I have always loved books that are educational and informative, I enjoy books that teach life lessons and make an impact. So, if there is one book that I recommend everyone read is The Law of Attraction by Ester Hicks. This book has changed my way of thinking about the life that I am currently living. I learned how all things, wanted and unwanted, are brought to me by this most powerful law of the universe, the Law of Attraction. Why do I say everyone should read it? The law of attraction is a philosophy signifying that positive thoughts bring positive results into our lives, while negative thoughts bring negative outcomes. Our thoughts are a form of energy and positive energy attracts success in all areas of life, including health, finances, and relationships. Our thoughts create what happens to us in this life. This book has made me more conscious about how I speak about myself and what I allow in my life. By this I mean, we can allow people's negative and positive energy to affect our day. So how can I create my reality by using this philosophy? Be grateful, visualize my goals, look for the positive in every situation, learn how to identify negative thinking and use positive affirmations. Utilizing the law of attraction can bring a positive impact on mental health. By directing our lives on reaching a new reality and believing it, we tend to take more risks, notice more opportunities, and open ourselves up to new possibilities. In conclusion, this book will positively mold your life and overall help us see the positive in every situation. This book is life-changing.

You have heard it all before, the apologies, the many “sorry” that comes with a relationship of domestic abuse. At times you question the emotional or physical pain but you know the feeling is real. This is a cycle that you and your family are encountering because of the abuse of an individual. I want you to know that you are not alone and there is help. As a child, I grew up in an unstable home. My father was an alcoholic and the entire family feared the weekend. The weekend was when my dad got home to argue with my mom about their financial situation and many times lead to my older brothers getting involved. After many years of the repetitive cycle, my mother was fed up. She gathered all her children and left to seek help. We ended up at our church where all my siblings and mother received therapy. My mom found us shelter in a run-down motel for a couple of days. My dad quickly realized what he was doing and agreed to receive help. He started with marriage counseling that was offered by the church and then tackled his drinking. Today, my parents are serving at that church and spend their extra time with their grandchildren and traveling. When I grew older, I learned more in detail about domestic violence and I knew I had to break this cycle. In my personal life as a married adult, I make sure that any differences between my husband and me are resolved in private. My son sees a loving family where mommy and daddy prioritize building up our relationship daily. And most importantly, my husband and I serve in our church and give an example for my little one to follow. Our family is the definition of love. In my career, I started as a resource employee working in a school in an underprivileged community. This population consisted of individuals that migrate from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables also known as migrant workers. This population has always been dear to my heart as both my mom and dad also immigrated to this country and worked picking the fields. It was truly an honor to provide my services in empowering my community. Domestic violence is very common in my community and I aided women with free resources in the community to get out of the cycle without the fear of deportation which is always a concern with this specific population. Even though my experiences have not always been jolly, I have made the best of the situation. I learned what not to do and have built my family on values and respect. I appreciate the many resources that are available in local communities and continue to provide information to those in need. I have made this a mission in life to help women and children in need.

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation Mexican-American. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. They migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in Migrant Housing Camps where many families lived the same lifestyle. These camps had local clinics where I often went for care. These small clinics consisted of Nurse Practitioners for the majority of the care. This is where my dream of becoming a nurse started. I know that this meant that I wouldn’t be a traditional student, I had to work twice as hard to make my dreams a reality. My story is what drives my career. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality care to the underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today One of my first volunteer projects was working with children with disabilities. The facility offered parents the peace of mind brought about by a program staffed by healthcare professionals who are expertly trained in the care of children with both sub-acute and chronic conditions. It was fully equipped and staffed to accommodate children who require the support of ventilators, tracheotomies, oxygen therapy, and feeding tubes, or who have other special medical needs. This experience has helped me value the work nurses do daily and ultimately guided my nursing path for my future career. I am now seeking my Master in Nursing in Family Practice. My goal is to continue to provide care to the community and impact families. This is a mission that I carry dear to my heart. Nurses offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. My community is important to me and I plan to leave my imprint here.

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation Mexican-American. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. They migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in Migrant Housing Camps where many families lived the same lifestyle. These camps had local clinics where I often went for care. These small clinics consisted of Nurse Practitioners for the majority of the care. This is where my dream of becoming a nurse started. I know that this meant that I wouldn’t be a traditional student, I had to work twice as hard to make my dreams a reality. My story is what drives my career. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality care to the underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today One of my first volunteer projects was working with children with disabilities. The facility offered parents the peace of mind brought about by a program staffed by healthcare professionals who are expertly trained in the care of children with both sub-acute and chronic conditions. It was fully equipped and staffed to accommodate children who require the support of ventilators, tracheotomies, oxygen therapy, and feeding tubes, or who have other special medical needs. This experience has helped me value the work nurses do daily. And ultimately guided my nursing path. I am now seeking my Master in Nursing in Family Practice. My goal is to continue to provide care to the community and impact families. This is a mission that I carry dear to my heart. Nurses offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. I will continue to provide quality patient care in my community by advancing my degree and becoming a Family Nurse Practioner.

