Caring for someone truly changed my understanding of responsibility when I began working as a CNA. Going into the job I thought the responsibilities included completing simple tasks correctly such as getting vitals, answering call lights, changing linens, and documenting care. To my surprise it was more than this. It was about learning the residents body language and routines, having empathy, compassion, and showing kindness. My perspective completely shifted when I encountered one resident who would change the trajectory of my CNA career forever. She was quiet and to many she was difficult because she refused help and did not speak or sometimes she would fight if you touched her. One evening I was assigned to her for the whole evening and going into it I was nervous and didn't know what to expect. I went into her room with respect and dignity in mind. Instead of rushing through her bedtime routine like I had done on busier shifts, I took a step back and slowed down. I noticed how she would become tense or scared when someone moved too quickly around her or randomly touched her. Before I did anything I explained what I was doing and gave her choices. I said things such as "I'm going to help you sit up now” or “do you wanna wear a night gown or pajama pants.” I also noticed she had an alexa in her room that always went unused. Before providing her care I asked it to play the most recent song that had been played. As soon as it played she started smiling and singing. It also changed her body language completely. She was relaxed and not scared anymore. That one action changed the trajectory for the rest of the night. Before leaving she thanked me and asked me to keep the music playing and I did. It's been 2 years since then and that moment has stayed with me and will continue to stay with me throughout the rest of my career and when I start nursing. Afterwards I was able to inform my co-workers on how to approach her and she started getting the care she wanted and deserved. Responsibility stopped meaning to finish my list and started meaning being fully present. Being a cna wasn't just about doing something for someone but it is more about honoring their dignity while doing it. True care requires patience, empathy, and awareness.

The first time I walked into our on campus food pantries, I realized that leadership isn't just about titles, but it's about action. As Vice President of Student Government Association at my community college, I helped lead an initiative to address food insecurity after noticing classmates skipping meals. That experience shaped not only my time in school, but also the direction of my future. I am currently finishing high school while being dually enrolled and completing college coursework, and I plan to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing after graduating. Academically, I have always pushed myself to balance rigorous classes with responsibilities. Outside the classroom, I work as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a long-term care facility. That role has strengthened my compassion, discipline, and time management skills. Caring for the elderly has shown me the importance of dignity in healthcare and has confirmed my desire to become a registered nurse. Beyond academics and work, I have been heavily involved in student leadership and community service. Serving as Student Government Vice President has allowed me to advocate for student needs, organize campus initiatives, and collaborate with administration to create meaningful change. In addition to launching food pantries, I have volunteered at local events and participated in outreach efforts focused on supporting underserved students. These activities reflect my core belief that leadership should always center on service. Post-high school, I plan to attend a four year university through a direct-admit nursing program. My long-term goal is to work in patient-centered care while eventually stepping into leadership roles within healthcare systems. I hope to advocate for equitable healthcare access, particularly in rural or underserved communities like the one I grew up in. Education, to me, is not just about personal advancement but about preparing to serve others effectively and responsibly. If I could start my own charity, it would focus on addressing food insecurity and basic needs for students. My mission would be to ensure that no student has to choose between academic success and meeting essential needs. I would serve elementary, middle, high school and college students who face financial hardship but may be hesitant to ask for help. The organization would provide discreet access to food, hygiene products, school supplies, and emergency support funds. Volunteers would play an active and compassionate role. They would help stock and organize resource centers, assist with distribution days, and conduct outreach campaigns to reduce stigma around seeking help. I would also incorporate education workshops on budgeting, nutrition, and college readiness to empower students long term. The goal would not only be to provide temporary relief, but to equip individuals with tools for sustainable stability. Moreover, I am a student, healthcare worker, and leader driven by service. My experiences in school, work, and community involvement have shaped my desire to create lasting impact. Whether through nursing or nonprofit work, my mission remains the same: to meet people where they are and help build pathways toward stronger, healthier futures.

The first time I stepped onto a university campus for a tour, I wasn’t thinking about dorm rooms or football games. I was thinking about my family. As I stood in the nursing building I imagined myself walking around, wearing scrubs with my name badge clipped on, and picturing my family sitting in the audience cheering me on at graduation. That moment felt bigger than me. It felt like a possibility. It felt like breaking a cycle of simply getting by and stepping into something that could truly transform my future. For me, attending a university means access. Access to knowledge, opportunity, and growth that cannot be replicated anywhere else. It represents discipline, independence, and the courage to challenge myself academically and personally. As someone pursuing nursing, university is not just about earning a degree, it's about being trained to care for people at the most vulnerable moments. It means long study nights, clinical rotations, and learning how to lead with competence and compassion. It is the pathway to becoming the kind of healthcare professional my community can rely on. For my family, attending university carries emotional weight. Higher education has not always been a guaranteed or straightforward path in our lives. My family has always valued hard work, but college often felt distant or overwhelming. By attending university, I am showing my younger family members that this path is achievable. I am proving that dedication and resilience can open doors that once felt closed. My success will not just belong to me, it will belong to all of us. University also represents stability and long-term security for my family. A nursing degree provides a career with growth potential, financial consistency, and the ability to support loved ones. It means I will be able to meaningfully contribute, ease financial burdens, and create a secure foundation for the next generation. Beyond finances, it allows me to bring knowledge about health and wellness into my household and help my family make informed decisions that improve our quality of life. In conclusion, attending a university means transformation for me and my family. It means turning sacrifice into opportunity and turning dreams into structured goals. For me, it is a commitment to growth. For my family, it's a symbol of progress and for generations after me it will stand as proof that higher education is not out of reach, it is within our hands.

Getting my nursing degree will shift my family's future in ways that go beyond a job title or paycheck. For years my family has worked hard, but obtaining a higher education hasn't been easy, accessible, or understood as a long-term investment. I see this in myself because my goal since I started my educational career has been to go to a 4 year university but I'm finding it harder than expected due to finances. Earning this degree represents more than personal success, it represents a shift in mindset, stability, and opportunity for those who come after me. Financially, it will create a foundation of stability that changes what is possible for my future children, my siblings, my parents, and my grandmother. A career in nursing offers consistent income, benefits, and career mobility. That stability means fewer survival-based decisions like “how can I afford to pay the bills this month” or “how can I get food for this week” and more growth-based decisions like “how can I invest in myself and my family more” or saving and investing for the future. Instead of worrying about how to cover basic expenses, my family will have the ability to save, invest, and plan. That shift alters generational patterns. Stability allows children to focus on education, passions, and personal development rather than stress about financial insecurity. Emotionally and culturally, this degree will redefine expectation. In my family, hard work has always been valued, but higher education feels distant or overwhelming. By completing a nursing program, I will demonstrate that having an advanced education can be achieved with discipline and persistence. My younger siblings and family members will grow up seeing college as not an intimidating option, but as normal and attainable. Representation matters, especially within your own household. When someone close to you succeeds in a space that once felt out of reach, it changes what you believe is possible for yourself. Professionally, nursing will allow me to serve as a health advocate within my family and community. Many families lack accessible medical knowledge or feel intimidated navigating healthcare systems. Having formal training, I will be able to educate my loved ones about preventative care, chronic disease management, and informed decision-making. That knowledge can directly improve long-term health outcomes across generations. Health literacy is power, and bringing that into my family creates lasting impact. Most importantly, obtaining this degree shifts what leadership and service look like in my family. It shows that caring for others can be both a calling and a profession. It proves that compassion and ambition can coexist. For future generations, I want education to feel like an open door, not a closed one. I want stability to feel normal, not fragile and I want service to be seen as strength not sacrifice. This degree is not just a milestone for me but a turning point for my family's future trajectory.