Being a nontraditional student has impacted my educational experience and career goals in many positive and negative ways. My parents dropped out of middle school and never completed high school or college; they do not have careers and feel the weight of those decisions today. I grew up in a household where poverty, domestic violence, and drugs and alcohol were an everyday thing, so I knew that I wanted my life to be different. I had no idea how to get there, but I was determined to break the cycle. When I was young, I fell in love with helping people and decided to pursue healthcare. I will tell the story of how I became a nontraditional student; when I was in high school, I had a heart condition; I was put on independent study and graduated a year early. I immediately registered at my community college. I had no experience or knowledge of what to do, what classes to take, etc., to reach my dream of being a pediatrician, and neither did my parents, so I relied on my college counselor. I took their advice, and two years later, as I was nearing the time of applying for graduation, I met with another counselor because mine was on leave. As we reviewed my transcript, education plan, and desire to transfer to UC Davis to become a pediatrician, I was informed my counselor did not set up my education plan for what I wanted and that if I wanted to transfer to UC Davis, I would need to take additional classes. I was frustrated and discouraged and decided to take a break from school and reevaluate my future goals. At that point, I decided to quit my two part-time jobs and work full-time at a local medical clinic. I had two children and did not want to return to school until they were older. When I was 33 years old, I had another heart condition that landed me in the hospital and home on disability. I saw this as God providing an opportunity for me to return to school. I returned to community college in 2020 to finish the classes I needed to transfer to a university. At 35, I applied and was accepted to the nursing program at Simpson University. I will graduate in December with my bachelor's in nursing at 37 years old! I want to further my education and career even further, and I hope to one day become a family nurse practitioner. Being a nontraditional student has had its ups and downs, and looking back, I can see that everything happens for a reason, and God's plans are way better than ours. If I were a traditional student, who knows where I would be? I do know it would not be where I am now. Being a nontraditional student has helped me be a better student because I am older, more mature, and have more life experience, which brings a lot to the table in a classroom setting. It has also helped me do better in nursing because I have work experience in healthcare and already know some of the information. Being a nontraditional student has also shown my friends, family, kids, and anyone who knows my story that it's never too late to follow your dream!

Being the first person in my family to go to college, my education has already benefited me in ways I can’t describe. Before I started my academic journey, I was drinking and doing drugs and on a path that would lead me right into destruction. Once I started school, it kept me occupied, and I had less time to give to that part of my life. Education saved my life; If I kept on the road I was walking, I would not be where I am today. Education gave me a way forward and a purpose. My education continues to inspire me to try harder and be better. My boyfriend and children have seen the hard work, long hours of studying, and numerous sacrificed hours of sleep to get where I am today. Pursuing nursing as a career will allow me to spread my wings a little further and make an even more significant difference in the lives of those in need. When I become a nurse and eventually a family nurse practitioner, it will allow me the financial means to start my children's college fund, go on a family vacation, buy a car that isn’t constantly breaking down, and buy a house that isn't always falling apart. The benefits of pursuing my educational and career goals are limitless. Not only will having a higher education benefit me and my family, but it will also benefit future generations by breaking bad habits and finding new, healthy paths forward. I want to become a family nurse practitioner because, throughout my career working as a medical assistant, I have noticed the lack of healthcare providers that stay in my community. Most physicians and health care providers pass through as travel providers or practice briefly to gain rural health experience, then move on to further their careers. I have seen firsthand how this rotating door of healthcare providers affects the patients in my community and how it has affected my own family. From a patient’s perspective, this is frustrating and scary. When patients develop a relationship with a provider, they trust them and work together towards healthy living; when they constantly see new providers, they can’t build that relationship, and many things fall through the cracks. When I become a family nurse practitioner, I will bring relief and hope to my community as a provider who wants to stick around. I want to be a provider that changes the world and makes this dark place a little brighter.

I have always had a heart for public service; since childhood, I have known that I love to help people. Growing up, I volunteered for many community service events, which have shaped who I am today and who I want to be. I want to make our world a better place, and the only way I know how to do that is to serve others. I serve others by volunteering in my community, but most of all, I work in medicine. I have been a medical assistant since 2009 and knew I wanted to further my education one day, but I wasn't sure how to make that happen. In 2022, I decided to take a more significant step toward furthering my career and began nursing school with dreams of eventually becoming a family nurse practitioner. Since working in medicine, I am continually inspired by the patients and healthcare staff I work with. What pushed me to take that next step to become a nurse was a heart condition that landed me very close to death and off work. That was when I knew I wasn't done impacting the world, and this was how I could do it; I would go back to school and help people have a better quality of life. My education will benefit my community and the world. I want to become a family nurse practitioner because, throughout my career working as a medical assistant, I have noticed the lack of healthcare providers that stay in my community. Most physicians and health care providers pass through as travel providers or practice briefly to gain rural health experience, then move on to further their careers. I have seen firsthand how this rotating door of healthcare providers affects the patients in my community and how it has affected my own family. From a patient's perspective, this is frustrating and scary. When patients develop a relationship with a provider, they trust them and work together towards healthy living; when they constantly see new providers, they can't build that relationship, and many things fall through the cracks. When I become a family nurse practitioner, I will bring relief and hope to my community as a provider who wants to stick around. I have also worked with many healthcare providers who are in it for the money and do not take the time to get to know the patient; they judge based on the medications they are on, not on the health conditions they suffer from. I want to be a healthcare provider who listens and hears what the patient has to say, who is interested in them as a person, and who has their best interest at heart. I hope I have shown you what has inspired me to work in nursing, how I want to use my education to impact my community and the world, and why.

