The nursing industry interests me because it's an industry unlike anything else. It is a career where small actions can have profound impact on someone's life. Growing up, I have always been a good listener and an attentive observer of people's facial and body language. These qualities have allowed me to form meaningful connections with others and bring a sense of calm to stressful situations. As a result, I feel that I possess the compassion, empathy, and communication skills necessary to support patients during some of their most vulnerable moments of their lives. My goals for a successful career are to continue to learn and improve my nursing practice. I want to ensure that I keep up with the evolving field of medicine while ensuring that my patients are receiving high-quality care. I also hope to work in pediatrics. So, I want to make the children feel as safe as possible and use my imagination to improve their hospital stay. Additionally, my goals are that my patients feel safe in my hands and are willing to use me as their safe haven whether that be using me as a shoulder to lean on or just to be present. Through my experiences as a member of the Wanaque First Aid Squad, I have had direct patient contact in which I helped in a CPR resuscitation and have been able to help comfort people in times of individuals experiencing fear, pain, and uncertainty. These situations required me to use quick thinking and different techniques like breathing exercises and simple gestures like holding their hand made a meaningful difference in helping them feel calmer and more supported. During my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to shadow a pediatric oncology physician and volunteer on an oncology nursing unit. Observing both a physician and working with nurses helped me realize that my passion lays with the nurses. While volunteering on the nursing floor, I was able to answer call bells and form conversations with various families and patients. I found that these tiny interactions were actually major to me and made my day knowing that I brightened up someone else's. After a year of volunteering in the hospital, I decided to focus more on volunteering with the Ambulance Squad. Currently, I have been a driver and member of the squad in which I have had the opportunity to save so many lives while improving my patient contact skills. Through this experience, I am exposed to heartbreaking situations that have only made me more eager to become a nurse. One of the most significant moments in my life occurred when my grandfather suffered a medical emergency and passed away. Watching as the nurses were the first ones to run through that door and do everything possible to save him exposed me to one of the most difficult realities of nursing: the loss of a patient. For me, that patient was my grandfather. Although, it was an incredibly painful experience, it reinforced my calling to help others, It showed me the compassion, strength, and dedication that nurses demonstrate every single day. Since that day, I have pushed myself to persevere to reach my nursing degree so that I can provide the same exceptional care and comfort to others when they need it most.

I’m sitting on a hospital bed composed of pillows and blankets, looking down at a drawing of a broken wrist. Like any child, I played pretend. One of my favorite games was playing doctor. I would turn my bedroom into a hospital. I would build “X-rays” out of pillow forts and use chairs to form hospital beds. To say my fascination with the medical field was recent would be an understatement. My entire life, I have felt an unexplainable pull toward helping people that has only grown as I have gotten older. Many experiences, from volunteering in a hospital to serving as an EMS member, have further strengthened this passion. However, I knew I was meant to be a nurse when my grandfather coded in front of me. This experience changed everything. I watched helplessly as nurses performed CPR and miraculously brought my grandfather back for ten precious minutes. Being present at that moment, and being the only grandchild there to say goodbye, was incredibly painful, but deeply meaningful. Although this was one of the worst things to have happened to me, it became one of the most impactful moments of my life. Seeing the nurses in action solidified my decision to pursue nursing. As a result, I am pursuing an honors nursing degree at the University of Delaware, where I am passionate about gaining the skills needed to care for and advocate for patients. I currently hold a 4.0 GPA and have earned a spot on the Dean’s List. My goal is to become a pediatric travel nurse. After babysitting and volunteering on the EMS squad, I realized that two of my greatest passions are working with children and helping people. Children have a special place in my heart that has only grown as I have gotten older. Growing up as an older sibling I was constantly given the responsibility of watching my younger sister and her friends. However, this wasn't a job for me, instead it was more an opportunity to explore my imagination and live in a pretend world. Through babysitting and my nannying job I have learned that children have an imagination that is unlike anything else. I constantly, find myself pretending to be a dragon entering their fairytale world or a mermaid exploring a sea palace. Like Dr. Arizona Robbin's famous quote from "Grey's Anatomy," children believe in magic, they make wishes, and they bring miracles. This is the childhood that all children should have. And no parents should have to worry about their child waking up the next morning. So, I want to help as much as I can to ensure that all children have the childhood they deserve. I hope to one day work in a hospital setting. I can picture myself wearing Disney colored scrubs and pretending that the IV bags have magic while bringing smiles to the faces of many sick children. Overall, sick children show me what true resilience is and push me to work harder each and every day to ensure that I am confident enough in my ability to care for them.

I have always found giving back to be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling opportunities. Through my experience, serving my community is one of the reasons why I have chosen to pursue a degree in nursing. Beginning in high school, I saw the impacts of being involved in my small town of Wanaque, NJ. I am currently a member of the Wanaque First Aid Squad, in which I attend to 911 calls and provide on-site medical care at no cost to the patient. Through my dedication to saving lives and getting patients to the hospital safely, I have seen the significant impact my fellow crewmembers and I have made on the town. For instance, there was one call that came in at one in the morning, and after we safely transported the patient to the hospital, she stopped me before I left her room. She motioned me, and when I went over, she gave me a keychain from her purse and told me, "Thank you, this is your guardian angel." When I looked down at the keychain, it was shaped like a circle, but in the light, a picture of an angel appeared. This was one moment that truly showed me how much I enjoy my job. I feel happier and more accomplished when I know I am doing something for someone else; it's a feeling unlike any other, knowing that I am making a difference. As a result, I have continued to increase my volunteer work in my college town. I have been very involved in the club of dedicated volunteers, which hosts numerous volunteering events. Specifically, I volunteered at Big Day of Service, where I dedicated my entire Saturday to helping an older family that runs a wildlife reserve museum with an outdoor cleanup. After the cleanup, I felt very accomplished and found it a perfect way to spend my Saturday. I saw the difference we made and the smiles on the owners' faces when we finished up for the day. This was only one service activity among many that I have taken part in. As an incoming sophomore, I intend on continuing my involvement in Newark, Delaware, while also continuing to volunteer in my hometown as an EMS member. Currently, I am pursuing an honors nursing degree at the University of Delaware, where I am passionate about gaining the skills needed to care for and advocate for patients. My passion for helping people and giving back to my community has motivated me to make a difference while achieving academic excellence. In my first two semesters of college, I maintained a 4.0 GPA and earned a spot on the Dean’s List. Overall, I want to take advantage of all the opportunities to make a difference, as that's what my dream has always been: to travel and help people in underserved areas. In the future, I hope to save up enough money to pay off my college debt and participate in MED life. MED Life is an organization that Delaware partners with to send healthcare students to an underserved area to volunteer in medical clinics. However, I am responsible for helping pay for the trip and college, so I hope that by my senior year, I will have the opportunity to go.

