At seventeen, heart conditions were something you only heard about during health class. Something you never thought would happen to you. I told myself there's no way, I was an athlete; I played three sports and I stayed active. But between April 18, 2022, and May 5, 2025, I faced seven surgeries within three years. These became seven opportunities I have used as stepping stones into becoming a better person. These dates consisted of a cardiac ablation heart surgery to fix a diagnosis of Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), five meniscus repairs, and a torn labrum in my shoulder. My life shifted from that of a collegiate volleyball player to a patient quickly. It's true I hit rock bottom. I had to learn how to walk again and trust my body again. I learned that life simply isn't fair, but I knew I was going through this for a reason. I saw the toll it took on my parents, family, and friends. They saw me at my worst, wondering if I was going to make it out of this season of life with the spirit I once had. I have seen first-hand the burnout caregivers experience in my very own bedroom. They held my hand as they saw my dreams slowly slip through my fingers when I was told my collegiate volleyball career was over. One night a nurse changed my perspective on life. She told me, "Being courageous doesn't mean you will never feel afraid". In that moment, I realized my presence in that hospital bed wasn't a diversion from God’s plan; it was the beginning of it. I decided then to be that voice for others. Today I know that without this journey, I would not have the fight, the strength, and the appreciation for life that I have today. I would not be in nursing school without these experiences. I have channeled this resilience into serving on our Student Nurse Association, the nursing representative of our Professional Student Alumni Association, member of our Phi Kappa Phi Academic Society, and have maintained a 4.0 GPA. I challenge myself to never give up on my patients and their loved ones. I will always picture my parents leaving my room in tears and feeling the heaviness of their love for me. I promise to never judge those fighting for their life and to never judge how their loved ones respond. That was once my mom and dad. I will be the nurse who cares for the person in the bed and the person sitting next to it. I am human and I am still grieving, but celebrating what I have gained: a perspective that allows me to tell my future patients that their healing process is theirs alone to define. I think this is what makes me uniquely qualified to be a nurse. My future patients need someone who will fight for them and won’t accept no for an answer. To my future patients, I know what it is like to feel like your future has collapsed on top of you with no exit. I understand you. I have been there. I can become their why. The reason why they want to make their rock bottom their foundation. I will tell them to share your story and inspire others and be their why. I challenge myself to always listen and always be their advocate. I share their story and above all else I am a human being. My mission isn't just to heal, it’s to ensure that no patient ever has to find their way out of rock bottom alone.

At seventeen, heart conditions were something you only heard about during health class. Something you never thought would happen to you. I told myself there's no way, I was an athlete; I played three sports and I stayed active. But between April 18, 2022, and May 5, 2025, I faced seven surgeries within three years. These became seven opportunities I have used as stepping stones into becoming a better person. These dates consisted of a cardiac ablation heart surgery to fix a diagnosis of Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), five meniscus repairs, and a torn labrum in my shoulder. My life shifted from that of a collegiate volleyball player to a patient quickly. It's true I hit rock bottom. I had to learn how to walk again and trust my body again. I learned that life simply isn't fair, but I knew I was going through this for a reason. I saw the toll it took on my parents, family, and friends. They saw me at my worst, wondering if I was going to make it out of this season of life with the spirit I once had. I have seen first-hand the burnout caregivers experience in my very own bedroom. They held my hand as they saw my dreams slowly slip through my fingers when I was told my collegiate volleyball career was over. One night a nurse changed my perspective on life. She told me, "Being courageous doesn't mean you will never feel afraid". In that moment, I realized my presence in that hospital bed wasn't a diversion from God’s plan; it was the beginning of it. I decided then to be that voice for others. Today I know that without this journey, I would not have the fight, the strength, and the appreciation for life that I have today. I would not be in nursing school without these experiences. I have channeled this resilience into serving on our Student Nurse Association, the nursing representative of our Professional Student Alumni Association, member of our Phi Kappa Phi Academic Society, and have maintained a 4.0 GPA. As I progress in my nursing education, I aim to inspire hope. After obtaining my BSN, I plan to work in the Cardiac ICU at Duke. Having undergone a cardiac ablation myself, I understand the anxiety of a heart-related diagnosis. This shared experience will allow me to connect with patients far beyond words. I intend to later enter a Doctorate of Nursing Practice program to become a CRNA. Returning to work CRNA would be a powerful, full-circle moment, allowing me to provide the same compassionate care I once received. My dream is to provide the ease before surgery I was provided. I challenge myself to never give up on my patients and their loved ones. I will always picture my parents leaving my room in tears and feeling the heaviness of their love for me. I promise to never judge those fighting for their life and to never judge how their loved ones respond. That was once my mom and dad. I will be the nurse who cares for the person in the bed and the person sitting next to it. I am human and I am still grieving, but celebrating what I have gained: a perspective that allows me to tell my future patients that their healing process is theirs alone to define. I think this is what makes me uniquely qualified to be a nurse. My future patients need someone who will fight for them and won’t accept no for an answer. To my future patients, I know what it is like to feel like your future has collapsed on top of you with no exit. I understand you. I have been there. I can become their why. The reason why they want to make their rock bottom their foundation. I will tell them to share your story and inspire others and be their why. I challenge myself to always listen and always be their advocate. I share their story and above all else I am a human being. My mission isn't just to heal, it’s to ensure that no patient ever has to find their way out of rock bottom alone.

