Throughout my life, I've held a profound commitment to serving others, a genuine mindset that has shaped my journey in profound ways. From my dedication to the Special Olympics (Oregon) during my entire high school tenure to my summers spent aiding the low-income and homeless communities through the Beaverton Salvation Army, I have always strived to make a meaningful impact. Yet, my path towards healthcare wasn't clear until my time serving as a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy. It was here that I discovered my innate ability for holistic patient care—whether tending to Marines in the field or mastering emergency procedures in the U.S. Navy hospital, I found myself increasingly drawn to nursing. Reflecting on my journey into becoming a Registered Nurse, I now realize that my true calling lies in pediatric oncology. While professors and mentors had often suggested pediatrics as a natural fit for me, it wasn't until I joined the pediatric oncology team at City of Hope that my passion crystallized. One pivotal experience stands out amidst my clinical journey: caring for a 4-year-old diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia and moderate to severe autism. Initially daunting—reminding me of losing my own mother to cancer and feeling compounded by the child's non-verbal nature reminiscent of my nephew—this assignment tested my professional and emotional resilience. Yet, it was in these challenges that I found my purpose. Moments like coaxing him to allow me to brush his teeth with car engine sounds or checking his vitals using playful 'boop' noises and subpar Spanish, were breakthroughs that deeply resonated with me. As my clinical rotation concluded, leaving the hospital was bittersweet; I knew with unwavering certainty that pediatric nursing was not just a career, but my life's calling. My academic journey has been guided by a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, but the decision to pursue pediatric oncology was profoundly emotional. My calling to nursing stemmed from a place of empathy, forged through personal loss and renewed by the small triumphs of the children I cared for as a college student. As I approach my last year of college in the pursuit of license and my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Azusa Pacific University, I feel more passionate and determined than ever to start my nursing career. I hope that my story provides insight into my passion for healthcare and that it conveys my lifelong commitment to providing the best nursing care possible.

Tony isn't just my best friend; he's the embodiment of unwavering support, enduring camaraderie, and profound empathy that has shaped my life in ways I can scarcely quantify. Our journey together began in the rigors of bootcamp back in January 2012, a time when we were both driven by the shared aspiration to become US Navy Hospital Corpsmen. Little did I know then that Tony would not only be a fellow sailor but would emerge as the cornerstone of my existence through the tumultuous years that followed. From being deployed to Japan together to enduring the harsh conditions of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Tony and I forged a bond that transcended the professional camaraderie typical of military life. We weren't just co-workers; we were brothers in arms, relying on each other amidst sandstorms, flash floods, thunderstorms, and the unyielding demands of military service. Our shared experiences, both in the field and within the clinics and hospitals, formed the bedrock of a friendship that would stand the test of time. Beyond the battlefield, our connection deepened through personal trials. Both raised by single parents, we found solace in each other's understanding of the challenges life had thrown our way. Tony's generosity and compassion knew no bounds. When I faced homelessness upon discharge, it was Tony who opened his home without hesitation, offering not just shelter but unwavering support as I navigated the uncertain terrain of civilian life. His guidance didn't stop there; he helped me enroll in community college, ensuring I had the tools to pursue my academic aspirations. Tony's selflessness continued to shine as he welcomed me into his home rent-free for over 2 years, even as he pursued his own educational goals. His steadfast presence was a constant source of strength, whether it was standing by my side as my best man at my wedding or accompanying me to church during my darkest moments. When depression threatened to overwhelm me post-military, Tony was my beacon of hope, motivating me to adopt healthier habits and supporting me through each hard day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tony's daily calls became a lifeline, reminding me of my academic dreams and urging me not to falter in the face of adversity. His impact extended beyond practical assistance; he taught me to ride motorcycles, introduced me to electronic music, and shared countless road trips that offered respite during stressful times. His gestures of kindness knew no bounds, from babysitting our dog during international travels, to offering prayers and emotional solace during the loss of my wife's first pregnancy. Yet perhaps the most profound testament to Tony's character lies in his unconditional friendship. His daily messages, his unwavering support for my dreams of a larger family despite our infertility struggles, and his vision of raising our children together underscore a bond that transcends friendship. Tony isn't just my best friend; he's my confidant, my mentor, and the embodiment of what it means to be there for someone through every peak and downfall of life. In Tony, I've found not just a friend, but a brother whose presence has enriched every facet of my existence. His compassion, resilience, and unwavering belief in our shared journey remind me daily of how lucky we are that our paths intertwined. From the first day of bootcamp to the present day, I am filled with sincere love and gratitude for Tony and his family—a gift that has shaped my past, anchors my present, and promises to continue being part of my future.