Kasey’s Aspirations I’m sitting on a hospital bed composed of various pillows and blankets as I look down at a drawn picture of a broken wrist. Like any child, I played pretend. One of my favorite games was playing doctor. I would give my bedroom a makeover by turning it into a hospital. I would build X-rays out of pillow forts and use chairs to form hospital beds. To say my fascination with the medical field was recent would be an understatement. My entire life, I have felt an unexplainable gravitational pull towards helping people, a pull that has only grown as I have gotten older. Many experiences, from volunteering in a hospital to serving as a member of an EMS squad, have strengthened this passion. However, the defining moment that made me realize I was meant to be a nurse was when my grandfather coded in front of me. This experience changed everything. In that moment, I watched helplessly as the nurses conducted CPR and miraculously brought my grandpa back to life for ten precious minutes. Although this was one of the worst things to have happened to me, it became one of the most impactful moments of my life. The fact that I was present at that awful moment and that I was the only grandchild to say goodbye was a blessing and a sign. It showed me that I didn’t want to be a helpless bystander but a person who could make a difference. In that moment, I knew I was meant to be a nurse. As a result, I am pursuing an honors nursing degree and a minor in global health at the University of Delaware, where I am passionate about gaining the skills needed to care for and advocate for patients. I currently hold a 4.0 GPA and have earned a spot on the Dean’s list. My goal is to become a pediatric nurse and then eventually becoming a traveling nurse aimed at serving underrepresented areas. After babysitting and volunteering on the EMS squad this past break, I realized that two of my greatest passions are working with children and helping people. As a result, I have continued to explore this interest by serving as a dedicated volunteer, making a name for myself in the Student Nurses Organization (SNO) at Delaware, and focusing on developing my clinical skills through nursing simulation labs. As a dedicated volunteer, I have helped an older woman with a chronic illness complete yard work, participated in events that create a supportive community for children with cancer, and am scheduled to volunteer for the UDance thon, which raises money for pediatric cancer patients. Through SNO, I have participated in hands-on events aimed at strengthening the nursing program and introducing high school students to careers in nursing. I am also preparing to run for an executive position within the organization, so that I can become more involved and eventually represent the nursing program at college-wide conferences. Each of these experiences has only strengthened my determination and deepened my passion for nursing. I understand nursing is a difficult path, but I am confident in my ability to achieve my goals. Not only would the Scholarship help ease the financial burden of pursuing a nursing degree, but it would also mean a great deal to know a respected scholarship committee believes in my potential to become a nurse. That support would further strengthen my motivation and confidence as I continue to work toward a career dedicated to caring for children and their families.

Kasey’s Aspirations I’m sitting on a hospital bed composed of various pillows and blankets as I look down at a drawn picture of a broken wrist. Like any child, I played pretend. One of my favorite games was playing doctor. I would give my bedroom a makeover by turning it into a hospital. I would build X-rays out of pillow forts and use chairs to form hospital beds. To say my fascination with the medical field was recent would be an understatement. My entire life, I have felt an unexplainable gravitational pull towards helping people, a pull that has only grown as I have gotten older. Many experiences, from volunteering in a hospital to serving as a member of an EMS squad, have strengthened this passion. However, the defining moment that made me realize I was meant to be a nurse was when my grandfather coded in front of me. This experience changed everything. In that moment, I watched helplessly as the nurses conducted CPR and miraculously brought my grandpa back to life for ten precious minutes. Although this was one of the worst things to have happened to me, it became one of the most impactful moments of my life. The fact that I was present at that awful moment and that I was the only grandchild to say goodbye was a blessing and a sign. It showed me that I didn’t want to be a helpless bystander but a person who could make a difference. In that moment, I knew I was meant to be a nurse. As a result, I am pursuing an honors nursing degree at the University of Delaware, where I am passionate about gaining the skills needed to care for and advocate for patients. I currently hold a 4.0 GPA and have earned a spot on the Dean’s list. My goal is to become a pediatric nurse and then eventually continue my education to become a nurse practitioner. After babysitting and volunteering on the EMS squad this past break, I realized that two of my greatest passions are working with children and helping people. As a result, I have continued to explore this interest by serving as a dedicated volunteer, making a name for myself in the Student Nurses Organization (SNO) at Delaware, and focusing on developing my clinical skills through nursing simulation labs. As a dedicated volunteer, I have helped an older woman with a chronic illness complete yard work, participated in events that create a supportive community for children with cancer, and am scheduled to volunteer for the UDance thon, which raises money for pediatric cancer patients. Through SNO, I have participated in hands-on events aimed at strengthening the nursing program and introducing high school students to careers in nursing. I am also preparing to run for an executive position within the organization, so that I can become more involved and eventually represent the nursing program at college-wide conferences. Each of these experiences has only strengthened my determination and deepened my passion for nursing. I understand nursing is a difficult path, but I am confident in my ability to achieve my goals. Not only would the Scholarship help ease the financial burden of pursuing a nursing degree, but it would also mean a great deal to know a respected scholarship committee believes in my potential to become a nurse. That support would further strengthen my motivation and confidence as I continue to work toward a career dedicated to caring for children and their families.

