When I was little, I didn’t quite know how to answer the age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It was a confusing question, back when my days were consumed with Dora the Explorer and preschool playdates. I didn’t have ambitions to be an astronaut, pirate, cowboy, or princess, like my classmates did. But what I did know for sure is that I wanted to be like the grown-ups that I looked up to. In elementary school, I admired my teachers and had an innate love for learning. I dreamed of one day having my own classroom and teaching the next generation. So, when asked, I would answer, “I want to be a teacher.” As I grew older, I took notice of the people who worked with my brother, who happens to have autism, and their gentle patience and true passion for their work. I considered what it would be like to be a special education teacher, or a speech therapist, and help kids like my brother gain their own independence. I changed my answer to, “I want to work with kids with disabilities.” In middle school, I started to struggle with my mental health and began to meet with different types of mental health professionals. The impactful work that they do prompted me to look into the field of psychology, and what makes people tick. I started high school at my local vocational school enrolled in the health sciences program, planning to major in psychology in college and become a licensed counselor with my own practice. But as I dove into my science-based classes, I started to really explore what it’s like to work in healthcare. I found myself loving college level classes about nutrition, or biomedical ethics. My anatomy class became my favorite of the day, despite the overwhelming course load. One of my teachers told stories of her days as a NICU nurse and an ED nurse, and I reveled in those experiences, asking her question after question about what her job was really like, the good and the bad. And slowly, I began to picture myself in that role. Could I be a nurse? Could that be something I would want to do? Prompted by my teachers, I started to research a career in nursing. I always thought that I would be a doctor if I decided to go into healthcare, but the more I learned about nursing, the more it began to appeal to me. I’m a people person, and nursing gives me the opportunity to make those meaningful connections with my future patients. After all, the common thread between all the things I’ve ever wanted to be is clear - I’ve always wanted to help people. Cliche as it is, I’ve realized that helping others is my calling in life, and what better way is there to do that than to take care of struggling souls in their lowest moments and impact their lives for years to come? It's funny, but I've had a taste of what it feels like to inspire young girls and women, similar to those I may encounter as a nurse, throughout my life. As a ballet dancer and dance volunteer, I have held the hands of nervous, self-conscious girls who feared the stage, building them up and sharing my courage with them. I've inspired younger dancers to find poise and freedom through movement, praising their confidence and self-worth. In addition, as a special needs volunteer, I have fought for young women to have equal opportunities and equal attention in the gym and the classroom.

At the age of three, my mom took me to my first dance class and I immediately fell in love with the sport. The teachers and older girls moved with such grace and athleticism in time to the music. I wanted to be like them and become a good dancer. What I didn't know is how much dance would teach me about being a strong female over the years. When I was eight, I was in my first Nutcracker. I’d danced on a stage before, but only for two minutes at a time. The twenty-minute-long party scene was a new challenge for me and my young, wavering focus. The corrections my small group of girls were constantly served over the months of rehearsal slowly became a mantra in my head. Tall back. Don’t talk. Turn out. Know your spot. Don’t rush. Hold your dress. Smile big. That first year taught me the importance of listening carefully and following directions, along with the knowledge to apply what I’d been told. When I was nine, I was trusted to not only be a toy soldier, but to be a soldier captain. The leadership role came with the responsibility of knowing when to start the circle around the rat king, and marching the group of soldiers through a pattern and back to our battle lines. At each rehearsal, I would sing the counts in my head, making sure to focus on my task. I learned the responsibility of being in charge of something, of being the one who is trusted to know what to do. Ever since then, I’ve been the girl who knows the counts of every piece I’ve been a part of. When I was eleven, I was chosen to be in my first competition piece: a lyrical group of seven girls, the youngest dancers competing that season. I was ecstatic. That was, until I realized how much I would fight with my teammates; over counts, over steps, over who got to do what, over everything. But slowly, we learned to trust one another, and to work together in order to dance as one. That year taught me how to be a part of a team, and for better or for worse, I’ll be friends with those six other girls for the rest of my life. When I was thirteen, I decided to compete a solo for the first time. And whether motivated by fear or by hope, I spent endless hours rehearsing. Staying after class, running it again and again and again, until I could do it in my sleep; I developed a kind of dedication, determination and resilience that I had never had before. I didn’t just want to be good enough, I wanted to be the best. And when I didn’t place in that first competition, I wasn’t angry, or sad; I just wanted to work harder. I’ve learned so many lessons throughout my fifteen years of dancing, not just about being a good dancer, but about being a good person and strong female. After all, being a dancer isn’t just about being able to jump or turn. Being a dancer is about carrying yourself with confidence, consistently giving your all, taking responsibility for yourself, having resilience and motivation, leading with grace and poise, and most importantly, embracing the opportunities that are presented to you. Dance is my passion. I plan on continuing to dance while in college and find ways to pay it forward by working with and encouraging younger dancers to be confident and strong. I will always be a dancer at heart.

