My greatest achievement to date is being accepted into nursing school. As a first-generation, low-income student, this milestone represents far more than just an academic accomplishment—it is the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and unwavering determination. Getting into nursing school was not just about securing a spot in a program; it was about overcoming the many obstacles that come with navigating higher education on my own. From figuring out financial aid to balancing work and school, every step of the journey has tested my perseverance, but it has also reinforced my belief in my own capabilities. This experience has taught me that I am stronger and more determined than I ever realized. It has shown me that no matter how daunting the road may seem, I have the ability to push forward and create opportunities for myself. I have learned to advocate for my education, seek out resources, and embrace the challenges that come with pursuing my passion. Most importantly, I have realized that my dreams are not just aspirations—they are achievable with hard work and persistence. Even in my weakest moments, when doubt and obstacles seemed overwhelming, I have remained steadfast in my journey to becoming a nurse. There have been times when the weight of responsibilities, financial struggles, and self-doubt threatened to hold me back, but my passion and determination have always pushed me forward. Each challenge I have faced has only reinforced my resilience and deepened my commitment to this path. No matter how difficult the journey has been, I refuse to give up on my dream of becoming a nurse. Looking ahead, my goal is to continue excelling in my nursing education and eventually specialize in midwifery. I hope to become a compassionate and knowledgeable advocate for mothers and their babies, ensuring they receive the support and care they deserve during such a transformative time in their lives. Beyond my personal career aspirations, I want to serve as an inspiration to others in my community—especially to those who, like me, have faced barriers to education. I want to show them that no matter where they come from, no dream is too big to chase. To me, nursing has always been more than a career; it is the embodiment of my passion, my upbringing, and my desire to make a difference. Every step I take in this journey brings me closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a nurse. I am eager to start working as a nurse and fulfilling my lifelong purpose. For any low-income student, I hope to be a testament that hard work and determination can open doors to a brighter future. Coming from a low-income background has not defined my limits—it has fueled my drive. It hasn’t stopped me from pursuing my goal of becoming a future nurse, and I want others to know that their circumstances do not determine their potential. With perseverance and dedication, any dream is within reach.

Do you have a dream? I do—mine is to become a midwife nurse. For as long as I can remember, I have felt an innate calling to care for others. My mother often reminisces about how, even at the tender age of five, I would cradle my dolls as if they were my patients, gently performing little assessments as though I were already a nurse. Even then, nursing felt like second nature to me. One day, I asked my mother why she thought I chose this path. She paused for a moment before admitting she wasn’t entirely sure where my passion for nursing came from, but she was grateful that, from such a young age, I was unwavering in my determination to pursue it. My decision to enter the world of nursing is rooted in a deep passion for healthcare, a lifelong admiration for obstetrics, and the values instilled in me by my mother. I have always been drawn to the medical field, but midwifery, in particular, has captured my heart. There is something profoundly beautiful about guiding women through pregnancy and childbirth, ensuring they feel supported, informed, and empowered during such a transformative experience. The thought of providing compassionate and knowledgeable care to expectant mothers and their newborns fuels my desire to specialize in obstetrics and midwifery. So much of my love for learning and healthcare stems from my mother. She is one of the strongest, most resilient people I know. Though she never had the chance to complete her own education due to extreme poverty, she never let that stop her from learning. She taught herself to read and write in Spanish, even though her native language was Chatino, an indigenous dialect spoken in the mountainous regions of Oaxaca, Mexico. Her perseverance was nothing short of inspiring. She instilled in me a deep appreciation for education, always emphasizing its power to shape a person’s future. Through her, I learned that knowledge is a gift—one that should never be taken for granted. My ambition to become a midwife was further solidified in high school when Alabama passed a law in 2017 legalizing the practice of Certified Professional Midwives. I remember reading about it and feeling an overwhelming sense of clarity—like the universe had just given me a sign that I was meant to follow this path. Seeing midwifery gain recognition only deepened my motivation to become a part of this field and advocate for better maternal care. Nursing is more than just a career to me; it is my purpose. It is the intersection of my passion, my upbringing, and my unwavering desire to make a difference. I am eager to embark on this journey, knowing that every step I take brings me closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a midwife and touching the lives of countless mothers and their babies.