I’m sitting on a hospital bed composed of various pillows and blankets as I look down at a drawn picture of a broken wrist. Like any child, I played pretend. One of my favorite games was playing doctor. I would give my bedroom a makeover by turning it into a hospital. I would build X-rays out of pillow forts and use chairs to form hospital beds. To say my fascination with the medical field was recent would be an understatement. My entire life, I have felt an unexplainable gravitational pull towards helping people, a pull that has only grown as I have gotten older. Many experiences, from volunteering in a hospital to serving as a member of an EMS squad, have strengthened this passion. However, the defining moment that made me realize I was meant to be a nurse was when my grandfather coded in front of me. This experience changed everything. In that moment, I watched helplessly as the nurses conducted CPR and miraculously brought my grandpa back to life for ten precious minutes. Although this was one of the worst things to have happened to me, it became one of the most impactful moments of my life. The fact that I was present at that awful moment and that I was the only grandchild to say goodbye was a blessing and a sign. It showed me that I didn’t want to be a helpless bystander but a person who could make a difference. In that moment, I knew I was meant to be a nurse. Currently, I am pursuing an honors nursing degree at the University of Delaware, where I am passionate about gaining the skills needed to care for and advocate for patients. I know I am capable of using my compassion and intelligence to impact those around me. I currently hold a 4.0 GPA and have earned a spot on the Dean’s list. My goal is to become a pediatric nurse and then eventually continue my education to become a nurse practitioner. After babysitting and volunteering on the EMS squad this past break, I realized that two of my greatest passions are working with children and helping people. As a result, I have continued to explore this interest by serving as a dedicated volunteer, making a name for myself in the Student Nurses Organization (SNO) at Delaware, and focusing on developing my clinical skills through nursing simulation labs. As a dedicated volunteer, I have helped an older woman with a chronic illness complete yard work, participated in events that create gift baskets for children with cancer, and am scheduled to volunteer for the UDance thon, which raises money for pediatric cancer patients. Through SNO, I have participated in hands-on events aimed at strengthening the nursing program and introducing high school students to careers in nursing. I am also preparing to run for an executive position within the organization, so that I can become more involved and eventually represent the nursing program at college-wide conferences. Each of these experiences has only strengthened my determination and deepened my passion for nursing. I understand nursing is a difficult path, but I am confident in my ability to achieve my goals. Not only would the Pangeta and Ivory Scholarship help with the financial burden of pursuing nursing, but it also means a lot to know a respectable scholarship committee believes in my potential to become a nurse. That support would only strengthen my motivation and confidence in my ability to serve as a healthcare professional.

Everyone is born with the core emotions: anger, disgust, sadness, fear, and joy. These are the emotions that everyone is familiar with. But who decided that these were the only main emotions? I am seated at my desk staring blankly at a packet of math problems. I have been stuck on number seven for the past ten minutes. I look up at the clock and realize I have fifteen minutes left. Fifteen minutes to answer twenty-eight open-ended questions. My hands begin to tense up and become clammy. I hear my heartbeat: Thump…thump, thump, thump. My heartbeat beats faster and faster. Is it hot in here? My throat tightens, and my head becomes foggy. Now what emotion best fits this feeling? None of them. This feeling is the effect of anxiety. To further my experience with anxiety, I find it a fitting choice to refer to Inside Out 2. After watching this film, I felt accepted and seen. This sequel continues to portray human emotions as the controllers of the actions and feelings of a teenage girl, Riley. Specifically, this movie successfully introduced an emotion that isn’t commonly addressed: anxiety. Although anxiety has always been seen as a disorder or a problem, this film portrays it differently. The producers and writers of this film depicted Anxiety as an overstimulated character who tries to improve Riley’s social situation. However, in an attempt to help, Anxiety only worsened the situation and became the antagonist. As a person who has had panic attacks and has felt the prolonged effects of anxiety, I resonated with Riley. I encountered my first panic attack the summer after fifth grade. From that day on until the end of eighth grade, I felt a lump of anxiousness and fear in my throat. This resulted in countless emergency room visits and doctors' appointments as I felt as though I couldn’t breathe. Anxiety was like a sickness that randomly entered my pool of emotions, just like it did for Riley. I felt like I was trapped with no way out. Anxiety starts as light rain, and then it turns into a storm. But like all storms, anxiety comes to a stop. It takes strength to fight through this storm and release the fear of being anxious. There is a sense of freedom that comes from letting anxiety pass. Additionally, this film align with my realization that, as much as anxiety is a storm, it is also a protector. Worrying is an inevitable trait. Without worry, there would be no end to impulsive actions. Specifically, thinking about consequences can help someone prepare for the future. It's just whether that person decides to let this anxiety take over. Overall, I learned to accept anxiety as the norm, an emotion not meant to be erased or fixed. Like Riley, I was worried about fitting in and impressing my coaches. Fortunately, I fought through my storm by accepting anxiety. I began to let go of my doubts and need to live up to the expectations of others. The only thing that I needed to do was to be myself, rather than the person that everyone wanted me to be. Although it took time and strength, I accepted the fact that the feeling in my throat was not a disease or sickness; it was just a sign to take a step back and relax. Moving forward, I continue to manage my anxiety by taking a few breaths when I feel it coming on and maintaining my focus on being confident in myself. Through this technique of grounding myself in high-pressure situations, I have been able to make eighth grade my last anxiety attack, which was about five years ago. Overall, I have learned that recovery is an ongoing process that takes strength and confidence to achieve. My experience with anxiety and my desire to help others facing battles have encouraged me to become a nurse. Currently, I am pursuing an honors nursing degree at the University of Delaware, where I am passionate about gaining the skills needed to save people. I know I am capable of using my compassion and intelligence to impact those around me. I currently hold a 4.0 GPA and have earned a spot on the Dean’s list. I plan to continue working hard toward my degree so I can provide direct care to patients. In the future, I hope to continue my passion for helping others by becoming a traveling nurse, where I serve in underprivileged areas.

