My path to becoming a nurse is not a typical one, but it has shaped the kind of nurse I hope to become. Living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), hip dysplasia, craniocervical instability (CCI), and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) has given me firsthand experience navigating chronic illness, surgery, and the healthcare system from a young age. These experiences inspired my passion for medicine, patient advocacy, and nursing. EDS affects my connective tissue and has caused chronic pain, joint instability, and frequent medical complications. In the EDS community, we are often called “zebras” because the condition is rare and complex. Living with a condition that is often misunderstood motivated me to learn more about the human body and advocate for myself in medical settings. My interest in healthcare grew even stronger when I took anatomy in high school and realized how much I loved learning about the body and its systems. One of the most significant parts of my journey has been my experience with hip dysplasia. Although I had experienced pain for years, finally receiving a diagnosis motivated me to better understand the anatomy of the pelvis and hip joint. Since 2022, I have undergone multiple major surgeries, including Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO) procedures where my pelvis was surgically reshaped to correct the structure of my hips. During one hospitalization, I developed septic shock and required emergency surgery followed by admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. I will never forget the nurses who cared for me during those experiences. They did far more than administer medications and monitor vital signs — they provided reassurance, advocacy, comfort, and compassion during some of the hardest moments of my life. Their impact helped me realize that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse caring for children and adolescents with chronic or complex medical conditions. Living with chronic illness while completing nursing school has also taught me resilience and adaptability. Nursing school is physically and mentally demanding, and many simple tasks require significant preparation. Before clinicals, I follow routines to help manage pain and prevent joint instability, including wearing braces and a hard cervical collar to reduce neck subluxation. Frequent appointments, procedures, and recovery periods have forced me to become highly organized and learn how to advocate for myself. While there have certainly been frustrating and exhausting moments, these experiences have strengthened my determination rather than discouraged me. My experiences as both a patient and nursing student have given me a unique perspective that I hope to bring into my future practice. I understand what it feels like to be overwhelmed, scared, or unheard within the healthcare system, and I want my future patients to feel supported and genuinely cared for. I believe my lived experiences allow me to connect with patients on a deeper level and provide compassionate, patient-centered care. I am currently a junior in nursing school focused on developing the clinical knowledge and critical-thinking skills necessary to provide excellent patient care. After graduation, I hope to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), supporting patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in pediatric patients experiencing chronic pain and complex medical conditions. My journey has not followed a traditional path, but it has prepared me to become a nurse who combines clinical skill, empathy, and lived experience to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but it is definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge I need to provide excellent care. My aspiration is to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after graduation, where I can support patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in pediatric patients who experience chronic pain. This goal is deeply personal to me because of my own experiences with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and chronic pain, and I want to use my understanding to help children and families navigate similar challenges

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but it is definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge I need to provide excellent care. My aspiration is to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after graduation, where I can support patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in pediatric patients who experience chronic pain. This goal is deeply personal to me because of my own experiences with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and chronic pain, and I want to use my understanding to help children and families navigate similar challenges

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but it is definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge I need to provide excellent care. My aspiration is to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after graduation, where I can support patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in pediatric patients who experience chronic pain. This goal is deeply personal to me because of my own experiences with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and chronic pain, and I want to use my understanding to help children and families navigate similar challenges

My path to becoming a nurse has not been traditional, but it has been incredibly formative and will benefit my future career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, leading to chronic pain and frequent medical appointments. In the EDS community, we are called "zebras" because our conditions are rare and complex. Experiencing dismissal or gaslighting from some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body, my condition, and potential treatment options. My fascination with the human body began in high school through anatomy, which I truly loved. My first major health challenge came with a diagnosis of hip dysplasia, a condition where the hip socket is improperly formed, resulting in early-onset arthritis and chronic pain. I underwent two surgeries in 2022, with a third scheduled soon. During the first two, the surgeon performed a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO), breaking and reshaping my pelvis and inserting screws. Complications included septic shock, requiring emergency surgery and a stay in the PICU at Cincinnati Children’s. I will never forget the nurses who cared for me and saved my life. Beyond hip dysplasia, I manage Chronic Compartmental Issues (CCI), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), migraines, and other complications from EDS. These conditions bring chronic fatigue, dizziness, heart rate irregularities, and unpredictable allergic reactions, making daily life challenging. Navigating these health issues has strengthened my resilience, taught me the importance of self-advocacy, and deepened my empathy for patients dealing with complex or chronic illnesses. These experiences solidified my desire to become a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, from administering medications and assisting with daily tasks to providing emotional support. Witnessing excellent nursing care during my own treatments taught me the qualities that make a nurse stand out and inspired the type of nurse I aspire to be. My journey with chronic illness allows me to connect with patients on a deeper level, understanding both the physical and emotional challenges they face. In addition to my personal experiences, I had the opportunity to visit the Norris Lab as a visiting scholar. The Norris Lab is looking to find the cause of hEDS and better treat it and its comorbidities. Observing research in action, engaging with lab techniques, and learning how scientific discoveries translate into patient care reinforced my commitment to combining hands-on nursing practice with evidence-based care. This experience highlighted the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and dedication in healthcare, and it has inspired me to integrate research awareness into my future nursing practice. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge to provide excellent care. My immediate goal is to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after graduation, supporting patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in pediatric patients experiencing chronic pain. This goal is deeply personal, informed by my own experiences navigating rare medical conditions and managing chronic pain.

