Observing the struggles of others has fueled my commitment to a path of service, with my deepest aspiration being to make a difference through a nursing career. My journey toward nursing has been profoundly influenced by my experiences as the child of a military service member. When my mother returned home permanently from her deployments, she was transformed into a different person. Although I was initially unaware of her Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), I observed her struggles with PTSD and anger, which in turn affected me because it often felt like I was the target of her anger. As I grew older, I came to understand that her actions were not a reflection of a lack of love but a response to her immense challenges. This experience opened my eyes to the importance of mental health care and the critical role that nurses play in providing support and healing. The insight I have gained into my mother’s military experience has helped open my heart to forgiveness and made me realize that I can achieve my dream of becoming a nurse by being a source of compassion, support, and healing for others. My journey towards nursing has also been influenced by watching my dad battle various health issues, some of which I believe could have been prevented. By becoming a nurse, I feel I can help educate my family and future patients to make healthier choices that lead to healthier lives. I often felt helpless as I watched my father struggle with diabetes, hypertension, and pain, wishing I had the knowledge to provide him with better care and guidance. His lack of health insurance exacerbated these issues, limiting his access to necessary medical care and preventative services. This fueled my determination to become a nurse who not only treats illnesses but also empowers individuals with the knowledge to prevent them. While I have not yet decided on a specific nursing specialty, I am particularly interested in community health nursing. My ultimate goal is to minister in underserved communities by offering quality care and affordable resources, especially to those without health insurance. I aim to educate community members on proper nutrition, hygiene, and wellness through home visits and addressing their medical concerns. My volunteer experiences at food banks and churches have shown me the significant impact of support and preventive care on community health. By distributing food, clothes, and hygiene kits, I have seen firsthand how compassionate care can make a meaningful difference. My ambition to become a nurse is also fueled by my desire to complete my education. Financial limitations have put this ambition on hold, leading me to take a year off from school. If I were to finish my education, I would be the first person in my family to obtain a college degree. Achieving this milestone would equip me with the knowledge to better care for and unselfishly help those around me. The opportunity to receive the Wieland Nurse Appreciation Scholarship would not only be an investment in my education but also in the future of those I aim to serve. It would provide me with the financial stability to focus on my studies and participate in more community health initiatives. I am confident in my ability to rise to the challenge of serving underserved communities, and this scholarship would be a vital stepping stone in my journey to becoming a compassionate and effective nurse.

“Please sissy. Can you please download Roblox?” Those are the words of my little brother (or, my little bother). He had the most adorable puppy eyes as he kneeled, pleading with me to download this game so we could play together. How could I say no to that face? So I gave in. At the time, his request may have seemed like an annoyance, but deep down, I am glad that I got this seemingly childish game because it has taught me many valuable life lessons, such as boldness, integrity, and amiability. I have learned to be bold through my favorite game, Club Roblox, in which I trade and collect pets. I have been trading for over a year and made it a goal to collect every pet. The only drawback to trading, for me, is that sometimes I have to talk to other players to negotiate the price of a pet, as I am soft-spoken and dislike confrontation. Originally, I would overpay to avoid problems, but I soon realized that I would never reach my goal if I kept that behavior. Slowly, I became bolder. This was pivotal for me because not only was I stepping out of my comfort zone in the game, but I began to apply the boldness learned to real life too. I often volunteer at churches to hand out resources to those in need, but because my co-workers are typically much older than me, I was intimidated to speak up when I saw something wrong. Now I am more comfortable pointing out mistakes so that the needs of the organization and community can properly be met. Club Roblox has also taught me the importance of integrity. It is forbidden to sell your pets for Robux or for real-life money. I once came across a guy who was selling pets for Robux. It was tempting because he had the pets I desperately wanted. My integrity was being tested. Fortunately, I decided not to purchase from the guy. I later discovered that the account of the guy and everyone who bought from him got banned. You never know who is watching you or how your actions could affect others. The same lesson applies when I am doing community service. On days when I am exhausted, it is easy to leave items out of a bag when packing, but who knows how that would affect the person receiving the bag? They could need everything offered, so I always try to hold myself accountable. Lastly, Club Roblox has taught me the importance of amiability. Sometimes, I encounter players who might be having a bad day and decide to take their anger out on me. It is easy to become defensive and lash out, but I have learned that this does not help. I have found that remaining calm and cordial can defuse tense situations. This is an important skill when working in the community because, as someone who has had to face homelessness, I know how easy it is to feel ashamed and become defensive due to your situation. Sometimes the people I hand out food and clothes to may respond out of anger, but if you remain calm, they will see that you are not there to ridicule them. I am unique because I am a twenty-one-year-old who still plays Roblox, but I am able to take the lessons learned from the game and apply them to real life to help better myself and others. I hope the kids who also play this game realize their potential and use the values learned to become strong future leaders.

One spring, I attended a trip to a camp and climbed an Alpine Tower. Just from looking at the pictures, the tower may not seem tall but as someone who is fairly short and has a fear of heights, it was massive! That coming fall, I took another trip to climb another tower, however, this time I had to balance on thin wires to get to the top and the only way down was to zipline across a lake. Both events made me more bold and confident in trying new things. I’d definitely do it all again if I could!