My entire life I’ve always had an interest in medicine, but when my ex-girlfriend was put in the hospital, I knew it was what I wanted to pursue. After watching the PICU nurses give incredible care, I recognized something very familiar in their actions. That would be the same compassion and abundant curiosity in the nurses that I saw in myself. They then allowed me to administer a blood thinner injection, which I would continue to administer daily for months after the hospitalization. I was extremely fascinated by patient care and inspired by the nurses' friendliness. They went out of their way to build a genuine connection with not only my ex-girlfriend but also me. Experiencing the kindness and compassion of the nurses contributed to me being able to provide that for someone else. One of the most amazing things about the nursing profession is the sheer number of genuine connections you are able to build with your patients. In the time that I have worked as a CNA, I have been fortunate enough to come across hundreds of beautiful souls that have motivated me to be the student and CNA I am today. With that being said, I have also been able to make an impact in my patients' lives. For example, a resident and I would converse regularly about her sons and grandchildren, in which she stated that she, "hasn’t had a listening ear in ages”. This made me feel so special. The fact that I was able to make a resident feel like she was being heard by simply taking the time out of my day to talk about the people she loves. These experiences will help me with my future career in the nursing profession because it allows for my patients to be more comfortable with me and provides an increased satisfaction in patient care. Now that I am finishing up my second year as a nursing student, I can confidently say that this is my calling. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time learning about healthcare's unique atmosphere and all of the intricate details that come with it. I am incredibly passionate and excited to continue my professional career in nursing. Each time that I get to go into work or clinical I get reminded of why I chose to go down this path. Experiencing the bond that I have created with my patients is like no other, and I have a hard time imagining myself in another profession. Although I have had lots of past experiences, I am always looking forward to new ones. For this reason, I have already begun engaging myself in healthcare clubs, workshops, and involving myself in the community by volunteering. Overall, my compassion, work ethic, and abundant curiosity will take me extremely far in my nursing career and I am immensely excited to be able to apply these characteristics to make a difference in lives.

My entire life I’ve always had an interest in medicine, but when my ex-girlfriend was put in the hospital, I knew it was what I wanted to pursue. After watching the PICU nurses give incredible care, I recognized something very familiar in their actions. That would be the same compassion and abundant curiosity in the nurses that I saw in myself. They then allowed me to administer a blood thinner injection, which I would continue to administer daily for months after the hospitalization. I was extremely fascinated by patient care and inspired by the nurses' friendliness. They went out of their way to build a genuine connection with not only my ex-girlfriend but also me. Experiencing the kindness and compassion of the nurses contributed to me being able to provide that for someone else. I began my nursing journey by first completing a nine-month CNA course. During my highschool CNA program I was able to obtain 62 clinical hours (22 of which were voluntary) and build valuable lifelong connections with patients. All the while, I was able to maintain a 4.2 GPA, be involved in three different clubs, earn over 45 community volunteering hours, and work a part-time job. Managing this was not easy, though I was able to create a balance. My active engagement and work ethic has allowed me to efficiently navigate through my nursing degree and will help me be a better nurse. One of the most amazing things about the nursing profession is the sheer number of genuine connections you are able to build with your patients. In the time that I have worked as a CNA, I have been fortunate enough to come across hundreds of beautiful souls that have motivated me to be the student and CNA I am today. With that being said, I have also been able to make an impact in my patients' lives. For example, a resident and I would converse regularly about her sons and grandchildren, in which she stated that she, "hasn’t had a listening ear in ages”. This made me feel so special. The fact that I was able to make a resident feel like she was being heard by simply taking the time out of my day to talk about the people she loves. These experiences will help me with my future career in the nursing profession because it allows for my patients to be more comfortable with me and provides an increased satisfaction in patient care. Now that I am finishing up my second year as a nursing student, I can confidently say that this is my calling. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time learning about healthcare's unique atmosphere and all of the intricate details that come with it. I am incredibly passionate and excited to continue my professional career in nursing. Each time that I get to go into work or clinical I get reminded of why I chose to go down this path. Experiencing the bond that I have created with my patients is like no other, and I have a hard time imagining myself in another profession. I believe that I have been called to this profession for many reasons. To start, I am a very compassionate person. I care about each and every one of my patients and go above and beyond to ensure that they are properly cared for. For example, I have picked up hours when we were short-staffed to ensure that my residents were taken care of accordingly. Constantly checking up on my residents to make sure they were comfortable was one of many things I was complimented on by visiting family. Secondly, I am enthusiastic and full of charisma. One of the best feelings is when you get a nurse, or anyone for that matter that brings a positive attitude to the plate and brightens your day. I face all my patients with a positive and uplifting attitude. This can be very beneficial in both direct patient care and leadership roles. Charisma enhances communication, mood, and overall environmental status. Lastly, I have good decision-making skills. All nursing have the responsibility of making good decisions when it comes to their patients, time management, and self-management. I can weigh out options, plan them out, and effectively implement them if needed. These are just a couple reasons why I know I was, “made” to be a nurse. This scholarship would allow me to finish school and continue chasing my dream of being a nurse. Growing up with my parents being Brazilian immigrants, I have watched them sacrifice everything they could to give me a good life. Even still, we are struggling to give me the education that I want and need. This scholarship would allow me to better focus on my studies and relieve some of the financial pressure that comes with schooling. I will be able to devote more of my time and energy to my coursework and extracurricular activities, which would benefit me greatly. Being able to stay involved in extracurricular activities will allow me to develop new skills and make valuable connections. Without the financial burden, I will develop a deeper understanding of the nursing career. Although I have had lots of past experiences, I am always looking forward to new ones. For this reason, I have already begun engaging myself in healthcare clubs, workshops, and involving myself in the community by volunteering. Overall, my compassion, work ethic, and abundant curiosity will take me extremely far in my nursing career and I am immensely excited to be able to apply these characteristics to make a difference in lives.