I have attended church my whole life, but it wasn't until I got saved that I was really shown how much God could move in my life. I know before I got saved, God still protected me, but it is different when you are able to grow a personal relationship with God. I haven't always been as close with God as I wanted, or needed, to be, but He was always right there watching over me. I used to have really bad separation anxiety caused by my parents' divorce, but it wasn't until I trusted in God to help me that it got better. It's not completely "cured", but I know now that I can get through it by trusting God. One thing that I have done to help others is volunteer at our food pantry through my church. Being able to provide people with something they need, such as food, has shown me how even small acts of service can make a meaningful difference in someone’s day. I help prepare food boxes and speak with the people who come by to make sure they feel welcomed and are able to get what they need. I also help organize fundraisers so our food pantry can stay open for these people. Many of the families and individuals I meet are facing difficult times, and I have seen how a kind word or a simple gesture can lift their spirits and let them know that someone cares. Besides volunteering at the food pantry, I’ve also worked in the children’s ministry at my church. There, I help teach and guide the kids, run activities, and encourage them to learn and also have fun. I’ve learned how important it is to be patient, listen, and really pay attention to each child. I’ve seen how just giving support or cheering them on can boost a child’s confidence and make their day better. Sometimes it’s helping a kid finish an activity, and other times it’s just being someone they can count on. Those little moments show me how much encouragement and attention can truly matter to someone. As I continue my education and work toward my goals, I plan to expand my efforts to positively impact others. I want to seek out opportunities to serve my community, mentor young people, and support those in need whenever I can. By continuing to show kindness, offer guidance, and provide support, I hope to improve the lives of the people around me.

My personal inspiration for wanting to be a nurse is my mom. She has been a NICU nurse for many years, and I’ve seen how many lives she has impacted. I know that this field of nursing is challenging and can put a lot of strain on a person, but she continues to push through and help others, even in their darkest days. What stands out most to me is how deeply she cares—not only for her patients, but also for their parents. She always tries her hardest to make sure she has done everything she possibly can, and that level of dedication has shown me what it truly means to be a nurse. She is the main reason I want to pursue this career. I want to be able to help people and show them that even in their hardest moments, they are not alone. While I don’t plan to pursue the same specialty, I believe the same passion for caring for others applies to every field of nursing. My mom is a major inspiration in my life, and I hope to make a difference in people’s lives the way she does. I understand that pursuing nursing and working as a nurse is not easy, but the opportunity to help others makes it worthwhile. Nursing is not just about treating patients physically, but also supporting them emotionally. Whether it’s simply cheering someone up or helping them know that someone is there for them, what may seem like a small act can make a significant impact on someone’s day. When people first hear the phrase ‘human touch,’ they may think it simply refers to physical contact, but to me, it represents something much deeper. Human touch is about the way a person can leave a lasting impression on someone’s life. I have often heard the saying, "People may forget what you said, but not how you made them feel," and I believe this perfectly describes human touch. Positive interactions can stay with a person long after the moment has passed, while negative experiences can leave an equally strong impression. Even small gestures—a kind word, a patient smile, or taking time to explain a procedure—can make someone feel seen, safe, and supported. Nurses touch people’s lives every day, often during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. For many patients, nurses may be the only people they see during long hospital stays or medical procedures, and the encouragement, kindness, and patience nurses show can have a profound impact on how patients feel. Acts that may seem minor to a nurse—like taking a few extra moments to listen or offering reassurance—can completely change a patient’s day. Conversely, if a nurse is having a difficult day and, even unintentionally, expresses frustration or has an emotional outburst toward a patient, it can leave a negative impression and affect the patient’s experience. If the patient feels they can't trust a nurse, it can impact their view of nurses altogether, and this can deeply affect the way patients act toward all nurses. Human touch in nursing goes beyond physical care; it is about connection, empathy, and emotional support. Providing comfort and understanding can help patients feel valued, respected, and cared for, even in moments of fear or uncertainty. It is these small but meaningful interactions that define the impact a nurse can have, shaping not only a patient’s experience but also their overall well-being. Being able to positively influence someone’s life through both care and compassion is what makes nursing such a rewarding and meaningful profession, and it is what motivates me to pursue this career.

