My journey into oncology nursing is deeply personal, shaped by both family history and clinical experience. My mother and both of her sisters were diagnosed with breast cancer, diagnoses that permanently altered the emotional landscape of our family. Notably, none of them were carriers of the BRCA gene, underscoring the unpredictable nature of cancer and the profound uncertainty that accompanies a diagnosis even in the absence of known genetic risk. Witnessing their experiences revealed to me that cancer is not simply a medical event, but a life-altering rupture that reshapes identity, relationships, and one’s sense of the future. This early exposure motivated me to pursue oncology nursing, including work at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where I had the privilege of caring for patients navigating some of the most complex and emotionally charged diagnoses in medicine. Among them were individuals exposed to toxins during the September 11th Ground Zero response who developed cancer years later. Caring for these patients was especially impactful, as their illnesses were layered with delayed trauma, grief, and the heavy knowledge that their suffering was linked to service and sacrifice. Many carried not only fear of disease progression, but mourning for the lives they once imagined and anger over circumstances beyond their control. Through oncology nursing, I came to understand that cancer fundamentally changes the outline of a person’s life. Patients must suddenly renegotiate their roles within families, careers, and communities while managing physical symptoms, treatment decisions, and emotional upheaval. My approach to care emphasizes presence, validation, and psychological support alongside clinical excellence. I strive to create a space where patients and families feel seen, heard, and supported through fear, grief, and uncertainty. Often, the most meaningful moments arise not from interventions, but from bearing witness to a patient’s vulnerability with steadiness and compassion. The emotional demands of oncology nursing are substantial. Bearing repeated witness to suffering, recurrence, and loss requires resilience and intentional self-reflection. Yet the rewards are equally profound. I have seen extraordinary courage, deep human connection, and moments of grace emerge even in the midst of illness. These experiences continue to inform my practice and reinforce my dedication to this field. Receiving loan repayment support through the Jean Gwyn Memorial Student Loan Repayment Scholarship would meaningfully ease the financial burden of my nursing education, allowing me to continue pursuing work in oncology and mental health with sustained focus and compassion. Like Jean Gwyn, the patients I have cared for deserve nurses who meet them with empathy, skill, and unwavering humanity. It is a responsibility I carry with deep respect and commitment.

From a young age, I understood both the challenges and the healing power of care. I grew up in New Jersey as the middle child of seven siblings, in a family shaped by my father’s alcoholism and later, his recovery. At just fifteen, I witnessed his transformation when he entered sobriety. That moment, seeing the impact of compassion, structure, and support on someone’s life, ignited something in me. I knew I wanted to devote my life to helping people during their most vulnerable moments. I wanted to guide them toward healing with the same empathy and persistence that had shaped my own family. My decision to pursue nursing was also deeply influenced by my mother. She was a nurse herself, and I had the privilege of caring for her when she underwent treatment for breast cancer. Walking with her through chemotherapy, radiation, a bilateral mastectomy, and reconstruction gave me a perspective on both sides of the healthcare experience. I witnessed the strength of the patient and the power of the nurse. I saw firsthand how essential kindness, advocacy, and presence are when someone is facing illness. That experience not only deepened my admiration for my mother but also affirmed my calling to continue her legacy of caregiving. While completing my undergraduate degree at The College of New Jersey, I worked as an Emergency Department Technician at two hospitals, gaining first-hand experience in the fast-paced world of acute care. After graduation, I began my career at NewYork-Presbyterian where I worked in the ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those months were some of the most challenging of my life, yet they solidified my commitment to this profession. The resilience of patients, families, and nurses working side by side under extraordinary circumstances gave me a sense of purpose I have never lost. Eventually, I shifted my focus toward psychiatric nursing. The transition was influenced by experiences both personal and communal. In high school, I lived through the aftermath of a suicide cluster that devastated my small community. I saw how stigma, silence, and lack of access to care left young people without the support they desperately needed. Years later, as a psychiatric nurse, I realized how that early experience had given me a unique sensitivity to the hidden struggles patients often carry especially those with medical diagnoses such as cancer. What sustains me as I continue this journey is not only the drive to care for others but also my creativity and passion outside of nursing. Music has always been my second language, a place where I can express emotions too complex for words. During the pandemic, when so much of life felt uncertain, I began writing songs as a form of healing and self-expression. For me, music and nursing are deeply intertwined. Both are about listening, presence, and the courage to meet people where they are. Balancing nurse practitioner graduate school at Stony Brook University, a 3.9 GPA, clinical hours, and creative projects is not easy, but it has taught me discipline and perspective. Nursing keeps me grounded in service to others, while music keeps me rooted in joy and imagination. Together, they help me show up fully as a person and as a caregiver. What drives me as a future Nurse Practitioner is the belief that healing is not only about medicine but also about dignity, compassion, and human connection. The nurses who made the biggest impact on me, whether during my father’s recovery, my mother’s cancer journey, or my own clinical experiences, were those who cared for the whole person, not just the diagnosis. That is the kind of nurse I strive to be. I want to combine clinical skill with empathy, to meet patients in their moments of fear with strength and warmth, and to never lose sight of the humanity at the heart of healthcare. As I look ahead, I know that the future of nursing will require resilience, creativity, and advocacy. I am eager to contribute not only as a practitioner but also as a voice for those whose struggles are too often overlooked. Whether at the bedside, in a clinic, or through broader mental health initiatives, my goal is to honor the trust patients place in me by helping them feel seen, heard, and cared for. That is the impact I hope to make. It is the same kind of impact that first drew me to this profession and continues to inspire me every day.