My decision to pursue nursing is deeply rooted in my personal journey. I was born with a cleft lip and palate, a condition that required multiple surgeries and years of ongoing medical care. Much of my childhood was spent in hospitals and recovery rooms, navigating both the physical and emotional challenges that came with it. At times, I felt different and isolated, especially with visible scars and frequent procedures. As an adoptee, these experiences also profoundly shaped my sense of identity and resilience. Despite these challenges, I found strength in the care and support I received—especially from nurses. They were often the ones who stayed by my side the longest, offering reassurance before surgeries, encouragement during recovery, and compassion during moments of fear and uncertainty. Their ability to combine skill with genuine empathy left a lasting impression on me. They made difficult experiences more manageable, and their care inspired me to want to do the same for others. Over time, these experiences have shaped me into a resilient and empathetic individual. I have learned to embrace every part of my story, including the challenges, and I am proud of the strength I have gained. Rather than defining me by hardship, my journey has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to support others during vulnerable moments. My goal is to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and become a registered nurse. I am particularly interested in working with patients receiving long-term or complex medical care, as I understand firsthand the emotional and physical toll this can take. I hope to provide not only high-quality clinical care but also the kind of emotional support that can make a lasting difference in a patient’s experience. Through my nursing career, I hope to make a meaningful impact on my community by being a compassionate and dependable presence for my patients. I want to help create an environment where individuals feel heard, respected, and cared for beyond their diagnosis. Small moments—listening, encouraging, or simply being present—can have a powerful impact, and I aim to bring that awareness into my daily practice. I am especially inspired by Maureen’s dedication to improving patient care and raising hospital standards through innovation. I hope to carry on her values by remaining open to new technologies and practices that enhance patient outcomes while maintaining a strong commitment to compassionate care. Like Maureen, I also hope to give back to my community beyond the clinical setting, whether through volunteering, supporting patients outside of appointments, or sharing my own experiences to help others feel less alone. Ultimately, I hope to build a career that reflects both excellence and empathy. By combining compassionate care with a commitment to growth and innovation, I aim to honor Maureen’s legacy while making a meaningful difference in others' lives.

Growing up with a rare condition like a cleft lip and a cleft palate has put me on a path that has invisible obligations and unstoppable barriers that greatly influenced my education and career objectives. Although my condition may be obvious to the outside, the more subtle struggles of the long-term specialty care, frequent surgeries, driving long distances to make appointments, and navigating the medical insurance grants process to necessitate them have not been apparent on the surface but have been the backbone of my development. The challenges of finding and managing care, as well as long waits for appropriate services, are distinctive features of patient journeys in rare diseases, which, in most cases, take time and require ongoing advocacy by families and patients themselves. My early life and teens were characterized by repetition of orthodontic care, jaw and plastic surgeries, and a myriad of follow-ups, some of which were hours away. A combination of strict medical schedules and schooling meant that one needed to be strong, time-conscious, and adaptable, all of which are crucial in academic achievement, but which are developed through a pressurized environment to hold on to normalcy at school. Rare diseases are accompanied by social and systemic barriers as well; most patients often underestimate their disability needs, are discriminated against in education and access to health care, and continue to face the struggle of not being acknowledged and supported. As I watched my parents go through the administrative and emotional stress of obtaining insurance approvals, I also learned the lesson of being persistent and patient. It is these same responsibilities that contribute to the growth of my empathy and problem-solving abilities as I grow into adulthood and begin working as a direct stakeholder in healthcare systems. The visits to medical teams showed me that I made the right choice to enter nursing because I will be able to fill gaps in care and help patients with complex conditions. These invisible roles have not limited my desire; they have made me what I want to be. The journey towards nursing is motivated not only by personal experience but also by the desire to make a difference in the treatment of individuals whose struggles may seem insignificant yet are immense. Supplementary Question 1. As noted in my essay, I was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate (third degree). I am also a carrier of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and was born prematurely, with early challenges including failure to thrive and developmental delays. Supplementary Question 2. My father served in the United States Marine Corps for 27 years and has since retired after completing his military career. Supplementary Question 3. My mother worked as an elementary school teacher for the Department of Defense Education Activity, teaching children of military families on U.S. military bases. A large part of her career was dedicated to special education at the preschool level, supporting young children with developmental needs.