I plan to pursue a degree in health science to become a nurse or an OB sonographer. From a young age, I have been inspired to pursue a career that allows me to help others and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Healthcare stood out to me because it combines compassion, knowledge, and service, allowing professionals to support people during some of the most important moments of their lives. One of the biggest influences on my decision to pursue a healthcare career has been my mom. Watching the way she cares for others showed me the importance of kindness, patience, and being willing to help when someone is in need. Her example inspired me to want to follow a similar path where helping others is part of my everyday work. I want to build a career where I can not only provide medical care, but also comfort and encouragement to patients and their families. Serving my community has already become an important part of who I am. At Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, I help in the children’s ministry where I assist with teaching and caring for younger children. Working with kids has taught me patience, responsibility, and the importance of being a positive role model. In addition, I helped start and run a food pantry through my church. Through this experience, I have been able to help provide food and support for families in my community who may be going through difficult times. Being involved in this ministry has shown me how even small acts of service can have a meaningful impact on others. Through my chosen course of study in health science, I plan to make a positive impact on the world by providing compassionate and patient-centered care. Healthcare can often feel overwhelming for people, especially when they are sick or worried about a loved one. As a future nurse or OB sonographer, I hope to help make those experiences easier by offering understanding, clear communication, and support. I want patients to feel heard, respected, and cared for during every step of their healthcare journey. In the future, I also hope to continue serving my community outside of my professional career. Whether through volunteering, church outreach, or community programs, I want to remain involved in helping those around me. My goal is to combine my passion for service with the knowledge and skills I gain through my education to improve the health and well-being of others. By pursuing a career in healthcare, I hope to turn my passion for helping people into a lifelong commitment to service. Through compassion, dedication, and a strong work ethic, I plan to make a positive difference in both my community and the lives of the people I have the privilege to care for.

My career goal is to become a nurse and use my education to care for and support people in my community. Nursing appeals to me because it allows me to combine compassion with practical skills and knowledge to help people during some of the most important and difficult moments of their lives. I want to be someone that patients can rely on not only for medical care but also for comfort, reassurance, and encouragement when they need it most. My interest in nursing was inspired by my mom and the example she set for me. Watching the way she cares for others has shown me how meaningful it can be to make a difference in someone’s life through kindness, patience, and service. Because of her influence, I developed a desire to pursue a career where helping people is at the center of what I do every day. Serving others has always been a significant part of my life. At Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, I work in the children’s ministry, assisting with teaching and caring for younger kids. I have also helped start and run a food pantry through my church, which allows me to provide food and support for families in my community. These experiences have shown me the impact that even the small acts of service can have and have strengthened my commitment to helping others in every way I can. As a nurse, I hope to continue making a difference in similar ways. I want to be able to provide compassionate, patient-centered care that addresses both the physical and emotional needs of patients. Healthcare can be stressful and overwhelming, and I hope to help ease those challenges by listening carefully, explaining things clearly, and offering support whenever it is needed. I believe that even small gestures, like taking the time to comfort a patient or answer their questions, can have a lasting impact. In the long term, I hope to use my nursing career as a way to serve both individual patients and the broader community. By combining my passion for helping others with the skills and knowledge I will gain as a nurse, I want to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Nursing offers me the opportunity to turn my dedication to service into a lifelong career, and I am committed to using my abilities to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life of those around me.

Growing up, my family has always been a big part of my life and the biggest influence on the person I am becoming. They have taught me the importance of hard work, compassion, and showing up for others when they need you most. Watching the way my family cares for one another helped shape my decision to pursue a career in nursing. I want to build a life centered on helping people, just like the people who raised me have always done. My family believes in taking care of each other, no matter what. Whether someone is sick, stressed, or just having a bad day, we show up. I grew up seeing how much a small act of kindness can mean to someone who is struggling. I have also grown up around nursing, because my mother is a nurse and two of my grandmothers were nurses. Having these people in my life and seeing how they can impact others really shows me that nursing is so much more than just a job. Nursing stood out to me because it combines compassion with skill, allowing someone to make a real difference in a person’s life during some of their most difficult moments. As I began thinking about my future, I knew I wanted a career that allowed me to help people. Nursing offers the opportunity to support patients physically, emotionally, and mentally. Nurses are often the people who spend the most time with patients, advocating for them and helping them feel safe and understood. That role inspires me because it allows me to be both a caregiver and a problem solver. My journey toward nursing has also required dedication and perseverance. Balancing school responsibilities while preparing for my future career has taught me the importance of discipline and time management. While in high school, I was able to get my Patient Care Technician certificate and CPR certification, which have helped prepare me for a future in nursing. Along the way, my family has remained my biggest support system. They encourage me to keep pushing forward, reminding me that the hard work I put in now will allow me to help others in the future. Another reason nursing appeals to me is the variety of opportunities within the field. Nurses can work in hospitals, clinics, communities, and schools, caring for people of all ages and backgrounds. This flexibility means I will be able to find a path where I can make the greatest impact. I hope to work in an environment where I can provide comfort and reassurance to patients while also continuing to learn and grow in my profession. Receiving this scholarship would help me take the next step toward achieving my goal of becoming a nurse. More importantly, it would allow me to focus on my education so that I can eventually give back to others in the same way so many people have supported me throughout my life. My family’s encouragement and the values they have instilled in me are the foundation of my journey. They showed me the importance of compassion, patience, and service to others. Because of them, I am motivated to pursue nursing and dedicate my future to caring for people when they need it most.