My path to becoming a nurse has not been traditional, but it has been incredibly formative and will benefit my future career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, leading to chronic pain and frequent medical appointments. In the EDS community, we are called "zebras" because our conditions are rare and complex. Experiencing dismissal or gaslighting from some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body, my condition, and potential treatment options. My fascination with the human body began in high school through anatomy, which I truly loved. My first major health challenge came with a diagnosis of hip dysplasia, a condition where the hip socket is improperly formed, resulting in early-onset arthritis and chronic pain. I underwent two surgeries in 2022, with a third scheduled soon. During the first two, the surgeon performed a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO), breaking and reshaping my pelvis and inserting screws. Complications included septic shock, requiring emergency surgery and a stay in the PICU at Cincinnati Children’s. I will never forget the nurses who cared for me and saved my life. Beyond hip dysplasia, I manage Chronic Compartmental Issues (CCI), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), migraines, and other complications from EDS. These conditions bring chronic fatigue, dizziness, heart rate irregularities, and unpredictable allergic reactions, making daily life challenging. Navigating these health issues has strengthened my resilience, taught me the importance of self-advocacy, and deepened my empathy for patients dealing with complex or chronic illnesses. These experiences solidified my desire to become a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, from administering medications and assisting with daily tasks to providing emotional support. Witnessing excellent nursing care during my own treatments taught me the qualities that make a nurse stand out and inspired the type of nurse I aspire to be. My journey with chronic illness allows me to connect with patients on a deeper level, understanding both the physical and emotional challenges they face. In addition to my personal experiences, I had the opportunity to visit the Norris Lab as a visiting scholar. The Norris Lab is looking to find the cause of hEDS and better treat it and its comorbidities. Observing research in action, engaging with lab techniques, and learning how scientific discoveries translate into patient care reinforced my commitment to combining hands-on nursing practice with evidence-based care. This experience highlighted the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and dedication in healthcare, and it has inspired me to integrate research awareness into my future nursing practice. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge to provide excellent care. My immediate goal is to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after graduation, supporting patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in pediatric patients experiencing chronic pain. This goal is deeply personal, informed by my own experiences navigating rare medical conditions and managing chronic pain.

My path to becoming a nurse has not been traditional, but it has been incredibly formative and will benefit my future career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, leading to chronic pain and frequent medical appointments. In the EDS community, we are called "zebras" because our conditions are rare and complex. Experiencing dismissal or gaslighting from some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body, my condition, and potential treatment options. My fascination with the human body began in high school through anatomy, which I truly loved. My first major health challenge came with a diagnosis of hip dysplasia, a condition where the hip socket is improperly formed, resulting in early-onset arthritis and chronic pain. I underwent two surgeries in 2022, with a third scheduled soon. During the first two, the surgeon performed a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO), breaking and reshaping my pelvis and inserting screws. Complications included septic shock, requiring emergency surgery and a stay in the PICU at Cincinnati Children’s. I will never forget the nurses who cared for me and saved my life. Beyond hip dysplasia, I manage Chronic Compartmental Issues (CCI), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), migraines, and other complications from EDS. These conditions bring chronic fatigue, dizziness, heart rate irregularities, and unpredictable allergic reactions, making daily life challenging. Navigating these health issues has strengthened my resilience, taught me the importance of self-advocacy, and deepened my empathy for patients dealing with complex or chronic illnesses. These experiences solidified my desire to become a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, from administering medications and assisting with daily tasks to providing emotional support. Witnessing excellent nursing care during my own treatments taught me the qualities that make a nurse stand out and inspired the type of nurse I aspire to be. My journey with chronic illness allows me to connect with patients on a deeper level, understanding both the physical and emotional challenges they face. In addition to my personal experiences, I had the opportunity to visit the Norris Lab as a visiting scholar. The Norris Lab is looking to find the cause of hEDS and better treat it and its comorbidities. Observing research in action, engaging with lab techniques, and learning how scientific discoveries translate into patient care reinforced my commitment to combining hands-on nursing practice with evidence-based care. This experience highlighted the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and dedication in healthcare, and it has inspired me to integrate research awareness into my future nursing practice. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge to provide excellent care. My immediate goal is to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after graduation, supporting patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in pediatric patients experiencing chronic pain. This goal is deeply personal, informed by my own experiences navigating rare medical conditions and managing chronic pain.

My path to becoming a nurse has not been traditional, but it has been incredibly formative and will benefit my future career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, leading to chronic pain and frequent medical appointments. In the EDS community, we are called "zebras" because our conditions are rare and complex. Experiencing dismissal or gaslighting from some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body, my condition, and potential treatment options. My fascination with the human body began in high school through anatomy, which I truly loved. My first major health challenge came with a diagnosis of hip dysplasia, a condition where the hip socket is improperly formed, resulting in early-onset arthritis and chronic pain. I underwent two surgeries in 2022, with a third scheduled soon. During the first two, the surgeon performed a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO), breaking and reshaping my pelvis and inserting screws. Complications included septic shock, requiring emergency surgery and a stay in the PICU at Cincinnati Children’s. I will never forget the nurses who cared for me and saved my life. Beyond hip dysplasia, I manage Chronic Compartmental Issues (CCI), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), migraines, and other complications from EDS. These conditions bring chronic fatigue, dizziness, heart rate irregularities, and unpredictable allergic reactions, making daily life challenging. Navigating these health issues has strengthened my resilience, taught me the importance of self-advocacy, and deepened my empathy for patients dealing with complex or chronic illnesses. These experiences solidified my desire to become a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, from administering medications and assisting with daily tasks to providing emotional support. Witnessing excellent nursing care during my own treatments taught me the qualities that make a nurse stand out and inspired the type of nurse I aspire to be. My journey with chronic illness allows me to connect with patients on a deeper level, understanding both the physical and emotional challenges they face. In addition to my personal experiences, I had the opportunity to visit the Norris Lab as a visiting scholar. The Norris Lab is looking to find the cause of hEDS and better treat it and its comorbidities. Observing research in action, engaging with lab techniques, and learning how scientific discoveries translate into patient care reinforced my commitment to combining hands-on nursing practice with evidence-based care. This experience highlighted the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and dedication in healthcare, and it has inspired me to integrate research awareness into my future nursing practice. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge to provide excellent care. My immediate goal is to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after graduation, supporting patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in pediatric patients experiencing chronic pain. This goal is deeply personal, informed by my own experiences navigating rare medical conditions and managing chronic pain.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but it is definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge I need to provide excellent care. My aspiration is to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after graduation, where I can support patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in pediatric patients who experience chronic pain. This goal is deeply personal to me because of my own experiences with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and chronic pain, and I want to use my understanding to help children and families navigate similar challenges.

