Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse with autism, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children with autism and having autism myself, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our firs. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. With my second pregnancy my youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. . The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacles.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Growing up in a home filled with instability, addiction, and neglect, I learned early what it meant to survive without safety or love. My earliest memories are of trauma, seeing my parent's overdose, comforting my crying sister, and waiting for help. We entered foster care at ages five and three, sleeping in a child services office our first night away from home. When our grandmother gained custody, things didn’t improve. We often went without food, running water, or medical care. As a child, I begged outside grocery stores so my sister could eat. Those years taught me empathy, strength, and an unshakable desire to help others who felt helpless. That desire is what first inspired me to become a nurse. When I became pregnant at sixteen, I promised myself that my child would never experience the same pain I did. I worked while attending school, but after escaping domestic abuse, I had to drop out to care for my baby. Despite setbacks, I refused to give up. Years later, when my older son started school, I planned to earn my GED, but his autism and ADHD diagnosis required me to focus on getting him the support he needed. Then, my second pregnancy brought new complications. My youngest son was born in 2022 with a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen. He now has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and requires around-the-clock care and forty hours of therapy a week. Watching him fight for every milestone strengthened my determination to pursue my dream of nursing. In 2023, I earned my GED and immediately enrolled in college. I go to Harper Community College, where I maintain 4.0 GPA, and pursing my ADN degree. Every obstacle has reinforced why I'm meant to do this. The nurses who cared for my son during his most fragile moments didn’t just save his life, they restored my faith in compassion and humanity. Their patience, kindness, and dedication inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Nursing is not just a career for me; it’s a calling born from pain, perseverance, and purpose. Through my experiences as a mother of two special needs children, I have learned advocacy, empathy, and resilience; traits I will carry with me into nursing. I also own a small daycare program for children with special needs, helping families navigate IEP meetings, insurance barriers, and medical equipment access. I understand the struggles that families face and the difference that a caring advocate can make. This work has taught me how to listen, communicate, and support others with dignity and understanding values I see reflected in Cindy’s legacy of compassion, integrity, and service to others. As a nurse, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I want to be there for families during their most vulnerable moments, providing not just clinical care, but comfort and understanding. I want patients and parents to feel seen, heard, and supported, even when outcomes are uncertain. Nursing, to me, is about being a light in someone’s darkest time but a reflection of what I needed. This scholarship would allow me to continue my studies without sacrificing my children’s medical needs. I am proud to be a first-generation college student, a mother, and a survivor who turned hardship into hope. Every step I take toward becoming a nurse is a step toward breaking generational cycles and showing my children that love, compassion, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Nursing is my purpose, and through it, I will turn the pain of my past into healing for others.

Balancing my education with my responsibilities as a single parent has been both the greatest challenge and the greatest source of strength in my life. My journey has never been easy, but every obstacle has shaped my determination to succeed. As a mother of two children with special needs, I have learned to balance compassion, patience, and perseverance while pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse. Education is not only my path to a better life for my family, but also a way to turn my struggles into a source of hope for others. My youngest son was born with cerebral palsy and severe autism. He is nonverbal and requires around-the-clock care, multiple therapies, and constant medical attention. My older son also has autism and ADHD, and he needs consistent support to thrive academically and emotionally. My days are filled with appointments, therapy sessions, and school meetings. There is always something that needs to be done, and sometimes it feels like there are not enough hours in the day. Yet, even in the midst of these responsibilities, I make time for my studies. I have learned to manage my time with discipline and creativity because I know how much this degree means for our future. Being a single parent has taught me the importance of balance, resilience, and unconditional love. I have learned to handle emergencies with calmness and strength, qualities that will serve me well as a nurse. I often remind myself that my children are watching me. They are learning from my determination to keep moving forward no matter how difficult life becomes. I want them to see that hard work and education can break cycles of hardship and open doors that once seemed closed. I am proud to be the first in my family to attend college, and I hope to inspire my children to follow their own educational dreams one day. Despite my dedication, the financial burden of attending nursing school while raising two children with special needs is overwhelming. Between tuition, books, and transportation costs, I often struggle to make ends meet. Much of my income goes toward medical bills, therapy expenses, and adaptive equipment for my sons. There are times when I worry that financial challenges could slow my progress, but I refuse to give up. This scholarship would ease that burden and allow me to focus fully on my education. It would help cover tuition and essential expenses, providing the stability I need to continue moving forward. Earning my nursing degree is not just a career goal. It represents healing, stability, and a chance to give back. My childhood was filled with instability and trauma, but those experiences gave me deep empathy for others in pain. Nursing gives me the opportunity to turn that empathy into action. I want to specialize in pediatric oncology, where I can comfort families during their most difficult moments. I know what it is like to feel scared and helpless, and I want to be the person who brings calm and compassion when others need it most. Balancing motherhood, caregiving, and education will always be challenging, but I have learned that strength comes from love and purpose. My children give me that purpose every day. They remind me why I must keep going, even when life feels overwhelming. This scholarship would not only support my education but also empower me to continue building a life of stability, love, and service. With your help, I can earn my nursing degree, provide for my family, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Growing up in a disadvantaged and unstable environment, I experienced persistent hardship and uncertainty. Each day presented new challenges, and even as a child, I felt a heavy emotional weight that many could not overcome. My family did not value education, and I am the first in my immediate family to go to college. My earliest memories are filled with trauma, severe physical and sexual abuse, and neglect. When I was five, my sister and I went into foster care after seeing our parents overdose right in front of us. I still remember the helplessness I felt, the fear, the confusion, and the desperate hope that I could help them. A neighbor finally heard our cries and called 911. My parents survived, but their addiction meant we could not live with them anymore. That was when my childhood ended, and I had to grow up to raise my younger sister. I will never forget the next morning. My mother dropped my sister and me off at school, and we had no idea it would be years before we saw our parents again. After school dismissal, we waited for hours in the school office, feeling more anxious with each passing minute. When a child protective services worker finally arrived, she told us we could not go home. That night, with nowhere else to go, my sister and I slept in her office. We were just two scared kids in a world that suddenly felt huge and cold. As the older sibling, I tried to be strong for my sister, but inside, I was terrified and lost. The next morning, the worker found us a place to stay, but it felt like we had already lost everything. Even now, the pain of that night stays with me. After foster care, my grandmother gained custody of my sister and me, but our situation did not get better. The house was dirty, often covered in cat feces, and we often went without running water, food, or basic medical care. We were left alone for hours or even days, and only saw a doctor when the school insisted. From age eight to fourteen, I stood outside grocery stores, hungry, asking strangers for money to buy food for my sister and me. There were many times I went without eating, as the older sibling, I always made sure my sister ate before I did. DCFS stepped in a few times, but we never went back to foster care. These experiences left a deep ache in my heart and shaped me as the adult and mother I am today. I longed for someone to care and help, and that longing inspired me to become a nurse. Nursing is more than a job to me; it feels like my true calling. My life as an abused child, a mother, a daycare provider, and an advocate has shaped my dedication to caring for others. I want to make a real difference in people's lives, and nursing is the best way for me to do that. My empathy, strength, and determination to overcome challenges will help me in this field. I am excited to use what I have learned in my life to care for patients, and I know I will bring the same dedication to nursing that I have shown in my community. My dream is to work in pediatric oncology, where I can make the biggest difference with my compassion.