.As a black woman in STEM pursuing nursing, my mission is to provide a safe environment where people of color can be vulnerable while confidently and comfortably having their healthcare needs met. I hope to provide the best care possible through education and health literacy that transcends cultural barriers and discrimination within BIPOC and underserved communities. There tends to be a stigma around discussing pain and seeking healthcare amongst minorities, especially immigrants and the black community. People of color are often distrusted and discredited in healthcare settings. Too often, they are written off as "drug seeking" or assumed to have a higher pain tolerance than their white counterparts. I'm adopted and my mother is white. My mother would attend every appointment I had growing up, which I believe influenced the quality of care I was given. On appointments I attended alone, it was often a different experience. I felt obligated to prove my health literacy to be taken seriously. Poor pain management and interpretation can lead to misdiagnoses and a lack of effective treatment. An article by the Association of American Medical Colleges further elaborates on this concept by stating, "What’s more, false ideas about black peoples' experience of pain can lead to worrisome treatment disparities. In the 2016 study, for example, trainees who believed that black people are not as sensitive to pain as white people were less likely to treat black people’s pain appropriately" (aamc.org). The article later goes on to say that the disparities in the pain management of racial and ethnic groups are typically unintentional. It stems from a lack of exposure to certain groups as well as personal biases that providers may be unaware of. From personal experience, I had a nurse tell me that patients with darker skin are harder to stick as she was struggling to put an IV in my arm. Giving her the benefit of the doubt and extending some grace to her, I interpreted her comment as a lack of experience and practice with melanated skin. I was a sick child growing up, and I spent much of my time in hospitals and labs getting blood drawn and having IVs placed. This was the first time I had ever heard someone say this to me, and it was the first time someone struggled as much as that nurse did to find my vein. Likewise, this was also in an area where people of color are seen less often. This is why diversity as well as social awareness (bedside manners) are so important in healthcare. In a world full of social discrimination, it is important to remember that not everyone has the same level of education. Underserved communities may not be as educated on personal health and the healthcare system. My mother was a nurse when I was growing up, so I was brought up in an environment that encouraged health awareness. As I went through the school system and made friends, I learned quickly that the knowledge and environment I was raised in were not common. Discussions around mental health are also seen as taboo in many minority communities. This is especially true among black men. An article in Counseling Today says, "Black people are 20% more likely to experience significant mental health problems than the rest of the population yet only about a quarter of them seek mental health care, compared to about 40% of white Americans" (ct.counseling.org). For many men in the black community, crying or being depressed is seen as showing weakness. This harmful narrative is something that I strive to minimize in the future. https://ct.counseling.org/2023/02/mental-health-care-stigma-in-black-communities https://www.aamc.org/news/how-we-fail-black-patients-pain

My name is Kara and I'm interested in a career in nursing because I enjoy helping, encouraging, and supporting others as well as learning. I was born a drug baby and was very sick throughout most of my childhood. I underwent multiple surgeries and had frequent visits to the Emergency Room due to the effects of withdrawals. My adoptive mother is also a retired nurse and I hope to emulate the same compassion that she showed to so many patients throughout her career. With that being said, I was no stranger to hospitals and the role that nurses play in the healthcare team in that setting. As I mentioned before, I had many health and learning issues growing up due to the damage caused by my biological mother's struggle with addiction. I frequently fell behind my peers academically in grade school and was often told that I couldn't do certain things because "I just wasn't capable". I was a late walker and talker, but I eventually caught up to my peers. I just needed a little more time and dedication than everyone else. I was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and a sensory disorder later on in elementary school which helped my parents and me better understand my academic struggles. The dreadful "she can't handle advanced courses" logic followed me through high school where my counselors wouldn't let me apply and sit for Advanced Placement (AP) entrance exams, yet I was able to take advanced and honors level courses. I felt defeated after being rejected from such opportunities and began to internalize it. I was made to believe that I wasn't smart enough to take certain classes so the thought of being a nurse wasn't even on my radar at that time. It wasn't until college that I realized that I'm capable of so much more than I ever thought I would be. I discovered that I had a different learning style than what we were taught to use in grade school and college gave me the freedom to explore and implement new methods of retaining information. I passed all of my prerequisite math and science courses with A's and B's and got accepted into the 2nd highest-ranked BSN program in the state of Illinois according to registerednursing.org. I plan to specialize in either Operating Room nursing or PACU nursing if possible. I hope to not only help save lives but also hope to make a change in the hospital critical care setting as a minority. Many black and minority ethnic group nurses have experienced racial discrimination from their coworkers and felt there have been barriers to career advancement. This is especially common in the critical care setting. Many also feel that they have been "bullied" and manipulated into working in less desirable shifts and units for the sake of needing a job. Change needs to happen and I hope to do my part in making that possible by using my BSN degree to obtain leadership positions. I may even advance my education down the road to continue to make a difference.

The dream version of myself is someone happy, successful, and ceaselessly kindhearted regardless of what the future has in store for me.

