My passion for nursing sprouted around a hardship that my family is still fighting to overcome. My father was diagnosed with stage four cancer around the time schools were shutting down during covid, and spirits were low. The start of his battle was extreme treatments of chemotherapy and radiation. He has had more than 6 surgeries since then, and has obtained lifelong side effects. While I am grateful that he is currently in remission, it is no secret that all these surgeries and treatments were taxing. Even though this was the case, my father always said how kind and helpful his nurses were. They were always cheerful and compassionate towards him, and they made the gloomy hospitals brighter. While I had known for a while I wanted to do something in the medical field, his stories about the nurses inspired me to become one. I want to be the nurse who interacts with a patient one-on-one, and I want my patients to talk about me just as my father did. I am extremely determined to do the best I can throughout my time in nursing school in order to meet my goal. I am passionate because I know I can make a big impact on patients who are feeling down about their situation. I know how devastating it can be to sit in a hospital for treatments day in and day out, but with the right kind of people surrounding you, it doesn't have to be as bad. I want to be someone who can help others feel more than just their struggles. As a nurse, I hope I can be a light for my patients. Although it will be difficult work, I know it will be worth it for those who are going through their battles. It isn't about me, but it is about my patients. I hope to go into oncology in honor of my dad, but I have also considered pediatrics. I have volunteered consistently at a local preschool and elementary schools. I love helping children, and I feel interacting with them is one of my strongest skills. As a combination, working with children who are going through the difficult and scary treatments for cancer is something I would want to do. While it would be hard to see the struggle, it is necessary for these kids to feel safe and comfortable. One day, when I work in this specific area, I know I can have a positive impact on those children. I will make them feel hopeful and secure during their times of discomfort and fear. Not only do I want the children to feel safe, but I will help their parents know that they are in good care as well. I know that any guardian or parent would be extremely worried, so I know I can take a small burden off their shoulder by reassuring them that their child is as comfortable as I can make them. These aren't easy goals, but for my lifelong passion, I know I can make it happen, as it isn't for me but it is for my future patients.

With this scholarship of $1000, I would be able to put it towards a trip on my own to Guatemala. If I were able to choose anywhere to travel with this money I would choose Guatemala as it is my home country. I was adopted into an American family at the age of 8 months. I have never visited as it isn't that safe of a country, and I also haven't had the funds for it. With this money, I would have the opportunities to learn about my culture that has been absent from my life. I would go as soon as possible since learning about my home country is something incredibly important and meaningful to me. I have researched Guatemala through my AP Spanish and Culture assignments, but I know traveling in real life would be life changing for me. Experiencing it in real time rather than looking at pictures would be exhilarating, and I know I would be one step closer to that dream with the help of this scholarship. I have traveled numerous times before nationally, and only once internationally. My drive for exploration and travel stems from my family. Every year we go to a new state whether it be on a road trip or plane. I have visited Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York, and Maine. In the summer of 2024, I had to opportunity to travel to Costa Rica with my high school as well. That was the first time I had ever traveled outside of the country (not counting when I was a baby). It was incredible to taste the unique food, listen to the music, and embrace myself into a different culture. That feeling of trying something brand new and being adventurous is something I will never forget, and I have yearned for another trip ever since. This scholarship would mean everything to me. Traveling is truly an amazing passion to have, yet it can be difficult due to the costs of travel. I plan on attending Bloomsburg University for a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. I will be participating in the Honors College as well, which has many opportunities to study abroad. Sadly, there aren't any specific for Nursing, but in the future I hope to become a travel nurse. Because I love traveling so much, I know I will continue to travel for the rest of my life as I hope to incorporate it into my career. Traveling to me is about embracing another's culture, and discovering new and exciting things. Those desires of ambition will forever guide me to reach my goals of travel. Receiving this scholarship would take me one step further, and for that I would be incredibly grateful.