Hope, a beacon of light amidst life's trials, has the power to transform our world in profound ways. In pursuing higher education as a nursing major, I am filled with a profound sense of purpose and hope. Through my studies, interactions, and endeavours, I aim to inspire others to believe in the boundless possibilities that lie before us. My goal of becoming a Nurse Anesthetist provides me with a unique opportunity to spread hope at every step of my journey, both in administering anesthesia and in cultivating meaningful relationships with patients. Education serves as a catalyst for change and empowerment. Through academic excellence, mentorship, community engagement, and personal interactions, I hope to inspire individuals to believe in their innate potential and the possibilities that lie before them. As I progress in my education, I equip myself with the knowledge, skills, and empathy necessary to address the physical and emotional needs of patients. I recognize the power of mentorship and the profound impact it can have on individuals' lives. As I grow in my post-secondary journey, I will actively seek opportunities to support and guide fellow students, particularly those who may face obstacles or have limited access to resources. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and encouragement, I aim to instill hope in their abilities and help them recognize their full potential. As a Nurse Anesthetist, I will be at the forefront of patient care, responsible for administering anesthesia and ensuring vitality during surgical procedures. However, my role extends far beyond the technical aspects of the job. I have been called to this profession so that I may approach each patient interaction as an opportunity to impact, uplift, and instill hope. I have the opportunity to cultivate relationships with patients, connect with and comfort them pre-operatively and aid them in their recovery post-operatively. I plan to be a source of hope, healing, and a representation of God's provision for my patients. I understand that hope is contagious. Through my actions and interactions, I will strive to be a source of inspiration, compassion, and resilience. By fostering a sense of community and connection, I hope to create a ripple effect that spreads hope far and wide, reminding individuals that they have the power to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams; the same way my faith reminds me every day. In conclusion, I am committed to utilizing my higher education to spread hope at every step of my journey of becoming a Nurse Anesthetist as well as beyond my professional life. By combining technical expertise with empathy and compassion, I aim to create an environment of hope and resilience. I will strive to plant seeds of unwavering faith and reassurance in their hearts, reminding them that they are not alone in their healing process. By embracing the call placed on my life and fulfilling it with utmost dedication, I aspire to illuminate the path of hope and healing for all those in my care.

The Black community is no stranger to emotionally charged experiences, from trauma passed down through generations to reactions to the racism we face in our daily lives today. However, the intensity of these emotions tends to subside as we become desensitized to the pain. The frequency at which anti-black hate crimes occur and the speed at which social media allows the information to be shared makes it hard for those of us that are intaking said information at a constant rate to feel anything at all. Nonetheless, intense negative emotions can still become overwhelming at times and continuously terrorize members of the affected communities. Following the murder of George Floyd and the peak of 2020’s civil unrest in response to systemic, anti-black racism, and police brutality in America and around the world, I had an emotionally charged experience of my own. A year ago today, on May 27, 2020, the people of Toronto lost a young black man of our own. Houdini was a rapper from Toronto who inspired many young Canadians with his unique lyrics and flow; he was taken from us too soon at the hands of gang violence, a serious ongoing issue in the city. Learning about his death while also attempting to digest what was going on in the United States at the time left me feeling extremely drained, upset and overwhelmed. To help alleviate this pain, I decided to release my feelings in the form of poetry instead of my typical coping mechanism: taking a nap. There is a special type of pain that young black people feel when they watch individuals just like them lose their lives due to race. It is something that we struggle to express and unfortunately, without proper methods of release, this pain only grows and manifests itself in every aspect of our lives. "we lost ahmaud" was the title of my poem. It was the first poem I ever wrote. Despite my assumptions about the writing process, it wasn't hard for me at all. It felt like writing lyrics, but these words carried more weight. There were many tears and emotions throughout the journey, but it felt good to let it all out, it felt good to complete it, it felt good to share my piece with others. One of the most important people in my life read my piece and encouraged me to put “we lost ahmaud” out there. They told me that my message was too important not to share and although I was nervous and didn’t feel too confident about it, I trusted their judgment and submitted my work for the first time to a poetry contest. I am so glad I did because stepping out of my comfort zone and putting myself out there has made me more confident in my writing and this whole process has allowed me to discover a new, more effective emotional outlet. Today, ‘we lost ahmaud’ has been published in the 2021 issues of Vallum Magazine and The Amistad Journal at Howard University. This emotionally charged experience is especially meaningful to me because my voice and message are now able to touch hundreds of people; I am proud of myself, but I also feel so vulnerable at the same time and to me, vulnerability and self-discovery are what makes these experiences so significant.

Love is my everything. Whether romantic, platonic, familial or another, love is my motivation. The heart chakra represents the love that flows towards you naturally, the love that you have for yourself and the love that radiates from your being towards others. Green is the colour that represented the heart chakra signifying nature and our lush Earth which is the heart chakra of the universe. Mother Earth is the planet of unconditional love and we all have a responsibility to release love into her and receive the love she gives us. I write poetry and music and human love is one of my favourite topics to write about because I feel love all around me all the time. Here is a poem I wrote about divine love: since our first encounter, i knew there was something special about you that would draw me near and keep me close: the light you bring to enliven dull moments, the love you bring to replace my self-deprecation, the comfort you bring to soothe my abused heart, the stillness you bring to calm my busy mind. many months later and the list only expands each day my love for you seems too grand to grow any further yet, each day i fall deeper and deeper i adore you i can’t picture a joyous moment in this lifetime without you you are the very definition of joy and true love although today we are apart, i see all of my best days with you by my side thank you for seeing a loveable version of me and choosing to remind me of her each day you are my divine love