I have always had a strong devotion to service and have led my life committed to helping others in various capacities. Now, as I approach the last year of my BSN studies, I have had the privilege of working in diverse clinical settings, including pediatric oncology at City of Hope and obstetrics at Huntington Hospital, which have cemented my deep-seated passion for pediatric care. My academic journey has been marked by a robust blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on clinical practice through the ADN to BSN program with Pasadena City College and Azusa Pacific University. These experiences have honed my ability to administer medications, perform complex procedures, and provide compassionate patient-centered care. Beyond my formal education, my background as a Hospital Corpsman in the US Navy instilled in me a strong sense of discipline, teamwork, and the ability to perform under pressure—qualities that I believe are essential for having a successful pediatric nursing career. My dedication to excellence in nursing is also reflected in the accolades I have received this past year, such as the Esprit de Corps Award and the Clinical Excellence Award from Pasadena City College and honorable mention by APU’s Nursing College of Distinction. My 2024-2025 career goal is to join the pediatric oncology team at Children’s Hospital of LA; I am particularly drawn to CHLA because of its outstanding reputation for pediatric care and its commitment to advancing children's health through research, education, and compassionate care. Once established, I want to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing with Nurse Practitioner Specialties to further advance cancer research. For the last 10 years, I have been preparing for a life-long career in nursing care by volunteering with diverse organizations, such as: the Special Olympics Oregon K-12, The Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club LA , FIRST Lego Robotics, Autism Speaks, City of Hope, Huntington Hospital, medical surgery/ICU wing at LA General Hospital, Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage, Farmers Market Beginners AA chapter in Fairfax, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Health Screening Fairs for Thai & Vietnamese Churches, the Special Olympics Summer Games in Long Beach, the West Covina Senior Health Fair , the Pasadena Presbyterian homeless assistance program, and the Eagle Rock Church Health Fair , Baja Bound teen homelessness program. Aside from those experiences, I am currently onboarding with the Children’s Hospital of LA to commit to their one-year volunteer program for providing inpatient care and play-based therapy for sick children. Even though I am not in a great financial situation, I strongly believe that with my background and my dedication, I am on my way to reaching my career goals. Ultimately, I am striving to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and their families, therefore I appreciate the consideration for this scholarship.

I was only around 10 years old when my mother passed away from stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma. I still recall sitting by her bedside, pleading to God that she would awaken and my life could go back to normal. My family and I had already endured the most difficult year after her initial diagnosis and I didn't think that the nightmare could get any worse, however, the following 2 years after her passing turned out to be the worst years of my life. My family was broken. My father was now a single parent of 4, my sister was a mess, my older brother was distant, and my little brother was still drawing my mom in his family portraits. Though this was certainly the lowest moment in my family's life, losing my mom made me learn perseverance and very important life lessons, more importantly, it led me to set life goals worth fighting for. First and foremost, the loss of my mother taught me that family and loved ones are what matters most in our lives. It sounds incredibly cheesy, but losing a critical member of my family made my young self realize how short of time I spent with my mom and that she would never be able to see me graduate from college or get married. This realization helped me develop a greater appreciation for my father because he fought hard to provide for us financially while still being present socially-emotionally in our daily lives after my mother died. Since I only had my father, I made a greater effort to spend quality time with him, which eventually, a decade later, led me to follow in his footsteps and enlist in the Navy. Adjusting to her death also grew me and my siblings closer, because we began to take long drives to escape, laugh and cry together, and share our most intimate thoughts. Ironically, all my mother wanted when she was alive was for us to have a strong sibling bond but unfortunately, it took her death to make me see the value in sibling love and camaraderie. Reflecting now, her absence helped me focus on strengthening our bond and persevering together through the grieving process and even after. For a while, I was struggling to communicate my emotions about my mother's passing because I thought it was important that I pushed forward to be present for my little brother and his needs. However, as time passed, I learned that opening up to the people around me who loved me would allow me to help my family more. I am very thankful for building a close relationship with my siblings and my father after my mother's death. In all, the most important values I learned from my grieving process were open and honest communication, sharing our love with family and friends every day (even on bad days), and spending quality time with loved ones. These values are ones that I still carry today as I build my own family with my wife and make new friendships because my mom's unexpected death showed me that life is about sharing memorable moments with the people you love most. My mom's absence didn't just hurt our little family, our church and school communities were also impacted. This was an interesting lesson for me because it made me realize that as insignificant as a member of a community might appear to be, that person might have made a great influence on the members of that community. I'm inclined to mention this because it was both my mother's cancer journey and the communities' support that pushed me in the direction of a healthcare career. My mother was a very beloved woman who dedicated her life to others and I knew that I wanted to do the same, however, I didn't think about pursuing nursing until she passed away. My mom fought for her dreams of being a competitive swimmer, graduating college, and having a large family, which she accomplished. I knew that if she was able to fight for all her dreams in her short life, I should be able to fight for my passions as well. Anytime I encounter a hurdle in my classes or I'm tired from being on my feet all day, I think about the perseverance my mom gave me in her life and death. Every day that I walk into the pediatric oncology unit at City of Hope or help patients at the Huntington Hospital I honor my mom's journey by providing the best patient care I possibly can. Growing up without my mom hasn't been easy but losing her made me into a caring and genuine individual who has a ceaseless tenacity to overcome adversity and fight for what he loves and cares for the most.

