My name is Danielle, and I am currently a second-year student nurse anesthetist (SRNA) at Emory University. I was born and raised in North Carolina. With a cumulative experience of five years in various critical care units and one year in obstetrics, I have successfully built a strong healthcare foundation as a critical care nurse at the bedside. However, I have made the decision to shift my focus away from intensive care units and embark on a new journey as a nurse anesthetist in the operating room. My current aspiration is to make a meaningful impact as an advanced practice nurse in this specialized field. In addition to my professional pursuits, I am also a proud fur parent of a sixteen-year-old Shih Tzu. I enjoy traveling around the world as well as singing despite being told that I am not able to hold a note. My passion for nursing was ignited by my mother, who is now a nurse practitioner. Despite coming home exhausted from her long shifts in the intensive care unit (ICU), my mother consistently displayed an unwavering passion for her job. Witnessing her commitment and dedication towards her patients, motivated me to follow in her footsteps. Through her stories and aspirations of becoming a certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA), I became intrigued by the field. However, during my research, I discovered a significant lack of diversity in the field of nursing anesthesia, particularly in terms of African Americans making up less than 1% of the profession. This realization has fueled my determination to make a difference and be the change I want to see. My aspiration to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is rooted in my desire to establish trust and empower all patients, especially those from underserved or minority communities. I firmly believe that representation matters in healthcare, and I want to serve as a source of inspiration and representation for patients who may feel marginalized or underrepresented in the healthcare system. By actively advocating for patients’ needs and concerns, I hope to create a safe and inclusive environment where patients feel empowered to voice their opinions, ask questions, and actively as well as safely participate in their own anesthesia care. While I understand that I cannot single-handedly transform the entire healthcare system, I am committed to ensuring that every patient I encounter, both inside and outside the operating room, is treated with dignity and respect, free from the influence of systemic racism and bias that unfortunately exist within the healthcare industry. As I continue on this educational journey towards achieving my degree, I am committed to upholding my personal pledge and staying true to my purpose. Despite facing unexpected challenges along the way, I recognize that this degree holds significance not only for myself but also for my mother, who has been a guiding light throughout my pursuit of this goal. I want to be the light my mom is to me and to other women, inspiring me to be an anesthesia provider.

My name is Danielle, and I am currently a second-year student nurse anesthetist (SRNA) at Emory University. With a cumulative experience of five years in various critical care units and one year in obstetrics, I have successfully built a strong healthcare foundation as a critical care nurse at the bedside. However, I have made the decision to shift my focus away from intensive care units and embark on a new journey as a nurse anesthetist in the operating room. My current aspiration is to make a meaningful impact as an advanced practice nurse in this specialized field. My passion for nursing was ignited by my mother, who is now a nurse practitioner. Despite coming home exhausted from her long shifts in the intensive care unit (ICU), my mother consistently displayed an unwavering passion for her job. Witnessing her commitment and dedication towards her patients, motivated me to follow in her footsteps. Through her stories and aspirations of becoming a certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA), I became intrigued by the field. However, during my research, I discovered a significant lack of diversity in the field of nursing anesthesia, particularly in terms of African Americans making up less than 1% of the nurse anesthesia profession. This realization has fueled my determination to make a difference and be the change I wanted to see. My aspiration to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is rooted in my desire to establish trust and empower all patients, especially those from underserved or minority communities. I firmly believe that representation matters in healthcare, and I want to serve as a source of inspiration and representation for patients who may feel marginalized or underrepresented in the healthcare system. By actively advocating for patients’ needs and concerns, I hope to create a safe and inclusive environment where patients feel empowered to voice their opinions, ask questions, and actively as well as safely participate in their own anesthesia care. While I understand that I cannot single-handedly transform the entire healthcare system, I am committed to ensuring that every patient I encounter, both inside and outside the operating room, is treated with dignity and respect, free from the influence of systemic racism and bias that unfortunately exist within the healthcare industry. As I continue on this educational journey towards achieving my degree, I am committed to upholding my personal pledge and staying true to my purpose. Despite facing unexpected challenges along the way, I recognize that this degree holds significance not only for myself but also for my mother, who has been a guiding light throughout my pursuit of this goal.