Living with a mast cell disease has changed my life in ways I never expected. MCAS has taken away things like consistency, comfort, and sometimes even friendships, because my needs can be difficult for others to understand. It has forced me to cancel plans, explain myself repeatedly, and adjust to a life that looks very different from what I once imagined. Simple activities that others take for granted often require careful planning or are no longer possible for me. For a long time, I focused on everything this disease took from me, such as the foods I can no longer eat, the inability to take hot showers or use hot tubs, and the challenge of finding medications that work consistently. Over time, however, I began to see MCAS differently. I realized that while it has brought many losses, it has also given me something meaningful—it has allowed me to develop deep empathy and compassion that I will carry with me as a future nurse. The thing I am most grateful for is the empathy MCAS has taught me. Before being diagnosed, I didn’t fully understand how much people could struggle without it showing on the outside. Now I know that someone can look completely fine while still dealing with pain, fear, exhaustion, or uncertainty. Living with MCAS has taught me to listen more carefully, to be patient, and to believe people when they say something is wrong, even when I can’t see it myself. These lessons have changed the way I view others and the way I approach care and support. Because of this, my goal is to become a pediatric registered nurse. Working with children who are sick or in pain has always mattered to me, but living with a chronic illness made that goal even clearer. I understand how scary medical environments can be, especially for children who may not fully understand what is happening to them. I want to be the nurse who listens, who believes children when they say something doesn’t feel right, and who helps families feel supported, understood, and less alone during difficult moments. MCAS has forced me to slow down and face challenges I never expected, but it has also helped me discover who I want to be. While I would never choose to have this disease, I am grateful for the understanding, strength, and sense of purpose it has given me. It has shaped me into someone who cares deeply for others and is determined to turn personal struggle into a way to help people in the future.

Community service is at the heart of who I am, and my Eagle Scout Project was definitely my most significant community service activity. After learning about food insecurity in the Cincinnati area, I thought, what if there was a way for our neighbors to access food even when the local food pantry is closed? It came to me that if I built a blessing box, a wooden structure that holds non-perishable foods, those who need food could access food whenever they need it. To complete this, I needed to raise money. I asked community members for donations and raised $700 for this worthy cause. I worked side by side with Inter Parish Ministry (IPM), the food pantry supporting the box, to determine their needs and wants in this box and then created the blueprint. I then went to a local building company that taught me the skills needed to build the Blessing Box so I could guide other scouts on the day of my project. There were over twenty volunteers from my troop that I recruited and managed. This project involved constructing the blessing box, cleaning the food pantry grounds, and landscaping the area to make it more welcoming to clients. I also organized a food drive to collect items for the Blessing Box, so it was well stocked for weeks. I had never managed a group of volunteers this large and learned how to delegate tasks. Everyone has different strengths and I wanted to ensure I used the correct volunteer for the right job. Since Inter Parsish Ministries (IPM) is only open during certain hours and some people cannot come during those times to get food, the Blessing Box allows clients to access food whenever they need it. It has been over two years since this Blessing Box was built and it continues to be used daily. One of the most impactful moments of this journey was when a client left a note in the box. After taking the food they needed, they left a note that read, “I love this and I love all of you.” This project will be at IPM for years to come and will continue to be there for our neighbors in need. While building and managing this project was highly impactful for me, knowing that this Blessing Box will have a positive impact on my community for years to come is the true blessing.

Every experience shapes who we become, but my personal health challenges have played the biggest role in shaping my path toward healthcare. I live with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a rare genetic connective tissue disorder that has affected my joints, hips, and heart and caused chronic pain for most of my life. Growing up with a rare condition meant spending a lot of time in doctors’ offices and hospitals, often feeling frustrated, confused, or unheard. Over time, those experiences pushed me to learn more about my body and ultimately influenced my decision to pursue a career in medicine. Living with EDS forced me to become involved in my own care at a young age. When something felt wrong, I learned to speak up—even when it was uncomfortable. I also learned how discouraging it can be when your symptoms are dismissed or misunderstood, especially when your condition is rare. In high school, I took anatomy and quickly realized how much I enjoyed learning about how the body works. Understanding anatomy helped me make sense of my own condition and turned something scary into something I could better understand and manage. One of the most impactful parts of my medical journey was being diagnosed with hip dysplasia, which required multiple major surgeries. Recovery was long and difficult, and I missed many typical teenage experiences. During one surgery, I developed serious complications and went into septic shock, which led to an emergency admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. In one of the most terrifying moments of my life, it was the nurses who stayed by my side, explained what was happening, and made sure I felt safe. Their presence and compassion left a lasting impression on me. Those experiences showed me that healthcare is not just about treatment—it is about how patients are supported during their most vulnerable moments. I have experienced both sides of healthcare: feeling unheard and feeling truly cared for. Because of that, I want to be the kind of provider who listens, believes patients, and advocates for those with complex or rare conditions. I know how isolating it can feel to navigate the healthcare system, and I want to help make that process less overwhelming for others. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge I need to care for patients effectively and compassionately. After graduation, I hope to work in a surgical recovery setting, where I can support patients during a critical time in their healing. Long-term, I plan to continue my education and become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in pediatric patients with chronic pain and rare medical conditions. My goal is to use both my education and my personal experiences to make patients feel understood, supported, and confident in their care. My challenges have shaped the way I view medicine, empathy, and patient care. They are the reason I chose this path, and they will continue to guide the way I care for others throughout my future career.

