I often reflect on the woman who shaped my world in unexpected ways. With her warm smile and twinkling eyes, my grandmother was the beacon of warmth and love in my life, but dementia slowly stole her memories and her essence. I witnessed her vibrant soul begin to decline. My grandmother was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago. My family thought it was best to put her in a nursing home. For the first couple of years, she was thriving, although she would forget me at times, she was still her vibrant self, but that all changed 2 years ago. Her dementia got worse, and she also had an untreated UTI which led to her getting sepsis. She went to the hospital as soon as possible and I had to watch her be hooked up to the ventilator. This broke my heart, my grandma who was once radiant and the center of attention turned gloomy and was fighting for her life. A couple of days later my grandma was released from the hospital and sent to a memory care center, where she was placed on the hospice level. When she first arrived I visited her with my mother, and she didn't look like herself. She looked like she was suffering, depressed, and tired. I felt sympathy for my grandma, and I was trying my best to lift her spirits, by talking to her. Our conversation consisted of who I was, and how I grew up so fast. Although my grandma had select memories of me, it was good to know that she remembered some things about me. I knew my grandma wasn't doing the best physically but to be there for her was all I could do. I didn't want my grandma to feel like no one cared about so I made sure to visit her as much as I could. During my senior year of high school, I had taken a PLTW class called Biomedical Science. This class required each individual to do a research project where they would choose to create a research design or create a project and try to make a change for a problem. I decided to do my research project on the effects of antipsychotics on geriatric memory. I decided to pursue this research because my grandma was prescribed drugs like Ativan, Sertraline, Lasix, and multivitamins. I found through my research that many nursing homes give their patients drugs such as antipsychotics and benzodiazepines for their convenience. I wanted to raise awareness of this because it's not fair to the geriatric community. Geriatric patients don't understand that drugs have severe side effects if taken in large doses. I presented all of my research to judges, and they believed that if I continued my research then I would make a huge impact in the medical field. This inspired me to pursue a career in nursing, specifically for geriatric patients in nursing homes. Although I face criticism for my career choice, I believe that I will make a huge impact in the geriatric field. I want to make a change to how people see the geriatric community, I want others to see them as people who have changed the world, and not just as weak individuals. Also, I want to provide comfort to the geriatric community, because some of them don't have family or their family don't visit them as often, which leads them to feel alone and develop other mental health issues. My grandma had sadly passed away on April 28, 2023. Although it was hard for my family and me to comprehend my grandma's passing I knew that her time had come. My grandma was my biggest inspiration, she was a successful businesswoman, a loving wife, a sister, a daughter, and a delightful grandma. She was the inspiration for my research project and she inspired me to pursue a career in the medical field. Despite the pain of watching her slip away, I found comfort in being there for her, providing her comfort and companionship in her darkest hours. 7 months after her passing, I realized that I wanted to help others whose parents/grandparents suffer from Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson's. I applied for a caregiver job at a company called Senior Helpers. At Senior Helpers, their main objective was to help those who suffer from Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, and many other life-changing diseases. The job required each of their employees to go through an Alzheimer's simulator. This meant that we all had to experience what a person with Alzheimer's disease goes through. We had to put these insoles in our shoes, we put on headphones that played loud street noises, and we put on glasses that affected our vision. It was an eye-opener. I never realized that it was that scary. During the simulation, I felt fear and confusion, and I felt like I wanted to curl up in a ball and hide away. I tried to self-soothe myself but the loud noises kept on distracting me. Although the simulation lasted for 15 minutes, it felt like the hardest 15 minutes of my life. I felt empathy for those who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's because people don't realize how hard it is for them. During my time working at this company, I was able to change a lot of people's lives. I saw how many of my elderly patients felt alone because they didn't have much family, and they felt a sense of comfort when I was around. I was able to build a bond with many of my patients, we would laugh, watch TV, do activities, cook, and enjoy each other's company. Although I had to leave my job due to the stress of school, work, and my personal life I still enjoyed doing it. I enjoyed being able to change the lives of many and to help others not feel lonely. As I go into my sophomore year at Park University, I am excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. I hope to further my understanding of how to support the geriatric community. My main objective is to continue to learn and grow while balancing my studies and work commitments. I'm passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of those who need assistance the most, and I am determined to find a job that aligns with my schedule. Whether that is working as a caregiver, home health aide, or geriatric nurse, I know whatever career I choose will be the right fit for me. Although I am at the beginning of my journey I am confident that my dedication, empathy, and willingness to learn will enable me to make a meaningful difference in the geriatric community. I'm excited to see where my future takes me and how I can positively impact the lives of those along the way.

