Education has been my way of reclaiming a future that once felt out of reach. I fled my abusive home as soon as I turned eighteen, and as a result, I am a low-income student at risk of homelessness. Since then, I’ve had to navigate housing insecurity, trauma, and chronic health issues, all while staying focused on my goal of becoming a healthcare provider. Chemeketa Community College gave me the opportunity to pursue higher education. Now a few years later, I’m preparing to take my next big step by transferring to Bushnell University’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in Fall 2025. I earned my associate’s degree from Chemeketa in 2023, took a gap year, and returned to community college this year to complete the last of my nursing prerequisites. Currently, I work as both a patient care coordinator and a medical scribe, and I hold a CNA license. These roles have given me hands-on experience in healthcare while supporting me financially. More importantly, they’ve confirmed my passion for patient care. I’m particularly passionate about advocating for those who are marginalized and have experienced trauma. Growing up, I lived through ongoing emotional and verbal abuse, which led to my diagnosis of PTSD and OCD. I’ve also faced complex health challenges, including endometriosis, which required surgery last year. These experiences have taught me how isolating and overwhelming it can be to navigate both mental and physical health issues. They’ve also given me a deep drive to become the kind of nurse who truly listens and advocates for their patients. As Bushnell’s program is accelerated, I won’t be able to work while enrolled. That reality makes financial support especially critical. Receiving this scholarship would lift a significant burden and allow me to devote my full attention and energy to nursing school. This scholarship would allow me to finish what I started at Chemeketa and move forward with the education I need to help others. While I am focusing on one step at a time, I have more education in mind after I earn my BSN - I am interested in nurse practitioner or physician associate school after working as a nurse for at least a few years. Outside of school and work, I help around my grandparent’s house, as they both face health issues. I am learning Spanish to better connect with more people, enjoy reading memoirs, and spending time with animals - especially my loved ones’ cats. These small joys and connections are part of what keep me grounded and hopeful. Experiencing as much of life as I can is also a value of mine - I enjoy stepping outside of my comfort zone. A couple of my favorite memories where I stepped out of my comfort zone were during my gap year, where I solo traveled, surfed, and went skydiving. I’m proud of the life I am creating and how I have overcome adversity in my life. My career is an important part of my dream life. I want to be a healthcare provider who brings both skill and heart into every patient interaction - someone who makes others feel safe, seen, and cared for during some of the hardest moments of their own lives.