When I was little, I didn’t quite know how to answer the age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It was a confusing question, back when my days were consumed with Dora the Explorer and preschool playdates. I didn’t have ambitions to be an astronaut, pirate, cowboy, or princess, like my classmates did. But what I did know for sure is that I wanted to be like the grown-ups that I looked up to. In elementary school, I admired my teachers and had an innate love for learning. I dreamed of one day having my own classroom and teaching the next generation. So, when asked, I would answer, “I want to be a teacher.” As I grew older, I took notice of the people who worked with my brother, who happens to have autism, and their gentle patience and true passion for their work. I considered what it would be like to be a special education teacher, or a speech therapist, and help kids like my brother gain their own independence. I changed my answer to, “I want to work with kids with disabilities.” In middle school, I started to struggle with my mental health and began to meet with different types of mental health professionals. The impactful work that they do prompted me to look into the field of psychology, and what makes people tick. I started high school at my local vocational school enrolled in the health sciences program, planning to major in psychology in college and become a licensed counselor with my own practice. But as I dove into my science-based classes, I started to really explore what it’s like to work in healthcare. I found myself loving college level classes about nutrition, or biomedical ethics. My anatomy class became my favorite of the day, despite the overwhelming course load. One of my teachers told stories of her days as a NICU nurse and an ED nurse, and I reveled in those experiences, asking her question after question about what her job was really like, the good and the bad. And slowly, I began to picture myself in that role. Could I be a nurse? Could that be something I would want to do? Prompted by my teachers, I started to research a career in nursing. I always thought that I would be a doctor if I decided to go into healthcare, but the more I learned about nursing, the more it began to appeal to me. I work as a lifeguard during the summer at my local community pool. Being a lifeguard has allowed me to dive into the healthcare field and gain hands-on experience, even if it’s just putting a band-aid on a scraped-up toe. Experiencing a rescue has reaffirmed my love for helping others and why I want to be a trauma nurse. Trauma is such a unique field in that you have to think on the fly and be good under pressure, and being a lifeguard has introduced me to a little taste of what that might feel like. I’m a people person, and nursing gives me the opportunity to make those meaningful connections with my future patients. After all, the common thread between all the things I’ve ever wanted to be is clear - I’ve always wanted to help people. Cliche as it is, I’ve realized that helping others is my calling in life, and what better way is there to do that than to take care of struggling souls in their lowest moments and impact their lives for years to come? I can’t wait to start.

