I’ve always dreamt of being in the medical field since I was a little girl. The way the human body functions and why those functions occur have always fascinated me. However, as I grew up and started volunteering in my community and working in human service-related jobs, I realized that being someone that others can rely on was rewarding and filled my life with purpose. With nursing, I will be able to do both of these things simultaneously. Once I graduate high school, I will be attending the University of Texas at Tyler and will pursue a degree in the science of nursing. Once I graduate from college with my bachelor's, I plan on gaining experience in a variety of specialties and figuring out what I enjoy doing most. Once I have a few years of experience, I strive to earn my master's degree and become a certified nurse practitioner. I don’t have any specific plans as of right now because other opportunities could be open for me later on. Plans tend to change! Throughout college, I plan on creating long-lasting relationships with people who push me to be a better person and support me in whatever I do. As well as creating these relationships, I want to gain connections with other clinics or hospitals so that I have a greater chance of having an opportunity presented to me. As I ease my way into becoming a full-time nurse, I want to gain relationships with patients and my coworkers. As a nurse, you can create a personal relationship with your patient and not only help them physically but emotionally as well. Being a shoulder to lean on for patients can aid them once they are finished with their treatment plan. I also want to influence the way nurses are seen positively. Bedside manners are extremely important in nursing. I’ve learned how to communicate effectively and personally with others through my job as a waitress and lifeguard. I’ve grown an interest in knowing what people enjoy doing, or what they’ve gone through throughout their life. I want to see the nursing society seen not just as healthcare workers, but as normal people who care as well. Through my jobs as a waitress and nurse, I have also seen the impact of what just one person can do for someone else. It’s especially beautiful to see a whole community come together and help others in need. For instance, there is a clinic in Tyler called Bethesda Health Clinic, which offers healthcare to low-income or uninsured families. Without clinics such as Bethesda, these families would have to go to an emergency room to obtain care or not be able to go at all. Immigrant families with no health insurance or families under financial stress are in danger of not having access to healthcare, which is why I want to help people like them. Also, helping the community such as donating clothes to thrift stores, helping remodel damaged buildings, or providing goods for families in need are activities I could participate in throughout my life. As a nurse, I could have the ability to not just help people in medical danger, but in emotional distress as well. My hope is for nurses to be applauded for their hard work and dedication to their job because many have to take up tasks unexpectedly and work excessively long hours during the week. However, I can aid my community not just by performing well as a nurse but treating the people in my area as a family.

In high school, you're expected to have your whole life laid out on a platter before you graduate. It's intimidating, I do have to admit. But, I have a basic plan figured out. Once I graduate high school, I will be attending the University of Texas at Tyler to pursue a degree in the Science of Nursing. After I complete the program, I will find out what specialty I enjoy practicing and will work for either a hospital or clinic. After having a few years of experience on my belt, I would love to earn my master's and be a certified nurse practitioner. "What else?" you may ask. Well, that's all I have planned out for now. Life could throw anything at me, so even the basic plan I created might get turned into something completely different in the next couple of years. To be successful in whatever I do, I will always push to learn and grow as much as possible. I will study and take in content efficiently, but also make time to relax and spend time with friends and family. Balance is key; if I'm constantly stressed out, then I will never be truly happy, even if I am extremely successful. I also plan to work with others while I'm in college, such as joining study groups and organizations on campus. Surrounding yourself with people who support you and push you to be the best version of yourself will help you succeed in whatever you do. I plan on taking every opportunity I can in my lifetime, that's why I did not make a set career plan. Doors with opportunity can open for us when we least expect it, so I will let life guide me in whatever way it deems fit.

