Raising a family has been a life-changing experience, to say the least. I am a mom to a fantastic nine-year-old who constantly keeps me on my toes, and I love every moment. In 2021, my husband and I learned that our daughter is neurodivergent and diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiance Disorder. This meant we would have to learn how to adapt to how we teach her, understand her unique needs, and navigate the world of neurodiversity. It doesn't come without trials and tribulations. There are days when we have meltdowns, and the world feels like it is ending. These days make me feel like I am the worst mom and that everything I do is wrong. Then there are the great days when we can keep her from getting overstimulated, and everything feels normal. As a child, I grew up with a family of nurses who triaged various medical emergencies. Naturally, I proclaimed that I would become a nurse for years and join the 'family business.' However, I soon realized that I did not have the same fantastic skillset that my family members did. I struggled and was highly discouraged that I would not be able to meet the high standards set by my family. However, I still wanted to help people and make a difference. I began to ask questions about other opportunities in healthcare and how I could help my community. As I continue my career in healthcare, I plan to expand my knowledge and obtain my bachelor's degree in healthcare management to become a leader for the health system I am employed with and implement better patient care from a non-clinical perspective. Breaking barriers within the industry and creating better continuity of care between health systems to improve patient care while continuing to hold insurance companies accountable for unnecessary denial of services. Looking ahead, I am filled with enthusiasm for the future of my healthcare education. I plan to develop a curriculum that introduces high school students to the basics of the healthcare industry. This curriculum will cover various topics, from understanding the explanation of benefits to calculating out-of-pocket costs and choosing the right health insurance plan. By providing this education, we can empower the next generation to make informed decisions about their healthcare. I am excited about the potential impact of this initiative and the positive change it can bring to the healthcare landscape.

I had to mature quickly as a child of divorce, particularly in the face of an abusive father. I was constantly on edge, apprehensive about the mental and emotional toll his cruel words would take, as well as the harsh punishments I might face for being "overweight." I learned to tune out the hateful remarks and persevered through the challenges. After moving in with my mom, I discovered the resilience I had developed over the years. With the support of my family and trained medical staff, I sought guidance to help manage my emotions and begin to heal the wounds from my past. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when remote schooling became the norm, I saw a significant change in my daughter; she became withdrawn and lost interest in outdoor activities. Fortunately, we discovered a fantastic sideline cheer organization that needed volunteers, which marked a pivotal moment for us. I eagerly took on the coach role, aiming to support other children facing similar challenges while fostering a "cheer family" atmosphere where athletes felt safe to share their struggles. It has been truly inspiring to witness their confidence flourish throughout the season as they learn to stunt, tumble, and cheer. I feel fortunate to have a family of nurses who guided me through the healthcare system, enabling me to make informed decisions about my care. It was only natural for me to pursue a career in this field. I began exploring the available opportunities and how I could positively impact my community. As I embarked on my journey into adulthood, I received my first hospital bill, and to my surprise, every charge was denied. Confused about why the insurance company rejected the bill, I was determined to uncover the reason. I conducted research and reached out to my insurance provider, and at that moment, I realized that not all superheroes wear scrubs. This experience motivated me to work toward preventing unnecessary bills from being sent to patients and alleviating my frustrations when dealing with insurance issues. This was a pivotal point in my career, realizing that I could make a difference in healthcare, even without a clinical background. I obtained my associate's degree in allied health, which provided me with basic healthcare knowledge, and I set my sights on greatness. I became a skilled authorization specialist, a role that ensures that the procedures a patient is about to undergo are deemed medically necessary by their insurance company. This helps to reduce denials and, in turn, reduces my patients' out-of-pocket costs. I specialized in inpatient surgeries, outpatient surgeries, and pediatric chemotherapy admissions. As I continued gaining knowledge, I assisted with devising policies and procedures to create standard workflows for processing patient cases. In addition, I pioneered the implementation of automated tools within the electronic medical records system, allowing the hospital to expedite patient care. Creating these processes allowed the patients and their families to focus on healing. Since then, I have taken on a new role focusing on centralizing referrals to eliminate patient care delays effectively. I am committed to expanding my expertise by pursuing a bachelor's degree in healthcare management and positioning myself as a leader within the health system I am part of. My goal is to break down barriers in the healthcare industry and enhance continuity of care across health systems, ensuring we elevate patient care quality. I am also dedicated to holding insurance companies accountable for unjust service denials. I am enthusiastic about my healthcare education journey as I look to the future. I aim to develop a curriculum that introduces high school students to the foundational aspects of the healthcare industry. This curriculum will encompass a range of topics, including understanding explanations of benefits, calculating out-of-pocket costs, and selecting the appropriate health insurance plan. By providing this education, we can empower the next generation to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. I eagerly anticipate this initiative's positive impact on the healthcare landscape.