I would like to first start by saying my condolences to Eric’s family and thank you for honoring him as well as his service to this country. My name is Danielle, and I am currently a second-year student nurse anesthetist (SRNA) at Emory University. I was born and raised in North Carolina. With a cumulative experience of five years in various critical care units and one year in obstetrics, I have successfully built a strong healthcare foundation as a critical care nurse at the bedside. However, I have made the decision to shift my focus away from intensive care units and embark on a new journey as a nurse anesthetist in the operating room. My current aspiration is to make a meaningful impact as an advanced practice nurse in this specialized field. In addition to my professional pursuits, I am also a proud fur parent of a sixteen year old shih tzu. I enjoy traveling around the world as well as singing despite being told that I am not able to hold a note. My passion for nursing was ignited by my mother, who is now a nurse practitioner. Despite coming home exhausted from her long shifts in the intensive care unit (ICU), my mother consistently displayed an unwavering passion for her job. Witnessing her commitment and dedication towards her patients, motivated me to follow in her footsteps. Through her stories and aspirations of becoming a certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA), I became intrigued by the field. However, during my research, I discovered a significant lack of diversity in the field of nursing anesthesia, particularly in terms of African Americans making up less than 1% of the nurse anesthesia profession. This realization has fueled my determination to make a difference and be the change I wanted to see. My aspiration to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is rooted in my desire to establish trust and empower all patients, especially those from underserved or minority communities. I firmly believe that representation matters in healthcare, and I want to serve as a source of inspiration and representation for patients who may feel marginalized or underrepresented in the healthcare system. By actively advocating for patients’ needs and concerns, I hope to create a safe and inclusive environment where patients feel empowered to voice their opinions, ask questions, and actively as well as safely participate in their own anesthesia care. While I understand that I cannot single-handedly transform the entire healthcare system, I am committed to ensuring that every patient I encounter, both inside and outside the operating room, is treated with dignity and respect, free from the influence of systemic racism and bias that unfortunately exist within the healthcare industry. As I continue on this educational journey towards achieving my degree, I am committed to upholding my personal pledge and staying true to my purpose. Despite facing unexpected challenges along the way, I recognize that this degree holds significance not only for myself but also for my mother, who has been a guiding light throughout my pursuit of this goal.

I would like to first start by saying my condolences to Christina Taylese Singh family and thank you for honoring her. My name is Danielle, and although I am not directly following Christina footsteps in occupational therapy, I am a healthcare provider like her. I am currently a second-year student nurse anesthetist (SRNA) at Emory University. I was born and raised in North Carolina. With a cumulative experience of five years in various critical care units and one year in obstetrics, I have successfully built a strong healthcare foundation as a critical care nurse at the bedside. However, I have made the decision to shift my focus away from intensive care units and embark on a new journey as a nurse anesthetist in the operating room. My current aspiration is to make a meaningful impact as an advanced practice nurse in this specialized field. In addition to my professional pursuits, I am also a proud fur parent of a sixteen year old shih tzu. I enjoy traveling around the world as well as singing despite being told that I am not able to hold a note. My passion for nursing was ignited by my mother, who is now a nurse practitioner. Despite coming home exhausted from her long shifts in the intensive care unit (ICU), my mother consistently displayed an unwavering passion for her job. Witnessing her commitment and dedication towards her patients, motivated me to follow in her footsteps. Through her stories and aspirations of becoming a certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA), I became intrigued by the field. However, during my research, I discovered a significant lack of diversity in the field of nursing anesthesia, particularly in terms of African Americans making up less than 1% of the nurse anesthesia profession. This realization has fueled my determination to make a difference and be the change I wanted to see. My aspiration to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is rooted in my desire to establish trust and empower all patients, especially those from underserved or minority communities. I firmly believe that representation matters in healthcare, and I want to serve as a source of inspiration and representation for patients who may feel marginalized or underrepresented in the healthcare system. By actively advocating for patients’ needs and concerns, I hope to create a safe and inclusive environment where patients feel empowered to voice their opinions, ask questions, and actively as well as safely participate in their own anesthesia care. While I understand that I cannot single-handedly transform the entire healthcare system, I am committed to ensuring that every patient I encounter, both inside and outside the operating room, is treated with dignity and respect, free from the influence of systemic racism and bias that unfortunately exist within the healthcare industry. As I continue on this educational journey towards achieving my degree, I am committed to upholding my personal pledge and staying true to my purpose. Despite facing unexpected challenges along the way, I recognize that this degree holds significance not only for myself but also for my mother, who has been a guiding light throughout my pursuit of this goal.

