From a young age, I learned what it means to be a caregiver—not just in the traditional sense, but as someone who stands up for others when no one else will. Growing up in a family facing many challenges, I became an advocate, a support system, and a source of strength—not only for myself but for my eight younger siblings and others around me. My journey into nursing began as a way to turn my personal struggles into a purpose bigger than myself. I am proud to say that I became a Certified Nursing Assistant at 17, working in nursing homes where I learned the power of compassion in the smallest acts—helping someone eat, dressing them, or simply listening to their stories. These moments taught me that public service is not just a job or an activity, but a commitment to showing up fully, especially when it’s hard. I’ve experienced firsthand how much being present can change someone’s day and even their life. My own life hasn’t been easy. Living with chronic illnesses like Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome (AMPS), alongside anxiety and depression, means my daily reality is full of challenges many don’t see. But these struggles have fueled a deep fire inside me to serve others, especially those who face pain, trauma, or injustice silently. I grew up without the steady emotional support of my parents, so I became my own advocate—managing my health care, fighting for my needs, and showing up for myself in ways I wished someone else had. My journey has been one of resilience, grit, and self-love. Even without consistent parental support, I’ve kept moving forward, fueled by the love of my extended family and my determination to break generational cycles of trauma and hardship. This commitment to care and service doesn’t stop at my family or patients. I want to be a light for others in my community who face pain, invisibility, or injustice. By majoring in Nursing and planning on minoring in Criminal Justice at Morgan State University, a proud HBCU, I’m preparing to become a forensic nurse—someone who supports survivors of violence and abuse, especially Black women and children who are often overlooked and underserved in healthcare and legal systems. I want to be an advocate, a healer, and a voice for those who need it most. To me, public service means more than volunteering or checking a box. It’s about dedicating your life to uplifting others and creating spaces where they feel safe, heard, and valued. I am committed to this path because I’ve lived it—I’ve fought for myself and those I love, and I will continue to do so with every patient, every family, and every community I serve. Thanks to the love and support of my aunts, grandmother, and great-grandparents, I have a foundation to stand on. But my dream is to become the light for others—to be a nurse who not only treats symptoms but empowers people and uplifts communities in need. Receiving this scholarship would not only help me afford my education but also empower me to keep being that light in the darkness—for my family, my community, and beyond. I want to build a future where my pain becomes purpose, my struggles become strength, and my work inspires others to believe in their own power to heal and serve. I am not just a student. I am a fighter, a caregiver, and a beacon for those who feel forgotten. My story is one of overcoming adversity through strength and compassion, and I want to use my education to make a lasting difference. Thank you so much for considering my application. I hope my journey inspires you and others to believe in yourself and the power of community and resilience.

The first time I understood what it meant to care for someone, I wasn’t wearing scrubs—I was just a kid, showing up for myself. I’ve faced trauma, chronic illness, and emotional pain that most people don’t see when they look at me—but those experiences didn’t break me. They built a fire in me to help others feel seen, supported, and safe in ways I never was. In high school, I turned that fire into action. I began my healthcare journey. I took Fundamentals of Health Science my sophomore year, followed by Anatomy and Physiology and CNA training in my junior year, and Phlebotomy and PCT courses my senior year. I became a Certified Nursing Assistant at 17—and the moment I stepped into the nursing home, I knew this was bigger than a certificate. It was purpose. Taking care of patients—helping them eat, dress, bathe, or simply feel heard—taught me what real service looks like. These weren’t just tasks; they were moments of trust. Families depended on me to care for their loved ones. I became someone they could rely on. That experience taught me that being a nurse isn’t just about skill—it’s about heart. It’s about showing up even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard. I want to be the nurse who changes someone’s entire day just by being kind and present. Nursing has never been just a career path—it’s always felt like a calling. And for me, that calling led to forensic nursing. I want to care for survivors of violence, abuse, and neglect. I want to be their voice when they feel voiceless. When I was introduced to criminal justice in high school and later discovered the field of forensic nursing, it was like everything clicked. It brought together my deepest passions—justice and healing. Forensic nursing is everything I care about in one field: healing, protection, and advocacy. But my journey hasn’t been easy. I live with Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome (AMPS), digestive issues, anxiety, and depression. My pain is daily and often invisible. Since age 13, I’ve been my own health advocate. I managed my own medical care—scheduling appointments, talking with doctors, tracking meds and labs—while still showing up for my education and preparing for college. I do this without consistent parental support, but with the love and care of my aunts, grandmother, and great-grandparents, who have sacrificed so much for me. They’ve been my foundation when my parents could not be. Still, I want my story to go beyond survival. I want to be the reason my family knows peace and stability. I’m the oldest of nine siblings. I want them to see what resilience looks like. I want to be proof that you can grow up in dysfunction and still become something powerful. That you can be your own advocate. That you can take your pain and turn it into purpose. This fall, I’ll be attending Morgan State University, majoring in Nursing and planning on minoring in Criminal Justice. I want to work with survivors—especially Black women and children who are often overlooked. I want to be their safe space, their voice, their nurse. A scholarship like this would help cover my education and healthcare costs. But more than that, it would be an investment in someone who’s already doing the work. Someone who keeps going, even when no one’s watching. Someone who already lives out the heart of nursing every single day. I want to bring compassion into every room I enter, advocacy into every decision I make, and healing into every life I touch. Thank you. I found this scholarship at bold.org.