I pause as I take in a deep breath of fresh air. I see the snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps as I stand in my pink scrubs. My hair is pulled back, and the big bold letters “BSN, RN” shine through my Disney-decorated badge holder. This is my “Pie in the sky.” Ever since I was little, my dream has always been to travel. I would picture myself staring up at the Eiffel Tower or exploring Ireland's castles. I was known as a child full of imagination and a passion for change. And to this day, I believe it is my desire to explore and my adventurous nature that have sparked my dream of traveling the world. As I grew older, I spent many hours playing pretend doctor with my sister and friends. I would use pillows and blankets to simulate a real hospital bed. I would create pretend X-ray pictures and diagnoses to replicate the job of a real doctor. This childhood game of working in a hospital began to turn into my passion. I began to realize that helping others made me feel a strong sense of purpose and happiness as I was making an impact. Specifically, as a member of the Emergency Medical Services squad, I saw the true essence of humanity. As I would transport patients to the hospital, I would see the gratefulness in these patients, and it would leave me feeling fulfilled. There was one instance in which a patient gave me a key chain that symbolized a guardian angel. She told me, “This is to bless you and protect you as a way of repaying you for helping me.” These tiny experiences encouraged me to do more. As a result, I began volunteering on the Oncology Unit at Hackensack Meridian Hospital. Here, I saw patients at their most vulnerable times and tried my best to be there for them. Specifically, there was one patient for whom I saw the fear in her eyes, and it was disheartening. But I made sure to stay strong and assist her with any task I was allowed. This showed me the extent of compassion and strength that nurses and medical providers must carry. In the end, these experiences confirmed my passion for becoming a nurse, a person who was a backbone for hospitals and the lives of so many people. Currently, I am an honors undergraduate at the University of Delaware, majoring in nursing. After my four years in college, I plan to pass the NCLEX and become a registered nurse. Once I obtain this goal, I hope to become a traveling pediatric nurse. I understand this is a difficult path, but I am confident in my ability to achieve my goals. To achieve this, I will need to get a few years of field experience so that I can get a travel assignment. While I get this experience, I will need to save my money and pay off my college debt. Accepting this reality has taught me patience and has reminded me that a plan like this is not as easy as it sounds. In the end, I hope to work in an underserved hospital in Switzerland. Here, I’ll get to explore the Swiss Alps while helping children recover to their full health, which has always been a dream of mine. I was once a little girl, and I believe that every child deserves a healthy and dream-filled childhood. Eventually, I hope to continue traveling and working in underserved hospitals across the world.

Growing up, I found that small acts of kindness were my love language; they shaped me into the person I am today. I realized the true impact of my willingness to give back to others when I started volunteering on the Oncology Unit at Hackensack Meridian Hospital. Here, I was immersed in a new atmosphere that introduced me to a greater level of compassion and responsibility that I had not yet encountered in high school. Throughout high school, I was involved in various communities. Specifically, I was a unified partner for children with disabilities. In this role, I helped break down barriers that often isolate disabled children from the shared high school experience. I participated in sports with them and encouraged them to keep pushing forward. This experience was exciting as I got to see these children smile and not worry about being misunderstood. Eventually, I decided I wanted to take a step further by becoming a hospital volunteer. As I began volunteering on the Oncology Unit, I truly began to see the impact of small acts. Specifically, there was this one patient who came in for a procedure. After her procedure was done, she went up to me and told me, “If it wasn’t for nurses and volunteers like you, I wouldn’t have been here today.” I took this to heart as I began to see the immense impact these nurses had on their patients. Every shift was full of alternating waves of sadness and happiness as patients and families were receiving varying news. As I answered call bells and walked into patients’ rooms, I realized how important it was to make a meaningful impact. Many of these patients were alone, scared, and fighting death itself. This pushed me to be there for them when no one else was, whether that be having a normal conversation or just being present for them. In addition to being a hospital volunteer, I continue to provide these small acts of kindness by giving back to my hometown. I am currently a part of the Wanaque First Aid Squad, in which I report to 911 calls, provide medical care, and then transport patients to the hospital. Here, I have seen people balancing on the thin line between life and death and have had the opportunity to intervene before they fell. Overall, this experience confirmed my passion for helping others and has encouraged me to pursue nursing. I am pursuing an honors nursing degree at the University of Delaware, where I am passionate about gaining the skills needed to save people. I know I am capable of using my compassion and intelligence to impact those around me. I currently hold a 4.0 GPA and have earned a spot on the Dean’s list. I plan to continue working hard toward my degree so I can provide direct care to patients. In the future, I hope to continue my passion for inclusion by becoming a traveling nurse, where I serve in underprivileged areas. I hope to expose myself to this opportunity by participating in Med Life through the University of Delaware. Here, I will be able to spend a week abroad, serving families in underserved areas where effective healthcare is not available.