My name is Danielle, and I am currently a second-year student nurse anesthetist (SRNA) at Emory University. I was born and raised in North Carolina. With a cumulative experience of five years in various critical care units and one year in obstetrics, I have successfully built a strong healthcare foundation as a critical care nurse at the bedside. However, I have made the decision to shift my focus away from intensive care units and embark on a new journey as a nurse anesthetist in the operating room. My current aspiration is to make a meaningful impact as an advanced practice nurse in this specialized field. In addition to my professional pursuits, I am also a proud fur parent of a sixteen year old shih tzu. I enjoy traveling around the world as well as singing despite being told that I am not able to hold a note. My passion for nursing was ignited by my mother, who is now a nurse practitioner. Despite coming home exhausted from her long shifts in the intensive care unit (ICU), my mother consistently displayed an unwavering passion for her job. Witnessing her commitment and dedication towards her patients, motivated me to follow in her footsteps. Through her stories and aspirations of becoming a certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA), I became intrigued by the field. However, during my research, I discovered a significant lack of diversity in the field of nursing anesthesia, particularly in terms of African Americans making up less than 1% of the nurse anesthesia profession. This realization has fueled my determination to make a difference and be the change I wanted to see. My aspiration to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is rooted in my desire to establish trust and empower all patients, especially those from underserved or minority communities. I firmly believe that representation matters in healthcare, and I want to serve as a source of inspiration and representation for patients who may feel marginalized or underrepresented in the healthcare system. By actively advocating for patients’ needs and concerns, I hope to create a safe and inclusive environment where patients feel empowered to voice their opinions, ask questions, and actively as well as safely participate in their own anesthesia care. While I understand that I cannot single-handedly transform the entire healthcare system, I am committed to ensuring that every patient I encounter, both inside and outside the operating room, is treated with dignity and respect, free from the influence of systemic racism and bias that unfortunately exist within the healthcare industry. As I continue on this educational journey towards achieving my degree, I am committed to upholding my personal pledge and staying true to my purpose. Despite facing unexpected challenges along the way, I recognize that this degree holds significance not only for myself but also for my mother, who has been a guiding light throughout my pursuit of this goal.

I decided to pursue a career in nursing five years ago because of my mother. My mother was and still is my inspiration for my nursing career. When I was younger growing up, my mom would come home after working a long twelve-hour shift in the intensive care unit, and I remember how she spoke about her shifts with so much joy, passion, and excitement. I knew I wanted to be like her and do the same growing up. I, too, decided to become a nurse and work in the intensive care unit based on the passion my mom spoke about all those years ago; I was so intrigued. From my first working in the intensive care unit, I felt the same energy, passion, and love my mom once expressed. Based on my mother's passion as a nurse for nursing all those years ago, I have been an intensive care nurse for five years, and I do not regret following in my mom’s footsteps. Five years later, I continue to follow in my mother's footsteps. My mother is now a nurse practitioner, which has inspired me to further my nursing education and become a certified registered nurse anesthetics (CRNA). I witnessed the hard work she put in yet again in her career, and I decided to follow her lead. Outside of my mother being my inspiration for my nursing career advancement, I chose to advance my career and go back to school this fall because of the lack of diversity in the nurse anesthetist field. In CRNA, there is less than 1% of people of color. This lack of diversity inspired me to make a difference and be the change I want to see in nursing. I want to inspire other people of color, especially women, that you can do whatever you set your mind to and that this advanced field of nursing is at your fingertips. The first time I met a nurse anesthetist of color was when I had an unexpected surgery, and at that moment, I felt seen. I could genuinely see myself being in that same role of nursing. At that moment, I felt a fire inside me relit like my first day in the intensive care unit five years ago; I just knew I wanted to advance my career to be a nurse anesthetist. I hope to do what my mother did for me all those years ago and what that nurse anesthetist did for me during my surgery and inspire many others.

I decided to pursue a career in nursing five years ago because of my mother. My mother was and still is my inspiration for my nursing career. When I was younger growing up, my mom would come home after working a long twelve-hour shift in the intensive care unit, and I remember how she spoke about her shifts with so much joy, passion, and excitement. I knew I wanted to be like her and do the same growing up. I, too, decided to become a nurse and work in the intensive care unit based on the passion my mom spoke about all those years ago; I was so intrigued. From my first working in the intensive care unit, I felt the same energy, passion, and love my mom once expressed. Based on my mother's passion as a nurse for nursing all those years ago, I have been an intensive care nurse for five years, and I do not regret following in my mom’s footsteps. Five years later, I continue to follow in my mother's footsteps. My mother is now a nurse practitioner, which has inspired me to further my nursing education and become a certified registered nurse anesthetics (CRNA). I witnessed the hard work she put in yet again in her career, and I decided to follow her lead. Outside of my mother being my inspiration for my nursing career advancement, I chose to advance my career and go back to school this fall because of the lack of diversity in the nurse anesthetist field. In CRNA, there is less than 1% of people of color. This lack of diversity inspired me to make a difference and be the change I want to see in nursing. I want to inspire other people of color, especially women, that you can do whatever you set your mind to and that this advanced field of nursing is at your fingertips. The first time I met a nurse anesthetist of color was when I had an unexpected surgery, and at that moment, I felt seen. I could genuinely see myself being in that same role of nursing. At that moment, I felt a fire inside me relit like my first day in the intensive care unit five years ago; I just knew I wanted to advance my career to be a nurse anesthetist. I hope to do what my mother did for me all those years ago and what that nurse anesthetist did for me during my surgery and inspire many others.