I’ve always had a mind too large for my head. My imagination ran wild as a child: my room turned into a world full of Barbie dolls who were secretly vampires or mermaids, the halls at night turned into dangerous forests that I had to navigate swiftly, and the pasture at my old home with grass taller than me became a maze too impossible to escape. I’d make the coffee table in my living room a stage for my songs to be heard (only by my mom). I’d become a mermaid with a teal-colored tail who could talk to animals in my pool. But, my mind does run quite fast because of this. Thoughts race in and out of me, leaving me pretty forgetful. My parents exclaim how if my head wasn’t connected to my neck, I’d lose it! However, I can say that I am book-smart. I’m top of my class and have been involved in various extracurriculars such as different sports teams, National Honor Society (NHS), Texas Association for Future Educators (TAFE), musical theater, and more. Although I have a vast imagination, I had to ground myself back to reality when my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. Eight years ago–when I was just ten years old–my dad had begun to lose a lot of weight in just a month. He became weak and struggled to go to work and complete daily tasks. My mom was extremely worried, so they went to the hospital to figure out what was wrong. His doctor told him they had identified a mass in his colon and needed to perform a biopsy to see what it was. Soon after, the doctor informed my parents that my dad had stage II colon cancer, and how large the mass was. He was required to have immediate surgery and chemotherapy treatments to follow. I remember being in disbelief, confused, and petrified. During my dad’s surgery, I waited in the lobby with my mom for what seemed like hours. His doctor would come and give us updates periodically and reassure us that my dad was doing just fine. The chair I was sitting in was stiff and uncomfortable. I’d shuffle in and out of my chair, anxiously waiting for another update. I’d sit in my mom’s lap as she would hold me tight. All I could think about was if my dad was going to make it out alive. Months after his surgery, he received multiple treatments of chemotherapy. A year or two after he became cancer free and hasn’t had any issues since. Other members of my family had cancer as well, such as my aunt and grandpa from my mom’s side. Cancer comes after us when we least expect it, taking away family members and friends. While my dad battled cancer, I realized that time is precious. Cherish times with your loved ones as much as possible. Unexpected events can occur throughout my life, so I try to live in the present, not the past or future. Negativity can pile up, leading us away from God. It is difficult to remember that He has a plan for me, and how occurrences like these happen for specific reasons. Time is a gift, and I trust God that whatever events–good or bad–happen in my life will allow me to grow and bloom into the person that He wants me to become.

When I was just a small girl, I was always interested in the "gross" aspects of medicine. I always watched shows such as "Monsters Inside Me," "Untold Stories of the ER," and "Dr. G: Medical Examiner". I was so intrigued by the way the body works and insane situations that could happen to someone, such as an axe in the head. Kind of weird, right? But that was just the kind of kid I was: always interested in abnormal and "gross" things. As I got older, I was determined to become a doctor. I wanted to be in the ER, taking an axe out of someone's head, and saving their life. When I started researching how to become a doctor at the end of middle school, I realized how much work it would take to get there. I wanted to start a family somewhat early on in life, and knew going to medical school would take time and would cost a lot of money- money that I might not have by then. The thought of being in debt terrified me; I wanted to be able to financially take care of myself and my family once the time came. So, I tried looking into different career choices. I thought going into sports marketing would be exciting: I could travel nationwide, meet all kinds of people, and watch sports games. But, what difference would I make? Would I make an impact on anyone's life? So, I looked into interior designing, psychology, fashion design, animation, and much more. Nothing that I looked into really gave my heart that "spark" that I had when I looked into becoming a doctor. So I pondered, and reflected, and pondered some more. I was terrified that I would never get to do something that I really enjoyed. Then, it hit me like a flashbang. Blinding, but I felt that "spark" that I've been looking for. The medical field provides numerous careers, such as nursing. I could still be involved with surgeries and patient care, but I wouldn't have to be in school as long. Becoming a nurse would allow me to grow a closer connection with patients, since nurses work countless hours a day one-on-one with patients. Over the years I've worked with my community and realized that helping others is my passion. As a nurse, I have the opportunity to make patients feel comfortable and safe in a hospital. I could be a nurse that a child remembers reading a book to them in a hospital, or an older person remembering me for having conversations with them daily since no one visited them. I want to make sure that others feel secure in a hospital and know that they will be taken care of. I eventually want to earn my masters in nurse practitioning as well. I am determined to change the environment for nursing. As of right now, some nurses face overworking, lack of encouragement and gratitude from their administration, overwhelming amounts of pressure from patients and authorities, and poor media representation. I would like to work with hospital administrations and change the way that nurses are seen from society and their authorities. I feel that a part of me has always wanted to be in the medical field, but I denied it for so long. My parents have poured overwhelming support into me for years, and I couldn't have made this decision without them. Yes, being a nurse would allow me to dive into the "gross" aspects of medicine, but it would allow me to help others- something I dream of doing.