My name is De’Kya Armwood-Cannon. I am 17 years old. There are many movies that I have watched throughout my life. But, of all the movies I’ve watched, only one has truly touched my heart and shaped who I am : The Forge. The movie I watched that has had the greatest impact on my life was a movie named “The Forge”. The movie was about an African American young man who did not know the route that he wanted to go in his life. He had no plans for his future. He was struggling, and wanted a simple job. One day, he walked into a shop and chose to apply to become an employee there. As he was there, he met a mentor. The mentor was an older African-American man. He was a disciple of Christ. The mentor’s purpose was to introduce people to God and help them find their way. The young boy’s name was Isaiah Wright. His mother was religious and constantly prayed for him every day. She wanted nothing, but the best for her child. As time went on, Isaiah began to trust the mentor. He went to church, went to meetings, met the mentor’s family. Prior to the mentor becoming a disciple of Christ, he endured a tragedy of his own. His son was murdered by a drunk driver. This allowed him to find God and understand who he is. He began to find his purpose. The mentor struggled previously in his life. There was nothing harder than grieving the death of his late son. Overtime, Isaiah became a man of Christ. He later became a part of ‘The Forge’. - A group of disciples that honor God and spread the word around the world. This allowed Isaiah to change his heart and find his purpose. It was not easy for him, but he persevered through. He prayed everyday, forgave those who wronged him, etc. This movie impacted my life because it showed me the importance of knowing the Lord. Like Isaiah, we become consumed with the worldly ways, and we forget. Watching his journey helped me realize that turning to God can bring clarity and peace. This allowed me to change and let God into my heart. It has not been easy. It pushed me to strive for better everyday and to continue trying. I’ve been praying more, reading my bible, and forgiving others. Striving to grow each day. My life has not been easy. As a child, I’ve been through so many struggles and inner battles. But, I turned to God every time and asked him to help me. Knowing who the lord is has changed me for the better and I would not have it any other way. This movie opened my heart to what is truly important.

Hello. My name is De’Kya Armwood-Cannon. I am 17. I am a high school senior and I am a graduating from Woodbridge High School. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to have a career for myself. I knew I wanted to take care of others and be the person for them that I didn’t have growing up. I began my healthcare journey while in high school. Starting my sophomore year of high school, I began my fundamentals of health science class. Then, my junior year I took anatomy and physiology, and Certified Nursing assistant. My senior year I took Phlebotomy and PCT. In December of 2023, I received my certification in nursing assistance. At the age of 17. I loved it. I enjoy taking care of elderly and being there for the family members of others. It makes an impact and it can make someone’s day. Just by coming in and supporting them. I always knew that I wanted to be someone. I wanted to have a career that could support myself, and inspire others. Which is why I decided that I want to become a forensic nurse. A forensic nurse is a registered nurse (RN), that works with the criminal justice system and takes care of victims. Such as domestic violence, trauma, sexual assault, and elder abuse victims. I was introduced to criminal justice during my junior year of high school. I’m fascinated by it and it’s an interesting field. Forensic nursing is my two favorite fields combined. I’m passionate about it. I love learning and being educated. Education is something that nobody can take away from you. I learned how to take care of people early in life. I am an older sister to 8 wonderful people, who I love dearly. Being an old sister makes me realize that sometimes people depend on you. It is the same way in the healthcare field. People depend on you everyday to show up for them and to just be there. It’s not easy and it takes discipline and dedication. In this upcoming fall, I will be a college student at Morgan State University in Baltimore Maryland. I will be majoring in nursing and minoring in Criminal Justice. I want to take the time out of my day to apply to scholarships and get any assistance that I can to go towards my college funding. Such as tuition, fees, and housing. This will help build my career and lead the way for me. I wouldn’t see myself doing anything besides helping people. It is what makes me who I am. I have an empathetic personality as well. I care about everyone. It does not matter who they are. I want to continue building my knowledge and I hope to inspire others. I want my siblings to know that there is no limit. You can do anything in this world as long as you put your mind to it and I want them to know that nothing is easy. Work hard and stay determined and focused. You can do it!

