Mental health is important to me as a student because I understand how much it influences a person’s ability to learn, connect with others, and reach their goals. I believe academic success is not only determined by intelligence or effort, but also by whether a person has the support and resources needed to care for their overall well-being. A student can have the ability to succeed, but mental health challenges can create barriers that make the journey much more difficult. My experiences with mental health have shaped the way I view myself and the people around me. They have taught me the importance of patience, self-awareness, and compassion. I have learned that everyone is facing something, even if it is not visible on the surface. Because of this, I try to approach others with understanding rather than judgment. I believe creating a supportive environment begins with recognizing that people are more than their struggles. As a student, I advocate for mental health by encouraging open conversations and helping reduce the stigma surrounding seeking support. Many people avoid asking for help because they fear being viewed differently or believe they should handle everything on their own. I believe sharing experiences, listening without judgment, and reminding others that support is available can make a meaningful difference. Sometimes advocacy is not a large public effort; sometimes it is simply being the person who listens when someone needs to be heard. My healthcare experiences have also strengthened my commitment to mental health advocacy. Working with individuals in behavioral health settings showed me the importance of treating every person with dignity and recognizing the connection between mental and physical health. I learned that a compassionate approach can change how someone experiences care and can help individuals feel respected during difficult moments. As I continue my education in nursing, my goal is to carry these values into my future career. I want to become a healthcare professional who understands the importance of caring for the whole person, not just addressing symptoms. My passion for mental health has inspired me to continue learning and eventually contribute to improving access to mental healthcare. Mental health matters to me because I know how powerful it can be when people feel supported, understood, and valued. I hope to continue advocating for mental health by creating awareness, encouraging conversations, and becoming someone who helps others feel less alone. Mental health advocacy begins with the people who enter the field with developed understanding, compassion, and the willingness to listen.

Being a first-generation student means carrying both the excitement of creating a new path and the responsibility of building something that previous generations may not have had the opportunity to experience. It means learning how to navigate unfamiliar challenges, seeking answers when there is no roadmap, and continuing forward even when the journey feels uncertain. For me, being a first-generation student represents perseverance, hope, and the belief that my circumstances do not have to determine my future. My educational journey has not been easy. I began pursuing nursing because I wanted a career centered around service, compassion, and making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. However, I had to step away from nursing school due to financial hardship and homelessness. Leaving school was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made because it felt like I was walking away from a dream that had always been important to me. Despite that setback, my passion for healthcare never disappeared. Instead of giving up, I continued gaining experience in the healthcare field. I worked alongside nurses and healthcare professionals in surgical support, behavioral health, and care coordination roles. These experiences strengthened my desire to return to school and continue pursuing nursing. They showed me that my purpose was not just to work in healthcare, but to become someone who could provide direct care, advocate for patients, and support people during their most vulnerable moments. One of the greatest challenges I have faced has been learning to believe in myself despite setbacks. There were times when I questioned whether I was capable of achieving my goals or whether my past mistakes and obstacles defined me. Through perseverance, support from my loved ones, and personal growth, I learned that setbacks are not the end of a journey. They are opportunities to learn, rebuild, and become stronger. I was able to go back to school and finish my associate's in psychology in 2022 then my bachelor's in psychology in 2024. However, the passion for nursing never truly left me. Instead, it transformed to a love for psychiatric nursing. My dream is to become a registered nurse, eventually continue my education to become a Nurse Practitioner, and combine my passions for nursing and psychology to improve access to mental healthcare. I hope to create solutions, such as mobile crisis units, that provide support to communities where psychiatric resources are limited. I want to become the type of healthcare provider who sees the person behind the diagnosis and ensures patients feel heard, valued, and cared for. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue my education by reducing the financial barriers that have impacted my academic journey in the past. It would allow me to focus more fully on my studies and move closer to achieving my goal of becoming a nurse. More importantly, this scholarship would represent encouragement that my journey matters and that the work I am doing to create a better future has value.