Having a baby comes with bursts of many emotions, those include but not limited to joy, fear, excitement and sometimes depression. At the age of 23, I was quickly reminded of the many feelings that came with being a first-time mother trying to accomplish her goals and become the present parent I always aspired to be, not to mention being a first-generation Latino graduate on a mission to make her parents proud. In late November 2013, my beautiful baby boy was born, this filled our home with joy but I quickly had to prepare to start Nursing School in January 2014. I was now juggling being a first-time mother, working a full-time job and accomplishing my dream of becoming a nurse. This usually meant waking up at 5 am to feed the baby, pumping extra milk to leave the babysitter, cleaning, studying, class, work and some more studying while sneaking in hugs and kisses. Overwhelmed was an understatement, I was getting through the day on coffee and motivation. I kept reminding myself that this experience was temporary and that I will get rewarded by being a role model to my little one. This came with lots of sacrifice, tears and long nights. At first, I thought that I was struggling with time management, it never crossed my mind that during the “happiest years of my life” I would be feeling hopeless and disoriented and on top of that, the weight from my pregnancy just kept adding on. After further research, I learned that I was struggling with a very common form of depression known as postpartum depression. With the help of my husband, I took this diagnosis and learned different holistic techniques and strategies to overcome this monster. During this time, I learned ways to seek mental clarity through nature walks and breathing techniques, my belief grew stronger. Slowly but surely, I mastered how to manage my time and shut down the doubts I had in my head because Mom guilt is real. Though Mothers may experience challenges with raising children because of the many barriers that we are faced with, it is empowering to overcome these obstacles and prove to ourselves that we are worthy of accomplishing our goals. After two years of nursing school, I graduated and ultimately passed the NCLEX on the first try with 75 questions. This might not mean much to many but to me, it meant the world. I opened the doors for many future opportunities. Those graduation family pictures are placed on my office desk to remind me every day that I am capable of accomplishing anything that I set my mind to. I am now seeking my master’s degree in Family Practice and my nine-year-old boy continues to be my motive. I will use the many strategies and life lessons that I adapted the first time around because though ten years have passed since having my first son and my first nursing degree, I still have goals and dreams to accomplish. I am a mother, daughter, wife and first-generation Latino graduate, I can accomplish all things through Faith!

Having a baby comes with bursts of many emotions, those include but not limited to joy, fear, excitement and sometimes depression. At the age of 23, I was quickly reminded of the many feelings that came with being a first-time mother trying to accomplish her goals and become the present parent I always aspired to be, not to mention being a first-generation Latino graduate on a mission to make her parents proud. In late November 2013 my beautiful baby boy was born, this filled our home with joy but I quickly had to prepare to start Nursing School in January 2014. I was now juggling being a first-time mother, working a full-time job and accomplishing my dream of becoming a nurse. This opened my eyes to reality that I was a primary care giver to this little boy. This usually meant waking up at 5 am to feed the baby, pumping extra milk to leave the babysitter, clean, studying, class, work and some more studying while sneaking in hugs and kisses. Overwhelmed was an understatement, I was getting through the day on coffee and motivation. I kept reminding myself that this experience was temporary and that I will get rewarded by being a role model to my little one. This came with lots of sacrifice, tears and long nights. At first, I thought that I was struggling with time management, it never crossed my mind that during the “happiest years of my life” I would be feeling hopeless and disoriented and on top of that, the weight from my pregnancy just kept adding on. After further research, I learned that I was struggling with a very common form of depression known as postpartum depression. With the help of my husband, I took this diagnosis and learned different holistic techniques and strategies to overcome this monster. During this time, I learned ways to seek mental clarity through nature walks and breathing techniques, my belief grew stronger. Slowly but surely, I mastered how to manage my time and shut down the doubts I had in my head because Mom guilt is real. Though Mothers may experience challenges with raising children because of the many barriers that we are faced with, it is empowering to overcome these obstacles and prove to ourselves that we are worthy of accomplishing our goals. After two years of nursing school, I graduated and ultimately passed the NCLEX on the first try with 75 questions. This might not mean much to many but to me, it meant the world. I opened the doors for many future opportunities. Those graduation family pictures are placed on my office desk to remind me every day that I am capable of accomplishing anything that I set my mind to. Finishing nursing school has been one of my greatest accomplishments. It has provided opportunities and allowed me to be the primary care giver while still managing my career. After more than 5 years of finishing my BSN, I have decided to continue my career in nursing. I am now seeking my master’s degree in Family Practice and my nine-year-old boy continues to be my motive. I will use the many strategies and life lessons that I adapted the first time around because though ten years have passed since having my first son and my first nursing degree, I still have goals and dreams to accomplish. I am a mother, daughter and first-generation Latino graduate, I can accomplish all things through Faith!

