My family has been significantly affected by cancer. At the age of 22, my sister, who was like a second mother to me, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation and also had a double mastectomy. Unfortunately, in 1993, she was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 25. She underwent chemotherapy to extend her life, but she lost the battle on December 20, 1994. I was only 14 years old when my sister passed away. Shortly after I was born, my mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer at the age of 36, which led her to undergo a total hysterectomy. During this time, my sister became my primary caregiver. In June 2016, my mother was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer. Unfortunately, her cancer was incurable, and chemotherapy would only offer her more time. After seeing the suffering my sister endured, my mother opted not to receive any chemotherapy and passed away at home in January 2017, surrounded by her loved ones. Despite the hardships, I have remained strong and focused on fulfilling the dream my mother and I shared of becoming a nurse. After raising my children, I returned to school to earn my nursing degree. I am motivated by the memories of my sister and mother, both of whom lost their battles with cancer. Their experiences have taught me the importance of early detection and genetic testing. My genetic test results came back positive for Lynch Syndrome, which is known to cause cancer at an early age. Cancer wreaks havoc on families and early detection is key. I went through early menopause at age 35, being on hormone replacement therapy along with testing positive for Lynch Syndrome, I am vigilant when it comes to cancer screening. I have even petitioned my insurance company to allow me to have preventative surgery (mastectomy and hysterectomy) but have been denied so I ensure I stay on top of cancer screenings and I encourage everyone to remain vigilant when it comes to their health. With the support of my family, especially my mother-in-law, who is a breast and uterine cancer survivor herself, I am determined to make a difference in the lives of others as a nurse. This scholarship will help me achieve my goals and relieve the financial burden on my family since I have to work fewer hours to complete my degree. I plan to earn my associate's and then continue my education to a master's degree in nursing.

My dream has always been to become a registered nurse. I graduated from high school in 1997, a year later than planned due to the birth of my son. In 1999, I had a daughter. I began college in 2001 but had to leave school and return to Maryland to help care for my father, who was suffering from various health problems. In 2004, I gave birth to my third and final child. For several years, my life was spent caring for my family and working in Early Childhood so that I could accommodate my kids' schedules and still help care for my father. I assisted my mother in taking care of my father until he passed away in 2009. In 2011, I took care of my mother after she suffered a stroke until 2015 when she moved in with my sister. In June 2016, she was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer, and I stepped back in to help my sister care for her until she passed away in January 2017. By then, I had given up on returning to school to become a nurse. So I worked in daycare and restaurants until 2020. In December 2020, a friend offered me a job at an insurance agency, but after two years, I knew that an office job was not for me. I left that job in 2023 with the plan of finally obtaining a job in healthcare. After six months, I received my CNA/GNA and Dialysis Tech a few months later. With the support of my husband, children, and mother-in-law, I am now back in school to become a Registered Nurse. Initially, I thought I would become a neonatal nurse. However, after caring for both my parents after their strokes, I decided I wanted to work with stroke patients. Currently, I am enrolled in the College of Southern Maryland to earn my associate degree in nursing. I plan to continue my education to earn my bachelor's, then eventually receive my master's in nursing. My career goal is to work with the stroke team at the hospital. It is important to always remember that patients are people who need a nurse that will offer them compassion and comfort. Currently, I work as a Dialysis Patient Care Technician. I enjoy talking with my patients and doing what I can to make their day as comfortable as possible. I always greet them with a smile, listen to them, and offer comfort if they need it. I have seen many patients come in for treatment in a bad mood but leave with a smile on their faces. I believe compassion is the key to the experience a patient has. This scholarship will help me achieve my goals as to complete my nursing degree, I am not able to work as many hours, which puts a financial strain on my household. This scholarship will help offset some of the costs.