Growing up in a Malawian family taught me that education is more than a personal goal, it’s a source of pride, purpose, and legacy. I’ve always seen it as my way of honoring where I come from and shaping where I’m going. Leaving Malawi to study nursing in the United States challenged me in ways that helped me grow beyond what I ever imagined. Navigating higher education as a first-generation Malawian student hasn’t been easy. From learning how to handle everything on my own to adapting to a new culture and education system, I’ve had to build my path step by step. There were moments when I felt out of place, when classmates had support systems I didn’t or when I had to figure things out without guidance. But those challenges strengthened me. They taught me perseverance, self-discipline, and the confidence to keep pushing forward, even when things felt uncertain. My Malawian background has shaped how I see people and the world. I grew up surrounded by strong values like community, compassion, and faith and those are the same principles that led me to nursing. In Malawi, I witnessed how access to healthcare can determine the direction of a person’s life, and that truth continues to drive me. I’m currently studying at Wright State University to become a BSN-prepared nurse, with the goal of specializing in community and family health. I want to use my education to serve underrepresented populations, advocate for equity, and create spaces of understanding for those who often go unheard. Being a first-generation student means carrying both pressure and pride, but I see that as motivation. Every exam, late-night study session, and clinical shift reminds me how far I’ve come. The journey hasn’t been simple, but it’s been meaningful. It’s taught me that success isn’t about fitting into a system, it’s about standing firm in your purpose and moving forward with courage. My experience as a Malawian student has shown me that strength comes from persistence and faith. I’ve learned to transform challenges into motivation and to see every setback as a setup for growth. Through nursing, I hope to create the same sense of support and belonging for others that I once needed myself. Being far from home hasn’t limited me, it’s made me stronger, wiser, and more determined. It’s reminded me that the power to change lives begins with the courage to chase your own dreams and that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Growing up with a single mother shaped my identity in ways I’m still discovering. My parents separated so early that I don’t have any memories of us ever living together as a traditional family. Because of that, I grew up watching my mother balance roles most adults would struggle to carry alone. She was the source of our stability, our comfort, and our motivation, all at the same time. Looking back now, I realize how much she quietly carried so that we could stand tall. Even though my father wasn’t physically in the home, he never stopped showing his love. As I got older, visits with him and his new family gave me glimpses into a relationship that I always wished could’ve been fuller. He checked on me constantly, especially when I left for boarding school. He supported me with groceries, worried about my education, and stayed involved in the ways he knew how. His love showed up through effort, not absence. This year, losing him felt like losing a chapter of my life I was still learning to read. I miss his calls, his questions, and the feeling of being loved from afar. Losing someone who cared about you, even in a different way, teaches you how valuable connection really is. My mother became my foundation. I watched her push through exhaustion and fear without letting them break her. She raised four children with limited resources, but unlimited determination. She taught me resilience without ever sitting me down and explaining it she just lived it in front of me. She showed me that strength doesn’t always mean having everything figured out. Sometimes it means showing up anyway. Because of her, I believe in showing up for people with patience and empathy. Growing up between two different types of love taught me how to understand people deeply. It taught me that parents are humans with stories too ,stories I may never fully know. I don’t pick sides, because I know love can exist even when circumstances pull people apart. That perspective has made me more compassionate, not only toward my parents, but toward everyone I meet. These experiences are part of the reason I chose nursing. I want to be the person who brings comfort during uncertainty, the way both of my parents tried to do in their own ways. I want patients to feel seen, supported, and safe. Nursing isn’t just about medical care for me it’s about being present during someone’s hardest moments, especially when they’re scared, grieving, or alone. I’ve lived through those feelings, and I know how much it matters to have someone standing beside you. Being raised in a single-parent household didn’t limit me ,it prepared me. It gave me independence, maturity, and a heart that feels deeply. It taught me how to handle loss, appreciate effort, and love without conditions. I carry my mother’s strength and my father’s love with me every day. Together, they formed me into this very ambitious person I am today.