My hands are numb as I follow the beat of the music and throw myself into a whirlwind of dizziness. The song begins to slow as I quickly pull myself out of the tornado and pose strongly on the last beat. The applause fills the ice area as I curtsy side to side and smile. This was a part of my life six years ago. From the age of four, my mother had a love for figure skating and gave me the chance to fall in love with skating, too. I spent many weekends and days training at the rink and found it to be a unique hobby that not everyone had the opportunity to take. I was a competitive figure skater until COVID, at which point it became too difficult and expensive to train. However, my love for skating never stopped there. Last year, I decided to bring skating back into my life. I reached out to one of my figure skating coaches and now work at Ice Vault. Here, I help train the next generation of figure skaters. This is truly a full-circle moment. I am a head coach for the beginner levels, which I took when I was first learning to skate. I enjoy watching the children progress from not knowing how to stand up to being able to skate backwards. The amount of progress a four-year-old can learn in seven weeks is truly remarkable. Every class, I incorporate a fun game that allows the children to perfect their skills and pass their current level. I plan to make a positive impact in the skating community by sharing my passion and skating experience with all of my athletes. I know firsthand the mental frustrations that figure skating can bring; some skills would take me months to learn despite the hours of training. However, by overcoming these barriers, anything is possible. So, I plan to ensure that all of the athletes in my class are supported and don’t lose confidence when skills are more difficult. Currently, I attend the University of Delaware as a freshman honors nursing student, where I have had the opportunity to be a part of the University of Delaware’s Figure Skating Team. Honestly, I was nervous to join this team since I haven’t skated competitively in years. However, this experience has pushed me to be a stronger and more confident person. I have formed many friendships on the team and have learned that the environment surrounding a collegiate figure skating team is completely different than when I competed individually. Although being a college athlete is no easy feat, this has been an impactful experience. I have improved my time management and have continued to uphold a rigorous academic schedule while training. I have attended all mandatory practices and ended my first semester of college with a GPA of 4.0. Overall, I am excited to continue my skating journey while coaching the future generations. My goal is to help young skaters build a positive relationship with the sport, discover their passion, and develop confidence. I strive to foster an environment of support, excitement, and lifelong memories through team-building lessons and games. Ultimately, I hope to share my love for skating with all of these young athletes, as my mother did for me.

My name is Kasey Killian and I am an incoming nursing student at the University of Delaware in the honors program. I intend on obtaining my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and then passing the nursing exam (NCLEX). Once I achieve these goals, I plan to work in a hospital and eventually return to school to become a nurse practitioner. My entire life, I have felt an unexplainable gravitational pull towards helping people that has only grown as I have gotten older. There have been many experiences, from volunteering in a hospital to serving as an EMS member, that have furthered this passion. However, the climatic situation that made me know I was meant to be a nurse was when my grandpa coded in front of me. This experience changed everything, I watched helplessly as the nurses conducted CPR and miraculously brought back my grandpa for ten precious minutes. The fact that I was even present at that awful moment and that I was the only grandchild to say goodbye was a blessing and a sign. It showed me that I didn’t want to be a helpless bystander but a person who could make a difference, a nurse. Throughout high school, I have enhanced my leadership, time-management, and interpersonal skills. I was a three-sport varsity athlete and a captain of the varsity lacrosse team this past season. As a captain, I made sure that the team was unified, helped coordinate warm-ups, and planned competitive fun practices. Additionally, I served as the treasurer of National Honor Society, officer of Future Business Leaders of America, co-president of Dedicated Education to Medicine, and the activities coordinator of my entire high school grade for four years. Despite all of this, I maintained a 4.7 GPA and ranked 5th out of 207 students at Lakeland Regional High School. As a result, I intend on continuing to work hard in the classroom while pursuing various clubs. I hope to continue sports in college by hopefully making the University of Delaware's club lacrosse team. Although nursing is a rigorous field, I know that I have the skills to manage my time wisely and achieve my goals. Furthermore, I am significantly committed to my community. I am a volunteer on an Oncology floor at Hackensack Meridian Hospital. I attend to patients through call bells and assist the medical providers to the best of my ability. Additionally, I am a member of the Wanaque First Aid Squad in which I attend to 911 calls. I assist in stabilizing patients and transporting them safely to the hospital. Lastly, I was a member of the Unified Club in which I served as a unified partner. There, I helped break down barriers that isolate children with Autism and Disabilities. Therefore, I intend on joining the Delaware community by potentially joining Delaware's EMS team and Nurses Helping Nurses club. Additionally, I hope to ease my college financial burden by working as a Patient Care Technician during the summer. Overall, I am a hardworking individual and enjoy helping anyone even in their most vulnerable times. Through all of this, I have learned to take initiative and have found that when I set a goal, I make sure to reach it. I am excited to make a mark in Delaware and become a nurse. My lifelong dream has always been to travel, so I hope to one day achieve that by becoming a traveling medical provider. I can picture myself living in Philadelphia as a nurse practitioner at the Children's hospital and then working overseas in understaffed areas.

I’m sitting on a hospital bed composed of various pillows and blankets as I look down at a drawn picture of a broken wrist. Like any child, I played pretend. One of my favorite games was playing doctor. I would give my bedroom a makeover by turning it into a hospital. I would build X-rays out of pillow forts and use chairs to form hospital beds. To say my fascination with the medical field was recent would be an understatement. My entire life, I have felt an unexplainable gravitational pull towards helping people that has only grown as I have gotten older. Many experiences, from volunteering in a hospital to serving as an EMS member, have furthered this passion. However, the climatic situation that made me know I was meant to be a nurse was when my grandpa coded in front of me. This experience changed everything, I watched helplessly as the nurses conducted CPR and miraculously brought back my grandpa for ten precious minutes. The fact that I was even present at that awful moment and that I was the only grandchild to say goodbye was a blessing and a sign. It showed me that I didn’t want to be a helpless bystander but a person who could make a difference. As a result, I have committed to the University of Delaware as a nursing major in the honors program. I intend on obtaining my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and then passing the nursing exam (NCLEX). Once I achieve these goals, I plan to work in a hospital to try to pay off my debt and eventually return to school to become a nurse practitioner. I've always felt a gravitational pull towards helping people and want to pursue this passion by becoming the best possible nurse. Throughout high school, I have enhanced my leadership, time-management, and interpersonal skills. I was a three-sport varsity athlete and a captain of the varsity lacrosse team this past season. As a captain, I made sure that the team was unified, helped coordinate warm-ups, and planned competitive fun practices. Additionally, I served as the treasurer of National Honor Society, officer of Future Business Leaders of America, co-president of Dedicated Education to Medicine, and the Activities Coordinator of my entire high school grade for four years. Despite all of this, I maintained a 4.7 GPA and ranked 5th out of 207 students at Lakeland Regional High School. Furthermore, I am significantly committed to my community. I am a volunteer on an Oncology floor at Hackensack Meridian Hospital. I attend to patients through call bells and assist the medical providers to the best of my ability. Additionally, I am a member of the Wanaque First Aid Squad in which I attend to 911 calls. I assist in stabilizing patients and transporting them safely to the hospital. Lastly, I was a member of the Unified Club in which I served as a unified partner. There, I helped break down barriers that isolate children with Autism and Disabilities. Overall, I am a hardworking individual and enjoy helping anyone even in their most vulnerable times. Through all of this, I have learned to take initiative and have found that when I set a goal, I make sure to reach it. I am excited to make a mark on Delaware and become a nurse. My lifelong dream has always been to travel, so I hope to one day achieve that by becoming a traveling nurse practitioner.