Hello. My name is De’Kya Armwood-Cannon. I am 17. I am a high school senior and I am a graduating from Woodbridge High School. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to have a career for myself. I knew I wanted to take care of others and be the person for them that I didn’t have growing up. I began my healthcare journey while in high school. Starting my sophomore year of high school, I began my fundamentals of health science class. Then, my junior year I took anatomy and physiology, and Certified Nursing assistant. My senior year I took Phlebotomy and PCT. In December of 2023, I received my certification in nursing assistance. At the age of 17. I loved it. I enjoy taking care of elderly and being there for the family members of others. It makes an impact and it can make someone’s day. Just by coming in and supporting them. I always knew that I wanted to be someone. I wanted to have a career that could support myself, and inspire others. Which is why I decided that I want to become a forensic nurse. A forensic nurse is a registered nurse (RN), that works with the criminal justice system and takes care of victims. Such as domestic violence, trauma, sexual assault, and elder abuse victims. I was introduced to criminal justice during my junior year of high school. I’m fascinated by it and it’s an interesting field. Forensic nursing is my two favorite fields combined. I’m passionate about it. I love learning and being educated. Education is something that nobody can take away from you. I learned how to take care of people early in life. I am an older sister to 8 wonderful people, who I love dearly. Being an old sister makes me realize that sometimes people depend on you. It is the same way in the healthcare field. People depend on you everyday to show up for them and to just be there. It’s not easy and it takes discipline and dedication. In this upcoming fall, I will be a college student at Morgan State University in Baltimore Maryland. I will be majoring in nursing and minoring in Criminal Justice. I want to take the time out of my day to apply to scholarships and get any assistance that I can to go towards my college funding. Such as tuition, fees, and housing. This will help build my career and lead the way for me. I wouldn’t see myself doing anything besides helping people. It is what makes me who I am. I have an empathetic personality as well. I care about everyone. It does not matter who they are. I want to continue building my knowledge and I hope to inspire others. I want my siblings to know that there is no limit. You can do anything in this world as long as you put your mind to it and I want them to know that nothing is easy. Work hard and stay determined and focused. You can do it!

Hello. My name is De’Kya Armwood-Cannon. I am 17. I am a high school senior and I am a graduating from Woodbridge High School. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to have a career for myself. I knew I wanted to take care of others and be the person for them that I didn’t have growing up. I began my healthcare journey while in high school. Starting my sophomore year of high school, I began my fundamentals of health science class. Then, my junior year I took anatomy and physiology, and Certified Nursing assistant. My senior year I took Phlebotomy and PCT. In December of 2023, I received my certification in nursing assistance. At the age of 17. I loved it. I enjoy taking care of elderly and being there for the family members of others. It makes an impact and it can make someone’s day. Just by coming in and supporting them. I always knew that I wanted to be someone. I wanted to have a career that could support myself, and inspire others. Which is why I decided that I want to become a forensic nurse. A forensic nurse is a registered nurse (RN), that works with the criminal justice system and takes care of victims. Such as domestic violence, trauma, sexual assault, and elder abuse victims. I was introduced to criminal justice during my junior year of high school. I’m fascinated by it and it’s an interesting field. Forensic nursing is my two favorite fields combined. I’m passionate about it. I love learning and being educated. Education is something that nobody can take away from you. I learned how to take care of people early in life. I am an older sister to 8 wonderful people, who I love dearly. Being an old sister makes me realize that sometimes people depend on you. It is the same way in the healthcare field. People depend on you everyday to show up for them and to just be there. It’s not easy and it takes discipline and dedication. In this upcoming fall, I will be a college student at Morgan State University in Baltimore Maryland. I will be majoring in nursing and minoring in Criminal Justice. I want to take the time out of my day to apply to scholarships and get any assistance that I can to go towards my college funding. Such as tuition, fees, and housing. This will help build my career and lead the way for me. I wouldn’t see myself doing anything besides helping people. It is what makes me who I am. I have an empathetic personality as well. I care about everyone. It does not matter who they are. I want to continue building my knowledge and I hope to inspire others. I want my siblings to know that there is no limit. You can do anything in this world as long as you put your mind to it and I want them to know that nothing is easy. Work hard and stay determined and focused. You can do it!