Having a baby comes with bursts of many emotions, those include but not limited to joy, fear, excitement and sometimes depression. At the age of 23, I was quickly reminded of the many feelings that came with being a first-time mother trying to accomplish her goals and become the present parent I always aspired to be, not to mention being a first-generation Latino graduate on a mission to make her parents proud. In late November 2013 my beautiful baby boy was born, this filled our home with joy but I quickly had to prepare to start Nursing School in January 2014. I was now juggling being a first-time mother, working a full-time job and accomplishing my dream of becoming a nurse. This opened my eyes to the reality that I was a primary caregiver to this little boy. This usually meant waking up at 5 am to feed the baby, pumping extra milk to leave the babysitter, cleaning, studying, class, work and some more studying while sneaking in hugs and kisses. Overwhelmed was an understatement, I was getting through the day on coffee and motivation. I kept reminding myself that this experience was temporary and that I will get rewarded by being a role model to my little one. This came with lots of sacrifice, tears and long nights. At first, I thought that I was struggling with time management, it never crossed my mind that during the “happiest years of my life” I would be feeling hopeless and disoriented and on top of that, the weight from my pregnancy just kept adding on. After further research, I learned that I was struggling with a very common form of depression known as postpartum depression. With the help of my husband, I took this diagnosis and learned different holistic techniques and strategies to overcome this monster. During this time, I learned ways to seek mental clarity through nature walks and breathing techniques, my belief grew stronger. Slowly but surely, I mastered how to manage my time and shut down the doubts I had in my head because Mom guilt is real. Though Mothers may experience challenges with raising children because of the many barriers that we are faced with, it is empowering to overcome these obstacles and prove to ourselves that we are worthy of accomplishing our goals. After two years of nursing school, I graduated and ultimately passed the NCLEX on the first try with 75 questions. This might not mean much to many but to me, it meant the world. I opened the doors for many future opportunities. Those graduation family pictures are placed on my office desk to remind me every day that I am capable of accomplishing anything that I set my mind to. Finishing nursing school has been one of my greatest accomplishments. It has provided opportunities and allowed me to be the primary caregiver while still managing my career. After more than 5 years of finishing my BSN, I have decided to continue my career in nursing. I am now seeking my master’s degree in Family Practice and my nine-year-old boy continues to be my motive. I will use the many strategies and life lessons that I adapted the first time around because though ten years have passed since having my first son and my first nursing degree, I still have goals and dreams to accomplish. I am a mother, daughter and first-generation Latino graduate, I can accomplish all things through Faith!

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation Mexican-American. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. They migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in Migrant Housing Camps where many families lived the same lifestyle. These camps had local clinics where I often went for care. These small clinics consisted of Nurse Practitioners for the majority of the care. This is where my dream of becoming a nurse started. I know that this meant that I wouldn’t be a traditional student, I had to work twice as hard to make my dreams a reality. My story is what drives my career. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality care to the underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today One of my first volunteer projects was working with children with disabilities. The facility offered parents the peace of mind brought about by a program staffed by healthcare professionals who are expertly trained in the care of children with both sub-acute and chronic conditions. It was fully equipped and staffed to accommodate children who require the support of ventilators, tracheotomies, oxygen therapy, and feeding tubes, or who have other special medical needs. This experience has helped me value the work nurses do daily. I am now seeking my Master in Nursing in Family Practice. By advancing my career, I can provide quality care to every individual I have the pleasure of working with. My goal is to continue to provide care to the community and impact families. This is a mission that I carry dear to my heart. Nurses offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. Science is forever evolving and I love to be an impact on the healthcare community.

