“El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos, while my friends unwrapped toy cars and counted twenty-peso bills, I received a small bag of animal crackers," my dad said, smiling softly as he handed me the animal crackers, gently reminding me to be grateful for even the smallest blessings. "When I was your age,” my mom would say, tenderly running her fingers through the hair of one of my Barbie dolls, “other girls played with dolls like these, but I made my own from corn husks and silk threads.” Their quiet words and simple memories stayed with me, gently teaching me that true happiness isn’t measured by what you have, but by what you create from what you’re given—a lesson that has profoundly shaped the way I see the world. Though I was born in the United States, I was raised by resilient Mexican immigrants who transformed scarcity into strength. My father, who never finished high school and struggled with reading and writing, never let those obstacles define him. Through relentless determination and grit, he started his own landscaping company from nothing. From him, I learned that dreams aren’t built on comfort or luck—they are built on effort, sacrifice, and perseverance. My mother always dreamed of working with older adults, but because she never graduated from high school, she couldn’t become a nurse aide, as she once hoped. Without realizing it at the time, I stepped into the very role she had longed for. Since the age of seventeen, I’ve worked as a CNA in nursing homes and hospitals. Her quiet selflessness—always putting the needs of others before her own—lives in me and guides the way I care for each of my patients. I remember one night during my shift when an elderly patient was overwhelmed with anxiety, repeatedly pressing her call light. The other nurses and aides did everything they could, but with so many patients to tend to, there was only so much they could do. That night, with my other nine patients finally asleep, I sat by her side, made her tea, gently massaged her arm, and softly reassured her that she was safe and not alone. In that quiet moment, I realized I was living out my mother’s example. Just as she once took simple corn husks and silk threads to create beauty and joy from almost nothing, I was using something simple—presence, kindness, and patience—to calm and comfort someone in distress. It didn’t require special equipment or grand gestures, just the willingness to give what I could from the heart. These were the same values she had shown me all along, now reflected in the way I serve my patients. When I think back to that Día de los Tres Reyes Magos—the small bag of animal crackers in my hands, my father’s gentle smile, and my mother’s stories of dolls made from corn husks—I’m reminded that life has never been about what we have, but what we make of it. Now, as a nursing student, I carry their sacrifices, dreams, and values with me. I see every class, every patient, and every long shift as an opportunity—one my parents worked tirelessly to give me—and I am determined to make the most of it.

Working in a nursing home as a Certified Nurse Assistant inspired me to pursue a degree in nursing and make a potential impact in caregiving through research. When people ask me what I enjoyed about working as a CNA, I tell them about a memorable resident who was a pilot and a dancer. I tell them that I vividly remember closing the door, turning up the music in his room, and seeing the smile on his face as I walked near him to introduce myself before providing care. He called me the "short one" since "Fatima" was too difficult for him to pronounce. I remember him tapping his feet to the music playing on the TV and closing his eyes. I grabbed his arms and swayed them to the beat. I was also dancing with him; his smile was widening. Connecting personally and creating special memories for the residents beyond the routine tasks assured me of my dream of becoming a nurse. The opportunity to enhance someone's quality of life, to be a companion in their journey, and to bring a smile to their face is a privilege beyond any job description. Becoming a CNA, gaining hands-on experience, and working with my residents further strengthened my desire to pursue nursing wholeheartedly. This reinforced my understanding that everyone deserves compassionate care and companionship, regardless of their condition. I've learned that the honor of being a nurse lies in making a positive difference in the lives of those we care for, turning simple interactions into cherishable memories that last a lifetime. During my time as a CNA, I noticed a lack of emotional support given to residents by the healthcare staff. Determined to make a change, I engaged with the residents, sparking meaningful conversations and implementing new initiatives with the nursing team. My mission is to inspire fellow caregivers to recognize the transformative power of simple acts of kindness and genuine human connection in the lives of those they care for. I talked to the nurses about my observations, and we all agreed to implement change. The nursing staff and I slowly began engaging in meaningful conversations with older adults; we multitasked even throughout the busiest hours. As a future nurse, I emphasize the importance of emotional support in all healthcare settings, recognizing its transformative power. This specific experience made me interested in pursuing research. Dr. Roque, an Assistant Professor at Penn State, is now mentoring me. The research I am trying to study is to evaluate how caregiver burnout affects the emotional support provided to the individual that caregivers are caring for. Through my engagement in this research project, my primary purpose is to contribute to understanding caregiving burnout and identify factors influencing emotional availability and coping behaviors among caregivers. The potential impact of this research is significant, as it could shed light on the challenges caregivers face, ultimately aiming to improve support systems and interventions. As I work toward becoming a nurse, I plan to emphasize the importance of emotional support for older adults and patients in all healthcare settings. When patients or older adults are in fragile conditions, their caregivers or nurses may be their only source of human connection and comfort during their time of need. By advocating for emotional support, I plan to foster healthcare environments where patients feel physically looked after and acknowledged as whole people with distinctive lives and stories. I've learned that the honor of being a nurse lies in making a positive difference in the lives of those we care for, turning simple interactions into cherishable memories that last a lifetime.