Helen Keller once said, “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” But every day, our world is covered in negative shadows. Popular news articles cover only the bad, not the good. Our computer screens are covered in negativity, and they are everywhere. We cannot escape the negativity of this world, but we can try to combat getting sucked so far into it that we can no longer see the warm beams of sunshine lighting up our life. We can try to say, “Think positive!”, but how can we change our thoughts? How can we adjust our lives to see the good in our world? And what does true positivity mean? As a competitive dancer, I often struggle with self image. I compare myself to those around me and get sucked into a hole of negativity within my own mind. I think, “I’ll never be as good as them,” or “I don’t deserve to be on this team.” I imagine the thoughts of my peers, telling myself, “What if they hate me? What if they don’t want me to dance with them?” Through these experiences, I’ve learned that to stop myself from being consumed by these negative thoughts, I have to flip them on their head. I have to instead ask myself, “What if they do like me? What if they enjoy dancing with me? What if I am good enough?” I can turn my negative thoughts into my positive thoughts. I can try to “Think positive.” But positive thinking isn’t easy. It’s hugely difficult for a lot of people, including myself. It requires practice and hard work. It requires focus and dedication. It requires commitment and most importantly, it requires staying true to yourself. Merriam Webster defines positivity as a practice, not a frame of mind you are just born with. Through my life experiences, I believe I’ve found the meaning of positivity for myself and the power that my positive words can have on myself and the people around me. Positivity means that you try to look at the bright side of things. Positivity means you spread the sunshine and not the shadow. Instead of saying “I can’t”, say “I can try.” Instead of saying, “I’m ugly,” say, “I’m beautiful in my own right.” Instead of saying “I don’t deserve this,” say, “I deserve to have opportunities and to take them.” Not only can you improve your life by choosing to be positive, but you can also improve the lives of those around you. Positivity is contagious, and when one person chooses to push negativity away and embrace the positive aspects of life, it benefits everyone around them. If just one person chooses to be positive, the positivity can keep spreading from person to person until our world changes for the good. If everyone turns their face to the sunshine of positivity, we can push away the negative shadow, and become stronger together. As I head off to college to study nursing and become an RN, I have some of those same thoughts, "am I good enough?" and "can I do this?". But I chose nursing because it will allow me to make a positive impact on the world. When others are in pain, I can be there to help them as a nurse. Becoming a nurse is more than just about me. I am good enough and I can do this, to help others.

When I was little, I didn’t quite know how to answer the age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It was a confusing question, back when my days were consumed with Dora the Explorer and preschool playdates. I didn’t have ambitions to be an astronaut, pirate, cowboy, or princess, like my classmates did. But what I did know for sure is that I wanted to be like the grown-ups that I looked up to. In elementary school, I admired my teachers and had an innate love for learning. I dreamed of one day having my own classroom and teaching the next generation. So, when asked, I would answer, “I want to be a teacher.” As I grew older, I took notice of the people who worked with my brother, who happens to have autism, and their gentle patience and true passion for their work. I considered what it would be like to be a special education teacher, or a speech therapist, and help kids like my brother gain their own independence. I changed my answer to, “I want to work with kids with disabilities.” In middle school, I started to struggle with my mental health and began to meet with different types of mental health professionals. The impactful work that they do prompted me to look into the field of psychology, and what makes people tick. I started high school at my local vocational school enrolled in the health sciences program, planning to major in psychology in college and become a licensed counselor with my own practice. But as I dove into my science-based classes, I started to really explore what it’s like to work in healthcare. I found myself loving college level classes about nutrition, or biomedical ethics. My anatomy class became my favorite of the day, despite the overwhelming course load. One of my teachers told stories of her days as a NICU nurse and an ED nurse, and I reveled in those experiences, asking her question after question about what her job was really like, the good and the bad. And slowly, I began to picture myself in that role. Could I be a nurse? Could that be something I would want to do? Prompted by my teachers, I started to research a career in nursing. I always thought that I would be a doctor if I decided to go into healthcare, but the more I learned about nursing, the more it began to appeal to me. I’m a people person, and nursing gives me the opportunity to make those meaningful connections with my future patients. After all, the common thread between all the things I’ve ever wanted to be is clear - I’ve always wanted to help people. Cliche as it is, I’ve realized that helping others is my calling in life, and what better way is there to do that than to take care of struggling souls in their lowest moments and impact their lives for years to come? I can’t wait to start. I found this scholarship opportunity on bold.org.

