My grandparents were only two generations removed from slavery. Born in 1919 and 1923, I can recall the stories that my grandmother used to tell about her grandfather, born in 1851 in the Piney Woods of East Texas nine years prior to the Civil War, how my grandmother's older siblings and parents had to up and leave their East Texas home in the 1900's to escape a crazy lynch mob that accused my great-uncle of stealing a chicken, and how both my grandmother and grandfather worked tirelessly for decades to create a legacy through land and cattle ownership for their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and future generations to come. Like my grandparents, Amelia and Sam Boynton were trailblazers for the black community but the Boynton's impact on the betterment of the African-American community changed the nation as a whole. Amelia showcased bravery in getting Blacks registered to vote in the Jim Crow South despite the local and state government's propensity to deny basic rights. During a time where she could have been jailed, beaten, or even killed, as she nearly was during Blood Sunday at the Edmund Petus Bridge in 1965, the need to have Blacks be a participant in the the voting process was greater. Samuel Boynton, a county agent during this time, helped Black sharecroppers cultivate crops and cattle. With the knowledge of cultivating land and producing cattle, Blacks could really make a living for themselves and create their own legacies. They were given the tools to finally rise up and become a full citizen in a county built on the backs of their parents, grandparents and great-grand parents. Their stories have impacted me to continue my education and pursue a 2nd Bachelor's degree in nursing in the accelerated program at Texas A&M University in Round Rock . I'm a graduate of a HBCU (Prairie View A&M University, class of 2014) and pursuing higher education in my household wasn't a choice. It is the gateway to a successful future, multiple opportunities, and financial security. During my time at Prairie View, I got a front row seat to the injusticies in rural Waller County. For example, the limiting of polling stations in the city of Prairie View in a town that thrived from the student body, the potential implantation of a landfill in Prairie View and the unfortunate murder of Sandra Bland, also a graduate of Prairie View A&M. I was heavily involved in the political process on and off campus and because deputized to get the student body registered to vote in local and national elections. With nursing, I plan to advocate for my patients in the way that Amelia and Samuel Boynton did but in the healthcare setting. Racism is embedded deep in almost every American institution, especially in healthcare. I saw first hand during my mother's sickness how important patient advocacy is. On many occasions, I had to step in on my mother's behalf to make sure she was getting equitable care and was taken seriously. As a nurse, I want to be the liaison between the healthcare field and policy makers and advocate for better healthcare for everyone, more funding to close the racial and financial gap in healthcare, and to protect the rights of the most vulnerable while also encouraging my peers to vote for leaders and legislation that will continue to propel America forward.