I did not grow up knowing I had a congenital heart defect. In fact, for most of my life, I was told that my constant fatigue, chronic migraines, and palpitations were due to anemia. It was not until adulthood that I learned I had been born with a large patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal defect (ASD), holes in the heart that usually close after birth. For most people, these defects are harmless. For me, they became life-altering. In 2024, while working as an emergency medical technician, the openings in my heart allowed multiple blood clots to pass through my heart and into my lungs, causing several pulmonary embolisms. I survived after spending time in the ICU and life went on. It was not until I suffered a stroke in 2025, that the heart defects were finally diagnosed. Recovering from my stroke and repairing my CHD has been the biggest challenge I have ever undertaken. Physically, I have had to learn how to trust my body again while managing physical deficits and the lingering weakness that has made simple tasks feel like I am dragging my body through ocean waves, desperate not to sink. Emotionally, the process has been a not-so-silent battle. Early on, moments of frustration, grief, and fear spilled out as I worked to rebuild the confidence I once had in my own abilities and even my relationships. I became a different version of myself, one that felt their foundation crack and had to work to repair the damage. My diagnosis was frightening, but it also brought clarity to my life. My PFO and ASD have shaped the trajectory of my life. I made the decision to return to school and achieve the degree I had put off completing. After my diagnosis, in the depths of recovery, I realized that I could either continue to stagnate or I could make the choice to grow and carve out the time to pursue my dreams. I began studying as a full-time student at LSU at Alexandria last summer where I am pursuing my BGS in Social Science with a minor in Computer Science. I underwent surgery 6 months ago, in the middle of my Fall semester, to place a cardiac device designed to close the defects and protect me from future strokes or emboli. The procedure was successful and my recovery is ongoing with multiple follow-ups and setbacks, but I am determined to graduate in the Spring of 2027. I have completed assignments from hospital beds and studied between medical appointments to stay on track academically. Balancing school, a full-time career, and recovery has been overwhelming at times, but it also revealed strengths I did not know I had. My CHD taught me discipline, patience, and the importance of advocating for myself just as fiercely as I advocate for my patients. Living with congenital heart defects has also deepened my empathy in ways I never imagined. I understand now, on a personal level, what it feels like to face a diagnosis that changes everything. I know the fear of waiting for test results, the frustration of physical limitations, and the determination required to keep moving forward. These experiences have made me a more compassionate provider, a focused student, and grateful for each day that I am able to pursue my dreams. This scholarship would help ease the financial strain of continuing my education as well as help me honor the second chance I have been given. I am still here, still learning, and still striving to turn my experiences into something that helps others.