My journey into healthcare did not start in a classroom; it started as a patient. I live with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a rare genetic connective tissue disorder that has affected many parts of my body and required extensive medical care throughout my life. Growing up with a rare condition has shown me how overwhelming and isolating the healthcare system can be, especially for patients whose illnesses are not well understood. These experiences are what inspired me to pursue a career in nursing and dedicate my life to helping individuals with rare and complex medical conditions. I have spent more time in hospitals and doctors’ offices than most people my age. I have undergone multiple major surgeries and experienced serious complications, which forced me to grow up quickly and learn how to advocate for myself. During these experiences, I came to understand how important nurses are to patient care. Nurses were the ones who listened to me when I was scared, explained what was happening when I felt confused, and supported my family during extremely stressful moments. Their compassion left a lasting impression on me and showed me the kind of healthcare provider I want to become. Living with a rare disease has also taught me how often patients are dismissed or misunderstood. Many people with rare conditions struggle to receive timely diagnoses and appropriate treatment. As a future nurse, I plan to advocate for patients who may not always be heard. I want to be someone who takes the time to listen, believes patients when they describe their symptoms, and works to ensure they receive the care they deserve. I know how much it means to have a provider who truly listens, and I want to be that person for others. While my own diagnosis is not a lung disease, I understand how rare and chronic conditions—especially those affecting vital systems like the lungs—can drastically impact a person’s quality of life. Patients with rare lung conditions often face ongoing symptoms, uncertainty, and fear about the future. I hope to support these patients by providing compassionate care, clear education, and emotional reassurance to both patients and their families. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on developing the clinical skills and knowledge necessary to provide safe and compassionate care. After graduation, I plan to work in a surgical recovery setting, where I can support patients during vulnerable moments in their healing process. In the future, I hope to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in pediatric patients with chronic pain and rare medical conditions. My goal is to use both my education and my personal experiences to help patients feel understood, supported, and empowered. Sammy Hason Sr.’s legacy of resilience, learning, and compassion strongly resonates with me. Through my career in healthcare, I plan to honor that legacy by advocating for patients with rare and complex conditions and by making a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need support the most.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but it is definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge I need to provide excellent care. My aspiration is to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after graduation, where I can support patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in pediatric patients who experience chronic pain. This goal is deeply personal to me because of my own experiences with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and chronic pain, and I want to use my understanding to help children and families navigate similar challenges.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the traditional one, but it has been incredibly formative and will undoubtedly benefit my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which has led to constant pain and frequent medical appointments. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition, combined with experiences of being dismissed or gaslighted by some doctors, motivated me to learn more about my body and treatment options. I first explored my fascination with the human body in high school through anatomy, which I truly loved. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Experiencing pain at a young age pushed me to research the pelvis and femur to better understand my condition. Simply defined, hip dysplasia occurs when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and chronic pain. According to experts, only 1 in 1,000 babies are born with hip dysplasia—I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second in June 2022, and I am scheduled for a third this coming February. During the first two surgeries, the surgeon performed a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO), breaking and reshaping my pelvis and inserting four screws. Complications included going into septic shock, requiring emergency surgery and a stay in the PICU at Cincinnati Children’s. I will never forget the nurses who cared for me and saved my life. Recovering from these surgeries meant missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but I understood the importance of these interventions for my long-term mobility. Without them, I could be wheelchair-bound by age 30, unable to engage in activities I love. Beyond hip dysplasia, I have faced additional health challenges, including Chronic Compartmental Issues (CCI), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). These conditions have added layers of complexity to my care, requiring me to manage chronic fatigue, heart rate irregularities, dizziness, and unpredictable allergic reactions. Navigating these health challenges has strengthened my resilience, taught me the importance of advocacy, and deepened my empathy for patients dealing with complex or chronic illnesses. These experiences, though difficult, solidified my desire to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, from administering medications and assisting with daily tasks to providing emotional support. Witnessing excellent nurses in my own care taught me the qualities that make a nurse stand out and the type of nurse I aspire to become. My journey with hip dysplasia, EDS, and other chronic conditions gives me a unique perspective that allows me to connect with patients on a deeper level and understand the physical and emotional challenges they face. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge to provide excellent care. My immediate goal is to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after graduation, supporting patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in pediatric patients experiencing chronic pain. This goal is deeply personal, informed by my own experiences with EDS, chronic pain, and navigating the complexities of rare medical conditions.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. I am currently a junior in nursing school, focused on building the skills and knowledge I need to provide excellent care. My aspiration is to work in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after graduation, where I can support patients recovering from surgery. Eventually, I plan to return to school to become a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in pediatric patients who experience chronic pain. This goal is deeply personal to me because of my own experiences with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and chronic pain, and I want to use my understanding to help children and families navigate similar challenges.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. This summer, I had the opportunity to work as a PCA (Patient Care Assistant), which gave me hands-on experience in direct patient care. As a PCA, I helped with daily activities like bathing, feeding, mobility assistance, and providing emotional support to patients. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations. I found this scholarship from BOLD.org, under the healthcare section.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right, but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia and my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right, but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia and my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right, but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia and my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right, but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia and my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right, but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia and my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right, but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia and my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right, but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia and my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