My journey of service began at Parkview Church of the Nazerene in Ohio, where I learned that faith is not just something you speak but it’s something you live out daily. From the moment I walked through those doors, I felt surrounded by love, acceptance, and a genuine desire to make a difference. Being part of a church that values compassion, humility, and love has shaped the way I see people and the way I serve them. Through volunteering at events, joining prayer groups, and connecting with others who shared a heart for helping, I realized that true service is an act of worship. At Parkview, I’ve learned that serving others is not about being noticed, but about being faithful. I started helping with food drives, youth events, and prayer circles, and soon discovered how fulfilling it felt to give my time without expecting anything in return. I’ve prayed with families going through difficult seasons, offered encouragement to those who felt forgotten, and supported community members who simply needed someone to listen. Every small act of kindness reminded me of how powerful love can be. God used those moments to show me that service is not measured by size but by sincerity. Through my church involvement, I’ve also grown as a leader and as a listener. Organizing outreach programs taught me how to communicate, plan, and stay patient when things didn’t go perfectly. Watching pastors and mentors lead with grace inspired me to serve with humility and strength. I began to understand that faith means stepping up even when no one else does, showing up even when you’re tired, and giving even when you have little left. Those lessons became deeply personal and shaped how I carry myself in every space. As I began my journey toward nursing, those same values naturally became part of how I serve beyond the church. Nursing, to me, is ministry in motion. When I comfort a patient, hold a trembling hand, or offer a smile during a painful moment, I see it as an extension of what I learned at Parkview. The empathy, patience, and compassion that I developed in church have become the foundation of my care for others. Every time I care for someone, I’m reminded of Matthew 25:40, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.” There have been moments where I’ve felt tired, but my faith keeps me grounded. I think back to the families we helped feed, the prayers whispered over strangers, and the joy on people’s faces when they felt seen and loved. Those memories remind me why I serve which is to bring light where there’s pain, peace where there’s fear, and hope where there’s loss. For me, nursing is more than a career it’s a calling. It’s a way to bring healing, comfort, and hope to those who need it most. My church has shown me that faith without action is incomplete and that every act of care, no matter how small, carries eternal value. Through Parkview, I learned that when I serve others, I’m also serving God. That truth continues to drive everything I do, both inside and outside the walls of the church. My faith and my future are intertwined, and every step I take in nursing is another way I get to live out the love that started within Parkview's walls.

ESSAY 1: MY PERSONAL INSPIRATION FOR PURSUING NUSING Ever since I can remember, I’ve had a natural pull toward helping people. Whether it was comforting a classmate who was upset or stepping up when someone needed care, I always found peace in being there for others. That instinct to nurture eventually grew into a clear purpose which is nursing. I see nursing as more than just a profession; it’s a calling to serve, to bring comfort, and to make a difference in people’s hardest moments. My inspiration became even stronger after seeing how nurses can completely change someone’s experience through their presence. The way they stay calm in chaos, listen without judgment, and still show compassion through exhaustion, those small acts have a big impact. I realized I wanted to be that kind of person: someone who provides both medical care and emotional strength. My faith has also guided this path. I believe we all have gifts meant to serve others, and nursing allows me to live out that purpose every single day. The thought of caring for someone’s health while also being a source of peace and reassurance drives me to work harder, learn deeper, and lead with empathy. I’m pursuing nursing not just to earn a degree, but to become a light in moments of darkness. Every patient deserves to feel seen, heard, and cared for and I want to be part of that kind of healing. Through compassion, patience, and genuine connection, I hope to remind others that healing is not only physical, but emotional and spiritual too, a journey where kindness and hope can truly make a difference. ESSAY 2: WHAT “HUMAN TOUCH” MEANS TO ME When I think of the phrase “human touch,” I don’t just picture physical contact, I think of connection. It’s the ability to make someone feel genuinely cared for, even without saying much. In nursing, human touch means being present: listening closely, showing empathy, and offering comfort that reminds patients they’re not alone. In healthcare, people often come to us during their most vulnerable moments. Machines beep, procedures happen, and everything can start to feel cold and clinical. But the human touch brings warmth back into the experience. It’s the nurse who holds a patient’s hand during a painful procedure, who remembers their favorite snack after surgery, or who takes a moment to pray silently with them before a big test. Those gestures may seem small, but to patients, they mean everything. To me, human touch also means emotional awareness , understanding that healing isn’t just physical. It’s listening when someone’s scared, reassuring them when they feel hopeless, or simply standing beside them in silence. It’s about recognizing the humanity in each person, regardless of background, diagnosis, or circumstance. As a future nurse, I plan to carry this mindset into every patient interaction. Beyond administering medications or taking vitals, I want my patients to feel respected, valued, and cared for as individuals. Sometimes healing starts with something as simple as a kind word or a warm smile. The human touch reminds us that medicine can treat the body, but compassion heals the spirit. And as I grow in my nursing journey, I hope to embody both the skilled hands of a nurse and the gentle heart of someone who truly cares.