Life is a journey filled with diverse experiences, each leaving an indelible mark on our perceptions and aspirations. For many individuals, certain life events have the power to inspire and propel them towards meaningful and fulfilling career paths. The nursing field, in particular, often attracts individuals whose life experiences have instilled in them a deep sense of compassion, empathy, and a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others. For myself, it was everything combined, as well as spending enough time in the hospitals to truly understand how valuable nurses are, and how compassionae they can be. Nurses are empathetic individuals who are drawn to the field as a way to provide comfort, care, and support to patients and their families, knowing firsthand the importance of a compassionate presence during challenging times. I have a strong mindset to want to help people, in ways that might not make an impact upon the first encounter, but one that will carry with them throughout their journey. With that, there is an innate joy that comes from positively impacting someone's life, even in the smallest of ways. Nursing offers a unique opportunity to fulfill the need to help others, as nurses play a vital role in the lives of their patients. From promoting health to providing end-of-life care, nurses are central figures in moments of vulnerability, allowing individuals to find fulfillment in their work as they make a real and meaningful difference in the lives of others. As someone who had a declining health at one point in time, I remember how kind and understanding the nurses were who helped me. They understood how badly I wanted to get better to go back to my normal every day life, but they also understood how to show me a compassion that my doctors never did. Those nurses would give around the clock care, no matter the difficulty of the occassion, as they wanted to make a real and meaningful difference in my care. The nursing field, with its focus on compassion, care, and making a difference, often resonates deeply with individuals who have been touched by life's challenges and triumphs. Those nurses cared for me and did everything they could to help. Since then, I have wanted to embark on my journey into nursing school, to bring a unique blend of empathy, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose, making myself an incredibly valuable nurse. One who will touch the lives of countless patients and their families with boundless compassion and dedication.

"Home" by Phillip Phillips. This message does not exactly have an important message within the lyrics, but it has an importance of who it reminds me of and what impact it had on me. Growing up, I participated in choir for several years. My choir teacher was a man of talent. He could play just about anything but was a wizard at the piano. Within him, music came alive. He was so passionate and intricate about his work, it was inspiring just being in his class. From 5th grade and up, I formed a connection with him; he made me realize I had a passion for singing and acting, one I would not have found by myself. Junior year, he, unfortunately, got sick with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and shortly after being diagnosed, he passed away. It was hard for a lot of us students and I did have a hard time, personally. Senior year was not the same without him. But now at this age, looking back at it, I remember us singing 'Home' quite often as a warm-up. He loved this song and the way we sounded singing it. The song just made him so happy, and thinking of him that way is the only way I want to remember him - happy and in his element, doing what he loved. "Know you're not alone, I'm gonna make this place your home."

Strong leadership and communication skills are important qualities for a leader to have because they help effectively guide and motivate a team toward a common goal. Good communication skills involve being able to listen to others, articulate ideas clearly, and effectively convey information. Working in healthcare allows me to have a wide variety of conversations with different people and helps me better my societal skills in that aspect. As I more specifically work in a pharmacy, I do have to have a leadership role as I am our patients' advocate. Our patients come in daily and without my help, they would not have access to their medications, and those at a manageable cost. Resilience refers to the ability to bounce back from adversity or challenges. It involves being able to handle setbacks and continue working towards your goals despite facing difficulties. Take my career goal for example. I previously attended college in 2017 as a triple science major- with a major focus in forensic science. After graduating, I quickly realized that that career path was not for me, and after a few months of sitting down and contemplating, I realized I belong in healthcare, in a profession working with people. Now, I am back at college, attending a BSN program to further my career in the nursing profession. Unselfishness refers to being willing to put the needs of others before your own. It involves being generous and selfless in your actions and decisions. No matter the time or day, I will always put others first - a 'pay it forward' look at it if you will. There are no situations where helping someone will hinder you. Maybe at first, it will seem like it, but it will always teach a lesson and will always benefit you in some way, shape, or form. Being focused and determined means being able to stay concentrated on a task or goal and being persistent in working towards it, even in the face of challenges or distractions. My day-to-day life is busy, especially at work and the gym. But I know the end goal, and I know what I need to accomplish before I even walk into the setting, knowing that I have expectations to meet. A strong work ethic involves being reliable, punctual and dedicated to doing quality work. It involves being willing to put in the effort and time necessary to get the job done. I will always make sure the work I perform is to the best of my ability. I truly strive to be the best me I can be, with that said I will always show my best work and depict to others how I want to be perceived. In the future, after my BSN and master's, I hope to see myself as a certified registered nursing anesthetist. CRNAs are leaders, are artists of their work, and are truly amazing people to talk to. Not only will I have big-scale responsibilities on my plate, but I will have the opportunity to be a leader in my profession as well as a leader for my patient's autonomy. Leadership in nursing refers to the ability of a nurse to guide and mentor other nurses, as well as provide direction and support to the nursing team to achieve common goals. A nurse leader is often responsible for creating and implementing nursing policies and procedures, managing budgets and resources, and promoting teamwork and collaboration among the nursing staff.