Although I always dreamt of being sorted into Gryffindor, I believe I would be best fitted for Hufflepuff. I am cognizant that the Hufflepuff House is perhaps the least commonly assigned house per the original book series, however, I have been made aware by several peers and loved ones that my strongest qualities are my loyalty, my authenticity, and my perseverance. In grade school and middle school, my father used to say to me that I “was loyal to a fault” because I was always willing to stand up for my friends, even if it meant getting hurt in the process. I have kept those same friendships today; we have all attended each other’s weddings and shared precious memories with our families. I have also been called a loyal man by the Marines in my platoon, while fulfilling the role of Hospital Corpsman, and by my past commanding officers in the U.S. Navy. I was loyal to my role and my country for nearly five years until I was ready to pursue my dream career in nursing. My authenticity is a trait that I have been made aware of by my wife. She often claims that she first fell in love with me because I was a genuine and humble person. Today she claims that those traits can be quite frustrating because I have a hard time acknowledging my strengths and achievements, but I know she still secretly adores them. Admittedly, I am known for having a very strong moral compass because it is unnatural for me to lie or to deceive, even if a situation warrants so or it benefits me greatly. I firmly believe in being authentic and honest, but not boastful, because those qualities are the foundation for holding strong and meaningful relationships with others. The last quality that I believe would certify my Hufflepuff-ness is the skill of perseverance, which was ingrained in me since I was a very young boy. When I was about 10 years old, my mother passed away from stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma and from her absence, I learned to cope with loss and overcome adversity. My father had stepped in as both the mother and father to raise us in a way that would make our mother proud, and he did. From my father’s example, I learned to strive for my goals and not cease when struggles arise. While pursuing my career now, I have to tap into my tenacity to cope with my financial and mental struggles and eventually persevere through these hard times. I realize that anyone can tap into their ability to persevere, but I think most people tend to take the easier way out and that is why we still see value in persistence. The Hufflepuff House would be the ideal house for me because, despite my apparent lack of cunningness and outward self-confidence, I am a genuinely hard-working, compassionate, and clever person. I believe that Hufflepuffs would welcome me graciously and see that my loyalty, my authenticity, and my perseverance will be well-suited for their house.

My dream version of myself is a dedicated family man with a career as a part-time family nurse practitioner serving low-income communities and a full-time pediatric nurse for a reputable Children's Hospital emergency room in Southern California.

I learned to be a man from the greatest person I know: my father. My father, Paul, was not only a decorated U.S. Navy Captain who served a combination of 28 years but also a loving husband and father to four kids. He was a true honorable hero in every sense of the word; he was a decorated Captain/Chief of Staff at Naval Forces Alaska and a persevering single father after my mother passed away from cancer. Needless to say that Paul is and always will be my greatest role model because he is consistently the strongest influence on my identity and my passion for serving others. It is an undeniable fact that I learned perseverance and dedication from my father. As the whole world watched the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, my father was running to the phone to contact his command and re-enlist in the Navy. I was very young at the time, but I can clearly remember watching him pack his bags to go to another state and sacrifice himself for the safety and well-being of others. Then, when I was around 10 years old, my mother was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma, which brought about a feeling of impending doom for us all. For an entire year, I witnessed my brave and hopeful father stand by her side through painful treatments and never-ending doctor appointments until she peacefully passed away. Following her passing, our family was drowning in bills and my father was forced to uproot us from our childhood home and sell my mother’s belongings. This experience has been the most traumatic experience of my entire life and it could have very easily destroyed our family permanently, but my father did not permit it. Captain Paul raised us on his own and showed us that overcoming adversity is possible. He was an active church and PTA volunteer and a generous community leader, even when he had limited means. In times I sought a new sport or exploring a club at school, he provided me with assistance without hesitation. Furthermore, his unconditional love and support remained persistent, even through my rebellion and mistakes. When I decided to enlist at 19, my father proudly drove me to the U.S. Navy recruiting station. When I was deployed to Japan he would send me care packages and would call regularly. When I failed to join SWCC, a special operations command team, my father consoled me and gave me the strength to pursue being a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman. This time I spent enlisted turned out to be tumultuous because I made careless mistakes, but my father never ceased to support me through difficult times. After being discharged, I told my father I wanted to pursue a degree in nursing and he expressed pride and excitement for my new calling. Now as I try to pursue my nursing degree, I've been struggling with finances and mental health, but whenever I've needed money for food, books, rent, or medical bills, my father has granted me aid. More recently, my wife and I experienced a pregnancy loss and my father prayed for us and offered to help with the medical bills. I would not be where I am in my education or my personal life if it wasn't for my dad’s consistent support, love, and motivation. He showed me how to be a strong loyal husband and compassionate community leader. I cannot repay my father for all his wisdom and support, but I can certainly make him proud by becoming an honorable family man and a high-quality nurse.