Having a baby comes with bursts of many emotions, those include but not limited to joy, fear, excitement and sometimes depression. At the age of 23, I was quickly reminded of the many feelings that came with being a first-time mother trying to accomplish her goals and become the present parent I always aspired to be, not to mention being a first-generation Latino graduate on a mission to make her parents proud. In late November 2013 my beautiful baby boy was born, this filled our home with joy but I quickly had to prepare to start Nursing School in January 2014. I was now juggling being a first-time mother, working a full-time job and accomplishing my dream of becoming a nurse. This usually meant waking up at 5 am to feed the baby, pumping extra milk to leave the babysitter, clean, studying, class, work and some more studying while sneaking in hugs and kisses. Overwhelmed was an understatement, I was getting through the day on coffee and motivation. I kept reminding myself that this experience was temporary and that I will get rewarded by being a role model to my little one. This came with lots of sacrifice, tears and long nights. At first, I thought that I was struggling with time management, it never crossed my mind that during the “happiest years of my life” I would be feeling hopeless and disoriented and on top of that, the weight from my pregnancy just kept adding on. After further research, I learned that I was struggling with a very common form of depression known as postpartum depression. With the help of my husband, I took this diagnosis and learned different holistic techniques and strategies to overcome this monster. During this time, I learned ways to seek mental clarity through nature walks and breathing techniques, my belief grew stronger. Slowly but surely, I mastered how to manage my time and shut down the doubts I had in my head because Mom guilt is real. Though Mothers may experience challenges with raising children because of the many barriers that we are faced with, it is empowering to overcome these obstacles and prove to ourselves that we are worthy of accomplishing our goals. After two years of nursing school, I graduated and ultimately passed the NCLEX on the first try with 75 questions. This might not mean much to many but to me, it meant the world. I opened the doors for many future opportunities. Those graduation family pictures are placed on my office desk to remind me every day that I am capable of accomplishing anything that I set my mind to. I am now seeking my master’s degree in Family Practice and my nine-year-old boy continues to be my motive. I will use the many strategies and life lessons that I adapted the first time around because though ten years have passed since having my first son and my first nursing degree, I still have goals and dreams to accomplish. I am a mother, daughter, wife and first-generation Latino graduate, I can accomplish all things through Faith!

Having a baby comes with a burst of many emotions, those include but not limited to joy, fear, excitement and sometimes depression. At the age of 23, I was quickly reminded of the many feelings that came with being a first-time mother trying to accomplish her goals and become the present parent I always aspired to be, not to mention being a first-generation Latino graduate on a mission to make her parents proud. In late November 2013 my beautiful baby boy was born, this filled our home with joy but I quickly had to prepare to start Nursing School in January 2014. I was now juggling being a first-time mother, working a full-time job and accomplishing my dream of becoming a nurse. This usually meant waking up at 5 am to feed the baby, pumping extra milk to leave the babysitter, clean, studying, class, work and some more studying while sneaking in hugs and kisses. Overwhelmed was an understatement, I was getting through the day on coffee and motivation. I kept reminding myself that this experience was temporary and that I will get rewarded by being a role model to my little one. This came with lots of sacrifice, tears and long nights. At first, I thought that I was struggling with time management, it never crossed my mind that during the “happiest years of my life” I would be feeling hopeless and disoriented and on top of that, the weight from my pregnancy just kept adding on. After further research, I learned that I was struggling with a very common form of depression known as postpartum depression. With the help of my husband, I took this diagnosis and learned different holistic techniques and strategies to overcome this monster. During this time, I learned ways to seek mental clarity through nature walks and breathing techniques, my belief grew stronger. Slowly but surely, I mastered how to manage my time and shut down the doubts I had in my head because Mom guilt is real. Though Mothers may experience challenges with raising children because of the many barriers that we are faced with, it is empowering to overcome these obstacles and prove to ourselves that we are worthy of accomplishing our goals. After two years of nursing school, I graduated and ultimately passed the NCLEX on the first try with 75 questions. This might not mean much to many but to me, it meant the world. I opened the doors for many future opportunities. Those graduation family pictures are placed on my office desk to remind me every day that I am capable of accomplishing anything that I set my mind to. I am now seeking my master’s degree in Family Practice and my nine-year-old boy continues to be my motive. I will use the many strategies and life lessons that I adapted the first time around because though ten years have passed since having my first son and my first nursing degree, I still have goals and dreams to accomplish. I am a mother, daughter, wife and first-generation Latino graduate, I can accomplish all things through Faith!

