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Graham Sexton

1,995

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

Shaped by growing up as a homeschool kid in a rural North Carolina community, my life has been greatly impacted by my younger brother, Will, who has Down Syndrome. Will inspired me to volunteer throughout high school at a local therapeutic horseback riding facility serving the special needs population, as well as the local Special Olympics chapter. My name is Graham, and I am 18 years old with a dream of becoming a registered nurse. This passion is not just a fleeting thought, it has been forged by experiences spanning my life. At the age of thirteen, I started a neighborhood lawn mowing business as the pandemic slowly unfolded. What began as a way to earn money soon became a life transforming lesson in hard work, dedication, and responsibility. Operating this business taught me how to interact with customers, manage finances, and take pride in a job well done. This experience was invaluable as it taught me transferable skills to apply toward future endeavors. Navigating through the last two years of high school, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery by job shadowing various professionals. I spent long days with firefighters, engineers, park rangers and plumbers. While each experience was enlightening, none resonated at a deeper level until I accompanied a nurse for a twelve-hour shift at a local emergency room. This experience made a profound impact. The fast-paced environment and unpredictable nature of the emergency room brought excitement to a role my life experiences had been preparing me for. It was in that moment I knew nursing was my calling.

Education

Columbia International University

Bachelor's degree program
2025 - 2029
  • Majors:
    • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
  • GPA:
    3.7

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Hospital & Health Care

    • Dream career goals:

      A career in nursing. To obtain a BSN RN in the areas of trauma, flight nurse, pediatric emergency room

    • Owner/Operator

      Curb Appeal by Graham
      2020 – Present5 years

    Sports

    Archery

    Varsity
    2019 – 20256 years

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Wings of Eagles Ranch (Therapeutic Horseback Riding and Summer Camps) — Volunteer one on one Buddy, horse leader, side walker, assisted with games, and more
      2018 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Special Olympics — Volunteer one on one Buddy
      2018 – 2025
    • Volunteering

      Private Charitable Foundation — Volunteered to plan events for a local Children's Home to engage the children in fun activities and encourage them to participate at a local ranch for summer camps, volunteered with special needs children and adults
      2018 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Penny Nelk Nursing Scholarship
    In a world full of science, innovation, and technology, we are constantly researching, discovering, and developing new processes of healing those who are stricken with sickness. At any point in time, a group of medical professionals could discover the cure for any number of diseases or ailments. I have been fortunate enough to be given very healthy parents, but two of my aunts and one grandfather have battled and triumphed over cancer in their past. The fight against cancer and the road to recovery were not easy for any of them, and the residual effects of those therapies continue to this day. Other family members have been forced to manage chronic health issues that require ongoing care, repeated hospital admissions, and surgeries. Thankfully, this was not the case for me; however, being present for family members who were hospitalized has left a lasting impression on me and resulted in a higher level of appreciation for quality healthcare providers. During my sophomore year of high school, I began actively exploring various career paths by shadowing professionals in fields such as firefighting, engineering, and the National Park Service. It was during this season that I also began contemplating a career in the health sciences. This realization became more focused as I identified an internal desire to serve and offer aid to others as the common element of the paths I was drawn toward. This revelation was accompanied by an opportunity to shadow an emergency room nurse for a full 12-hour shift. This experience solidified my decision to pursue nursing as a career. The fast-paced environment of an emergency room, combined with the unique opportunity to provide care to people during their moment of greatest need, continues to resonate within me as a worthwhile and rewarding pursuit. My father once told me, “If you love your work, you will never work a day in your life.” That thought stuck with me and was one of the motivations behind shadowing many careers before narrowing the list. Additionally, my younger brother has Down Syndrome and requires frequent medical visits. As a nurse, I will be better equipped to not only care for him but also to advocate and ensure his ongoing healthcare needs are met. In conclusion, my journey towards a career in nursing has been shaped by personal experiences and an innate desire to help others. From witnessing family members battle cancer to shadowing an emergency room nurse, each experience has served to reinforce my commitment to this calling. In fact, nursing is not just a profession; it is a calling that will allow me to make a positive impact on someone during some of their difficult moments. Therefore, I respectfully request your consideration for scholarship funding to support my education as I embark upon this journey.
    Graham Sexton Student Profile | Bold.org