Community service is at the heart of who I am, and my Eagle Scout Project was definitely my most significant community service activity. After learning about food insecurity in the Cincinnati area, I thought, what if there was a way for our neighbors to access food even when the local food pantry is closed? It came to me that if I built a blessing box, a wooden structure that holds non-perishable foods, those that need food could access food whenever they need it. To complete this, I needed to raise money. I asked community members for donations and raised $700 for this worthy cause. I worked side by side with Inter Parish Ministry (IPM), the food pantry supporting the box, to determine their needs and wants in this box and then created the blueprint. I then went to a local building company that taught me the skills needed to build the Blessing Box so I could guide other scouts on the day of my project. There were over 20 scouts and volunteers from my troop that I recruited and managed. This project consisted of constructing the blessing box, cleaning up the food pantry grounds, and landscaping the area to make it more welcoming for clients. I also organized a food drive to collect items for the Blessing Box, so it was well-stocked for weeks. I had never managed a group of volunteers this large and learned how to delegate tasks. Everyone has different strengths and I wanted to ensure I used the correct volunteer for the right job. Since IPM is only open during certain hours and some people cannot come during those times to get food, the Blessing Box allows clients to access food whenever they need it. It has been over two years since this Blessing Box was built and it continues to be used daily. One of the most impactful moments of this journey was when a client left a note in the box. After taking the food they needed, they left a note that read, “I love this and I love all of you.” This project will be at IPM for years to come and will continue to be there for our neighbors in need. While building and managing this project was highly impactful for me, knowing that this Blessing Box will have a positive impact on my community for years to come is the true blessing.

Community service is at the heart of who I am, and my Eagle Scout Project was definitely my most significant community service activity. After learning about food insecurity in the Cincinnati area, I thought, what if there was a way for our neighbors to access food even when the local food pantry is closed? It came to me that if I built a blessing box, a wooden structure that holds non-perishable foods, those that need food could access food whenever they need it. To complete this, I needed to raise money. I asked community members for donations and raised $700 for this worthy cause. I worked side by side with Inter Parish Ministry (IPM), the food pantry supporting the box, to determine their needs and wants in this box and then created the blueprint. I then went to a local building company that taught me the skills needed to build the Blessing Box so I could guide other scouts on the day of my project. There were over 20 volunteers from my troop that I recruited and managed. This project consisted of constructing the blessing box, cleaning up the food pantry grounds, and landscaping the area to make it more welcoming for clients. I also organized a food drive to collect items for the Blessing Box, so it was well-stocked for weeks. I had never managed a group of volunteers this large and learned how to delegate tasks. Everyone has different strengths and I wanted to ensure I used the correct volunteer for the right job. Since IPM is only open during certain hours and some people cannot come during those times to get food, the Blessing Box allows clients to access food whenever they need it. It has been over two years since this Blessing Box was built and it continues to be used daily. One of the most impactful moments of this journey was when a client left a note in the box. After taking the food they needed, they left a note that read, “I love this and I love all of you.” This project will be at IPM for years to come and will continue to be there for our neighbors in need. While building and managing this project was highly impactful for me, knowing that this Blessing Box will have a positive impact on my community for years to come is the true blessing. Here is a video of this Blessing Box and its impact: A Community Blessing - Ella Willett

Community service is at the heart of who I am, and my Eagle Scout Project was definitely my most significant community service activity. After learning about food insecurity in the Cincinnati area, I thought, what if there was a way for our neighbors to access food even when the local food pantry is closed? It came to me that if I built a blessing box, a wooden structure that holds non-perishable foods, those that need food could access food whenever they need it. To complete this, I needed to raise money. I asked community members for donations and raised $700 for this worthy cause. I worked side by side with Inter Parish Ministry (IPM), the food pantry supporting the box, to determine their needs and wants in this box and then created the blueprint. I then went to a local building company that taught me the skills needed to build the Blessing Box so I could guide other scouts on the day of my project. There were over 20 volunteers from my troop that I recruited and managed. This project consisted of constructing the blessing box, cleaning up the food pantry grounds, and landscaping the area to make it more welcoming for clients. I also organized a food drive to collect items for the Blessing Box, so it was well-stocked for weeks. I had never managed a group of volunteers this large and learned how to delegate tasks. Everyone has different strengths and I wanted to ensure I used the correct volunteer for the right job. Since IPM is only open during certain hours and some people cannot come during those times to get food, the Blessing Box allows clients to access food whenever they need it. It has been over two years since this Blessing Box was built and it continues to be used daily. One of the most impactful moments of this journey was when a client left a note in the box. After taking the food they needed, they left a note that read, “I love this and I love all of you.” This project will be at IPM for years to come and will continue to be there for our neighbors in need. While building and managing this project was highly impactful for me, knowing that this Blessing Box will have a positive impact on my community for years to come is a true blessing. Here is a video of this Blessing Box and its impact: A Community Blessing - Ella Willett

