My name is Dasia Smith, and I am a senior nursing major at Morgan State University. My goal is to become a pediatric nurse and eventually continue my education to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. I have always enjoyed working with children, and through babysitting, clinical experiences, and working as a Certified Nursing Assistant, I have realized that caring for others is something I truly enjoy. These experiences have helped me understand the kind of nurse I want to become. My interest in pediatric nursing is also personal. When I was younger, I experienced severe menstrual cramps and there were times when I did not feel like my concerns were fully heard or taken seriously. As I got older, I realized how important it is for healthcare providers to listen to their patients, especially children who may not always know how to advocate for themselves. That experience stayed with me and made me want to become a nurse who listens, explains, and makes children feel comfortable speaking up about their health. My nursing journey has given me the opportunity to learn in different environments, including hospitals, nursing homes, and group homes. I have had clinical experiences in medical-surgical, maternity, pediatric, and psychiatric settings, and I currently work as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a nursing home. Each experience has taught me something different and helped me grow as a healthcare professional. I have learned that nursing is not only about having clinical skills, but also about being patient, compassionate, dependable, and willing to advocate for the people in your care. This scholarship would have a meaningful impact on my career because it would help me continue my education and take some of the financial pressure off of completing nursing school. It would help with expenses such as tuition, books, course materials, and clinical requirements. With this support, I would be able to put more of my focus into my classes, clinical experiences, and preparing for my future as a nurse. As I work toward completing my degree, every bit of financial support makes a difference and brings me one step closer to my goals. I am proud of how far I have come, and I am excited about where nursing will take me. I want to use my education to care for children, support families, and make sure my patients feel heard and respected. I also hope to be an example for other young women, especially young Black girls, who are interested in healthcare. This scholarship would not only help me financially; it would help me continue building the career I have worked hard for and allow me to give back through the work I do in the future.

The impact I want to make starts with the people in my community, especially children and families. My goal is to become a pediatric nurse and eventually a Family Nurse Practitioner. I have always enjoyed being around children, and I want to use my career to make them feel safe, comfortable, and cared for. I know that going to the doctor or being in a hospital can be scary for a child, so I want to be someone who helps make that experience a little easier. I also want to be a healthcare provider who listens to children and takes their concerns seriously. My own experiences have influenced the kind of nurse I want to become. When I was younger, there were times when I did not feel fully heard when I expressed concerns about my health, including when I experienced severe menstrual cramps. As I got older, I realized how important it is to have someone listen to you and take your concerns seriously. I want to give children and families the type of support that I would have wanted growing up. I want my patients to feel comfortable asking questions and know that their voice matters. The people who inspire me are the women in my life and the people I have met throughout my nursing journey. Being a Black woman pursuing a career in healthcare has shown me how important representation is. My involvement in the National Society of Black Women in Medicine has allowed me to meet and learn from other Black women who are working toward careers in healthcare. Seeing women who are determined to make a difference motivates me to keep going and eventually be that same source of encouragement for someone else. I want young Black girls to see me and know that they can pursue a career in healthcare too. I plan to use my education to give back by providing quality care, educating families, and being an advocate for my patients. I also want to encourage young people in my community to take their education seriously and believe in what they are capable of doing. In the future, I hope to mentor young women who are interested in nursing or other healthcare careers and share what I have learned along the way. I do not expect to change the world all at once. I just want to make a difference in the lives of the people I care for and the people who come after me. If I can help a child feel heard, support a family, or inspire another young woman to pursue her goals, then I know I am making the kind of impact I want to make.