Do you have a dream? I do—mine is to become a midwife nurse. For as long as I can remember, I have felt an innate calling to care for others. My mother often reminisces about how, even at the tender age of five, I would cradle my dolls as if they were my patients, gently performing little assessments as though I were already a nurse. Even then, nursing felt like second nature to me. I recently asked my mom why she thought I chose this nursing. She paused for a moment before admitting she wasn’t entirely sure where my passion for nursing came from, but she was grateful that, from such a young age, I was determined to pursue it. My decision to enter the world of nursing is rooted in a deep passion for healthcare, a lifelong admiration for obstetrics, and the values instilled in me by my mother. I have always been drawn to the medical field, but midwifery, in particular, has captured my heart. There is something profoundly beautiful about guiding women through pregnancy and childbirth, ensuring they feel supported, informed, and empowered during such a transformative experience. The thought of providing compassionate and knowledgeable care to expectant mothers and their newborns fuels my desire to specialize in obstetrics and midwifery. So much of my love for learning and healthcare stems from my mother. She is one of the strongest, most resilient people I know. Though she never had the chance to complete her own education due to extreme poverty, she never let that stop her from learning. She taught herself to read and write in Spanish, even though her native language was Chatino, an indigenous dialect spoken in the mountainous regions of Oaxaca, Mexico. Her perseverance was nothing short of inspiring. She instilled in me a deep appreciation for education, always emphasizing its power to shape a person’s future. Through her, I recognized that knowledge is a gift—one that should never be taken for granted. My ambition to become a midwife was further solidified in high school when Alabama passed a law in 2017 legalizing the practice of Certified Professional Midwives. I remember reading about it and feeling an overwhelming sense of clarity—like the universe had just given me a sign that I was meant to follow this path. Seeing midwifery gain recognition only deepened my motivation to become a part of this field and advocate for better maternal care. Nursing is more than just a career to me; it is my purpose. It is the intersection of my passion, my upbringing, and my unwavering desire to make a difference. I am eager to embark on this journey, knowing that every step I take brings me closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a midwife and touching the lives of countless mothers and their babies.

I am an undergraduate student attending community college during the fall semester of 2022. While I was in high school, I was blessed with the opportunity to enroll in Career and Technical Education programs such as JROTC and Health Science: Medical Professions. My greatest aspiration is to pursue a goal in nursing. There are several reasons for my motivation to become a nurse, but I am most motivated by nurses' willingness to go above and beyond for their patients. I choose to seek a career in nursing because I wanted to do something that will challenge me, interests me, and make a difference in people's lives every day. I developed a strong interest in nursing during my internship at the height of the pandemic by witnessing nurses on site involved in a wide array of patient care aspects. I had the opportunity to go around different units of the hospital to view the vast duties and responsibilities that nurses take upon themselves. I was blown away by the dedication and pleasant nature of the hospital nurses, who performed their jobs gracefully and masked their fatigue and burnout with smiles and kindness. It is in my community's best interest for me to pursue a career in nursing because it is rapidly growing with a population of much diversity. As a first-generation Hispanic American, my community needs nurses who can culturally and verbally connect and speak with Hispanic/Latino patients. I want to set an example to my community and be seen as an inspiration for people to join healthcare, especially first-generation Hispanic immigrants. A goal I set for my career is having patients' needs met, this includes but is not limited to patients who may be considered a minority- from immigrants, POC, LBGTQ, Black people, and women. Another goal I aim to achieve in my career is to always remain educated in healthcare. Healthcare is constantly changing, and I believe that a great nurse must remain educated on the subject of healthcare. Lastly, I aspire to provide patient health care excellency throughout my nursing career. I am willing to accomplish this aspiration by not only having character but by impacting patients in a positive way to surpass the care they may have expected. Health care is vital in a patient's life and can determine how stable their life may remain after receiving such care. Assisting patients beyond their needs can aid the patient in improving the conflict that may be restraining them from their own goals.