At seventeen, heart conditions were something you only heard about during health class. Something you never thought would happen to you. I told myself there's no way, I was an athlete; I played three sports and I stayed active. But between April 18, 2022, and May 5, 2025, I faced seven surgeries within three years. These became seven opportunities I have used as stepping stones into becoming a better person. These dates consisted of a cardiac ablation heart surgery to fix a diagnosis of Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), five meniscus repairs, and a torn labrum in my shoulder. My life shifted from that of a collegiate volleyball player to a patient quickly. It's true I hit rock bottom. I had to learn how to walk again and trust my body again. I learned that life simply isn't fair, but I knew I was going through this for a reason. I saw the toll it took on my parents, family, and friends. They saw me at my worst, wondering if I was going to make it out of this season of life with the spirit I once had. I have seen first-hand the burnout caregivers experience in my very own bedroom. They held my hand as they saw my dreams slowly slip through my fingers when I was told my collegiate volleyball career was over. One night a nurse changed my perspective on life. She told me, "Being courageous doesn't mean you will never feel afraid". In that moment, I realized my presence in that hospital bed wasn't a diversion from God’s plan; it was the beginning of it. I decided then to be that voice for others. Today I know that without this journey, I would not have the fight, the strength, and the appreciation for life that I have today. I would not be in nursing school without these experiences. I have channeled this resilience into serving on our Student Nurse Association, the nursing representative of our Professional Student Alumni Association, member of our Phi Kappa Phi Academic Society, and have maintained a 4.0 GPA. I challenge myself to never give up on my patients and their loved ones. I will always picture my parents leaving my room in tears and feeling the heaviness of their love for me. I promise to never judge those fighting for their life and to never judge how their loved ones respond. That was once my mom and dad. I will be the nurse who cares for the person in the bed and the person sitting next to it. I am human and I am still grieving, but celebrating what I have gained: a perspective that allows me to tell my future patients that their healing process is theirs alone to define. I think this is what makes me uniquely qualified to be a nurse. My future patients need someone who will fight for them and won’t accept no for an answer. To my future patients, I know what it is like to feel like your future has collapsed on top of you with no exit. I understand you. I have been there. I can become their why. The reason why they want to make their rock bottom their foundation. I will tell them to share your story and inspire others and be their why. I challenge myself to always listen and always be their advocate. I share their story and above all else I am a human being. My mission isn't just to heal, it’s to ensure that no patient ever has to find their way out of rock bottom alone.