When I was little, I didn’t quite know how to answer the age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It was a confusing question, back when my days were consumed with Dora the Explorer and preschool playdates. I didn’t have ambitions to be an astronaut, pirate, cowboy, or princess, like my classmates did. But what I did know for sure is that I wanted to be like the grown-ups that I looked up to. In elementary school, I admired my teachers and had an innate love for learning. I dreamed of one day having my own classroom and teaching the next generation. So, when asked, I would answer, “I want to be a teacher.” As I grew older, I took notice of the people who worked with my brother, who happens to have autism, and their gentle patience and true passion for their work. I considered what it would be like to be a special education teacher, or a speech therapist, and help kids like my brother gain their own independence. I changed my answer to, “I want to work with kids with disabilities.” In middle school, I started to struggle with my mental health and began to meet with different types of mental health professionals. The impactful work that they do prompted me to look into the field of psychology, and what makes people tick. I started high school at my local vocational school enrolled in the health sciences program, planning to major in psychology in college and become a licensed counselor with my own practice. But as I dove into my science-based classes, I started to really explore what it’s like to work in healthcare. I found myself loving college level classes about nutrition, or biomedical ethics. My anatomy class became my favorite of the day, despite the overwhelming course load. One of my teachers told stories of her days as a NICU nurse and an ED nurse, and I reveled in those experiences, asking her question after question about what her job was really like, the good and the bad. And slowly, I began to picture myself in that role. Could I be a nurse? Could that be something I would want to do? Prompted by my teachers, I started to research a career in nursing. I always thought that I would be a doctor if I decided to go into healthcare, but the more I learned about nursing, the more it began to appeal to me. I’m a people person, and nursing gives me the opportunity to make those meaningful connections with my future patients. After all, the common thread between all the things I’ve ever wanted to be is clear - I’ve always wanted to help people. Cliche as it is, I’ve realized that helping others is my calling in life, and what better way is there to do that than to take care of struggling souls in their lowest moments and impact their lives for years to come? I can’t wait to start.

When I was little, I didn’t quite know how to answer the age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It was a confusing question, back when my days were consumed with Dora the Explorer and preschool playdates. I didn’t have ambitions to be an astronaut, pirate, cowboy, or princess, like my classmates did. But what I did know for sure is that I wanted to be like the grown-ups that I looked up to. In elementary school, I admired my teachers and had an innate love for learning. I dreamed of one day having my own classroom and teaching the next generation. So, when asked, I would answer, “I want to be a teacher.” As I grew older, I took notice of the people who worked with my brother, who happens to have autism, and their gentle patience and true passion for their work. I considered what it would be like to be a special education teacher, or a speech therapist, and help kids like my brother gain their own independence. I changed my answer to, “I want to work with kids with disabilities.” In middle school, I started to struggle with my mental health and began to meet with different types of mental health professionals. The impactful work that they do prompted me to look into the field of psychology, and what makes people tick. I started high school at my local vocational school enrolled in the health sciences program, planning to major in psychology in college and become a licensed counselor with my own practice. But as I dove into my science-based classes, I started to really explore what it’s like to work in healthcare. I found myself loving college level classes about nutrition, or biomedical ethics. My anatomy class became my favorite of the day, despite the overwhelming course load. One of my teachers told stories of her days as a NICU nurse and an ED nurse, and I reveled in those experiences, asking her question after question about what her job was really like, the good and the bad. And slowly, I began to picture myself in that role. Could I be a nurse? Could that be something I would want to do? Prompted by my teachers, I started to research a career in nursing. I always thought that I would be a doctor if I decided to go into healthcare, but the more I learned about nursing, the more it began to appeal to me. I’m a people person, and nursing gives me the opportunity to make those meaningful connections with my future patients. After all, the common thread between all the things I’ve ever wanted to be is clear - I’ve always wanted to help people. Cliche as it is, I’ve realized that helping others is my calling in life, and what better way is there to do that than to take care of struggling souls in their lowest moments and impact their lives for years to come? I plan to specialize in trauma nursing and hope to one day be a flight medic. I want to serve my community by providing real-time medical care at the point of immediate and urgent need to save lives. My parents both come from families that supported our military forces through enlistment and civilian service. While I don't yet know if I will pursue the honorable calling of military service, I have been encouraged by several members of my family to give it serious consideration. That future is to be determined.