As a child, I grew up around sports. My older sister played basketball, and I always wanted to be like her because she was an inspiration to me. When I was in the 5th grade I was put in a basketball church league. I enjoyed doing this because it made me realize that I enjoy teamwork, communicating with my teammates, and especially winning. After the league concluded I stopped playing basketball for a year, it wasn't until my 7th grade year when I tried out for my middle school basketball team. I ended up being on the C-team and I was discouraged by this, but I didn't let that stop me from improving my skills. I trained extra hard, but I experienced my first injury, a sprained ankle. I sprained my ankle when I was running in PE, and the pain was unbearable. I had to limp my way to the nurse's office to get ice. The nurse was very nice to me, she made sure that I was comfortable and even offered to help me get back to class. Her kindness had struck my interest in caring for others. As I returned to class, I was in pain for the rest of the school day, but I still had basketball practice after school. Once the final bell rang I limped to the locker room and got changed. Then I had to see the athletic trainer. While he was examining my ankle he was making sure that he was gentle with me and made sure that I wasn't in pain. His caring and compassionate traits made me feel safe and comfortable. After my recovery from my sprained ankle, I thanked both the nurse and the athletic trainer. From that day on, I never forgot how they took good care of me when I was injured. These two sparked my interest in becoming a sports medicine nurse. I have always wanted to care for others, and with my work background as a caregiver, I found a love for helping those in need. I want to become a sports medicine nurse because I love healthcare and sports. I want to learn more about injuries, how to help athletes recover, what food is best for them, and how exercise affects their bodies. Although I will be working in a hospital or a clinic I can also help athletes outside of the medical setting. I plan on teaching athletes ways to keep them healthy and avoid injuries, I want to work with local sports groups and give free-check ups to those who might not have access to healthcare, I'll volunteer with youth sports teams to ensure that kids are not only having fun while they play but also that they understand that safety is important. Lastly, I will research better ways to treat sport-related injuries and different ways to help athletes perform their best. Combining my love for helping others and my love for sports I believe that I will make a positive impact on the athletic community and my community in general.

Imagine your childhood shattered by the echoing screams of your mother, the chilling sound of fists meeting walls, and the haunting memory of your father's rage. My story begins with a father who wasn't a protector but a predator, a man whose violence stained every moment of my life. Let me share with you a tale not of fantasy, but of a harsh reality that some endure every day. My father's rage not only contained words but manifested into physical force, pinning down the woman who once loved him. She would plea for help, but no one answered her calls. His uncontrollable rage was a force that didn't discriminate, not only did he strike my mother but he would hit me and my siblings, leaving scars both seen and unseen. We would scream and tell him to stop, but our voices were silenced as he would punish us even more. One particular day changed my life forever. It was on New Year's Day when my parents decided to go to a party that their friends hosted. My siblings and I were downstairs playing the video game when they arrived home. They were intoxicated and my mother decided to take my father's phone. This enraged my father, he began to chase her around the house. My mother didn't think my father was angry, so she was running around the house giggling. It wasn't until my father had trapped my mother in the bathroom and began beating on her. My mother cried for her help, and my older sister answered her pleas by calling the police on him. This made my mom fearful, and she gathered everyone in the car and drove to the nearest gas station. While I was in the backseat I could hear my mother crying and my father crying. He was not crying because he felt bad for my mother, but only because he feared going to jail. I took a glimpse at my mother's face and she was unrecognizable. She had knots on her forehead and her face was bruised up. After this incident, my mother took my older sister and moved out. During this time it was hard for me because my father would cry to me and he would try to convince me that my mother didn't love me and that he was the only one who cared, but I never felt like he loved me. He would bring multiple women through our house, he disregarded my siblings and my well-being as well. He would neglect to feed us, putting his desires over our basic needs, even extending his care for other people's children while neglecting his own. I spent almost two years there before I decided I couldn't take it anymore and I left with my two younger siblings. We decided to go live with our mother and it felt like I was free. I knew that my mother would take care of us and she proved me right. As an African American woman who has witnessed the devastation of domestic abuse within my household, I am deeply committed to empowering and supporting those who find themselves trapped in similar situations. There are unique challenges that African American women face when seeking to escape abusive relationships, this includes systemic barriers and cultural stigmas. Although I am a nursing major, I aim to incorporate care that not only addresses the physical wounds but also attends to the emotional and psychological scars inflicted by abuse. I want to partner with community organizations, to advocate for policy change, and foster a safe and inclusive space for healing.

