My name is Emily Lyman and I envision myself as a future community nurse educator for Somerset County, Maine. From an early age, I have demonstrated a sense of altruism and compassion. Growing up, I made donations to homeless shelters and nursing homes, in addition to organizing a fundraiser for the family violence project, a local organization that assists women with unsafe housing. My desire to care for others coupled with my passion for health promotion has prompted me to pursue a career in nursing. I began taking college courses at 16 years old at Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC), receiving a certificate in Health Sciences before graduating high school. This allowed me to enter the nursing program at KVCC immediately following graduation, being the youngest person to do so. I am currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program, and wish to enroll in a Master’s program in the near future. When I complete my Master’s degree in Nursing Education, I pledge to dedicate my life mission to addressing the health needs of my community, and proposing solutions to foster a culture that is rich in health-related knowledge. According to the 2022 Health Needs Assessment of Somerset County, priority needs within the community were identified as mental illness, substance and alcohol use, and access to care (Maine CHNA, 2022). As a nurse educator, I would like to reduce the negative stigma of seeking help for mental illness, and perhaps organize support groups or offer counseling opportunities. I plan to improve access to mental healthcare by teaching Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) as well as the importance of trauma-informed care. I also anticipate providing classroom education to teach teens about the services that are available within the community. As the rates of substance and alcohol abuse soar, overdose-related deaths are a primary concern for the people of Somerset County. As a nurse educator, I will aim to increase harm reduction services, promote the use of prescription take-back services, increase access to Narcan, and educate the public on the safe storage of medications. I believe a youth-focused substance-use prevention program will be most beneficial, as evidence suggests addiction commonly stems from peer pressure during adolescence. Limited access to care within rural communities delays preventative care and results in poor health outcomes. As a nurse educator, I plan to teach the public about available healthcare services, facilitate classes, and provide holistic health support. Adequate nutrition, ample exercise, proper hand washing, and immunizations are simple and effective ways to promote a healthy community. I aspire to develop educational programs that provide wellness promotion and disease prevention. Becoming a successful nurse educator requires a balance of real-world experience, clinical expertise, and passion to help others; a Master’s degree in Nursing Education will solidify the qualities and credentials I need to excel in this profession. This scholarship would assist with the financial burden of paying tuition for graduate school, in addition to helping me reach my academic and professional goals. A survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing reported a national nurse-educator vacancy rate of 7.8% (2024). Receiving this scholarship would provide both the opportunity and privilege to serve my community and mitigate the shortage of nursing faculty. Somerset County Community Health Needs Assessment Report. (2022). https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/phdata/MaineCHNA/documents/county-reports/2019/Somerset-Report-Web.pdf American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2024). Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet. AACN. https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/nursing-faculty-shortage#:~:text=The%20data%20show%20a%20national,or%20preferring%20a%20doctoral%20degree.

My personal experience with mental health has influenced both my personal character and career aspirations. Growing up in a divorced household, I faced significant stressors and emotional hardship at an early age. I began seeing a counselor at age 8 in an effort to recognize my emotions while navigating a divided, complex family dynamic. At age 14, I began taking prescription medication for clinical depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Though I succeeded in all aspects of life, I often struggled with depressive thoughts and suicidal ideation. I couldn’t fathom why I felt this way; my parents loved and supported me unconditionally, and I excelled both socially and academically. When I was 16, I remember calling a crisis center on the side of the road and coming home to find my dad worried sick after he had been notified of the call. The worst memory I have was crying in my bed for days, telling my parents I “just wanted to die”. At times I would sleep for days, neglect all forms of self care, and seldom get adequate nutrition. My personal struggle with mental health left one thing clear: mental illness was a legitimate disorder and disability. In my late teenage years, I began to worry about everything. My mind would think of a million things at once, leaving the sensation that my heart was going to beat out of my chest. Restless nights with nausea would significantly impact my academic performance the next day. Around age 18, I recall going to the emergency department for an anxiety attack – although the crushing chest pain made me think I was having a heart attack. Both the emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety affected me greatly, and demonstrated the seriousness of mental health disorders. Experiencing the unexplained burden of mental illness has molded me into the kind and altruistic individual I am today. Suffering major depressive disorder while growing up in a prosperous and fortunate environment solidified the idea that mental illness can affect anyone. For this reason, I have made it my life mission to help others and pursue a career in nursing. I have consistently demonstrated compassion for others by making donations to homeless shelters and nursing homes, in addition to organizing a fundraiser for the family violence project, a local organization that assists women with unsafe housing. Undoubtedly, my personal experience with anxiety and depression contributed to the values I believe in. Personally battling suicidal ideation and major depressive order changed my outlook on life and instilled a sense of empathy and compassion for others with similar experiences. I currently work with patients experiencing psychological crises in a small emergency department in the State of Maine. In a rural area with scarce access to mental health care, I’ve built rapport with many members in my community. Every week I care for adults and children seeking help for substance-use disorders, psychotic disorders, and mood disorders. Though such a career can be emotionally taxing and present frequent incidents of workplace violence, helping someone overcome a mental health crisis is rewarding beyond measure. My professional objective is to obtain a Master’s degree in Nursing Education and become a community health educator for Somerset County. A 2019 study found that 18% of high school students in Somerset County had seriously considered suicide, while 34% of students reported feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row (Maine CHNA, 2022). As a nurse educator, I would like to reduce the negative stigma of seeking help for mental illness, and perhaps organize support groups or offer counseling opportunities. I plan to improve access to mental healthcare by teaching Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) as well as the importance of trauma-informed care. I also anticipate providing classroom education to teach teens about the services that are available within the community. Calvin, I am so sorry for your loss. I admire your strength and dedication to mental health awareness. Thank you for providing this scholarship to students seeking innovative solutions to address the national crisis of mental illness. References Somerset County Community Health Needs Assessment Report. (2022). https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/phdata/MaineCHNA/documents/county-reports/2019/Somerset-Report-Web.pdf