My name is Kasey Killian and I am an incoming nursing student at the University of Delaware in the honors program. I intend on obtaining my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and then passing the nursing exam (NCLEX). Once I achieve these goals, I plan to work in a hospital and eventually return to school to become a nurse practitioner. I've always felt a gravitational pull towards helping people and want to pursue this passion by becoming the best possible nurse. Throughout high school, I have enhanced my leadership, time-management, and interpersonal skills. I was a three-sport varsity athlete and a captain of the varsity lacrosse team this past season. As a captain, I made sure that the team was unified, helped coordinate warm-ups, and planned competitive fun practices. Additionally, I served as the treasurer of National Honor Society, officer of Future Business Leaders of America, co-president of Dedicated Education to Medicine, and the Activities Coordinator of my entire high school grade for four years. Despite all of this, I maintained a 4.7 GPA and ranked 5th out of 207 students at Lakeland Regional High School. As a result, I hope to make the University of Delaware's club lacrosse team and become involved in various clubs. Through the lacrosse team, I intend on making new friendships and playing the sport that I love. Although nursing is a rigorous field, I know that I have the skills to manage my time wisely and achieve my goals. Furthermore, I am significantly committed to my community. I am a volunteer on an Oncology floor at Hackensack Meridian Hospital. I attend to patients through call bells and assist the medical providers to the best of my ability. Additionally, I am a member of the Wanaque First Aid Squad in which I attend to 911 calls. I assist in stabilizing patients and transporting them safely to the hospital. Lastly, I was a member of the Unified Club in which I served as a unified partner. There, I helped break down barriers that isolate children with Autism and Disabilities. Therefore, I intend on joining the Delaware community by potentially joining Delaware's EMS team and Nurses Helping Nurses club. Additionally, I hope to ease my college financial burden by working as a Patient Care Technician during the summer. Overall, I am a hardworking individual and enjoy helping anyone even in their most vulnerable times. Through all of this, I have learned to take initiative and have found that when I set a goal, I make sure to reach it. I am excited to make a mark in Delaware and become a nurse. My lifelong dream has always been to travel, so I hope to one day achieve that by becoming a traveling medical provider. I can picture myself living in Philadelphia as a nurse practitioner at the Children's hospital and then working overseas in understaffed areas.

My name is Kasey Killian and I am an incoming nursing student at the University of Delaware in the honors program. I intend on obtaining my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and then passing the nursing exam (NCLEX). Once I achieve these goals, I plan to work in a hospital and eventually return to school to become a nurse practitioner. I've always felt a gravitational pull towards helping people, and want to pursue this passion by becoming the best possible nurse. Throughout high school, I have enhanced my leadership, time-management, and interpersonal skills. I was a three-sport varsity athlete and a captain of the varsity lacrosse team this past season. As a captain, I made sure that the team was unified, helped coordinate warm-ups, and planned competitive fun practices. Additionally, I served as the treasurer of National Honor Society, officer of Future Business Leaders of America, co-president of Dedicated Education to Medicine, and the Activities Coordinator of my entire high school grade for four years. Despite all of this, I maintained a 4.7 GPA and ranked 5th out of 207 students at Lakeland Regional High School. Furthermore, I am significantly committed to my community. I am a volunteer on an Oncology floor at Hackensack Meridian Hospital. I attend to patients through call bells and assist the medical providers to the best of my ability. Additionally, I am a member of the Wanaque First Aid Squad in which I attend to 911 calls. I assist in stabilizing patients and transporting them safely to the hospital. Lastly, I was a member of the Unified Club in which I served as a unified partner. There, I helped break down barriers that isolate children with Autism and Disabilities. Overall, I am a hardworking individual and enjoy helping anyone even in their most vulnerable times. Through all of this, I have learned to take initiative and have found that when I set a goal, I make sure to reach it. I am excited to make a mark on Delaware and become a nurse. My lifelong dream has always been to travel, so I hope to one day achieve that by becoming a traveling medical provider once I obtain my degrees.