Disney is one of those things that always makes me reminisce about all the happy family breakfasts, Christmas mornings, and late movie nights before my mother passed away. My fondest childhood memories are sitting in front of the television with my three siblings watching the best 90s Disney hits on VHS, while my mom and dad cooked us breakfast. It may seem silly to some people, but I firmly believe that the stories Disney shares with the world are very impactful on our culture and our personal lives. To me, Disney does not just represent every person’s inner child within but it also embodies important values and human experiences that every person and family can relate to, such as unconditional love, creativity, friendship, child-like curiosity, and hopefulness. I could analyze how their brilliant marketing approach has made them into a global phenomenon but I’d rather speak about my favorite things about Disney from the heart. My favorite thing about Disney has always been their creativity in their stories, media, and their products. In my opinion, creativity has been the driving force in their success and innovation. Over the years, I feel like Disney has developed a unique ability to evoke human emotions through their heartfelt stories and their innovative animation. Actually, I can’t think of another entity that has impacted my childhood, adolescence, and adulthood the way Disney has with their stories and their creations. Disney will never cease to have a special place in my heart because it has been part of both the happiest and toughest moments of my life. When my father re-enlisted in the U.S. Navy, following the attacks of 9/11, I distinctly remember feeling an emotional connection to The Santa Clause (1994) and An Extremely Goofy Movie every time I watched them, because my dad was my hero growing up. Or after my mom passed away from cancer, I remember having difficulty watching the movie Finding Nemo because I wouldn’t stop thinking about how unfair the world was for taking my mother away. Some of the happiest, or most bittersweet, moments include watching Big Hero 6 and Brother Bear with my little brother, because I could reflect on how proud I am of him for persevering after our mom’s passing. More recent Disney moments include taking my Mexican wife, her mom, and her grandma to see the movie Coco in Spanish; this was special to me because I was able to give a loving experience to my wife, even though I was unable to be granted the same opportunity with my mom and grandma. In all, Disney brings up many memories for me, as it does for others, through their beautiful stories and creative mediums, and even though these memories can be painful at times, they are personal and authentic to my life story. So, I thank Disney for the feelings of joy, sorrow, fear, and hope it has brought into my life because, without its influence, I don't think my experiences would be the same.

