I want to pursue a degree in nursing because it has always been my passion and something I knew I was meant to do. When I began my first job at Napa Post Acute, I quickly discovered how rewarding it felt to care for patients. I enjoyed being part of their healing process, whether it was through small conversations or providing hands-on care. That experience gave me a deeper sense of purpose and pushed me to keep moving forward in my education so I could take on an even bigger role in helping people. My journey to get here has not been easy. I am a single mother raising a four-year-old child with autism, and balancing work, school, and motherhood has tested me in ways I never imagined. There were many nights when I was exhausted, but I knew I had to keep going. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was in nursing school, and while so much in the world felt uncertain, I refused to give up. Graduating and becoming a licensed vocational nurse was one of the proudest moments of my life because it showed my child that determination and perseverance can open doors that once seemed closed. I carry that lesson with me every day as I work toward advancing in this profession. As a nurse, I want to contribute to my community by providing care that reaches beyond the physical. For me, nursing is about treating the whole person. I want to advocate for patients who may not always be heard, and I want to provide families with the comfort of knowing their loved ones are being cared for with compassion. I also want to serve as an example to other single parents and young people in my community, proving that no matter how many challenges life places in your path, education and hard work can still create opportunity. My long-term goal is to become a mental health nurse practitioner. I have seen how much need there is in the community for accessible mental health care, especially for underserved populations. By continuing my education, I hope to bring more awareness, support, and resources to those who struggle in silence. Nursing is more than a career choice for me. It is a calling that has shaped my life and given me strength during my most difficult times. I hope to give back to others through kindness, knowledge, and advocacy, and to leave a lasting impact on my patients, my child, and my community.

From the time I was young I always dreamed of becoming a nurse. Caring for people has always felt natural to me and nursing has never just been about having a job. For me it is something I truly love to do. I enjoy being able to comfort someone when they are scared, celebrate with them when they make progress, and be a steady support in their hardest times. Those moments remind me that I chose the right path and that this is where I am meant to be. My first nursing job was at Napa Post Acute where I cared for long term patients. That experience taught me patience and compassion and showed me how much it means to build real connections with the people you take care of every day. Later I got my first hospital job at NorthBay Medical Center. Working there gave me the chance to see nursing in a faster paced setting. It showed me how demanding the work can be but also how rewarding it is when you see patients recover and return home to their families. Those early experiences helped me grow and made me even more certain that nursing was the career I wanted to keep moving forward in. The road has not been easy. During the Covid 19 pandemic, while so much of the world felt uncertain, I made the choice to enroll in nursing school. I worked hard, studied long nights, and pushed myself until I graduated and became an LVN. At the same time I was raising my daughter on my own. She was only a toddler then and later was diagnosed with autism. Balancing school, working, and being a single mother has been very challenging, but it has also given me strength I did not know I had. My daughter motivates me every day to keep going, and I want to show her that even when life is hard it is still possible to reach your goals. Now I am continuing to build on that foundation by working toward becoming a registered nurse with the long term goal of becoming a mental health nurse practitioner. Mental health is very important to me and I want to be a strong advocate for people who often feel like their voices are not heard. This scholarship would make a big difference in my life. Going to school while raising my daughter on my own is not easy financially, and this support would take away some of the stress that comes with trying to manage tuition and family expenses. It would allow me to put more focus on my studies and clinical training so I can reach my goals. More than that, it would help me continue the journey I started years ago when I followed my dream of becoming a nurse.