I have spent the last nine years working in the healthcare industry. Throughout this time, I got married, welcomed my daughter, and earned my associate's degree. My goal has always been to pursue a bachelor's degree, but I faced challenges regarding time and financial commitment. This scholarship would provide essential economic relief for my family and enable my daughter to continue engaging in after-school activities.          As I pursue my career goals, I aspire to take on a leadership role within the healthcare industry. I intend to develop a curriculum to introduce high school students to the fundamentals of this field. I envision collaborating with local school districts to create an educational program covering various topics, including understanding benefits, calculating out-of-pocket expenses, and selecting the appropriate health insurance plan. Providing this education can empower the next generation to make informed healthcare decisions. I am enthusiastic about the potential impact of this initiative and the positive change it can bring to the healthcare landscape. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when students were required to engage in remote schooling, I noticed a significant change in my daughter; she became withdrawn and lost interest in outdoor activities. Fortunately, we discovered a wonderful sideline cheer organization that needed volunteers, marking a turning point for us. I eagerly immersed myself in the coach role, aiming to support other children experiencing similar challenges while fostering a "cheer family" atmosphere where athletes felt safe to share their struggles. It has been truly inspiring to witness their confidence blossom throughout the season as they learn to stunt, tumble, and cheer. In 2020, I embarked on returning to school to pursue my bachelor's degree, only to realize that I wasn't mentally prepared to commit to my studies once again entirely. At that time, my daughter had just started elementary school amidst the challenges of Covid. My husband's career had just begun to flourish, leaving me unable to be as present at home as I had been in previous years. I felt the weight of not fulfilling my educational aspirations, and my five-year-old daughter witnessed my struggle firsthand. One day, as my sweet kindergartner hugged me and gently wiped away my tears, she reassured me that it was alright not to be ready. At that moment, I recognized that everyone reached their goals at their own pace, and it was perfectly acceptable for me to pause and prioritize the well-being of my family.          Throughout my upbringing, I believed my greatest strength was my eagerness to learn. However, I have realized that my strength lies in my unwavering determination. I acknowledge that I am resolute in pursuing the answer whenever I encounter uncertainty. Once I commit to a task, I am dedicated to completing it.

Growing up with a family of nurses, I watched them triage various medical emergencies. Naturally, I proclaimed that I would become a nurse, but after some years, I realized I did not have the same fantastic skill set as my family members. I was discouraged that I would not enter the "family business." I began to ask questions about other opportunities in healthcare and how I could help my community. As I continued my journey into adulthood, I received my first bill from the hospital, and every charge listed was denied. I didn't understand why the insurance rejected the bill but was determined to get to the root cause. So, I researched and called my insurance company and, at that moment, realized that not all superheroes wear scrubs. I determined that I wanted to prevent unnecessary bills from being sent to patients and having to argue with the insurance company as I did. This was a turning point in my career, a moment of realization that I could make a difference in healthcare, even without a clinical background. I obtained my associate's degree in allied health, which provided me with basic healthcare knowledge, and I set my sights on greatness. I became a skilled authorization specialist, a role that ensures that the procedures a patient is about to undergo are deemed medically necessary by their insurance company. This helps to reduce denials and, in turn, reduces my patients' out-of-pocket costs. I specialized in inpatient surgeries, outpatient surgeries, and pediatric chemotherapy admissions. As I continued gaining knowledge, I assisted with devising policies and procedures to create standard workflows for processing patient cases. In addition, I pioneered the implementation of automated tools within the electronic medical records system, allowing the hospital to expedite patient care. Creating these processes allowed the patients and their families to focus on healing. Since then, I have transitioned to a new position, assisting with centralizing referrals to minimize patient care delays. I plan to expand my knowledge and obtain my bachelor's degree in healthcare management to become a leader for the health system I am employed with and implement better patient care from a non-clinical perspective. My current goal is to break barriers within the healthcare industry and create better continuity of care between health systems to improve the quality of patient care while continuing to hold insurance companies accountable for unnecessary denial of services. Looking ahead, I am filled with enthusiasm for the future of my healthcare education. I plan to develop a curriculum that introduces high school students to the basics of the healthcare industry. This curriculum will cover various topics, from understanding the explanation of benefits to calculating out-of-pocket costs and choosing the right health insurance plan. By providing this education, we can empower the next generation to make informed decisions about their healthcare. I am excited about the potential impact of this initiative and the positive change it can bring to the healthcare landscape.