My journey toward nursing has not been a straight path, but every experience I have faced has shaped the person and future healthcare professional I am becoming. I was inspired to pursue nursing because I wanted a career where I could combine my passion for science with my desire to serve others. The people I surrounded myself with encouraged me to continue to pursue my dreams: my mother, eldest sister, and my current supervisor. To me, nursing is more than providing medical care; it is about advocating for patients, offering comfort during difficult moments, and reminding people that they are seen and valued. My path toward nursing began when I first entered nursing school back in 2018, I was excited and eager to learn. However, despite my best efforts, I had to step away due to financial hardship and homelessness. At the time, I felt like I had lost a dream that meant so much to me. I felt like a loser and a failure and it started my downward spiral hitting rock bottom. But as they always say, "the only direction to go after hitting rock bottom is up." I truly believe since then, even after many setbacks, I have truly gotten out of my rock bottom and entering my golden years. Though I wasn't a nurse, I have been fortunate to work alongside nurses and healthcare teams in several different settings. As a Stryker On-Site Specialist, I supported surgical teams in the operating room and gained a deeper appreciation for the teamwork, precision, and dedication required to provide safe patient care. Seeing nurses advocate for patients and remain calm under pressure inspired me to continue pursuing this profession. I was able to get close to the team and all they did was encourage me. " You would be a wonderful nurse." Hearing that made the dullness in my heart spark. It wasn't until i worked as a Mental Health Coordinator in an acute care setting that truly had a change in my life. Not only did it add fuel to my now burning heart, but it brought up a new passion: psychology. Supporting individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges taught me the importance of compassion, patience, and treating every person with dignity. I learned that patients are more than their diagnosis. Currently, I am a Medical Assistant and Care Coordinator, I continue to support patients by assisting with referrals, scheduling, medication coordination, etc. I work alongside three knowledgeable nurse practitioners and have the privilege to learn how their thinking and analyzing process is when figuring out what medication to prescribe. This experience has shown me how overwhelming healthcare can feel for patients and has strengthened my passion for advocacy. I want to become the person who helps patients feel supported and empowered throughout their healthcare journey. The people who have shaped my journey include the nurses and healthcare professionals I have worked alongside, who showed me the impact of compassionate care. My mother, mentors, and those who encouraged me during difficult seasons of my life have also played an important role by reminding me that setbacks do not define my future. Outside of nursing, I am passionate about psychology, learning, and understanding human behavior. My interest in psychology has influenced the way I connect with others and strengthened my desire to improve mental healthcare access. It also helped me reconnect with my family providing grace and understanding as some of them are suffering from this invisible illness. I also dabble into the creative arts as a self-taught traditional artist of 13 years who recently upgraded to digital art work. I am a strong advocate against AI in the creative mind spaces and spend time advocating for artists who only livelihood comes from the art they create. My faith has also become an important source of strength and purpose in my life. Through Islam, I have learned the value of compassion, gratitude, patience, and serving others. It has helped me grow into a more understanding and empathetic person. Beyond academics and healthcare, I find joy in personal growth, spending time with loved ones, and continuing to learn about the world around me. My experiences have taught me that resilience is not about never struggling; it is about continuing forward despite challenges.

For most of my life, I struggled with challenges that I could not explain. I often felt like I was fighting a battle that no one else could see. At 27 years old, I was diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, a diagnosis that changed the way I understood myself, my past, and my future. Before receiving my diagnosis, I spent years believing something was wrong with me. I thought I was simply unable to handle life the way other people could, and I carried a great deal of shame because I did not understand why my emotions and experiences felt so intense. Growing up, mental health was not something my family openly discussed. My mother also experienced her own mental health struggles, but they were rarely talked about or understood. As I became older, I realized that what I once viewed as difficult behavior was actually a reflection of someone struggling with an illness. That realization helped me develop more compassion toward my mother and also toward myself. I began to understand that mental health challenges are not a reflection of a person’s character, but rather something that requires understanding, support, and care. Throughout my educational journey, my mental health created challenges that affected my ability to stay consistent and confident. There were periods where I felt like I was capable of accomplishing anything, followed by periods where simply getting through the day felt impossible. Before my diagnosis, I tried therapy and worked hard to understand myself, but I still struggled to find stability. Receiving my diagnosis was both relieving and overwhelming. It gave me answers, but it also forced me to accept that managing my health would require ongoing treatment and self-awareness. One of the hardest parts of my journey was learning to separate who I am from my diagnosis. When I first accepted Islam back in 2024, some people questioned whether my decision was truly mine or whether it was related to my mental health. That experience was painful because I felt like my choices, beliefs, and identity were being reduced to a diagnosis. I had to learn that I am more than my illness. I am a person with dreams, values, passions, and goals. I also struggled with the fear of becoming a burden to the people I love. When my husband asked if I would ever stop taking medication, I did not know how to respond. I was afraid that he saw my treatment as a limitation rather than a tool that allowed me to live my life fully. Over time, I have learned that taking care of my mental health is not a weakness; it is an act of responsibility and self-respect. Despite these challenges, I have continued pursuing my education and my goal of becoming a nurse. My experiences with mental health have strengthened my compassion and influenced the type of healthcare professional I hope to become. I want to be a nurse who understands that patients are more than their diagnoses and who recognizes the importance of listening without judgment. My own experiences have shown me how powerful it can be when someone feels seen, believed, and supported. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue my academic journey by reducing some of the financial barriers that have impacted my education in the past. I have already overcome obstacles that once made me question whether I would ever achieve my goals. This scholarship would allow me to focus more fully on my education and continue building the foundation needed to become a compassionate nurse and future advocate for mental healthcare.