I learned to be a man from the greatest person I know: my father Paul. My father was a U.S. Navy Captain who served a combination of active duty and reserve duty for a combined 28 years, all while building a family of 6. He was a true honorable hero; a highly decorated and twice-awarded Meritorious Service Medal recipient for outstanding service as Chief of Staff Naval Forces Alaska following the 9/11 attacks. He was my inspirational role model growing up and still is in many ways, but now that I seek to dedicate my life to a career in nursing, I come to realize that he has also been my most reliable friend and caretaker throughout my life. My father has always been the strongest influence on my identity and my passion for serving others. He has consistently shown me unconditional love and confidence in my ability to accomplish my goals and endeavors, even through my rebellious adolescence and my greatest mistakes as an adult. It is an undeniable fact that I learned perseverance and dedication from my father. When I was just 10 years old, my mother was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma, which shook my siblings’ lives and broke my father’s heart. For an entire year, I watched my father stand by her side through traumatic treatments and painful cycles until she peacefully passed away. This experience has been the most traumatic experience of my entire life and it could have very easily destroyed our family unit permanently, but my father did not permit it. Captain Paul raised us as a single father and showed us that overcoming adversity is possible. He paid for the best school programs he could afford for my little brother and me in Oregon and supported my two older siblings through college. In times when I wanted to practice a new sport or explore a new learning path at school, he provided me with moral and financial assistance. When I got older and decided to enlist, my father offered to drive me to the U.S. Navy recruiting station and consistently checked on me while I trained at boot camp and endured Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman training in California. When I was deployed to Okinawa, Japan to learn medical interventions, my father would send me care packages. This time that I spent in the military was very tumultuous because I made mistakes that put me and my reputation at risk, but my father never doubted my character and never ceased to support me through those difficult times. After serving as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman for nearly 5 years, I told my father I wanted to pursue higher education in nursing— fully expecting him to be skeptical— but instead, he expressed pride and excitement for my calling. As I pursued my AA degree and applied to nursing programs, my father was the one person I wanted to call whenever I had good or bad news, because I knew he genuinely cared. Whenever I needed money for tuition, food, books, rent, or gas to get to class, my father was always there to lend me a hand. I can attest that I would not be where I am in my education or my personal life if it wasn't for my dad’s consistent support, love, and motivation. I cannot repay my father for all the support he has provided me over the years, but I can certainly make him proud by becoming a high-quality nurse and making an impact on others’ lives.

I experienced struggles with anxiety and depression for the first time in 2003 when my mother passed away from an ongoing battle with stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma. I have vivid memories of sitting by her bedside, praying and pleading that she wakes up because growing up without a mother was inconceivable. I remember going through the motions and the grieving process along with my siblings and my father isolating himself to deal with the reality of being a widower with 4 kids. My second memorable experience was while I was stationed in Twentynine Palms, serving as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman to bring first response to active duty Marines. I recall consistently feeling agitated, panicked, and unexplained pains in my shoulder, chest, and stomach every time I was assigned to go out in the field with my platoon and every time my superiors would attempt to humiliate me. I am very proud of my service, but I still experience nightmares, aches, and feelings of worthlessness that carried over from my time in the military. It wasn't until recently that I realized that there are traumatic experiences and memories that I have repressed so that I could focus on leading a normal civilian life. When I first left the military and enrolled at a community college full-time, I was enduring a critical transition from being on active duty to becoming a civilian; my family was across the country, I was homeless, I had untreated PTSD, and only had 50 dollars in my bank account. This was a scary time, but I had no option but to shut out the recurring thoughts of failure in my head and move forward. Fortunately, I persevered with support and found a job so that I could continue my education in the health sciences and earn an Associate's Degree. In more recent years, my experiences with anxiety and depression have been slightly different. As I pursued my passion for nursing through an accelerated dual program, I had to endure the implications of the coronavirus shutdown and the loss of three family members. My wife and I experienced great loneliness, persistent lethargy, pessimism, and great sadness for an entire year. Despite the difficulties we faced like reduced family income and increases in mental health struggles as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, my then-fiance and I were able to get married via the civil court and ace our college courses. Following the shutdowns, as society was adjusting to a "new normal" my financial struggles persisted and started to affect my academic progress; I had to take out 3 private loans and work overtime to pay our bills which prevented me from taking multiple courses at a time. Unfortunately, the lack of financial means continues to be a major stressor in my life and is one of the major sources of my mental health struggles today. Amongst all the financial and mental adversity, I have silently been coping with a traumatic pregnancy loss my wife and I experienced this year. As I was preparing for nursing clinical practice, my wife and I had been trying to conceive. After months of trying, we thought we succeeded but sadly the baby was not able to survive. Although I can assert that I've become a resilient individual while pursuing my nursing degree, the adversity I continue to experience is exhausting and terrifying because it feels like I constantly have to worry about surviving above anything else. As I approach my last year in nursing school, I haven't lost hope in my pursuit and plan to continue fighting for my passions.

