I want to pursue a degree in nursing becuase I want to give back to my community, and help the people around me. My ultimate career goal as a nurse is to provide care for the most vulnerable of patients; children. Spending time with children is something that makes me happy. Helping children will assist me in another one of my goals; giving back to my community. This summer, I interned at my local hospital. Going into it, I was not sure what to expect. On the second day of my internship, I was in the PAC-U and I shadowed a nurse named John. He was the perfect example of how a nurse should care for a patient’s individual needs. He exemplified the importance of giving patients direct, sympathetic attention and care. Watching John interact with his patients and bring smiles to their faces, even when they were very ill, made me want to be a nurse. Spending this summer interning in the intensive care unit, emergency department, labour and deliver department, and the operating room, I saw all of the incredible things nurses do. Nurses impact not only a patient but entire families. I know that nursing is the right career path for me. In the future, I would like to work in pediatrics. I have always wanted to work with kids. This desire comes from being the oldest sibling and caring for my much younger brother, along with having many younger cousins that I frequently spend time with. Nurses provide essential care when people need it most and I would love to provide this support and compassionate care to the most vulnerable of patients: children. I would help my community by going on "medical mission trips." I would go to less privlidged countries and help those in need. I would bring the medical advancements from the United States to less fortunate countries. My goal on these trips would be to improve the living conditions in the countries I am visiting and bring happiness, and joy to these less privlidged countries. One of the doctors I shadowed, Dr. Cervone, led a medical team to El Salavador to preform 67 surgiers on needy patients. This "medical mission trip" was a life saving mission that saved the lives of dozens of people. Learning from the doctos, nurses, and physician assistances along with the patients drove my interest in pursing a degree in nursing. I want give back to the community around me by going on "medical mission trips" and giving back to countries less developed than the United States.

I live in a coastal community and I value the local waters and nature that surround my home. Marine health and clean waterways are vitally important to me and have been a focus of my upbringing and my studies. Living on Long Island, I am surrounded by the water; the bay, the sound, and the ocean. I started sailing at the age of eight. Arguably, sailing taught me skills that no class ever could. Sailing is a sport like no other because it requires real life applications of geometry, mechanics, and physics. Sailing also emphasizes the unpredictability of the water, wind, and currents. I am interested in marine sciences because I love the water. Everything about the water and marine life fascinates me: the creatures, the mystery, and everything the ocean holds. This early introduction to marine life has led me to my intended area of study: marine and environmental science. I want to study marine and environmental sciences because I care about our environment and I want to protect our vulnerable ecosystems. Courses such as AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, and AP Physics have taught me valuable skills and concepts that will be transferred in my academic career. Even in classes such as French I have found ways to contribute to my love for our waters. My biliteracy seal project is about the importance of our coral reefs and what we can do to help stop the mass bleaching events. One of my major career goals within marine science is to help save the coral reefs. Coral reefs are so important to the underwater ecosystems. They provide homes for thousands of marine creatures. In tropical waters, coral reefs are facing mass bleaching events in relation to the rise in water temperature, ocean acidification, and water pollution. This is unacceptable. This harms the ecosystem, as many animals rely on coral for protection and food. Not only do marine animals rely on coral, so do coastal communities. Healthy coral reefs serve as a source of food and income in many communities. With coral reefs facing mass bleaching events, the underwater ecosystem has reached a critical tipping point. We must take responsibility for protecting our coral reefs, in part by reducing our use of single-use plastics and also by becoming informed and informing others about how to protect and heal our waters, otherwise we will continue to be witnesses to the depletion of marine life and the decline of one of our most valuable and beautiful ecosystems. The ocean is something that is such a big part of my life. I have spent my summers on the water, enjoying every minute of it. Studying marine and environmental science will give me the foundation I need to help save the marine world around me. My early upbringing near the water, sailing experience, and classes I’ve taken in high school have sparked my passion for marine science.

My ultimate career goal as a nurse is to provide care for the most vulnerable of patients; children. Spending time with children is something that makes me happy. Helping children will assist me in another one of my goals; giving back to my community. My years in NJROTC have opened my eyes to another world of giving back: the military. This summer, I interned at my local hospital. Going into it, I was not sure what to expect. On my second day of my internship, I was in the PAC-U and I shadowed a nurse named John. He was the perfect example of how a nurse should care for a patient’s individual needs. He exemplified the importance of giving patients direct, sympathetic attention and care. Watching John interact with his patients and bring smiles to their faces, even when they were very ill, made me want to be a nurse. Spending this summer interning in the intensive care unit, emergency department, and the operating room, I saw all of the incredible things nurses do. Nurses impact not only a patient but entire families. I know that nursing is the right career path for me. In the future, I would like to work in pediatrics. I have always wanted to work with kids. This desire comes from being the oldest sibling and caring for my much younger brother, along with having many younger cousins that I frequently spend time with. Nurses provide essential care when people need it most and I would love to provide this support and compassionate care to the most vulnerable of patients: children. As a member of NJROTC (Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps), I have been made more aware of the high demand for nurses. My goal in life is to give back to my country by serving as a nurse in the United States Navy. Through four years of NJROTC, I have learned that I strive in the structure it provides. NJROTC is only the beginning of my service journey, and I know that for me, serving as a nurse in the United States Navy is my ultimate career goal. The structure and demands of NJROTC have not only boosted my confidence, but sharpened my skill sets. Having to balance drill practice with homework, sports, clubs, and other extracurriculars, has taught me how to efficiently manage my time. I am a two-sport athlete, President of Ambassadors club, Secretary of the student body, Secretary of the Environmental club, and I regularly babysit. Being able to balance all of these demands with NJROTC and maintain high honor roll academic status and a balanced lifestyle has absolutely better prepared me for my future as a Naval nurse. Through my internship at the hospital as well as my years in NJROTC, it has been made clear that serving as a nurse in the United States Navy is my ultimate career goal.