Growing up I didn't have a lot of friends, and people wouldn't go out of their way to greet me or acknowledge my existence. I was always talked about, made fun of, and even left out. During high school, I did have a hard time keeping friends, because I didn't fit in. I was quiet and focused on my studies. After graduating I knew that I wanted to attend Park University, it was close to my house and it was going to be a good opportunity to meet people. That time came around last August when I went to freshman orientation. During this time I didn't know anyone, but I went out of my way to greet some people, but none of them wanted to continue having a conversation with me. This made me feel discouraged and scared for when school. After that day I didn't have high expectations for meeting any new friends at Park University, but I was still optimistic. A couple of days later it was the first day of school. In my English course, we had to write on notecards and introduce ourselves to at least 3 others. The first person I introduced myself to was a girl named Kim. Kim was so polite and listened to me when I was speaking. She even asked questions about myself. I didn't know if she was just being polite at the moment because we had to talk to other people or if was she doing it because she wanted to become my friend. To my surprise, Kim had made an effort to continue to talk to me every day. She had greeted me in the morning and she would ask about my day. We eventually exchanged social media and phone numbers and we began to talk to each other. I even invited her to one of my family events. Kim's kindness to me was life-changing. She has changed my perspective on people in society, and she has shown me that there are kind people. In the past, I may have dealt with some hardships when making friends, but Kim's willingness to become my friend has given me hope. To this day Kim and I are best friends. We talk every day and we hang out a lot. She has been there for me through heartbreaks and family issues, and she always encourages me to become a better person. Although Kim is heading back home to South Africa for the summer I know that we will stay in touch until the school semester begins. I am very grateful that our paths crossed because I don't know what I would do without her.

Imagine a world where every child's smile is brighter, every giggle is contagious, and every step of care is filled with compassion. My passion for choosing nursing was inspired by my mom. She is a nurse and I look up to her, due to her hardworking ethic, her passion for her job, and how dedicated she is to progress in her career. Also seeing how hard nurses have to work is an incredible thing. People don't understand that becoming a nurse is one of the most rewarding jobs out there. They get to build bonds with their patients and they even get to help others who can't help themselves. These are some of the reasons why I have chosen to pursue a career in nursing. Choosing to become a pediatric nurse wasn't my initial choice, to begin with, I had always thought I would be good at working as a registered nurse at a hospital, but I realized that wasn't what I wanted to do. Being undecided on what type of nursing career to pursue was difficult for me, I had felt like becoming a nurse wasn't meant for me if I couldn't pick what type of nurse I wanted to become. I did a lot of thinking and I realized I had a passion for working with children. My experience with working with children began in high school when I would go to the local elementary school and I would tutor kids. The kids that I tutored loved me, every day that I would come for their tutoring sessions they would surround me and they always asked for me to help them or sit by them. These moments made me grow compassion for younger children, I enjoyed seeing their bright smiles, their laughter, and the joy that they brought. I also took a class in high school called Child Development Two, in this course we went on a field trip and observed children. This was fascinating to me because I was able to see how children interact with each other. Moments like this made me realize that I could become a pediatric nurse. The idea of becoming a pediatric nurse is life-changing for me, I would be able to pursue a career that I am passionate about and also enjoy what I am doing. I would also be helping the future generation and I will be able to help families hopefully each small gesture of care shapes their child's future and touches their hearts.