Most people can make a difference in their communities in one capacity or another, however, the sad reality is that acts of service are not explicitly taught to our children and therefore are not largely viewed as impactful by adults. When I reflect upon the factors that influenced my decision to study a career that focuses on helping people, I think about my past volunteer experience, my family values, and my service in the military. I truly believe that most people who find a calling in medicine, education, or any other caring occupation must have discovered their vocation after learning the value of compassion, sacrifice, and kindness throughout their lives. In my case, I was fortunate enough to have a family who ingrained such values in me from a very young age, first through volunteer work at church and then out in our school community. Now, I am very grateful that my parents inculcated the values of community service and charity because it showed me that there are disparities in society that create barriers for many people and that helping even one individual can make a difference. It might be difficult for some to imagine how they can help people who are feeling desperate, sad or lost, because of the degree of wealth or comfort available to them personally but we must remember that as humans we all have experienced misfortunes at different levels. For example, after my mother passed from an ongoing battle with stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma, my family experienced great trauma but the small acts of compassion and kindness from other people positively impacted our grieving process. Many families are living in situations like the one my family experienced, and some may not have the support system I had to overcome a traumatic loss. Therefore I find it important to actively look for opportunities as an adult to either donate my time or resources so that more families can find solace, care, and safety when they need it most. As a nursing student and community volunteer, I meet so many individuals and families with low income and people who are houseless often due to either lack of financial means, disability, illness, immigration status, illiteracy, or ignorance regarding available resources. My service with these people has taught me that although the average person cannot take extraordinary measures to change their lives, it is within our capabilities to show them compassion, facilitate accessibility to the resources available for their needs, and show them kindness through our words and actions. For those who are unable to help others by volunteering their time or donating tangibles, I urge them to become advocates for their communities because even just raising awareness about the disparities in their communities can bring attention and new resources forward. Our society cannot grow if there is a great socioeconomic imbalance between demographics. We cannot evade or regulate physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, or mental adversity in society, however, it is possible to bring balance by personally giving back to those who are more unfortunate than us and demanding greater accessibility to resources from the government agencies and corporations who do have the means to relieve adversity. There will always be a greater need in the world no matter where you travel to, hence it is up to every individual to choose how they want to help others. As Picasso once said "Action is the foundational key to all success," so it is our duty to get up and take action, whatever that looks like for each of us.

I learned to be patriotic from the greatest men I knew growing up: my Grandpa Jack and my father Paul. Grandpa Jack, my mother’s dad, was a highly decorated U.S. Army Aircore Chief Navigator and was awarded the WWII Victory Ribbon, Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, and many more awards and decorations. My father was a U.S. Navy Captain who served a combination of active duty and reserve duty for a combined 28 years. He was also highly decorated and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his outstanding service as Chief of Staff Naval Forces Alaska following 9/11. I am inclined to mention these details about them because I believe them to have strongly influenced my sense of patriotism and my desire to serve. Since childhood, I believed patriotism was both a feeling of love and obligation towards our country. After serving in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, my view of patriotism did not change much. I still believe that patriotism involves a feeling of obligation and pride for one's country, but I also think that it means loving the flaws in history, regardless of heinousness, and choosing to take action to protect Americans' lives and freedoms. I can recall being just a child and feeling proud to be an American as my Grandpa Jack retold his stories from WWII. That special pride I felt listening to his stories stuck with me for years and even through the time I was stationed at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan. As a Corpsman, I had the opportunity to take a flight into Iwo Jima to step on the same battlefield my grandfather landed on during the War. This was not only a very heartfelt experience for me as a member of a multigenerational military family, but also as a patriot. While standing on historical land, I felt a connection to all the soldiers who fought in WWII, including my other grandfather, U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant Stanley Dombrowski. I'd like to highlight 2 meaningful takeaways from both my grandpas’ war stories: (1) the U.S. lost half a million soldiers and (2) every single American contributed in one way or another to help their fellow countrymen survive through a desperate time in our history. Such sacrifices are part of what being patriotic means to me: showing resilience and fighting for our people’s right to life and liberty, despite times of destruction and loss of life. Lastly, my father was also a huge influence on my view of patriotism. When 9/11 occurred he didn't hesitate to go from USNR to active duty once again. This act of bravery on his part evoked passion and a great sense of honor in me that has never ceased. Ever since that day, I’ve wanted to follow in my father's footsteps. By dedicating 5 years of my life and surrendering my civilian freedoms, I would be making the ultimate act of patriotism: an act of sacrifice and bravery to serve and protect my fellow Americans.