My name is Dasia Smith, and I am a senior nursing major at Morgan State University. My goal is to become a pediatric nurse and eventually continue my education to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. I have always enjoyed working with children, and my experiences babysitting and caring for them helped me realize how much I value creating an environment where children feel comfortable, safe, and supported. My interest in pediatric nursing has also been shaped by my own experiences with healthcare. Growing up, I learned how important it is for healthcare providers to listen to children and take their concerns seriously. These experiences helped me understand the impact a compassionate and attentive nurse can have on a young patient. I want to be the type of nurse who builds trust with children, communicates with them in a way they understand, and makes their healthcare experience as positive as possible. Throughout nursing school, I have completed clinical experiences in hospitals, nursing homes, and group homes. I have also gained exposure to medical-surgical, maternity, pediatric, and psychiatric units. Each experience has helped me develop my clinical skills, strengthen my communication, and better understand the different responsibilities of a nurse. I currently work as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a nursing home, where I have gained valuable hands-on experience and learned the importance of patience, teamwork, compassion, and treating every patient with dignity. As I continue my nursing education, I am focused on becoming a knowledgeable and dependable healthcare professional. I also value the importance of representation in healthcare. As a Black woman entering the nursing profession, I hope to encourage young Black girls to see healthcare as a career they can pursue and succeed in. I want to be an example that shows them that their goals are achievable with dedication, education, and perseverance. This scholarship would help me continue my education by reducing some of the financial responsibilities that come with completing a nursing degree. The support would assist with tuition, textbooks, course materials, clinical requirements, and other educational expenses. It would also allow me to focus more of my time and energy on my coursework, clinical experiences, and professional development. As I approach the completion of my nursing degree, financial assistance would help me stay focused on my education and take advantage of opportunities that will prepare me for my future career. Receiving this scholarship would be an investment in my education and in the work I hope to do in the healthcare field. I am committed to completing my nursing degree, becoming a pediatric nurse, and eventually continuing my education as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I look forward to using my education and experiences to advocate for children, support families, and provide compassionate, quality care. This scholarship would help me take another important step toward those goals.

Women’s empowerment is important to me because I believe every woman should feel confident in herself and know that she is capable of achieving her goals. As a nursing student at Morgan State University, I have learned that becoming successful is not just about what I accomplish for myself, but also about the example I can set for other women. I want the women and young girls around me to see that it is possible to work hard, continue your education, and build the career you want. My own experiences have also shown me how important it is for women to feel comfortable using their voices. When I was younger, I experienced severe menstrual cramps and did not always feel like my concerns were fully heard or taken seriously. As I got older, I realized how important it is for women and girls to feel comfortable speaking up about their health and advocating for themselves. Being a member of the National Society of Black Women in Medicine has also been an important part of my journey. Being surrounded by other Black women who are working toward careers in healthcare reminds me of how important representation and support are. It has allowed me to connect with women who share similar goals and understand the importance of seeing more women of color in healthcare. I want to encourage other women to step outside of their comfort zones, take advantage of opportunities, and pursue careers where they may not always see people who look like them. I also hope to empower women through my future career as a pediatric nurse and eventually a Family Nurse Practitioner. I want my patients, especially young girls, to feel comfortable speaking up, asking questions, and being involved in their healthcare. My experiences have made me passionate about making sure children feel listened to and supported. I want to teach young girls that their health concerns matter and that advocating for themselves is important. I believe that having someone listen to you and take your concerns seriously can make a difference in how confident you feel. Overall, I believe my impact on women’s empowerment starts with how I live my own life and the example I set for others. I am proud of the path I am creating for myself, and I hope my journey encourages other women to create their own. Through my education, my involvement in the National Society of Black Women in Medicine, and my future career, I want to continue supporting and encouraging women to believe in themselves. I want to show that women can support one another, use their voices, make a difference in their communities, and accomplish whatever they set their minds to.

My name is Dasia Smith, and I am a senior nursing major at Morgan State University. My goal is to become a pediatric nurse and eventually continue my education to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. I have always enjoyed working with children, and my experiences babysitting and caring for them helped me realize how much I value creating an environment where children feel comfortable, safe, and supported. My interest in pediatric nursing has also been shaped by my own experiences with healthcare. Growing up, I learned how important it is for healthcare providers to listen to children and take their concerns seriously. These experiences helped me understand the impact a compassionate and attentive nurse can have on a young patient. I want to be the type of nurse who builds trust with children, communicates with them in a way they understand, and makes their healthcare experience as positive as possible. Throughout nursing school, I have completed clinical experiences in hospitals, nursing homes, and group homes. I have also gained exposure to medical-surgical, maternity, pediatric, and psychiatric units. Each experience has helped me develop my clinical skills, strengthen my communication, and better understand the different responsibilities of a nurse. I currently work as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a nursing home, where I have gained valuable hands on experience and learned the importance of patience, teamwork, compassion, and treating every patient with dignity. As I continue my nursing education, I am focused on becoming a dependable healthcare professional. I also value the importance of representation in healthcare. As a Black woman entering the nursing profession, I hope to encourage young Black girls to see healthcare as a career they can pursue and succeed in. I want to be an example that shows them that their goals are achievable. This scholarship would help me continue my education by reducing some of the financial responsibilities that come with completing a nursing degree. The support would assist with tuition, textbooks, course materials, clinical requirements, and other educational expenses. It would also allow me to focus more of my time and energy on my coursework, clinical experiences, and professional development. As I approach the completion of my nursing degree, financial assistance would help me save for paying for senior exams and eventually the NCLEX. Receiving this scholarship would be an investment in my education and in the work I hope to do in the healthcare field. I look forward to using my education and experiences to advocate for children, support families, and provide compassionate, quality care. This scholarship would help me take another important step toward those goals.