My decision to become a nursing student wasn't easy. At first, I believed I wanted to pursue a career in criminal justice. I had always loved the police system and was so fascinated by it. It wasn't until my senior year of high school that my counselor offered me a college course called Biomedical Science. I wasn't sure about this class, but I decided to do it. At first, I was scared to take this class because there was a class that you had to take before taking this class. I was afraid that I would be behind my classmates, but that wasn't the case. I ended up enjoying learning about the human body, and I even received my certified clinical medical assistant certification. Towards the end of the class, we had to come up with a project to share with other people who are in the medical field. My project was based on the effects of antihistamines, anticoagulants, and benzodiazepines on the memory of geriatrics. Overall many of the judges enjoyed my research and they told me to continue my research because the idea was intriguing. The project sparked my interest in working in the nursing field to help geriatrics. I decided that I wanted to try to work in the medical field, so I applied to become a caregiver. At first, I was terrified because I didn't have any experience in the caregiving field, but my company trained me and made sure that I felt comfortable enough to take care of people on my own. My first patient was an elderly man and his wife. I enjoyed working with them, they made sure I was comfortable around them and they even kept conversation with me. The next patient I took care of was an elderly lady who was in a rehab facility, she had dislocated her hip while I was working with her. She ended up having to go to the hospital, and I had to go also because her family wasn't planning on staying with her. As I was at the hospital with her family, I built a bond with them and the elderly lady I was looking after. Although she was non-verbal, she still made me laugh and I felt like we got along well. Her family requested me to watch her for the rest of the time she would be at the rehab facility. Watching these two elderly patients sparked my interest in becoming a geriatric nurse because I found enjoyment in taking care of those who are vulnerable.

A Journey Towards Mental Health Awareness Mental health has always been a cornerstone in my life. From an early age, I realized its importance yet, unfortunately, it was also subjected to its brutality. My upbringing took its toll on my mental wellbeing, primarily due to my father's abusive demeanor that cast a dark shadow over my family life. An incident where I was violated in my sleep only exacerbated my distress. The overall torment was so acute that there were fragments of time when suicidal thoughts clouded my mind. I felt a terrifying sense of isolation, the feeling of being trapped in quicksand with no one to give a helping hand. Despite the arduous environment, the vulnerabilities did not blind me to my aspirations or hinder my academic pursuits. I have always been dedicated to my studies, reflected through maintaining my GPA high, an impressive 3.6 both in high school and now college. I am currently pursuing Nursing at Park University, a field I chose due to its roots in empathy, compassion, understanding, serving others – qualities that seemed lacking in my early life, but I strive to embody moving forward. However, breaking away from negativity and launching myself into the realm of positivity was not a lone journey. I am beyond grateful for the wonderful individuals I met during this difficult trajectory who lent me their ears and hearts. They normalized my feelings, helped me seek professional help, and fostered an environment conducive to my emotional treatment. The evolution of my mental health from childhood to adolescence depicts a story of endurance, resilience, and triumph, rising from the ashes like a phoenix—mightier and braver. My personal experiences have shaped a stronger version of me – a woman of color, belonging to Black, White, and Hispanic races. It instilled a deep understanding and empathy within me for those who grapple with similar issues. It ignited a passion for becoming a mental health advocate, especially within my diverse community, where cultural stigmas often interfere with the recognition and treatment of mental health disorders. As a Nursing major, my aim is to not only physically heal people but also empathetically care and educate individuals and their families about mental health. I want to use my own experiences as a testament that it is okay to ask for help, that mental health issues are real and legitimate, and no one should have to suffer alone or in silence. The very scholarship I am applying for represents values I fiercely advocate for – reaching out, extending a hand, nurturing, helping, and promoting post-traumatic growth. My past has greatly influenced my present, shaping my ambitions and the trajectory of my future. By applying for the Elijah's Helping Hand Scholarship Award, I get the chance to further my education, develop into a more proficient nurse, and continue my journey as a mental health advocate. I am a true believer that adversities produce great strength. I stand here today, not as a victim of my past, but a victor. The hardships I faced were indeed challenging and affected my mental health significantly. Nonetheless, they turned out to be stepping stones, ultimately leading me to become the woman I am today – resilient, empathetic, and committed not only to my healing but also to aiding others embarking on a similar journey. And I believe that makes me a worthy candidate for this scholarship.