Since I have severe dyslexia and ADHD, school has always been a challenge for me. My dyslexia made it difficult for me to understand concepts, read, and comprehend texts, which made my school experience miserable. However, I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. My parents and I have taken an active role in guiding my treatment, and my knowledge of human anatomy has been very beneficial. For example, when I had hip surgery, I learned about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia. Through my experiences with numerous appointments and hospital stays, I realized that I want to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and others who were just average, and through these experiences, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. I have continued to learn about the human body in my high school anatomy class. My favorite unit is the connective tissue unit, and I even did a project on EDS and presented it to the class. Despite being shy and dyslexic, I have a love of learning and have even read books on the human body. I have also joined Scouts BSA and followed my passion for the human body and helping others. I have earned the Public Health merit badge, and I am currently working on the Medicine merit badge. I even achieved my Eagle Scout and was one of the first in Cincinnati. In addition, I have been certified in CPR and first aid by the local fire department. Through Scouts, I have learned even more and have better prepared myself for nursing school. I am very excited about my future as a nurse and believe that my dyslexia and EDS will help make me an outstanding nurse.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

Community service is at the heart of who I am, and my Eagle Scout Project was definitely my most significant community service activity. After learning about food insecurity in the Cincinnati area, I thought, what if there was a way for our neighbors to access food even when the local food pantry is closed? It came to me that if I built a blessing box, a wooden structure that holds non-perishable foods, those that need food could access food whenever they need it. To complete this, I needed to raise money. I asked community members for donations and raised $700 for this worthy cause. I worked side by side with Inter Parish Ministry (IPM), the food pantry supporting the box, to determine their needs and wants in this box and then created the blueprint. I then went to a local building company that taught me the skills needed to build the Blessing Box so I could guide other scouts on the day of my project. There were over 20 volunteers from my troop that I recruited and managed. This project consisted of constructing the blessing box, cleaning up the food pantry grounds, and landscaping the area to make it more welcoming for clients. I also organized a food drive to collect items for the Blessing Box, so it was well-stocked for weeks. I had never managed a group of volunteers this large and learned how to delegate tasks. Everyone has different strengths and I wanted to ensure I used the correct volunteer for the right job. Since IPM is only open during certain hours and some people cannot come during those times to get food, the Blessing Box allows clients to access food whenever they need it. It has been over two years since this Blessing Box was built and it continues to be used daily. One of the most impactful moments of this journey was when a client left a note in the box. After taking the food they needed, they left a note that read, “I love this and I love all of you.” This project will be at IPM for years to come and will continue to be there for our neighbors in need. While building and managing this project was highly impactful for me, knowing that this Blessing Box will have a positive impact on my community for years to come is the true blessing. Here is a video of this Blessing Box and its impact: A Community Blessing - Ella Willett

Community service is at the heart of who I am, and my Eagle Scout Project was definitely my most significant community service activity. After learning about food insecurity in the Cincinnati area, I thought, what if there was a way for our neighbors to access food even when the local food pantry is closed? It came to me that if I built a blessing box, a wooden structure that holds non-perishable foods, those who need food could access food whenever they need it. To complete this, I needed to raise money. I asked community members for donations and raised $700 for this worthy cause. I worked side by side with Inter Parish Ministry (IPM), the food pantry supporting the box, to determine their needs and wants in this box and then created the blueprint. I then went to a local building company that taught me the skills needed to build the Blessing Box so I could guide other scouts on the day of my project. There were over 20 volunteers from my troop that I recruited and managed. This project consisted of constructing the blessing box, cleaning up the food pantry grounds, and landscaping the area to make it more welcoming for clients. I also organized a food drive to collect items for the Blessing Box, so it was well-stocked for weeks. I had never managed a group of volunteers this large and learned how to delegate tasks. Everyone has different strengths and I wanted to ensure I used the correct volunteer for the right job. Since IPM is only open during certain hours and some people cannot come during those times to get food, the Blessing Box allows clients to access food whenever they need it. It has been over two years since this Blessing Box was built and it continues to be used daily. One of the most impactful moments of this journey was when a client left a note in the box. After taking the food they needed, they left a note that read, “I love this and I love all of you.” This project will be at IPM for years to come and will continue to be there for our neighbors in need. While building and managing this project was highly impactful for me, knowing that this Blessing Box will positively impact my community for years to come is the true blessing. Here is a video of this Blessing Box and its impact: A Community Blessing - Ella Willett

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, Sjogren's syndrome, and joint problems , which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

Scouts has also offered me so many unique opportunities to build leadership skills. I have attended National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), Kodiak and National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE). I was asked to staff NAYLE at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico where I was tasked with training scouts from across America on being servant leaders. I volunteered 168 hours in 14 days. I am also involved in the Order of the Arrow (OA) and was the first female to complete the ordeal in our troop. After going to NAYLE in 2020, fellow scouts and I thought it would be a great idea to implement a weekend long leadership outing. This outing would provide other scouts skills to better lead the troop in their various positions. I created team building activities, discussions on leave no trace principles and taught basic communication skills. It was such a beneficial experience because it was the first outing that I planned from beginning to end. This weekend has continued for the past 3 years. I helped to establish a new scout Venturing Crew in 2021, which is one of six Venturing Crews across Southern Ohio. I am currently President of this crew and have recruited 8+ members. Given my love for scouting, I wanted to be able to stay in the program after the age of 18. A Venturing Crew allows us to do just that while doing all of the organizing and planning ourselves. Scouting gives me a sense of purpose and pride and being able to stay involved for as long as possible excites me and energizes me. I was asked to be Den Chief for female Pack 1 as these females knew me as someone that was extremely involved in our community. It has been exciting to see them progress from Cub Scouts to members of our scouting troop. I love being able to build into them and encourage their love of scouting. This has helped me become a more confident leader and allowed me to learn how to teach skills to a younger audience. I was asked to speak to another local troop during Diversity Day. I spoke about being a female scout in an established boys troop, the barriers and the successes. There were 40+ scouts in attendance. Currently, I am the assistant scoutmaster from Troop 1149. I plan to help still and organize troop outing form Xavier. Scouts has changed my life, and I want to give back to the amazing community that made me into the woman I am today.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. After graduation, I aspire to work as a nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school, which I truly loved and which helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses who saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to understand my hip dysplasia, my pain better. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly, resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries, the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I was then admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children's. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to understand better what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I then was admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Childrens. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I then was admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I then was admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I then was admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. Receiving this scholarship would be a huge help to my family, as my parents have three children, two of whom will be in college at the same time. The financial stability that this scholarship would provide would allow them to focus on supporting my education and career goals After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I then was admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I then was admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I then was admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that, I went into septic shock and was rushed into emergency surgery. I then was admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Children. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries, I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. I even was able to shadow a nurse in the orthopedic surgical wing at the University of Cincinnati. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that I went into septic shock and had an emergency surgery and was admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Childrens. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