If there is one thing that makes me stand out, it is that I have always experienced the world a little differently. For most of my life, I thought some of my habits were simply quirks that made me unique. As I have grown older and learned more about psychology, I have started to see these differences not as something strange, but as parts of myself that helped shape the way I think, learn, and understand the world. One of my biggest “awkward” things is that it took me about 12 years to learn how to walk flat on my feet. For as long as I can remember, I walked on my tiptoes. I still remember my grandmother giving me a bath as a child and noticing that the heels of my feet were always especially clean, while the rest of my feet were covered in dirt. She would laugh and point it out because it was such a consistent part of who I was. I also remember my mother taking me to the hospital when I was younger because she was concerned about the way I walked. The response she received was that maybe I would become a ballerina someday. Looking back, I still think about that moment. Maybe I could have been a ballerina if I had the opportunity. While that path was never my future, I appreciate the creativity and curiosity behind that explanation. Years later, while studying psychology, I learned that walking on my toes can sometimes be associated with neurodivergent traits, including autism. Whether it was simply a childhood habit or part of the way I experienced the world, it reminds me that being different does not mean being less capable. Another thing that makes me unique is the way I eat my food. I have always taken apart meals before eating them. If I eat a slice of pizza, I will remove the toppings, eat the top crust first, then eat the rest of the crust, and finally separate the cheese and toppings to enjoy them individually. I did this with almost everything that had separate components, including burgers and salads. As a child, I was convinced that if I separated each part, I would be able to fully experience every individual flavor. Looking back, I realize this reflects my natural curiosity and desire to understand things piece by piece. I also have a funny habit of not walking completely straight. Without realizing it, I tend to drift slightly to the left and occasionally bump into walls, objects, or even people. It has become one of those little things about me that my friends and family notice immediately. While these habits may seem awkward, they have taught me something important: the things that make us different are often the things that make us memorable. My unique way of experiencing the world has contributed to my curiosity, attention to detail, and desire to understand people. I have learned that being different is not something to hide. It is something to embrace. The same qualities that once made me feel unusual are the qualities that allow me to see situations from different perspectives and connect with others in meaningful ways. My “awkward” things are simply reminders that there is no single way to experience the world.

My experiences with mental health have profoundly influenced the way I view myself, my relationships with others, and the healthcare professional I hope to become. Through both my personal journey and my professional experiences in healthcare, I have learned that mental health is not separate from physical health. It is a fundamental part of a person’s overall well-being and should be treated with the same compassion, attention, and respect as any other aspect of healthcare. My personal experiences with mental health have taught me some of the most important lessons about resilience, vulnerability, and self-compassion. Throughout my life, I have faced moments where I questioned my abilities, my future, and whether I was capable of overcoming the challenges in front of me. There were times when setbacks felt permanent and when I struggled to see the possibility of a better future. However, those experiences taught me that difficult moments are not the definition of who a person is. They are simply moments in a much larger journey. One of the greatest lessons I have learned is the importance of giving myself grace. For a long time, I believed that making mistakes or experiencing setbacks meant I had failed. Over time, I learned that growth does not happen without challenges. I learned that asking for help is not a weakness, but rather a sign of strength and self-awareness. Mental health challenges have taught me to be patient with myself and to understand that healing and growth are processes that require time, effort, and compassion. These experiences have also changed the way I view other people. I have learned that many individuals carry struggles that are invisible to those around them. Someone may appear confident, successful, or strong while privately dealing with fear, anxiety, grief, trauma, or uncertainty. Because of this understanding, I approach my relationships with more empathy and patience. I try to listen before judging and understand before assuming. I believe every person has a story that has shaped who they are, and everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and dignity. My professional experiences in healthcare have strengthened this belief and helped shape my career aspirations. As a Mental Health Coordinator at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, I had the privilege of supporting individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges in an acute care setting. I worked with patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, including times when they felt overwhelmed, afraid, or unable to advocate for themselves. This experience taught me the importance of remaining calm, practicing compassion, and creating a safe environment for individuals who may feel misunderstood. A patient is not simply a diagnosis, a medical record, or a problem to solve. They are individuals with emotions, families, personal histories, and unique circumstances that impact their health. True healthcare requires understanding the person behind the symptoms and recognizing that emotional and mental well-being are just as important as physical health. Working in behavioral health showed me that meaningful care is not always about having the perfect words or immediately fixing a problem. Sometimes, the greatest impact comes from simply being present. Listening to someone, showing patience, and treating them with respect can help restore a sense of dignity