Hello. My name is De’Kya Armwood-Cannon. I am 17. I am a high school senior and I am a graduating from Woodbridge High School. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to have a career for myself. I knew I wanted to take care of others and be the person for them that I didn’t have growing up. I began my healthcare journey while in high school. Starting my sophomore year of high school, I began my fundamentals of health science class. Then, my junior year I took anatomy and physiology, and Certified Nursing assistant. My senior year I took Phlebotomy and PCT. In December of 2023, I received my certification in nursing assistance. At the age of 17. I loved it. I enjoy taking care of elderly and being there for the family members of others. It makes an impact and it can make someone’s day. Just by coming in and supporting them. I always knew that I wanted to be someone. I wanted to have a career that could support myself, and inspire others. Which is why I decided that I want to become a forensic nurse. A forensic nurse is a registered nurse (RN), that works with the criminal justice system and takes care of victims. Such as domestic violence, trauma, sexual assault, and elder abuse victims. I was introduced to criminal justice during my junior year of high school. I’m fascinated by it and it’s an interesting field. Forensic nursing is my two favorite fields combined. I’m passionate about it. I love learning and being educated. Education is something that nobody can take away from you. I learned how to take care of people early in life. I am an older sister to 8 wonderful people, who I love dearly. Being an old sister makes me realize that sometimes people depend on you. It is the same way in the healthcare field. People depend on you everyday to show up for them and to just be there. It’s not easy and it takes discipline and dedication. In this upcoming fall, I will be a college student at Morgan State University in Baltimore Maryland. I will be majoring in nursing and minoring in Criminal Justice. I want to take the time out of my day to apply to scholarships and get any assistance that I can to go towards my college funding. Such as tuition, fees, and housing. This will help build my career and lead the way for me. I wouldn’t see myself doing anything besides helping people. It is what makes me who I am. I have an empathetic personality as well. I care about everyone. It does not matter who they are. I want to continue building my knowledge and I hope to inspire others. I want my siblings to know that there is no limit. You can do anything in this world as long as you put your mind to it and I want them to know that nothing is easy. Work hard and stay determined and focused. You can do it!

Hello. My name is De’Kya Armwood-Cannon. I am 17. I am a high school senior and I am a graduating from Woodbridge High School. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to have a career for myself. I knew I wanted to take care of others and be the person for them that I didn’t have growing up. I began my healthcare journey while in high school. Starting my sophomore year of high school, I began my fundamentals of health science class. Then, my junior year I took anatomy and physiology, and Certified Nursing assistant. My senior year I took Phlebotomy and PCT. In December of 2023, I received my certification in nursing assistance. At the age of 17. I loved it. I enjoy taking care of elderly and being there for the family members of others. It makes an impact and it can make someone’s day. Just by coming in and supporting them. I always knew that I wanted to be someone. I wanted to have a career that could support myself, and inspire others. Which is why I decided that I want to become a forensic nurse. A forensic nurse is a registered nurse (RN), that works with the criminal justice system and takes care of victims. Such as domestic violence, trauma, sexual assault, and elder abuse victims. I was introduced to criminal justice during my junior year of high school. I’m fascinated by it and it’s an interesting field. Forensic nursing is my two favorite fields combined. I’m passionate about it. I love learning and being educated. Education is something that nobody can take away from you. I learned how to take care of people early in life. I am an older sister to 8 wonderful people, who I love dearly. Being an old sister makes me realize that sometimes people depend on you. It is the same way in the healthcare field. People depend on you everyday to show up for them and to just be there. It’s not easy and it takes discipline and dedication. In this upcoming fall, I will be a college student at Morgan State University in Baltimore Maryland. I will be majoring in nursing and minoring in Criminal Justice. I want to take the time out of my day to apply to scholarships and get any assistance that I can to go towards my college funding. Such as tuition, fees, and housing. This will help build my career and lead the way for me. I wouldn’t see myself doing anything besides helping people. It is what makes me who I am. I have an empathetic personality as well. I care about everyone. It does not matter who they are. I want to continue building my knowledge and I hope to inspire others. I want my siblings to know that there is no limit. You can do anything in this world as long as you put your mind to it and I want them to know that nothing is easy. Work hard and stay determined and focused. You can do it!