The Feat of a Chess Game A familiar pair of eyes glared at me as I pondered my next move. This chess game surpassed the ten-minute mark I’m used to. My king was cornered—protected only by my rook. My father attacked my queen from the beginning. After that, I was constantly retreating backwards, till I was left with one pawn. I was out of moves, and he knew it. I pictured a smirk ricocheting off his face. As I looked up, I was smacked with his typical chant of “I am the champion.” He always won. As I flicked my King out of the corner, I stood up, forcing myself to utter, “Good game.” While on my way to physical therapy, my father turns on his comfort song. I held the right side of my head as I leaned against the car window, listening to the voice of Chris Stapleton. Slowly, the voice dies till only the car engine is heard. That’s when my father calmly says, “You know, come August, it’ll get better.” His words make my eyelids feel heavy. I start to feel a river pushing against my eyes. Why did I have to tear my ACL? I fought back the tears as I listened to the rest of his words. “You have always been my rock, the person to keep me going through tough times. We’re going to get through this together. Doctors say nine months, I say six months.” Countless months of crutching around gave me time to improve my chess foresight. I was restricted from many activities, so I decided to focus on something other than just physical therapy and schoolwork. If I couldn’t defend in lacrosse or score a goal in soccer, then I was going to beat my father in chess. I eyed up my opponent as I visualized his next move. His queen would be vulnerable if he moved his bishop to the corner. He makes the expected move, so I take his prized piece, the queen. I hide a smirk as I notice flaws within his strategy. I make a game-changing move, leaving him surrounded. Slowly, his head drops, and he flicks over his King. He claims, “I told you I wasn’t in the right mindset to play chess today.” Excuses, excuses. This time, I felt a surge of happiness when saying good game. I finally beat my father in chess, something I had never done before. If I could accomplish a tiny feat like that then anything was possible. Later, I’m gripping the railing as I position my weight onto my left leg. My father is behind me with his arm hovering behind my back. The stairs look down at me as if I’m its next opponent. I am tempted to accept defeat on the staircase. Despite this, my right leg forms a ninety-degree angle on the first step. Then my left leg follows. Within minutes, I am at the top staring down my opponent: the stairs. At that moment, I was the champion. Six months later, a girl strides towards me with her eyes locked on the net. An anxiousness builds against my chest as I hear “Ten seconds left!” Once my opponent’s at arm's length, her cradle weakens, allowing me to angle myself against her right hip. As I position my lacrosse stick, I successfully guide her away from the goal. Instantly, the scoreboard erupts with an amplified screech. I prevented a shot! My name arises from the bleachers. Scanning the crowd, I distinguish my father’s voice from the rest. I was back. The next time I take out the chess board, I look up at a new opponent: my future. I see myself sitting in a college dorm, focused on my first nursing exam. Then, I saw the smiles on my parents’ faces as I received my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Finally, I envision the moment I pass the NCLEX exam and can begin working in the hospital. This new opponent is intimidating, but my determination to achieve my goals is significantly stronger.

A familiar pair of eyes glared at me as I pondered my next move. This chess game surpassed the ten-minute mark I’m used to. My king was cornered. My father attacked my queen from the beginning. After that, I was constantly retreating backward. I was out of moves and he knew it. I pictured a smirk ricocheting off his face. As I looked up, I was smacked with his typical chant of “I am the champion.” He always won. As I flicked my King out of the corner, I stood up forcing myself to utter, “Good game.” While on my way to physical therapy, my father turns on his comfort song. Slowly, the song dies till only the car engine is heard. That’s when my father calmly says, “You know, come August it’ll get better.” His words make my eyelids feel heavy. Why did I have to tear my ACL? I fought back the tears as I listened to the rest of his words. “You have always been my rock. We’re going to get through this together. Doctors say nine months, I say six months.” Countless months of crutching around gave me time to improve my chess foresight. If I couldn’t play a sport, then I was going to beat my father in chess. I eyed up my opponent. His queen would be vulnerable if he moved his bishop. He makes the expected move, so I take his prized piece, the queen. I hide a smirk as I notice flaws within his strategy. I make a game-changing move leaving him surrounded. Slowly, his head drops and he flicks over his King. I finally beat my father in chess, something I had never done before. If I could accomplish a tiny feat like that then anything was possible. Later, I’m gripping the railing as I position my weight onto my left leg. My father is behind me acting as a spotter. The stairs look down at me as if I’m its next opponent. I am tempted to accept defeat on the staircase. Despite this, my right leg moves. Then my left leg follows. Within minutes, I am at the top staring down my opponent: the stairs. At that moment, I was the champion. Six months later, a girl strides towards me with her eyes locked on the net. An anxiousness builds against my chest. Once my opponent’s at arm's length, her cradle weakens allowing me to angle myself against her. As I position my lacrosse stick, I successfully guide her away from the goal. Instantly, the scoreboard erupts with an amplified screech. I prevented a shot! My name arises from the bleachers. Scanning the crowd, I distinguish my father’s voice from the rest. I was back. I have discovered that when I set a goal, I am determined to work for it. My experience with ACL recovery has bolstered my confidence in surpassing challenges whether in academics or daily life. As a result, I feel that I am prepared for the rigorous path of pursuing a nursing degree. As a future graduate, I will use my nursing degree to provide patients with the empathy and care needed during their most vulnerable times. I want to become that special person; who stands up for their patient against the clock. As a nurse, I will be a living example of a little girl who made her dreams of helping people come true. I have been a part of various communities with one thing in common; a goal. So, I hope to set the goal of achieving my childhood dream of becoming a nurse.