Having a baby comes with bursts of many emotions, those include but not limited to joy, fear, excitement and sometimes depression. At the age of 23, I was quickly reminded of the many feelings that came with being a first-time mother trying to accomplish her goals and become the present parent I always aspired to be, not to mention being a first-generation Latino graduate on a mission to make her parents proud. In late November 2013, my beautiful baby boy was born, this filled our home with joy but I quickly had to prepare to start Nursing School in January 2014. I was now juggling being a first-time mother, working a full-time job and accomplishing my dream of becoming a nurse. This usually meant waking up at 5 am to feed the baby, pumping extra milk to leave the babysitter, clean, studying, class, work and some more studying while sneaking in hugs and kisses. Overwhelmed was an understatement, I was getting through the day on coffee and motivation. I kept reminding myself that this experience was temporary and I will get rewarded by being a role model to my little one. This came with lots of sacrifice, tears and long nights. At first, I thought that I was struggling with time management, it never crossed my mind that during the “happiest years of my life” I would be feeling hopeless and disoriented and on top of that, the weight from my pregnancy just kept adding on. After further research, I learned that I was struggling with a very common form of depression known as postpartum depression. With the help of my husband, I took this diagnosis and learned different holistic techniques and strategies to overcome this monster. During this time, I learned ways to seek mental clarity through nature walks and breathing techniques, my belief grew stronger. Slowly but surely, I mastered how to manage my time and shut down the doubts I had in my head because Mom guilt is real. Though Mothers may experience challenges with raising children because of the many barriers that we are faced with, it is empowering to overcome these obstacles and prove to ourselves that we are worthy of accomplishing our goals. After two years of nursing school, I graduated and ultimately passed the NCLEX on the first try with 75 questions. This might not mean much to many but to me it meant the world. I opened the doors for many future opportunities. Those graduation family pictures are placed on my office desk to remind me every day that I am capable of accomplishing anything that I set my mind to. I am now seeking my master’s degree in Family Practice and my nine-year-old boy continues to be my motive. I will use the many strategies and life lessons that I adapted the first time around because though ten years have passed since having my first son and my first nursing degree, I still have goals and dreams to accomplish. I am a mother, daughter, wife and first-generation Latino graduate, I can accomplish all things through Faith!

Having a baby comes with bursts of many emotions, those include but not limited to joy, fear, excitement and sometimes depression. At the age of 23, I was quickly reminded of the many feelings that came with being a first-time mother trying to accomplish her goals and become the present parent I always aspired to be, not to mention being a first-generation Latino graduate on a mission to make her parents proud. In late November 2013, my beautiful baby boy was born, this filled our home with joy but I quickly had to prepare to start Nursing School in January 2014. I was now juggling being a first-time mother, working a full-time job and accomplishing my dream of becoming a nurse. This usually meant waking up at 5 am to feed the baby, pumping extra milk to leave the babysitter, clean, studying, class, work and some more studying while sneaking in hugs and kisses. Overwhelmed was an understatement, I was getting through the day on coffee and motivation. I kept reminding myself that this experience was temporary and that I will get rewarded by being a role model to my little one. This came with lots of sacrifice, tears and long nights. At first, I thought that I was struggling with time management, it never crossed my mind that during the “happiest years of my life” I would be feeling hopeless and disoriented and on top of that, the weight from my pregnancy just kept adding on. After further research, I learned that I was struggling with a very common form of depression known as postpartum depression. With the help of my husband, I took this diagnosis and learned different holistic techniques and strategies to overcome this monster. During this time, I learned ways to seek mental clarity through nature walks and breathing techniques, my belief grew stronger. Slowly but surely, I mastered how to manage my time and shut down the doubts I had in my head because Mom guilt is real. Though Mothers may experience challenges with raising children because of the many barriers that we are faced with, it is empowering to overcome these obstacles and prove to ourselves that we are worthy of accomplishing our goals. After two years of nursing school, I graduated and ultimately passed the NCLEX on the first try with 75 questions. This might not mean much to many but to me, it meant the world. I opened the doors for many future opportunities. Those graduation family pictures are placed on my office desk to remind me every day that I am capable of accomplishing anything that I set my mind to. I am now seeking my master’s degree in Family Practice and my nine-year-old boy continues to be my motive. I will use the many strategies and life lessons that I adapted the first time around because though ten years have passed since my first nursing degree, I still have goals and dreams to accomplish. I am a mother, daughter, wife and first-generation Latino graduate, I can accomplish all things through Faith!

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation Mexican-American. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. They migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in Migrant Housing Camps where many families lived the same lifestyle. These camps had local clinics where I often went for care. These small clinics consisted of Nurse Practitioners for the majority of the care. This is where my dream of becoming a nurse started. I know that this meant that I wouldn’t be a traditional student, I had to work twice as hard to make my dreams a reality. My story is what drives my career. Growing up, the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality care to the underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today One of my first volunteer projects was working with children with disabilities. The facility offered parents the peace of mind brought about by a program staffed by healthcare professionals who are expertly trained in the care of children with both sub-acute and chronic conditions. It was fully equipped and staffed to accommodate children who require the support of ventilators, tracheotomies, oxygen therapy, and feeding tubes, or who have other special medical needs. This experience has helped me value the work nurses do daily. I am now seeking my Master in Nursing in Family Practice. My goal is to continue to provide care to the community and impact families. This is a mission that I carry dear to my heart. Nurses offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. Helping My community means that I can also impact life the same way I was impacted by the community clinic that I went to as a child. I promise to give my best care to this underprivileged community.