I decided to pursue a career in nursing five years ago because of my mother. My mother was and still is my inspiration for my nursing career. When I was younger growing up, my mom would come home after working a long twelve-hour shift in the intensive care unit, and I remember how she spoke about her shifts with so much joy, passion, and excitement. I knew I wanted to be like her and do the same growing up. I, too, decided to become a nurse and work in the intensive care unit based on the passion my mom spoke about all those years ago; I was so intrigued. From my first working in the intensive care unit, I felt the same energy, passion, and love my mom once expressed. Based on my mother's passion as a nurse for nursing all those years ago, I have been an intensive care nurse for five years, and I do not regret following in my mom’s footsteps. Five years later, I continue to follow in my mother's footsteps. My mother is now a nurse practitioner, which has inspired me to further my nursing education and become a certified registered nurse anesthetics (CRNA). I witnessed the hard work she put in yet again in her career, and I decided to follow her lead. Outside of my mother being my inspiration for my nursing career advancement, I chose to advance my career and go back to school this fall because of the lack of diversity in the nurse anesthetist field. In CRNA, there is less than 1% of people of color. This lack of diversity inspired me to make a difference and be the change I want to see in nursing. I want to inspire other people of color, especially women, that you can do whatever you set your mind to and that this advanced field of nursing is at your fingertips. The first time I met a nurse anesthetist of color was when I had an unexpected surgery, and at that moment, I felt seen. I could genuinely see myself being in that same role of nursing. At that moment, I felt a fire inside me relit like my first day in the intensive care unit five years ago; I just knew I wanted to advance my career to be a nurse anesthetist. I hope to do what my mother did for me all those years ago and what that nurse anesthetist did for me during my surgery and inspire many others.

I decided to pursue a career in nursing five years ago because of my mother. My mother was and still is my inspiration for my nursing career. When I was younger growing up, my mom would come home after working a long twelve-hour shift in the intensive care unit, and I remember how she spoke about her shifts with so much joy, passion, and excitement. I knew I wanted to be like her and do the same growing up. I, too, decided to become a nurse and work in the intensive care unit based on the passion my mom spoke about all those years ago; I was so intrigued. From my first working in the intensive care unit, I felt the same energy, passion, and love my mom once expressed. Based on my mother's passion as a nurse for nursing all those years ago, I have been an intensive care nurse for five years, and I do not regret following in my mom’s footsteps. Five years later, I continue to follow in my mother's footsteps. My mother is now a nurse practitioner, which has inspired me to further my nursing education and become a certified registered nurse anesthetics (CRNA). I witnessed the hard work she put in yet again in her career, and I decided to follow her lead. Outside of my mother being my inspiration for my nursing career advancement, I chose to advance my career and go back to school this fall because of the lack of diversity in the nurse anesthetist field. In CRNA, there is less than 1% of people of color. This lack of diversity inspired me to make a difference and be the change I want to see in nursing. I want to inspire other people of color, especially women, that you can do whatever you set your mind to and that this advanced field of nursing is at your fingertips. The first time I met a nurse anesthetist of color was when I had an unexpected surgery, and at that moment, I felt seen. I could genuinely see myself being in that same role of nursing. At that moment, I felt a fire inside me relit like my first day in the intensive care unit five years ago; I just knew I wanted to advance my career to be a nurse anesthetist. I hope to do what my mother did for me all those years ago and what that nurse anesthetist did for me during my surgery and inspire many others.