I was seated when my grandmother quizzed my cousin on scenarios most commonly seen on the NCLEX exam. I listened to their educational conversation of big-girl words as I flipped through my cousin’s anatomy textbook. Instantly, I was grasped by the vivid diagrams of the body systems and human cells. I began to skim the highlighted text word by word, soaking up new terms and information. That’s when my grandmother asked, “When you get older, will you become a nurse like all of your cousins and aunts?” I replied to her comment with a simple nod and a huge smile. Years later, that question resurfaced as I watched my cousin, a hospice nurse, help my grandmother out of bed. Growing up, I was characterized by my willingness to be there for others. I decided to explore this attribute by joining the Emergency Medical Squad, shadowing a Pediatric Hematologist, and volunteering in the Oncology Unit. Through the Ambulance Squad, I have reported on numerous 911 calls and assisted in direct medical treatment. I enjoy going on call and always feel achieved when my crew and I stabilize a patient. Specifically, one interaction in the Oncology Unit has stuck with me. It was my first day volunteering and I was trying my best to carry out my role. Fortunately, one of the nurses let me watch her perform a procedure on one of her patients. Here, I met the sweetest woman who had gone through many surgeries due to blatter cancer. In our first interaction, she looked me in the eyes and told me that these nurses were the reason she was still here today. When I mentioned my pursuit of nursing, she smiled and said it takes a very special person. Her voice and the spark in her eyes are still plastered in my memory. She was so truthful in her response and was comfortable as the nurse carried out her last procedure. Although I have had many interactions with nurses, it was this opportunity in which I got to experience the excitement and happiness of a Nurse sending her patient home. This nurse provided this woman with emotional support in her most vulnerable time. It has been this interaction that has inspired me to work towards being that hero. I intend to use my perseverance and passion to drive me through the difficult path of becoming a nurse.

Beep! Beep! My pager goes ferocious. It's seven am. I open my eyes to the sound of a police officer blaring "Wanaque First Aid Squad, it's an all-call, report to..." I roll myself out of bed, quickly grab my keys, and zoom off to the First Aid Squad. There, I hop on the ambulance ready for an eventful morning. That was my first page as an Emergency Medical Services member. Although the shifts are long, I enjoy it. I am passionate about helping people and feel that the EMS squad allows me, a seventeen-year-old, to pursue that passion. When I'm not on call, one may find me behind the counter of a pizza restaurant. A typical Friday looks like this. Ring, Ring! All three lines are blaring for attention. I rush through the lines picking them up one by one and saying, "Sorry, please hold." As I get to the last line, I pick it up and say "Ringwood Pizza, order for delivery or pick up?" The customer wants a delivery, so I go through the process of asking for their address, putting them on hold, getting their total, telling them their total, and then entering their card into the card machine. Now imagine that, but with customers walking in for pick-up or dine-in. It's quite a tiresome, but worthwhile job. Yes, that sounds like a lot, but I like to be busy. I am a three-sport varsity athlete. As a starting varsity lacrosse defender, I ensure the underclassmen feel comfortable playing alongside me and my peers. For a defense to work, all of the defenders have to be able to communicate and work as a team. So, I am determined to make that happen. This summer has been busy; if it isn't volunteering, work, or leading a high school practice, one may find me in my high school's hallway. I am the activities coordinator of my 2025 class. As a result, I took charge and planned, drafted, and ran the school mural. This was difficult as there was a deadline and tons to do with only so many hands. Despite this, we beautifully decorated the wall of our high school and continued a tradition. Overall, these activities have taught me more about myself, and have helped me develop lifelong skills. For instance, volunteering with the First Aid Squad has exposed me to the medical profession while providing hands-on experience. My job at the pizza restaurant has taught me discipline, patience, responsibility, and time management. My role as a teammate has taught me commitment and teamwork. Lastly, as part of the Class Council, I have learned how to agree on decisions and carry out projects. These experiences have only strengthened my aspirations of joining the medical field and helping people. They have made me realize that I can make an impact even from the tiniest actions. By gaining these skills, I am confident I can face the challenges of growing up. I look forward to using these skills in college and helping people regain their normal selves. I am determined to leave a positive mark! As a result, this scholarship would provide me with money to put towards a four-year degree. Although I have some money saved, I do not have enough for a full college tuition. Also, I have a younger sister who plans to go to college, so it doesn't make it much easier for my parents. Not only would this scholarship boost my confidence in earning more scholarships, but it would also help cover some of the materials I will need for college.

As a die-hard Harry Potter fan, I have been immersed in the magical world of Harry Potter since second grade and have read every single book. It took me until 8th grade to finish all of them, as I made sure to read one every year. While reading the books, I always shifted from wanting to be an intelligent Ravenclaw to being a brave, daring Gryffindor. In my mind, these houses were the most glorious, most exciting, and most "impressive." I remember always listening to my friends' glamor about how they were a Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. However, deep down I have always known that I am a true-born Hufflepuff. The most prominent qualities I possess as a Hufflepuff are my devotion to those around me and my perseverance. I possess the loyal and kind qualities of a Hufflepuff. While anyone can be loyal, not everyone chooses to be. In my school, like most, friendships are fickle and often influenced by gossip and popularity. However, I make sure to be loyal to all of my friends even those not close to me. I will go to great lengths to protect my friends. For example, at work one of my friends made a mistake in the cash register and it made the whole thing go over a few dollars. She was still training and I knew that my boss was being a bit hard on her. So, being the person I am, I decided to take the blame and keep the attention off her. Although this may seem like a very small incident, I do believe that the little things I do add up to a long-lasting and unique definition of my ability to be true to myself and the people I care about Another quality I possess is perseverance. At the end of my 8th-grade year, I tore my ACL and had to undergo surgery. That whole process was mentally and physically draining. Especially, on a scared 13-year-old athlete who was going to high school. Despite being devastated, I worked extremely hard to get back on the soccer field. I recall one car ride to physical therapy when I had a mental breakdown in the car and my father gave me an inspiring speech that I still hold dear to my heart. He encouraged me to push past this obstacle and get my knee back to 100%. Ultimately, I was back on the soccer field in less than 6 months and managed to earn my varsity letter in my sophomore year. Many people claim that they are Hufflepuff because they are loyal, hardworking, and overall kind. However, I understand that being a Hufflepuff means much more than just possessing those stereotypical qualities. A true Hufflepuff is someone who is trustworthy until their very last breath, just like Cedric was. A Hufflepuff is someone who not only encourages others but also celebrates their accomplishments. Beneath all of this lies an innocent human being with the biggest and purest heart. And that is who I am. I am certain that I am destined to wear the yellow and black robes of a Hufflepuff.