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation Mexican-American. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. They migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in Migrant Housing Camps where many families lived the same lifestyle. These camps had local clinics where I often went for care. These small clinics consisted of Nurse Practitioners for the majority of the care. This is where my dream of becoming a nurse started. I know that this meant that I wouldn’t be a traditional student, I had to work twice as hard to make my dreams a reality. My story is what drives my career. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality care to the underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today One of my first volunteer projects was working with children with disabilities. The facility offered parents the peace of mind brought about by a program staffed by healthcare professionals who are expertly trained in the care of children with both sub-acute and chronic conditions. It was fully equipped and staffed to accommodate children who require the support of ventilators, tracheotomies, oxygen therapy, and feeding tubes, or who have other special medical needs. This experience has helped me value the work nurses do daily. I am now seeking my Master in Nursing in Family Practice. My goal is to continue to provide care to the community and impact families. This is a mission that I carry dear to my heart. Nurses offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community.

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation Mexican-American. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. They migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in Migrant Housing Camps where many families lived the same lifestyle. These camps had local clinics where I often went for care. These small clinics consisted of Nurse Practitioners for the majority of the care. This is where my dream of becoming a nurse started. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality care to the underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today One of my first volunteer projects was working with children with disabilities. The facility offered parents the peace of mind brought about by a program staffed by healthcare professionals who are expertly trained in the care of children with both sub-acute and chronic conditions. It was fully equipped and staffed to accommodate children who require the support of ventilators, tracheotomies, oxygen therapy, and feeding tubes, or who have other special medical needs. This experience has helped me value the work nurses do daily. I am now seeking my Master in Nursing in Family Practice. My goal is to continue to provide care to the community and impact families. This is a mission that I carry dear to my heart. Nurses offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. My plan for this scholarship money would be to pay off my student loan debt with the goal to purchase my forever home. This crazy housing market has made it very competitive to qualify for a loan and ultimately save for a down payment because paying down the thousands of dollars that have accumulated in student loans has made it nearly impossible. I am forever thankful for the opportunity to apply for scholarships. Thank you

I am an empowered, goal-getting, first-generation Latina Aesthetic business owner.

Having a baby comes with bursts of many emotions, those include but not limited to joy, fear, excitement and sometimes depression. At the age of 23, I was quickly reminded of the many feelings that came with being a first-time mother trying to accomplish her goals and become the present parent I always aspired to be, not to mention being a first-generation Latino graduate on a mission to make her parents proud. In late November 2013, my beautiful baby boy was born, this filled our home with joy but I quickly had to prepare to start Nursing School in January 2014. I was now juggling being a first-time mother, working a full-time job and accomplishing my dream of becoming a nurse. This usually meant waking up at 5 am to feed the baby, pumping extra milk to leave the babysitter, clean, studying, class, work and some more studying while sneaking in hugs and kisses. Overwhelmed was an understatement, I was getting through the day on coffee and motivation. I kept reminding myself that this experience was temporary and that I will get rewarded by being a role model to my little one. This came with lots of sacrifice, tears and long nights but everything can be done with faith and prayer. During this time, I learned ways to seek mental clarity through nature walks and breathing techniques, my belief grew stronger. Slowly but surely, I mastered how to manage my time and shut down the doubts I had in my head because Mom guilt is real. Though Mothers may experience challenges with raising children because of the many barriers that we are faced with, it is empowering to overcome these obstacles and prove to ourselves that we are worthy of accomplishing our goals. After two years of nursing school, I graduated and ultimately passed my NCLEX on the first try with 75 questions. This might not mean much to many but to me, it meant the world. I opened the doors for many future opportunities. Those graduation family pictures are placed on my office desk to remind me every day that I am capable of accomplishing anything that I set my mind to. I am now seeking my master’s degree in Family Practice and my nine-year-old boy continues to be my motive. I will use the many strategies and life lessons that I adapted the first time around because though ten years have passed since my first nursing degree, I still have goals and dreams to accomplish. I am a mother, daughter, wife and first-generation Latino graduate, I can accomplish all things through Faith!

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation college graduate. My mom came from Mexico in the early ’80s. She migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in a Migrant Housing Camp where many families lived the same lifestyle. This meant living paycheck to paycheck and the thought of preventative Healthcare care was a luxury. As you can imagine, my mom’s immigrant status limited the resources of healthcare that she could receive. I didn’t understand that she didn’t receive health care because the out-of-pocket fees were preposterous and only medical emergencies were significant. The older I got, the more my values and goals were shaped to help this population receive the adequate attention that is needed for preventative and routine care. This was further evident when my mother had a health scare and the routine follow-up care had to be paid upfront. This left my family with remarkable debt when the cash flow was not enough. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my mom sacrificed her life to provide her children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality preventative care to this underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today. I now work in a largely populated immigrant community as a Heart Failure Coordinator. The clinic provides care to heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalization. The clinic takes all patients regardless of their economic status. A large amount of rehospitalization leads to this community project due to the lack of preventative care. The Heart Failure Clinic has ultimately reduced the readmission rate and the risk of death for this population has also declined. I plan to advance my career to a Family Nurse Practitioner to continue to help this population. I believe nurses make a real difference in people’s lives and impact our community. We offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. I plan to continue this mission that is dear to my heart for many more years to come. I thank my mother for raising me the way she did. I was brought up by a single independent mother that instilled life values and lessons. She made sure she took us to church every Sunday and prayed together around the dinner table daily. Today I value this and try to provide the same home education to my little one.