My name is Dasia Smith, and I am a senior nursing major at Morgan State University. My goal is to become a pediatric nurse, and eventually, I hope to continue my education to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. I have always enjoyed being around children through experiences like babysitting and spending time with them. As I got older, I realized that working with children was something I could see myself doing as a career, and nursing gave me a way to combine that passion with my desire to help others. One of the biggest reasons I want to become a pediatric nurse is because I understand how important it is for children to feel comfortable with the people caring for them. Growing up, there were times when I did not feel completely heard or understood by healthcare professionals. I experienced this personally when I struggled with severe menstrual pain as a child. My concerns were often dismissed as something I would simply grow out of, but they continued as I got older. This experience taught me how important it is to listen to patients, especially children who may not always know how to explain what they are feeling. I want my future patients to know that their concerns matter and that they deserve to be taken seriously. My clinical experiences have also helped shape my goals. Throughout nursing school, I have completed clinicals in hospitals, nursing homes, and group homes. I have also had the opportunity to experience medical-surgical, maternity, pediatric, and psychiatric units. Being exposed to different settings and patient populations has helped me understand how much nurses can impact a person's life. My pediatric experiences have strengthened my desire to work with children, while my time in maternity and psychiatric settings has given me additional areas of nursing that I hope to explore. I have also gained hands on experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a nursing home. Working directly with patients has taught me patience, communication, compassion, and the importance of treating every person with dignity. These experiences have helped me grow and have given me a better understanding of the nurse I want to become. My personal experiences have also influenced the way I want to care for children. Going through difficult experiences when I was younger taught me how important it is for children to have someone who listens and makes them feel safe. I want to use those experiences to better understand my patients without allowing my past to define me. As a Black woman entering healthcare, representation is also very important to me. I want young Black girls to see someone who looks like them pursuing a career in healthcare and know that they can do the same. I hope to be an example that encourages other young women to pursue their goals even when they do not always see themselves represented in those careers. Nursing is a career I have worked hard to pursue, and completing my education requires a significant financial commitment. Scholarships would help reduce the financial burden of school and allow me to focus more on my education and future career. Ultimately, I want to become a pediatric nurse who makes children feel heard, safe, and cared for. I hope to continue growing from there and eventually become a Family Nurse Practitioner who can support patients and families throughout different stages of life.

My name is Dasia Smith, and I am a 20-year-old black woman entering my junior year at Morgan State University. I'm enrolled in the nursing program, where I intend to advance my career into becoming a pediatrician. I've always loved working with children. Whether I was babysitting or teaching, it has always been one of my main interests. This is why I decided to pursue a career in pediatrics. Being a black woman is also significant in my decision to pursue nursing. Diversity in the medical field is lacking, particularly in the representation of black women. I want to change this statistic and become a role model for young black women worldwide, showing them they can pursue their dreams in the medical field or any other profession they choose. As a pediatrician, I aim to provide compassionate and unbiased care to all my patients, ensuring that no child faces discrimination or is disregarded due to their race or background. Being Black is a massive part of my identity that I am undoubtedly proud of. Attending an HBCU as a black woman is crucial because it offers a supportive environment that values your identity, culture, and experiences. HBCUs have a long history of nurturing black excellence and providing education, leadership, and community engagement opportunities. I want to contribute to that excellence, and when I'm successful, I want to bring back to my community, uplift future generations of black students, and ensure we continue to thrive as a community going forward.