I decided to pursue a career in nursing five years ago because of my mother. My mother was and still is my inspiration for my nursing career. When I was younger growing up, my mom would come home after working a long twelve-hour shift in the intensive care unit, and I remember how she spoke about her shifts with so much joy, passion, and excitement. I knew I wanted to be just like her and do the same when I grew up. I, too, decided to become a nurse and work in the intensive care unit based on the passion my mom spoke about all those years ago; I was so intrigued. From my first moment working in the intensive care unit, I felt that same energy, passion, and love my mom once expressed. Based on my mother's passion as a nurse for nursing all those years ago, I have been an intensive care nurse for five years, and I do not regret following in my mom’s footsteps. Five years later, I continue to follow in my mother's footsteps. My mother is now a nurse practitioner, which has inspired me to further my nursing education and become a certified registered nurse anesthetics (CRNA). I witnessed the hard work she put in yet again in her career, and I decided to follow her lead. Outside of my mother being my inspiration for my nursing career advancement, another reason I chose to advance my career and go back to school this fall is the lack of diversity in the nurse anesthetist field. In CRNA, there is less than 1% of people of color. This lack of diversity inspired me to make a difference and be the change I want to see in nursing. I want to inspire other people of color, especially women, that you can do whatever you set your mind to and that this advanced field of nursing is at your fingertips. The first time I met a nurse anesthetist of color was when I had an unexpected surgery, and at that moment, I felt seen. I could genuinely see myself being in that same role of nursing. At that moment, I felt a fire inside me be relit like my first day in the intensive care unit five years ago; I just knew that I wanted to advance my career to be a nurse anesthetist. I hope to do what my mother did for me all those years ago and what that nurse anesthetist did for me during my surgery and be an inspiration to so many others.

I decided to pursue a career in nursing five years ago because of my mother. My mother was and still is my inspiration for my nursing career. When I was younger growing up, my mom would come home after working a long twelve-hour shift in the intensive care unit, and I remember how she spoke about her shifts with so much joy, passion, and excitement. I knew I wanted to be just like her and do the same when I grew up. I, too, decided to become a nurse and work in the intensive care unit based on the passion my mom spoke about all those years ago; I was so intrigued. From my first moment working in the intensive care unit, I felt that same energy, passion, and love my mom once expressed. Based on my mother's passion as a nurse for nursing all those years ago, I have been an intensive care nurse for five years, and I do not regret following in my mom’s footsteps. Five years later, I continue to follow in my mother's footsteps. My mother is now a nurse practitioner, which has inspired me to further my nursing education and become a certified registered nurse anesthetics (CRNA). I witnessed the hard work she put in yet again in her career, and I decided to follow her lead. Outside of my mother being my inspiration for my nursing career advancement, another reason I chose to advance my career and go back to school this fall is the lack of diversity in the nurse anesthetist field. In CRNA, there is less than 1% of people of color. This lack of diversity inspired me to make a difference and be the change I want to see in nursing. I want to inspire other people of color, especially women, that you can do whatever you set your mind to and that this advanced field of nursing is at your fingertips. The first time I met a nurse anesthetist of color was when I had an unexpected surgery, and at that moment, I felt seen. I could genuinely see myself being in that same role of nursing. At that moment, I felt a fire inside me be relit like my first day in the intensive care unit five years ago; I just knew that I wanted to advance my career to be a nurse anesthetist. I hope to do what my mother did for me all those years ago and what that nurse anesthetist did for me during my surgery and be an inspiration to so many others.

Growing up, I had a troubled childhood due to witnessing domestic violence and addiction within my household; this started to strain my academics and social life. My grades, GPA, and overall academic performance started to decline. I barely made it through high school. I knew I wasn't ready for a 4- year experience yet, so I attended a local community college. While attending this community college, my grades and academic attitude changed for the better. I went from barely passing classes in high school to making the President's and Dean's list every semester and getting accepted into the nursing program. While in the program, I applied to a scholar program and was accepted. We did community service and many services within the college within this program while maintaining a high GPA within m program. I also took on mentoring other nurses within the nursing program. I mentored other black women struggling with their home life within my community. I graduated from my nursing program with honors with a 3.6 GPA. I decided to further my education by getting my Bachelor's degree with honors, with a 3.8 GPA. I am about to start my graduate program this fall of 2022 as a Student Nurse Anesthetist, which I am excited about. I am proud of myself because I didn't allow my environment to hold me back any longer. I decided to take control and accountability over my life and circumstances. I wanted more for myself, which I have accomplished and am grateful for.

I plan to pay it forward as a CRNA by doing what was done for me; I plan on being a mentor within my community so that other nurses are aware that being a certified registered nurse anesthetist exists. Like I did in my undergraduate program I want to mentor those who are either in the program or looking into applying. I will push for other nurses, but especially nurses of color to get into the intensive care unit as new graduates since we tend to start in medical-surgical units first. I want to focus on people of color because we make up less than 1% of the CRNA population. I am inspired by CRNA Prep School Academy and I am hopeful in the near future I can do the same and this grant will help me financially. Thank you.