My path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). Sounds like fun senior year, right? On top of that I went into septic shock and had an emergency surgery and was admitted to the PICU at Cincinnati Childrens. I will never forget the nurses that saved my life in the ICU and in the Emergency Room. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients going through similar situations.

I'm Ella Willett, a senior in high school going to Xavier University to study Nursing. I am known as an adventurous girl, always hiking or camping. My high school experience was nothing but abnormal and I would never wish this experience on anyone. Well my path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). My upcoming surgery is a femoral osteotomy where the surgeon will break my femur, rotate it and place a rod to create more stability. Sounds like fun senior year, right? As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. After I gain a few years experience, I hope to then further my career as a travel nurse, allowing me to explore different areas of pediatric nursing across the United States. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients.

I'm Ella Willett, a senior in high school going to Xavier University to study Nursing. I am known as an adventurous girl, always hiking or camping. My high school experience was nothing but abnormal and I would never wish this experience on anyone. Well my path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). My upcoming surgery is a femoral osteotomy where the surgeon will break my femur, rotate it and place a rod to create more stability. Sounds like fun senior year, right? As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love. My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. After I gain a few years experience, I hope to then further my career as a travel nurse, allowing me to explore different areas of pediatric nursing across the United States. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients.

I'm Ella Willett, a senior in high school going to Xavier University to study Nursing. I am known as an adventurous girl, always hiking or camping. My high school experience was nothing but abnormal and I would never wish this experience on anyone. Well my path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early-onset arthritis and pain. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). My upcoming surgery is a femoral osteotomy where the surgeon will break my femur, rotate it and place a rod to create more stability. As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time, I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love (such as rock climbing, hiking and camping). My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. After I gain a few years experience, I hope to then further my career as a travel nurse, allowing me to explore different areas of pediatric nursing across the United States. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients.

Community service is at the heart of who I am, and my Eagle Scout Project was definitely my most significant community service activity. After learning about food insecurity in the Cincinnati area, I thought, what if there was a way for our neighbors to access food even when the local food pantry is closed? It came to me that if I built a blessing box, a wooden structure that holds non-perishable foods, those that need food could access food whenever they need it. To complete this, I needed to raise money. I asked community members for donations and raised $700 for this worthy cause. I worked side by side with Inter Parish Ministry (IPM), the food pantry supporting the box, to determine their needs and wants in this box and then created the blueprint. I then went to a local building company that taught me the skills needed to build the Blessing Box so I could guide other scouts on the day of my project. There were over 20 volunteers from my troop that I recruited and managed. This project consisted of constructing the blessing box, cleaning up the food pantry grounds, and landscaping the area to make it more welcoming for clients. I also organized a food drive to collect items for the Blessing Box, so it was well-stocked for weeks. I had never managed a group of volunteers this large and learned how to delegate tasks. Everyone has different strengths and I wanted to ensure I used the correct volunteer for the right job. Since IPM is only open during certain hours and some people cannot come during those times to get food, the Blessing Box allows clients to access food whenever they need it. It has been over two years since this Blessing Box was built and it continues to be used daily. IPM has used my blessing box drawings to make an additional 9 boxes around the Cincinnati area. One of the most impactful moments of this journey was when a client left a note in the box. After taking the food they needed, they left a note that read, “I love this and I love all of you.” This project will be at IPM for years to come and will continue to be there for our neighbors in need. While building and managing this project was highly impactful for me, knowing that this Blessing Box will have a positive impact on my community for years to come is the true blessing.

Community service is at the heart of who I am, and my Eagle Scout Project was definitely my most significant community service activity. After learning about food insecurity in the Cincinnati area, I thought, what if there was a way for our neighbors to access food even when the local food pantry is closed? It came to me that if I built a blessing box, a wooden structure that holds non-perishable foods, those that need food could access food whenever they need it. To complete this, I needed to raise money. I asked community members for donations and raised $700 for this worthy cause. I worked side by side with Inter Parish Ministry (IPM), the food pantry supporting the box, to determine their needs and wants in this box and then created the blueprint. I then went to a local building company that taught me the skills needed to build the Blessing Box so I could guide other scouts on the day of my project. There were over 20 volunteers from my troop that I recruited and managed. This project consisted of constructing the blessing box, cleaning up the food pantry grounds, and landscaping the area to make it more welcoming for clients. I also organized a food drive to collect items for the Blessing Box, so it was well-stocked for weeks. I had never managed a group of volunteers this large and learned how to delegate tasks. Everyone has different strengths and I wanted to ensure I used the correct volunteer for the right job. Since IPM is only open during certain hours and some people cannot come during those times to get food, the Blessing Box allows clients to access food whenever they need it. It has been over two years since this Blessing Box was built and it continues to be used daily. One of the most impactful moments of this Eagle Scout journey was when a client left a note in the box. After taking the food they needed, they left a note that read, “I love this and I love all of you.” This project will be at IPM for years to come and will continue to be there for our neighbors in need. While building and managing this project was highly impactful for me, knowing that this Blessing Box will have a positive impact on my community for years to come is the true blessing.