When I reflect upon the various experiences that influenced my decision to become a nurse, I also think about my extensive volunteer work with young people with disabilities, BIPOC communities, active military and veterans with PTSD, and elderly people in isolation. The time I have dedicated throughout my life to supporting children with disabilities sparked a passion for pediatric nursing in me, which only perpetually grows with time. My work with special education started when I was twelve and volunteered to support the Special Olympics where I could assist kids with Down Syndrome, Autism, and Intellectual Disabilities. This deep-seated passion continued when I married my wife, a special education teacher, who facilitated opportunities for me to keep serving the SPED community as a volunteer until I could pursue my nursing degree. My passion for pediatric nursing also was influenced by my volunteer and advocacy work with children from marginalized communities where I would coach young BIPOC athletes from low-income regions and spend quality time with them. Some of the most impactful experiences that shaped my desire for my nursing vocation include the work I completed in affiliation with The Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, Nike Give, and the Boys and Girls Club of America. Although I have been very interested in pediatric nursing, I have also been desiring to pursue family medicine and geriatrics in the future in hospitals that serve large Medicaid demographics. This first came from my volunteer work as a teenager with elderly people and continued with the time I spent at Villa Gardens Retirement Community assisting Certified Nursing Assistants. I originally began spending quality time with senior citizens because my grandma Alice had been isolated for multiple years following the death of her closest friends and started showing early signs of dementia. Based on the impact I made with my grandma, I decided to start spending time with my Nana Caroline who lost multiple kids to illnesses, my Grandpa Jack who was briefly battling lung cancer, and their friends from the retirement communities, which ultimately elicited a strong fondness for serving the elderly in isolation. This collective of impactful experiences have shaped me into the passionate individual I am today and have certainly cemented nursing as my calling in life. On the hand, I also believe that my passion for medicine arose on account of my mother being diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma when I was a teenager. Considering the vivid memories I have of her diagnosis and treatment, I now have the assertion that my mother’s experience with cancer changed my worldview at a young age and implanted a curiosity for the medical field. When my mother passed, although I was irate with God and confused, my interest in studying medicine propelled forward, however it wasn't until I served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman that I discovered nursing as my one true calling. The combination of patient care experiences with duty members and PTSD veterans and my lifelong volunteer experience with diverse demographics has manifested nursing as my vocation. Reflecting on my experiences and core values as a whole, my passion and sense of duty, have always been a driving force in my life, but more so now with a focus on my nursing career. Not only would being a nurse allow me to explore multiple options for saving lives but it would also allow me the opportunity to have a greater impact on the communities that have helped shape me as a caring individual over the past few years.

Not only would being a nurse allow me to explore multiple options for working at highly-impacted hospitals in Los Angeles, but it would also allow me the opportunity to have a greater impact on the communities that have helped shape me as a caring individual over the past few years. I have been particularly passionate about serving historically disadvantaged communities once I become a nurse, due to my extensive past and present volunteer work with young people with disabilities, BIPOC communities, PTSD active military and veterans, cancer patients, and elderly people in isolation. The time I have dedicated throughout my life to supporting children with intellectual disabilities and cerebral palsy, low-income BIPOC students, elderly people, and military members with illnesses and trauma has sparked parked a ceaseless passion for pediatric nursing, mental health, emergency medicine, and oncology nursing which only perpetually grows with time. Although I am struggling to choose a single path within the field, I feel compelled to continue my education in nursing so that I can eventually become a family nurse practitioner and serve as many families and individuals in need from diverse backgrounds. People in medical professions, particularly nurses, have the privilege of closely assisting people of all backgrounds and lifestyles, potentially making a life-changing impact on their lives. I highly desire to have that privilege and I would honor the vocation every day of my life. I want to be able to build strong relationships with my patients and provide excellent care regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, gender, and income. Unfortunately, there are too many instances where individuals have not been treated with dignity or proper medical intervention because of their background or identity, therefore, I want to become an agent of change so that those who have historically been marginalized or discriminated against while trying to receive medical care can gain accessibility to fair and adequate medical prevention and intervention. A major desire of mine is to bring about social change by advocating for patients of all backgrounds and their needs as well as partaking in innovating our field and practices so that more people can overcome their health struggles with proper compassion and medical care. Achieving both my ADN & BSN will allow me to work in an emergency room with high-need Medicaid populations which I believe is the best way to serve numerous patients from underserved communities that vary in diagnosis and treatment. Following that accomplishment, I plan to continue on the path of graduate school to meet all my aforementioned career goals and desires. I am confident that I can accomplish such professional goals because I have been working very hard to get where I am today by serving in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, coping with mental health struggles, and working multiple jobs to put myself through a competitive nursing program.