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation college graduate. My mom came from Mexico in the early ’80s. She migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in a Migrant Housing Camp where many families lived the same lifestyle. This meant living paycheck to paycheck and the thought of preventative Healthcare care was a luxury. As you can imagine, my mom’s immigrant status limited the resources of healthcare that she could receive. I didn’t understand that she didn’t receive health care because the out-of-pocket fees were preposterous and only medical emergencies were significant. The older I got, the more my values and goals were shaped to help this population receive the adequate attention that is needed for preventative and routine care. This was further evident when my mother had a health scare and the routine follow-up care had to be paid upfront. This left my family with remarkable debt when the cash flow was not enough. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my mom sacrificed her life to provide her children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality preventative care to this underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today. I now work in a largely populated immigrant community as a Heart Failure Coordinator. The clinic provides care to heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalization. The clinic takes all patients regardless of their economic status. A large amount of rehospitalization leads to this community project due to the lack of preventative care. The Heart Failure Clinic has ultimately reduced the readmission rate and the risk of death for this population has also declined. I plan to advance my career to a Family Nurse Practitioner to continue to help this population. I believe nurses make a real difference in people’s lives and impact our community. We offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. I plan to continue this mission that is dear to my heart for many more years to come.

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation college graduate. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. The two migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in a Migrant Housing Camp where many families lived the same lifestyle. This meant living paycheck to paycheck and the thought of preventative Healthcare care was a luxury. As you can imagine, my parent’s immigrant status limited the resources of healthcare that they could receive. I didn’t understand that my parents didn’t receive health care because the out-of-pocket fees were preposterous and only medical emergencies were significant. The older I got, the more my values and goals were shaped to help this population receive the adequate attention that is needed for preventative and routine care. This was further evident when my father had a health scare and the routine follow-up care had to be paid upfront. My mom worked long days to pay out-of-pocket fees, insurance was not an option. This left my family with remarkable debt when the cash flow was not enough. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality preventative care to this underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today. I now work in a largely populated immigrant community as a Heart Failure Coordinator. The clinic provides care to heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalization. The clinic takes all patients regardless of their economic status. A large amount of rehospitalization leads to this community project due to the lack of preventative care. The Heart Failure Clinic has ultimately reduced the readmission rate and the risk of death for this population has also declined. I plan to advance my career to a Family Nurse Practitioner to continue to help this population. I believe nurses make a real difference in people’s lives and impact our community. We offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. I plan to continue this mission that is dear to my heart for many more years to come.

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation college graduate. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. The two migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in a Migrant Housing Camp where many families lived the same lifestyle. This meant living paycheck to paycheck and the thought of preventative Healthcare care was a luxury. As you can imagine, my parent’s immigrant status limited the resources of healthcare that they could receive. I didn’t understand that my parents didn’t receive health care because the out-of-pocket fees were preposterous and only medical emergencies were significant. The older I got, the more my values and goals were shaped to help this population receive the adequate attention that is needed for preventative and routine care. This was further evident when my father had a health scare and the routine follow-up care had to be paid upfront. My mom worked long days to pay out-of-pocket fees, insurance was not an option. This left my family with remarkable debt when the cash flow was not enough. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality preventative care to this underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today. I now work in a largely populated immigrant community. The clinic provides care to heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalization. The clinic takes all patients regardless of their economic status. A large amount of rehospitalization leads to this community project due to the lack of preventative care. The Heart Failure Clinic has ultimately reduced the readmission rate and the risk of death for this population has also declined. Nurses make a real difference in people’s lives and impact our community. We offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. I plan to continue this mission that is dear to my heart for many more years to come.

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation college graduate. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. The two migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in a Migrant Housing Camp where many families lived the same lifestyle. This meant living paycheck to paycheck and the thought of preventative Healthcare care was a luxury. As you can imagine, my parent’s immigrant status limited the resources of healthcare that they could receive. I didn’t understand that my parents didn’t receive health care because the out-of-pocket fees were preposterous and only medical emergencies were significant. The older I got, the more my values and goals were shaped to help this population receive the adequate attention that is needed for preventative and routine care. This was further evident when my father had a health scare and the routine follow-up care had to be paid upfront. My mom worked long days to pay out-of-pocket fees, insurance was not an option. This left my family with remarkable debt when the cash flow was not enough. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality preventative care to this underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today. I now work in a largely populated immigrant community. The clinic provides care to heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalization. The clinic takes all patients regardless of their economic status. A large amount of rehospitalization leads to this community project due to the lack of preventative care. The Heart Failure Clinic has ultimately reduced the readmission rate and the risk of death for this population has also declined. Nurses make a real difference in people’s lives and impact our community. We offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. I plan to continue this mission that is dear to my heart for many more years to come.