Well my path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). My upcoming surgery is a femoral osteotomy where the surgeon will break my femur, rotate it and place a rod to create more stability. Sounds like fun senior year, right? As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love (such as rock climbing, hiking and camping). My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. After I gain a few years experience, I hope to then further my career as a travel nurse, allowing me to explore different areas of pediatric nursing across the United States. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients.

Well my path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). My upcoming surgery is a femoral osteotomy where the surgeon will break my femur, rotate it and place a rod to create more stability. Sounds like fun senior year, right? As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love (such as rock climbing, hiking and camping). My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. After I gain a few years experience, I hope to then further my career as a travel nurse, allowing me to explore different areas of pediatric nursing across the United States. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients.

Well my path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). My upcoming surgery is a femoral osteotomy where the surgeon will break my femur, rotate it and place a rod to create more stability. Sounds like fun senior year, right? As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love (such as rock climbing, hiking and camping). My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. After I gain a few years experience, I hope to then further my career as a travel nurse, allowing me to explore different areas of pediatric nursing across the United States. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients.

Well my path to knowing that I want to become a nurse is not the normal one, but definitely beneficial in my future nursing career. I discovered a passion for the human body through my experience with a rare genetic condition that I have called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). EDS affects my connective tissue and causes heart, hip, and joint problems, which causes me to be in constant pain and to see many doctors. In the EDS community, we are referred to as "zebras" because we are rare and complex. This rare condition and being gaslighted by some doctors motivated me to learn more about my body and treatments. I took anatomy in high school which I truly loved and helped increase my knowledge of the human body. My first major occurrence with EDS came when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Yes, I had pain and knew something wasn’t right but this motivated me to learn more about the pelvis and femur to better understand my hip dysplasia, my pain. Simply defined, hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is not formed properly resulting in early onset arthritis and pain. Funny enough, I thought dogs only had it…clearly not true. According to hip dysplasia experts, 1 in 1000 babies are born with hip dysplasia and I was that 1. My first surgery was in January 2022, my second was in June 2022 and my third will be this February. In my first two hip surgeries the surgeon broke my pelvis in three places, reshaped it and added four screws; this is known as a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO). My upcoming surgery is a femoral osteotomy where the surgeon will break my femur, rotate it and place a rod to create more stability. Sounds like fun senior year, right? As I recovered from the surgeries, I knew that I was missing pivotal events of my teenage years, but at the same time I knew it would help me in the long run. Without these surgeries I could be wheelchair bound by the age of 30 and unable to do the activities in life I love (such as rock climbing, hiking and camping). My health experiences have caused me to have more doctor appointments and hospital stays than any teenager should. However, in talking to many nurses and realizing the impact they have on their patients, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse, specifically a pediatric nurse. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, administering medicine and helping with basic tasks, but most importantly, they provide support. I have encountered some excellent nurses and because of these encounters, I have learned what qualities make a nurse stand out and what nurse I want to become. My hip dysplasia and EDS journey has given me a unique perspective that not all nurses have, allowing me to better understand what patients are going through and connect with them on a deeper level. After graduation, I aspire to work as a pediatric surgical nurse at Cincinnati Children's. After I gain a few years experience, I hope to then further my career as a travel nurse, allowing me to explore different areas of pediatric nursing across the United States. I am looking forward to the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead in my nursing career, and thanks to EDS and my own health challenges, I know I will be able to form a deeper connection with my patients.

Maintaining my Mental, Physical, and Nutritional Health is vital to me. Maintaining my mental health throughout the school year is especially hard. At school, there is so much pressure to be the best. Especially during junior and senior year people start comparing who has the highest ACT/SAT score, who is taking the most AP classes. Comparing yourself to others is mentally draining and does not do you any good. To maintain my mental health throughout this time I have learned coping skills from my counselor, which I meet once a month. At counseling, we discuss managing my anxiety, upcoming stressful situations and how to approach them. I have also been working on journaling, allowing me to write down everything that happened during that day and then just letting it go. My anxiety controlled my life until 4th grade and this is when I started on medication(Prozac) and started seeing a therapist. My physical health, Is taking up most of my free time now. Currently, I am going through three hip surgeries and a couple of rare chronic health conditions. This causes me to have many doctor appointments and physical therapy every week. I see a physical therapist twice weekly to work on recovery and building muscles. I also have an at-home PT program that I do every day. I also try to go to the gym two times a week. At the gym, I walk in the pool. This allows me to get physical activity without hurting myself or causing more pain. I love working out but at this moment my body is not able to handle any high-impact activities. I maintain my nutritional health by ensuring I eat three well-balanced meals daily. I also try to eat around the same time every day since I realized it's a migraine trigger for me to eat at irregular times. I am also working with a nutritionist and GI doctor to ensure I am getting proper nutrition. While during my recovery from hip surgery, my mental health was not the best. It was not the best since I could not do physical and pleasant activities like hanging out with my friends, hiking, and playing softball. While school is extremely important to me, I have learned that my mental and physical health is more important than school. Sometimes it is ok to take a mental health day. Mental, Physical, and Nutritional Health are important to me.