and hope. I learned that healthcare professionals have the ability to influence a patient’s experience not only through treatment but also through human connection. My current role as a Medical Assistant and Care Coordinator has continued to deepen my understanding of mental health and healthcare access. I support patients by assisting with scheduling, referrals, medication coordination, insurance processes, and communication between patients and providers. Through this work, I have witnessed how challenging it can be for individuals to navigate the healthcare system, especially when they are already struggling emotionally or mentally. A missed appointment, delayed referral, or lack of resources can become a significant barrier for someone seeking help. These experiences have strengthened my passion for patient advocacy. I want to become a healthcare professional who helps patients overcome barriers and ensures they feel supported throughout their healthcare journey. I believe that small actions, such as taking time to listen, following up with a patient, or helping someone access resources, can create a meaningful impact. Mental health has also shaped my long-term career goals. As I pursue my nursing degree, my goal is to become a registered nurse and continue advancing my education to become a Nurse Practitioner. I want to combine my interests in nursing and psychology to improve access to mental healthcare and support individuals who may not have adequate resources. One of my long-term goals is to create mobile crisis units that bring mental health services directly to communities with limited access to psychiatric professionals. I believe mental healthcare should not only be available during moments of crisis but should also focus on prevention, education, and early intervention. Many individuals struggle because they do not have access to support before reaching a breaking point. I want to be part of creating solutions that make mental healthcare more accessible and remind people that their struggles do not define their future. My experiences with mental health have also changed how I define success. Success is not only measured by degrees, job titles, or professional accomplishments. Success is measured by the lives we impact, the compassion we show, and the difference we make for others. The challenges I have faced have given me a deeper understanding of what it feels like to need encouragement, understanding, and someone who believes in you. Because of this, I want to become the type of nurse who provides not only medical care but also comfort, advocacy, and hope. Ultimately, my experiences with mental health have transformed the way I see myself and the world around me. They have made me more compassionate, resilient, and determined to serve others. They have shown me that everyone deserves to be heard, supported, and treated with dignity. As I continue my journey toward becoming a nurse, I carry these lessons with me. I hope to use my education, healthcare experiences, and passion for mental health to become a provider who listens without judgment, advocates for those who feel unheard, and helps patients recognize their own strength. My goal is not only to care for people during their most difficult moments but also to remind them that difficult chapters do not determine the ending of their story.

The Nursing Industry interests me as a career choice because it combines my passion for science, service advocacy and caring for others. Nursing is more than a profession to me; it is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone's life during some of their most vulnerable moments. I have always been drawn to helping others, but my experiences working in healthcare have shown me that nurses have a unique ability to provide not only medical care but also comfort, education, encouragement, and hope. My desire to become a nurse began with my mother. She was a BSN back in her home country in Panama, but decided the American Dream would offer a better life for her, myself and my siblings so she packed her bags and moved to the United States. However, at the time, the United States did not accept medical education earned in Panama so she had to start all over, but this time she was a single mother to three children, including one child that had cerebral palsy. Because schooling in the United States was too expensive, she could only afford to get her LPN and worked private duty. This setback, fortunately, did not stop my mom from providing the best care possible to her patients. With every patient she took care of, she treated them as if they were my disabled sister, whom has passed away around that time. I decided to follow in her footstep and applied to be a RN at the same community college she received her LPN. However, tragedy and misfortunates had other plans and I was forced to drop out as I could not financially afford to go to school anymore and I was homeless at the time. At the time, I felt like I was losing on a dream that i worked so hard to achieve. But, even after leaving school, i never truly walked away from healthcare. Instead, I continued gaining experience in different healthcare environments, and every position reinforced my belief that nursing was the path I was meant to pursue. Throughout my careers, I have had the opportunity to work alongside resilience nurses and other interdisciplinary members of the healthcare field in a variety of settings. During my time as an On-site specialist with Stryker, I was privileged enough to see firsthand how a trauma patient receive care from the moment the tragedy happen to when they end up recovering. Working alongside surgeons, scrub techs, and trauma nurses showed me the dedication and preparation required to provide quality patient care even within a stressful environment. Currently, as a Medical Assistant with Clarvida, I continue to support patients right alongside a brilliant and insightful psychiatric nurse practitioner aiding her by assisting with scheduling, medication coordination and communication between patient, provider and pharmacy. My goals for a successful nursing career are to become a skilled and compassionate RN who provides exceptional care to patients regardless of race, religion and status. In the future, I hope to work in a trauma center where i can continue learning and serving patients during their most difficult times. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to apply, write and submit this essay for your consideration.