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation college graduate. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. The two migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in a Migrant Housing Camp where many families lived the same lifestyle. This meant living paycheck to paycheck and the thought of preventative Healthcare care was a luxury. As you can imagine, my parent’s immigrant status limited the resources of healthcare that they could receive. I didn’t understand that my parents didn’t receive health care because the out-of-pocket fees were preposterous and only medical emergencies were significant. The older I got, the more my values and goals were shaped to help this population receive the adequate attention that is needed for preventative and routine care. This was further evident when my father had a health scare and the routine follow-up care had to be paid upfront. My mom worked long days to pay out-of-pocket fees, insurance was not an option. This left my family with remarkable debt when the cash flow was not enough. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality preventative care to this underprivileged population. My life experiences have guided my career and molded me into the nurse that I am today. I now work in a largely populated immigrant community. The clinic provides care to heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalization. The clinic takes all patients regardless of their economic status. A large amount of rehospitalization leads to this community project due to the lack of preventative care. The Heart Failure Clinic has ultimately reduced the readmission rate and the risk of death for this population has also declined. Nurses make a real difference in people’s lives and impact our community. We offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. I plan to continue this mission that is dear to my heart for many more years to come.

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation college graduate. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. The two migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in a Migrant Housing Camp where many families lived the same lifestyle. This meant living paycheck to paycheck and the thought of preventative Healthcare care was a luxury. As you can imagine, my parent’s immigrant status limited the resources of healthcare that they could receive. I didn’t understand that my parents didn’t receive health care because the out-of-pocket fees were preposterous and only medical emergencies were significant. The older I got, the more my values and goals were shaped to help this population receive the adequate attention that is needed for preventative and routine care. This was further evident when my father had a health scare and the routine follow-up care had to be paid upfront. My mom worked long days to pay out-of-pocket fees, insurance was not an option. This left my family with remarkable debt when the cash flow was not enough. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality preventative care to this underprivileged population. I now work in a largely populated immigrant community. The clinic provides care to heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalization. The clinic takes all patients regardless of their economic status. A large amount of rehospitalization leads to this community project due to the lack of preventative care. The Heart Failure Clinic has ultimately reduced the readmission rate and the risk of death for this population has also declined. Nurses make a real difference in people’s lives and impact our community. We offer hope during the most devasting times, it is rewarding to be making a difference in my community. I plan to continue this mission that is dear to my heart for many more years to come. Today, I am a single mother raising a 9-year-old boy. He is my pride and joy and I aim to show him the same morals and values that were embedded in my upbringing.

My name is Christina and I am a first-generation college graduate. My parents came from Mexico in the early ’80s. The two migrated from state to state harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables. This meant not having a stable home and often relocating after several months. I came from humbled begins picking crops after school in a rural city in South Florida. We lived in a Migrant Housing Camp where many families lived the same lifestyle. This meant living paycheck to paycheck and the thought of preventative Healthcare care was a luxury. As you can imagine, my parent’s immigrant status limited the resources of healthcare that they could receive. I didn’t understand that my parents didn’t receive health care because the out-of-pocket fees were preposterous and only medical emergencies were significant. The older I got, the more my values and goals were shaped to help this population receive the adequate attention that is needed for preventative and routine care. This was further evident when my father had a health scare and the routine follow-up care had to be paid upfront. My mom worked long days to pay out-of-pocket fees, insurance was not an option. This left my family with remarkable debt when the cash flow was not enough. Growing up the thought of college seemed like a long shot, no one in my family had even finished high school. However, I knew that my parents sacrificed their lives to provide their children with a brighter future, the American Dream. Becoming a nurse meant having a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for social justice for this vulnerable population. After many years of school, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the ultimate goal provide quality preventative care to this underprivileged population. I now work in a largely populated immigrant community. The clinic provides care to heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalization. The clinic takes all patients regardless of their economic status. A large amount of rehospitalization lead to this community project due to the lack of preventative care. The Heart Failure Clinic has ultimately reduced the readmission rate and the risk of death for this population has also declined. Nurses make a real difference in people’s lives and impact our community. We offer hope during the most devasting times it is truly rewarding to be making a difference in my community. I plan to continue this mission that is dear to my heart for many more years to come.