When I was little, I didn’t quite know how to answer the age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It was a confusing question, back when my days were consumed with Dora the Explorer and preschool playdates. I didn’t have ambitions to be an astronaut, pirate, cowboy, or princess, like my classmates did. But what I did know for sure is that I wanted to be like the grown-ups that I looked up to. In elementary school, I admired my teachers and had an innate love for learning. I dreamed of one day having my own classroom and teaching the next generation. So, when asked, I would answer, “I want to be a teacher.” As I grew older, I took notice of the people who worked with my brother, who happens to have autism, and their gentle patience and true passion for their work. I considered what it would be like to be a special education teacher, or a speech therapist, and help kids like my brother gain their own independence. I changed my answer to, “I want to work with kids with disabilities.” In middle school, I started to struggle with my mental health and began to meet with different types of mental health professionals. The impactful work that they do prompted me to look into the field of psychology, and what makes people tick. I started high school at my local vocational school enrolled in the health sciences program, planning to major in psychology in college and become a licensed counselor with my own practice. But as I dove into my science-based classes, I started to really explore what it’s like to work in healthcare. I found myself loving college level classes about nutrition, or biomedical ethics. My anatomy class became my favorite of the day, despite the overwhelming course load. One of my teachers told stories of her days as a NICU nurse and an ED nurse, and I reveled in those experiences, asking her question after question about what her job was really like, the good and the bad. And slowly, I began to picture myself in that role. Could I be a nurse? Could that be something I would want to do? Prompted by my teachers, I started to research a career in nursing. I always thought that I would be a doctor if I decided to go into healthcare, but the more I learned about nursing, the more it began to appeal to me. I’m a people person, and nursing gives me the opportunity to make those meaningful connections with my future patients. After all, the common thread between all the things I’ve ever wanted to be is clear - I’ve always wanted to help people. Cliche as it is, I’ve realized that helping others is my calling in life, and what better way is there to do that than to take care of struggling souls in their lowest moments and impact their lives for years to come? I can’t wait to start.

When I was little, I didn’t quite know how to answer the age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It was a confusing question, back when my days were consumed with Dora the Explorer and preschool playdates. I didn’t have ambitions to be an astronaut, pirate, cowboy, or princess, like my classmates did. But what I did know for sure is that I wanted to be like the grown-ups that I looked up to. In elementary school, I admired my teachers and had an innate love for learning. I dreamed of one day having my own classroom and teaching the next generation. So, when asked, I would answer, “I want to be a teacher.” As I grew older, I took notice of the people who worked with my brother, who happens to have autism, and their gentle patience and true passion for their work. I considered what it would be like to be a special education teacher, or a speech therapist, and help kids like my brother gain their own independence. I changed my answer to, “I want to work with kids with disabilities.” In middle school, I started to struggle with my mental health and began to meet with different types of mental health professionals. The impactful work that they do prompted me to look into the field of psychology, and what makes people tick. I started high school at my local vocational school enrolled in the health sciences program, planning to major in psychology in college and become a licensed counselor with my own practice. But as I dove into my science-based classes, I started to really explore what it’s like to work in healthcare. I found myself loving college level classes about nutrition, or biomedical ethics. My anatomy class became my favorite of the day, despite the overwhelming course load. One of my teachers told stories of her days as a NICU nurse and an ED nurse, and I reveled in those experiences, asking her question after question about what her job was really like, the good and the bad. And slowly, I began to picture myself in that role. Could I be a nurse? Could that be something I would want to do? Prompted by my teachers, I started to research a career in nursing. I always thought that I would be a doctor if I decided to go into healthcare, but the more I learned about nursing, the more it began to appeal to me. I’m a people person, and nursing gives me the opportunity to make those meaningful connections with my future patients. After all, the common thread between all the things I’ve ever wanted to be is clear - I’ve always wanted to help people. Cliche as it is, I’ve realized that helping others is my calling in life, and what better way is there to do that than to take care of struggling souls in their lowest moments and impact their lives for years to come? As a soon to be June 2025 high school graduate, I'm still at the beginning of my nursing journey. I don't know yet which specific fields interest me the most or where my educational and career goals will take me yet. But I do know one thing, . . . I can’t wait to start.