As a kid, I have always dreamt of helping people, especially those in need. I became intrigued by the healthcare profession because of the passing of my grandmother from Alzheimer’s. For years, I witnessed how this disease was slowly altering, taking, and eventually killing the grandmother that I love. Seeing how that awful disease could degrade someone’s mind and body, especially a loved one, had astounding effects and influence on who I am and will become. I do not want anyone to go through what my family and I went through. I plan to positively impact my community by becoming a nurse and helping those in need. I have set my mind on getting my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Morgan State University to first pursue a career as a Medical Surgical Nurse will allow me to gain a general knowledge of all patients and provide care to varying patients. Focusing on the person’s needs above all else is my goal. I will heal and take care of people before and after surgeries and develop extensive knowledge and skills on how to treat many patients. Starting as a Medical Surgical Nurse will provide the required experience I need before pursuing my true passion, Pediatric Nursing. I want to be an advocate for children and provide preventive care to children during the most vulnerable stages of their life. I will prioritize their needs so that they can live a happy, healthy, and exuberant life without the weight of treatments and operations. In the next phase of my career, I would like to become a community advocate who speaks out against the discrepancies regarding how people of color are treated in the healthcare system As a future nursing professional, my commitment to combating discrimination extends to advocating for equitable healthcare, and wellness, promoting cultural understanding, and addressing the social factors that contribute to healthcare disparities. By understanding and addressing the impact of discrimination on health outcomes, I hope to contribute to a more just and inclusive healthcare system for all. My future position will provide a unique opportunity to positively impact a community through civic engagement. By embracing responsibilities, such as health education, community outreach, policy advocacy, and broader community development initiatives, I know I can play a vital role in creating healthier and stronger communities. As a future healthcare provider and community advocate, I embody the spirit of civic engagement, contributing to the well-being of individuals and the collective health of the community they serve. I also intend to educate individuals on the importance of receiving routine health check-ups. I hope to coordinate, organize seminars, and create outreach programs to educate the community about healthy lifestyles and available healthcare resources. This approach will empower individuals to take control of their health and promote a culture of well-being within the community. Moreover, by partnering with local organizations, schools, and community centers, I will extend healthcare services to underserved populations. This may include offering vaccination clinics, and health screenings, and providing basic healthcare education to those who face barriers to accessing healthcare facilities. This scholarship will help me achieve my lifetime goals by allowing me to go to college with less debt for myself and my mother. Coming from a one-parent household where my father abandoned me, my mother was forced to be my sole provider which has essentially impaired her ability to pay my tuition in its entirety. Receiving this scholarship will relieve the financial associated with obtaining a higher-level degree that will allow me to help my community in a professional capacity.

Growing up as a woman of color, I have always known that the United States and the world have always had their shortcomings when it comes to addressing certain topics, such as equality, inclusivity, discrimination, and more that affect individuals around the world, especially addressing the care of immigrants, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individual’s wellness in the healthcare industry. It is not a secret that there is a growing epidemic of minorities dying at increasing rates across the world specifically in the United States due to racism. Healthcare disparities particularly manifest itself through the existence of unequal care, preferential treatment between one individual and another, lack of cultural competence, and more that poorly affect not only millions of individuals in America but across the globe. Addressing these disparities requires policy changes, education, and advocacy that becomes increasingly challenging due to the dysfunctionality of the United States government and other governments around the world where policymakers cannot agree to pass important laws for the betterment of the very people they serve and advocate for. My commitment to meeting society's health needs globally and promoting equity in healthcare reflects a progressive-thinking approach to nursing and addresses critical challenges and disparities in the field. Healthcare disparities are rooted in cultural factors such as language barriers and lack of cultural understanding; and societal factors such as socioeconomic status, race, and gender. By becoming and working as a nurse in the next five years, I will fight for important causes that allow healthcare officials to understand and respect diverse cultures, and other differences between the patient and physician, and equip professionals to provide more effective and equitable care to patients from various backgrounds. Once I become a nurse I will organize seminars and create outreach programs to educate the community about healthy lifestyles and available healthcare resources. This approach will empower individuals to take control of their health and promote a culture of well-being within the community. Moreover, by partnering with local organizations, schools, and community centers, I will extend healthcare services to underserved populations. This may include offering vaccination clinics, health screenings, and providing basic healthcare education to those who face barriers to accessing healthcare facilities. Promoting equity in healthcare is a pressing issue across every community and will continue to be one until prejudice and discrimination are eliminated from society, especially in the healthcare system. In the next five years, I will have the opportunity at Morgan State University in Maryland to play a pivotal role in addressing disparities in access and quality of care especially when it comes to people of color in the region. As a future nursing professional, I will be involved in advocating for underserved and underrepresented communities, engaging in research on health disparities, and working to create more inclusive healthcare environments. As a future nursing professional, my commitment to combating discrimination extends to advocating for equitable healthcare, and wellness, promoting cultural understanding, and addressing the social factors that contribute to healthcare disparities. By understanding and addressing the impact of discrimination on health outcomes, I hope to contribute to a more just and inclusive healthcare system for all. My future position will provide a unique opportunity to positively impact a community through civic engagement. By embracing responsibilities, such as health education, community outreach, policy advocacy, and broader community development initiatives, I know I can play a vital role in creating healthier and stronger communities. As a future healthcare provider and community advocate, I embody the spirit of civic engagement, contributing to the well-being of individuals and the collective health of the community they serve.