As a child, I grew up with a family of nurses who would triage various medical emergencies. Naturally, I proclaimed that I would become a nurse for years. I soon realized that I did not have the same fantastic skillset that my family members did and was highly discouraged that I would not be going into the 'family business.' However, I still wanted to help people and make a difference. I began to ask questions about other opportunities in healthcare and how I could help my community. As I continued my journey into adulthood, I received my first bill from the hospital, and every charge listed was denied. I didn't understand why I had a bill but was determined to get to the root cause. So, I researched and called my insurance company and, at that moment, realized that not all superheroes wear scrubs. I determined that I wanted to prevent unnecessary bills from being sent to patients and having to argue with the insurance company as I did. This was a turning point in my career, a moment of realization that I could make a difference in healthcare, even without a clinical background. I obtained my associate's degree in allied health, which provided me with basic healthcare knowledge, and I set my sights on greatness. I became a skilled authorization specialist, a role that ensures that the procedures a patient is about to undergo are deemed medically necessary by their insurance company. This helps to reduce denials and, in turn, reduces my patients' out-of-pocket costs. I specialized in inpatient surgeries, outpatient surgeries, and pediatric chemotherapy admissions. As I continued gaining knowledge, I assisted with devising policies and procedures to create standard workflows for processing patient cases. In addition, I pioneered the implementation of automated tools within the electronic medical records system, allowing the hospital to expedite patient care. Creating these processes allowed the patients and their families to focus on healing. Since then, I have transitioned to a new position, assisting with centralizing referrals to minimize patient care delays. I plan to expand my knowledge and obtain my bachelor's degree in healthcare management to become a leader for the health system I am employed with and implement better patient care from a non-clinical perspective. My current goal is to break barriers within the healthcare industry and create better continuity of care between health systems to improve patient care while continuing to hold insurance companies accountable for unnecessary denial of services. Looking ahead, I am filled with enthusiasm for the future of my healthcare education. I plan to develop a curriculum that introduces high school students to the basics of the healthcare industry. This curriculum will cover various topics, from understanding the explanation of benefits to calculating out-of-pocket costs and choosing the right health insurance plan. By providing this education, we can empower the next generation to make informed decisions about their healthcare. I am excited about the potential impact of this initiative and the positive change it can bring to the healthcare landscape.

As a child, I grew up with a family of nurses who would triage various medical emergencies. Naturally, I proclaimed that I would become a nurse for years. I soon realized that I did not have the same fantastic skillset that my family members did and was highly discouraged that I would not be going into the 'family business.' However, I still wanted to help people and make a difference. I began to ask questions about other opportunities in healthcare and how I could help my community. As I continued my journey into adulthood, I received my first bill from the hospital, and every charge listed was denied. I didn't understand why I had a bill but was determined to get to the root cause. So, I researched and called my insurance company and, at that moment, realized that not all superheroes wear scrubs. I determined that I wanted to prevent unnecessary bills from being sent to patients and having to argue with the insurance company as I did. This was a turning point in my career, a moment of realization that I could make a difference in healthcare, even without a clinical background. I obtained my associate's degree in allied health, which provided me with basic healthcare knowledge, and I set my sights on greatness. I became a skilled authorization specialist, a role that ensures that the procedures a patient is about to undergo are deemed medically necessary by their insurance company. This helps to reduce denials and, in turn, reduces my patients' out-of-pocket costs. I specialized in inpatient surgeries, outpatient surgeries, and pediatric chemotherapy admissions. As I continued gaining knowledge, I assisted with devising policies and procedures to create standard workflows for processing patient cases. In addition, I pioneered the implementation of automated tools within the electronic medical records system, allowing the hospital to expedite patient care. Creating these processes allowed the patients and their families to focus on healing. Since then, I have transitioned to a new position, assisting with centralizing referrals to minimize patient care delays. I plan to expand my knowledge and obtain my bachelor's degree in healthcare management to become a leader for the health system I am employed with and implement better patient care from a non-clinical perspective. My current goal is to break barriers within the healthcare industry and create better continuity of care between health systems to improve patient care while continuing to hold insurance companies accountable for unnecessary denial of services. Looking ahead, I am filled with enthusiasm for the future of my healthcare education. I plan to develop a curriculum that introduces high school students to the basics of the healthcare industry. This curriculum will cover various topics, from understanding the explanation of benefits to calculating out-of-pocket costs and choosing the right health insurance plan. By providing this education, we can empower the next generation to make informed decisions about their healthcare. I am excited about the potential impact of this initiative and the positive change it can bring to the healthcare landscape.