slow progress have helped me remain positive towards myself and others around me. Being there for her in her most vulnerable moments has led me to be inspired to those who need help as well. Whether a peer is struggling with mental health or if someone is having a bad day, I try to be there for them and let them know that I understand. Spreading positivity to others and encouraging those around me have led me to develop a passion for caring for others. Fast forward to being a senior in high school, my sister has improved significantly from her epilepsy, which has made me feel joy. From what I experienced as a child, caring for her has inspired me to care for others in the future. After I graduate, I plan to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and major in nursing. I plan to become a nurse and dedicate my studies to helping those in need. Knowing that I can save a life fills me with dedication and optimism about my goals. As a nurse, I hope to connect with patients on a heartfelt level, understand them, and be there for them. Providing patient care and showing empathy to others are goals I am willing to pursue in the future.

At a young age, I developed a passion to become a nurse someday. My mother, who is a nurse, has inspired me to follow in her footsteps and to accomplish my career goals. Becoming a nurse someday is something I have always been interested in, helping or changing the lives of those in need. Hearing and seeing my mother's stories as a nurse has led me to grow an admiration for becoming a nurse someday. As a senior attending Anson High School, I will be graduating with my Associate's in Arts Degree. After graduating, I plan to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My passion for nursing has enabled me to secure admission to the BSN program at Chapel Hill this fall. I plan to remain optimistic and dedicated to my career goals so I can graduate with a BSN from Chapel Hill. After completing my BSN, I plan to work in the ICU for a few years to gain hands-on experience in the clinical setting. I then aim to attend a CRNA program to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, which will allow me to achieve the goals I set for myself as a young child. My goals as a nurse are to make a difference in the lives of those around me. Being able to provide quality care to those in need and to change people's lives has been my motivation for becoming a nurse. To make a difference within my community, I plan to connect with my patients on a different level and understand their emotional distress. I believe that building connections with those I am helping will allow me to build strong bonds with patients, making it more possible to provide better-quality care. To impact my community, I plan to connect with people and help others understand proper care or take care of themselves. Educating those around me, such as helping prevent illnesses or encouraging healthier habits, will improve the lives of those around me. Additionally, I have set the goals for myself to make a positive difference in the lives of those around me. Through compassion and kindness, I hope to make a profound impact on my community that encourages healing. Becoming a nurse will allow me to turn my passion for helping others into a lifelong commitment. My commitment to nursing has been inspired not only by my mother but also by my father. Growing up with a father who's a veteran, I have developed respect for those who have lost their lives, as well as those who contribute to our country. My father served in Kosovo as a door gunner on a Black Hawk, who experienced a lot of traumatic things. Later on in his life, he became a police officer. Seeing his dedication and commitment in life later on inspired me to approach my life goals with the same sense of commitment to helping others. By staying optimistic and positive, I hope to give back to my community and care for those who need it most.

Essay 1: My inspiration for nursing began the moment I understood what it meant. My mom, who is a nurse, has been a huge inspiration to me throughout my life in terms of my career goals. Growing up, I watched her work and heard stories about how she helped others. Her stories about how she changed her patients' lives and provided proper care to those in need have left me with compassion. Seeing and hearing how she made a difference in someones life inspired me at a young age and made me understand how life-changing a nurse can be. Over time, my compassion for nursing grew stronger as I continued to grow and learn more about the profession. Nursing isn't only about providing care; it's about offering comfort to people throughout the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Knowing that someday I can make a meaningful impact on somones life inspires me to dedicate my career to care for others. I have always been a caring person for those around me, which has also led me to develop a love for nursing. Throughout high school, my experiences in anatomy classes and my medical internship at Atrium Health have also strengthened my desire. Through volunteering, I have learned the importance of patient care and the responsibility nurses have. Ive been able to develop stronger commitment, dedication, and communication skills throughout this experience. This internship has ultimately prepared me for the responsibilities of being a nurse and has led me to pursue a BSN upon graduation. After graduating, I will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's nursing program because I am optimistic about my future career as a nurse. Essay 2: When people hear the word “human touch”, they simply think of physical contact, but it means so much more. In healthcare, the phrase “human touch” refers to offering patients comfort, reassurance, and quality care on a more heartfelt level. It means something that offers care to an individual, and shows that someone truly cares about others' well-being The human touch, which is crucial in nursing, is a significant part of most healthcare professionals' work. It is a nurse's duty to provide quality care to patients, a key pillar of compassionate nursing. Touching patients is a necessary practice that nurses use to assist in their care. It allows nurses to do more than just help with overall care; it also improves communication and strengthens their relationships with patients. Nurses who have a stronger bond with their patients can provide care more confidently. If patients trust their nurse, they are more likely to feel supported and safe, which is vital in healthcare. The human touch has a significant impact on healthcare, affecting patients both physically and mentally. A simple touch from a nurse can help patients feel safer in their surroundings and enhance overall well-being. As nurses can provide care, a patient who is more comfortable in their surroundings can be life-changing for some. Not only does the human touch have a profound impact on patient care, but it also significantly affects nurses. Nurses, who constantly deal with emotional stress, can feel overwhelmed or experience burnout. Having interactions with patients or their peers through a simple hug or handshake allows a nurse, or any healthcare professional, to be seen and more relaxed. These moments of connection not only strengthen bonds but also remind nurses of the impact of their work, which helps them stay motivated in their care for others. Human touch is an element of nursing that goes far beyond physical contact. It builds bonds, emotional well-being, and support for both nurses and patients. The human touch is a vital element in both care and communication; it enables meaningful connections. As nurses provide care to their patients, the human touch ultimately saves lives every day.