At seventeen, heart conditions were something you only heard about during health class. Something you never thought would happen to you. I told myself there's no way, I was an athlete; I played three sports and I stayed active. But between April 18, 2022, and May 5, 2025, I faced seven surgeries within three years. These became seven opportunities I have used as stepping stones into becoming a better person. These dates consisted of a cardiac ablation heart surgery to fix a diagnosis of Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), five meniscus repairs, and a torn labrum in my shoulder. My life shifted from that of a collegiate volleyball player to a patient quickly. It's true I hit rock bottom. I had to learn how to walk again and trust my body again. I learned that life simply isn't fair, but I knew I was going through this for a reason. I saw the toll it took on my parents, family, and friends. They saw me at my worst, wondering if I was going to make it out of this season of life with the spirit I once had. I have seen first-hand the burnout caregivers experience in my very own bedroom. They held my hand as they saw my dreams slowly slip through my fingers when I was told my collegiate volleyball career was over. One night a nurse changed my perspective on life. She told me, "Being courageous doesn't mean you will never feel afraid". In that moment, I realized my presence in that hospital bed wasn't a diversion from God’s plan; it was the beginning. I decided then to be that voice for others. Today I know that without this journey, I would not have the fight, the strength, and the appreciation for life that I have today. I would not be in nursing school without these experiences. I have channeled this resilience into serving on our Student Nurse Association, the nursing representative of our Professional Student Alumni Association, member of our Phi Kappa Phi Academic Society, and have maintained a 4.0 GPA. I challenge myself to never give up on my patients and their loved ones. I will always picture my parents leaving my room in tears and feeling the heaviness of their love for me. I promise to never judge those fighting for their life and to never judge how their loved ones respond. That was once my mom and dad. I will be the nurse who cares for the person in the bed and the person sitting next to it. I am human and I am still grieving, but celebrating what I have gained: a perspective that allows me to tell my future patients that their healing process is theirs alone to define. I think this is what makes me uniquely qualified to be a nurse. My future patients need someone who will fight for them and won’t accept no for an answer. To my future patients, I know what it is like to feel like your future has collapsed on top of you with no exit. I understand you. I have been there. I can become their why. The reason why they want to make their rock bottom their foundation. I will tell them to share your story and inspire others and be their why. I will always listen and be their advocate. I share their story and above all else I am a human being. My mission isn't just to heal, it’s to ensure that no patient ever has to find their way out of rock bottom alone. I found this scholarship through Bold.Org!

At seventeen, heart conditions were something you only heard about during health class. Something you never thought would happen to you. I told myself there's no way, I was an athlete; I played three sports and I stayed active. But between April 18, 2022, and May 5, 2025, I faced seven surgeries within three years. These became seven opportunities I have used as stepping stones into becoming a better person. These dates consisted of a cardiac ablation heart surgery to fix a diagnosis of Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), five meniscus repairs, and a torn labrum in my shoulder. My life shifted from that of a collegiate volleyball player to a patient quickly. It's true I hit rock bottom. I had to learn how to walk again and trust my body again. I learned that life simply isn't fair, but I knew I was going through this for a reason. I saw the toll it took on my parents, family, and friends. They saw me at my worst, wondering if I was going to make it out of this season of life with the spirit I once had. I have seen first-hand the burnout caregivers experience in my very own bedroom. They held my hand as they saw my dreams slowly slip through my fingers when I was told my collegiate volleyball career was over. One night a nurse changed my perspective on life. She told me, "Being courageous doesn't mean you will never feel afraid". In that moment, I realized my presence in that hospital bed wasn't a diversion from God’s plan; it was the beginning of it. I decided then to be that voice for others. Today I know that without this journey, I would not have the fight, the strength, and the appreciation for life that I have today. I would not be in nursing school without these experiences. I have channeled this resilience into serving on our Student Nurse Association, the nursing representative of our Professional Student Alumni Association, member of our Phi Kappa Phi Academic Society, and have maintained a 4.0 GPA. I challenge myself to never give up on my patients and their loved ones. I will always picture my parents leaving my room in tears and feeling the heaviness of their love for me. I promise to never judge those fighting for their life and to never judge how their loved ones respond. That was once my mom and dad. I will be the nurse who cares for the person in the bed and the person sitting next to it. I am human and I am still grieving, but celebrating what I have gained: a perspective that allows me to tell my future patients that their healing process is theirs alone to define. I think this is what makes me uniquely qualified to be a nurse. My future patients need someone who will fight for them and won’t accept no for an answer. To my future patients, I know what it is like to feel like your future has collapsed on top of you with no exit. I understand you. I have been there. I can become their why. The reason why they want to make their rock bottom their foundation. I will tell them to share your story and inspire others and be their why. I challenge myself to always listen and always be their advocate. I share their story and above all else I am a human being. My mission isn't just to heal, it’s to ensure that no patient ever has to find their way out of rock bottom alone.