Unfortunately, genuine empathy can't be taught. I do, however, believe that it is important to educate society and spread awareness about mental health. Many people don't realize that there are a lot of mental illnesses outside of depression and anxiety that everyday people struggle with. Things like eating disorders, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders are among the many illnesses that a lot of people have to deal with every single day. This world is not designed to accommodate those with mental disorders which is why it is important to spread awareness and understanding about how mental health works. The media portrays mental illness in a negative way and leads many to believe that every person who suffers from psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia are inevitably committed to psychiatric hospitals and will never be able to live among the rest of society. This isn't always the case and it is an extreme misrepresentation of how mental health works. Sometimes, the media depicts villains and antagonists as characters who have a mental illness. This twisted portrayal is harmful to both the individuals who are struggling and to society's perception of mental illness. It teaches the world to fear people who have mental illnesses and perpetuates the stigma that people suffering with mental illness are inferior to the rest of the world. When people judge you or are taught to fear you, it hurts your confidence. With that being said, those are suffering are less likely to speak up or ask for help out of fear of rejection or judgement. When it comes to mental health, early intervention is important and often makes a huge difference. This won't happen if those affected are alienated. If more people had a healthy understanding of mental health, the world would be a safer place for everyone.

Being patient in important to me because the best things in life are the things that are worth waiting for. If you rush into something in life, you may not receive the best results. Take college for example, it is important to be patient as you learn something new and improve your skills every day. I'm in nursing school and it is very hard, but I have to be patient with myself so I won't get discouraged or frustrated. It is extremely important that I genuinely comprehend and retain the information that I am taught because my actions could be the difference between life and death for a patient. Some people cheat their way through college because they're impatient and nothing good ever comes from cheating. You're being dishonest and you're doing your future self a disservice by being unprepared at the finish line. I also think it's important to be patient with others because everyone learns differently. Your peers and your coworkers all learn at a different pace. It is important to remain humble when someone who is struggling needs your help. Sometimes, people need to be walked through a concept step-by-step in order to understand something and that's perfectly okay. Belittling someone for learning at a different pace than you isn't going to help. Always be kind and patient. You never know, that person you helped could turn out to be the best coworker you've ever had.

I try to remember that everything that happens, positive or negative, is a learning experience. Take college for example. Students are given exams to test skills and retention. Each failure is a learning experience. It could be a sign to change studying habits by finding a way of studying that benefits you more than the previous method. On the other hand, passing a test on the first try could be a sign that your study habits are effective. Many times, growth requires change. Change can often be uncomfortable for many, but it is necessary. Sometimes you have to get uncomfortable in order to move out of your comfort zone. About a year ago, I went through a really bad breakup and it wasn't until I accepted the change that I noticed all of the unhealthy aspects of that relationship. Because of that, I was able to grow and demand better for myself. The things I've been accomplishing outside of that relationship have been incredible. It was difficult at first, but I refused to let myself be hindered by the adjustment period. I now see that I was being held back from my true potential in life. I don't have to settle for anything (job, relationship, career path), I can do anything if I put my mind to it and work for it. For the longest time, I never thought I would be able to pass the entrance exam for nursing school so I never tried. I figured I wasn't smart enough. I've grown since then, decided to go outside of my comfort zone, and ended up passing the exam on the first try with a really good score! Growth is scary, but you won't know what's on the other side until you welcome in change.

What makes me resilient is my ambition to learn and my ability to adapt to different situations when necessary. When I was born, I was immediately taken away from my biological mother and put into the foster care system. I was born addicted to drugs and it set me back from everyone else in my age group for the first ten or more years of my life. I was late to talking, walking, and I had to go through years of physical and occupational therapy just to catch up to my peers. Thankfully, I was adopted into a loving family. They didn't have much, but they made sure I had what I needed. Most of all, they taught me to never give up on my goals. I am familiar with resilience. When life gets thrown in my face, I take it and throw it back twice as hard because I'm not a quitter. I've come too far from where I started to just "give up" when life becomes inconvenient. I'm currently in school to pursue my associate's degree in nursing and I plan on going straight into school for my BSN after I finish this program. As an African American woman, I hope that I can help other minorities who are unable to afford decent healthcare. Everyone should be able to receive top tier treatment when it comes to their health. Whether you're wealthy or impoverished, your life matters and I hope that I can represent other minorities by working this field. One of my goals is to become an operating room nurse. While working in the operating room, I can be a patient advocate during one of their most vulnerable moments in their lives. I do not have any tolerance for racism or inequality of any kind whatsoever and I will speak up when I witness injustice or unprofessionalism. Minorites are often underrepresented in healthcare and I hope I can make a difference. I understand what it's like to be at a disadvantage from most people around me. I've had a difficult time with learning in K-12, but I never ever gave up. I went in for the help I needed and I took more time than the rest of my friends to study because I refused to give up and fail. I hope my story may inspire and empower others to stand up and fight to achieve their goals and make a difference in the world. Sometimes, it's not about the cards we're dealt in this life; many times it's about how we play the hand.