Since my adolescence, I’ve had a deep passion for medicine on account of my mother being diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma. Considering the vivid memories I have of her diagnosis and treatment, I have the assertion that my mother’s experience with cancer changed my worldview at a young age and implanted a curiosity for the medical field. However, my interest in nursing was not cemented until I served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, where I carried out similar duties to an LVN. The combination of patient care experiences with injured duty members and vets with PTSD, Combat Trauma Management (CTM), and the numerous hands-on applications I had while in the field, is when my calling for nursing truly began manifesting. Not only would being a nurse allow me to explore multiple options for working at highly-impacted hospitals in my country, but it would also allow me the opportunity to have a greater impact on the communities that have helped shape me as a caring individual over the past few years. I am particularly passionate about serving historically disadvantaged communities due to my extensive volunteer work with young people with disabilities, BIPOC communities, active military and veterans with PTSD, cancer patients, and elderly people in isolation. People in medical professions, particularly nurses, have the privilege of closely assisting people of all backgrounds and lifestyles, potentially making a life-changing impact on their lives. I highly desire to have that privilege and I would honor the vocation every day of my life. I want to be able to build strong relationships with my patients and provide excellent care regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, gender, and income. Unfortunately, there are too many instances where individuals have not been treated with dignity or proper medical intervention because of their background or identity, therefore, I want to become an agent of change so that those who have historically been marginalized or discriminated against while trying to receive medical care can gain accessibility to fair and adequate medical prevention and intervention. A major desire of mine is to bring about social change; to advocate for ALL patients and their needs and partake in innovating our field and practices, so that more people can overcome their health struggles with proper compassion and medical care. After achieving both my ADN & BSN, I plan to work in an emergency room with high-need Medicaid populations, because I believe this is the best way to serve patients from underserved communities that vary in diagnosis and treatment daily. Given 1-2 more years, my goal is to enroll in a graduate program to become a nurse practitioner, to operate as a provider by assessing and managing treatment, comparable to a primary physician’s role. After obtaining a national certification, I am interested in continuing to work at a reputable Children’s hospital or a clinic that serves low-income communities in Los Angeles. My last career goal is to pursue a specialization as a family nurse practitioner, which I would work towards after being in the field for a few years. I am interested in family practice because it would allow me to work with people of all ages, including children, the elderly, and expecting mothers. I am confident that I can accomplish such professional goals because I have been working very hard to get where I am today by serving in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, coping with mental health struggles, and working multiple jobs to put myself through a competitive nursing program.

Since my adolescence, I’ve had a deep passion for medicine on account of my mother being diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma. Considering the vivid memories I have of her diagnosis and treatment, I now have the assertion that my mother’s experience with cancer changed my worldview at a young age and implanted a curiosity for the medical field. When my mother passed, although I was irate and confused, my interest in medicine propelled forward, but it wasn't until I served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, where I carried out similar duties to an LVN, that I discovered nursing as my true calling. I was consistently competing with my peers to learn new caregiving approaches so that I could be offered more opportunities to assist the wounded and ill Marines. The combination of patient care experiences with injured duty members and PTSD veterans, Combat Trauma Management, and the numerous hands-on applications on the field is when my passion for nursing truly began manifesting. Hence, when I finally left the military, I immediately enrolled in a health sciences program and began working towards being accepted into a competitive nursing program. Reflecting on these past experiences as a whole, my passion for public service and medicine has always been present in my life. When I reflect upon the various experiences that influenced my decision to become a nurse, I also think about my extensive volunteer work with young people with disabilities, BIPOC communities, active military and veterans with PTSD, and elderly people in isolation. The time I have dedicated throughout my life to supporting children with disabilities sparked a passion for pediatric nursing in me, which only perpetually grows with time. My work with special education started when I was twelve and volunteered to support the Special Olympics where I could assist kids with Down Syndrome, Autism, and Intellectual Disabilities. This passion continued when I married my wife, a special education teacher, who facilitated opportunities for me to keep serving the SPED community as a volunteer until I could pursue my nursing degrees. My passion for pediatric nursing also was influenced by my volunteer and advocacy work with children from marginalized communities where I would coach young BIPOC athletes from low-income regions and spend quality time with them by playing sports and talking with the kids about their goals and dreams. Some of the most impactful experiences that shaped my desire for my nursing vocation include the work I completed in affiliation with The Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, Nike Give, and the Boys and Girls Club of America. Although I have been very interested in pediatric nursing, I have also been desiring to pursue family medicine and geriatrics in the future in hospitals that serve large Medicaid demographics. This first came from my volunteer work as a teenager with elderly people and continued with the time I spent at Villa Gardens Retirement Community assisting Certified Nursing Assistants. I originally began spending quality time with senior citizens because my grandma Alice had been isolated for multiple years following the death of her closest friends and started showing early signs of dementia. Based on the impact I made with my grandma, I decided to start spending time with my grandpa Jack who was briefly battling lung cancer and had fellow WWII veterans who struggled with PTSD, which ultimately elicited a strong fondness for serving the elderly in isolation. This collective of impactful experiences have shaped me into the passionate individual I am today and have certainly cemented nursing as my calling in life.