Growing up in a low income environment meant I learned early what it felt like to survive instead of live. I saw drugs, crime, instability, and friends losing their futures before they even had a chance to build them. Where I came from, success was not something people expected. The goal was just to stay out of trouble. I did not have the ideal foundation or a traditional high school experience, and I eventually earned my GED. Taking the nontraditional route taught me something important. Your starting point does not decide your ending point. What matters is how hard you work to change your circumstances. Being a first generation student means I do not have a blueprint to follow. I am building new ground, not only for myself but for others who will come after me. This scholarship would help me continue my education without delaying my goals due to financial barriers. I have already proven I can succeed under pressure. I am not looking for an easy path. I am looking for an opportunity to keep moving forward. I do not want to just escape where I came from. I want to return and help rebuild it.

Growing up in a low income environment meant I learned early what it felt like to survive instead of live. I saw drugs, crime, instability, and friends losing their futures before they even had a chance to build them. Where I came from, success was not something people expected. The goal was just to stay out of trouble. I did not have the ideal foundation or a traditional high school experience. I left high school in 10th grade, and began working at a young age. I eventually earned my GED at 21. Taking the nontraditional route has taught me something important. Your starting point does not define your destination. What matters is that you get there in time to enjoy it. After earning my GED, I wanted to take it a step further, I have always wanted to be in the healthcare field I was just not sure where. I enrolled in phlebotomy, EKG, and patient care technician programs. In each of these programs I told myself I would not only finish but I would excel. I maintained a 4.0 GPA in each of these programs while working I also obtained a high potential employee certificate. I learned discipline and how to push myself even when I was tired or overwhelmed. These achievements came from determination not from luck. I learned responsibility, self motivation, and how to handle pressure. These are skills I now use every day in the medical field. Currently I work as a clinical hemodialysis technician. In my job I see real vulnerability every day. Dialysis is not a simple treatment, it is something people depend on to stay alive. Patients come weak exhausted sick suffering from the effects of kidney disease, yet they continue to fight. Working with these patients has taught me patience, empathy, and resilience. Not only do I perform tasks, I talk and communicate, I actively listen, and I educate. I talked to patients about their fears, families, pain, and their hopes. It's not just a job and an education it's a passion and a connection. Because of what I have lived through and what I learned in healthcare I want to continue growing as a professional. I I am not entering nursing for a stable paycheck. I want to be the person someone like me needed when I was younger. I want to be there and advocate for people who do not have a voice. Community health matters to me because I come from a community where access to fair and prompt medical care was limited. Where people didn't always receive preventative care or health education. Where people didn't know what was going on until it was too late. When young people see people exceeding, who come from the same backgrounds as they do, they can imagine futures they never thought were possible. Being a first generation student means I do not have a blueprint to follow. I am building new ground not only for myself but for others who will come after me. This scholarship would help me continue my education without delaying goals due to financial barriers. I have proven I can succeed under pressure I am not looking for an easy path I'm looking for an opportunity to move forward I do not want to escape where I came from I want to return and help rebuild it.