I have always had a heart for public service; since childhood, I have known that I love to help people. Growing up, I volunteered for many community service events, which have shaped who I am today and who I want to be. I want to make our world a better place, and the only way I know how to do that is to serve others. I serve others by volunteering in my community, but most of all, I work in medicine. I have been a medical assistant since 2009 and knew I wanted to further my education one day, but I wasn't sure how to make that happen. In 2022, I decided to take a more significant step toward furthering my career and began nursing school with dreams of eventually becoming a family nurse practitioner. Since working in medicine, I am continually inspired by the patients and healthcare staff I work with. What pushed me to take that next step to become a nurse was a heart condition that landed me very close to death and off work. That was when I knew I wasn't done impacting the world, and this was how I could do it; I would go back to school and help people have a better quality of life. I want to become a family nurse practitioner because, throughout my career working as a medical assistant, I have noticed the lack of healthcare providers that stay in my community. Most physicians and health care providers pass through as travel providers or practice briefly to gain rural health experience, then move on to further their careers. I have seen firsthand how this rotating door of healthcare providers affects the patients in my community and how it has affected my own family. From a patient's perspective, this is frustrating and scary. When patients develop a relationship with a provider, they trust them and work together towards healthy living; when they constantly see new providers, they can't build that relationship, and many things fall through the cracks. When I become a family nurse practitioner, I will bring relief and hope to my community as a provider who wants to stick around. I have also worked with many healthcare providers who are in it for the money and do not take the time to get to know the patient; they judge based on the medications they are on, not on the health conditions they suffer from. I want to be a healthcare provider who listens and hears what the patient has to say, who is interested in them as a person, and who has their best interest at heart. I hope I have shown you what has inspired me to advance my career in nursing and my goals to use my education to impact my community and the world.

My name is Katrina Elsfelder, and I’m 37 years old, pursuing a bachelor's degree of Science in Nursing at Simpson University in Redding, California. I am the first person in my family to attend college or follow a career. I am a dedicated mother of two children; I own my home, have two dogs, and work part-time, allowing me to focus on academics. I love working for God's kingdom and have volunteered in various ways to serve my community and help those in need since I was a child. My hobbies when not studying or working are spending time with my family, hiking, working out, doing yoga, watching movies, camping, traveling, and roller skating. Growing up, my parents, close family members, and I suffered from drug and alcohol abuse. I am grateful I could pull myself away from that lifestyle and the knowledge it left me with; an understanding of addiction and softened my heart towards people with a substance use disorder. No one chooses to be an addict; these people deserve to be treated without judgment, with respect and kindness, just as any other person does. I can better relate to patients suffering from these disorders and believe I can help them. I have volunteered time, money, and goods to serve the underprivileged and needy in many ways. I have served my local community in numerous ways, most recently cooking and serving food to people experiencing homelessness. In the past, I have fundraised for Relay for Life, volunteered to help local wildfire victims, and supported Life Net and summer pantry programs for children needing food. I have been on multiple mission trips to Ecuador, where I served an orphanage and an elderly community by bringing clothing and food and helping build shelter. My cardiac condition changed my life’s path not once but twice as it allowed me to start working in the medical field, where I gained tons of knowledge and experience. It opened the door for me to return to school and start the nursing program. I have gained so much insight as a person with a heart condition; I have become more compassionate towards patients who suffer from similar medical conditions. This scholarship would help provide financial relief and allow me to concentrate more on my academic performance and professional growth. Winning this award would remind me that I am worthy and enough; I am more than my past mistakes, and they do not define or limit me. Winning this award would boost my confidence in more ways than I can explain. I have overcome a lot of hardships, such as poverty, alcohol and substance use, depression, and toxic and violent relationships, to get where I am. I am very proud of myself for never giving up on my dreams, no matter how long they take to become reality.

I have always had a heart for public service; since childhood, I have known that I love to help people. Growing up, I volunteered for many public service events, which have shaped who I am today and who I want to be. I want to make our world a better place, and the only way I know how to do that is to serve others. I serve others by volunteering in my community, but most of all, I work in medicine. I have been a medical assistant since 2009 and knew I wanted to further my education one day, but I wasn't sure how to make that happen. In 2022, I decided to take a more significant step toward furthering my career and began nursing school with dreams of eventually becoming a family nurse practitioner. Since working in medicine, I am continually inspired by the patients and healthcare staff I work with. What pushed me to take that next step to become a nurse was a heart condition that landed me very close to death and off work. That was when I knew I wasn't done impacting the world, and this was how I could do it; I would go back to school and help people have a better quality of life. My education will benefit my community and the world. I want to become a family nurse practitioner because, throughout my career working as a medical assistant, I have noticed the lack of healthcare providers that stay in my community. Most physicians and health care providers pass through as travel providers or practice briefly to gain rural health experience, then move on to further their careers. I have seen firsthand how this rotating door of healthcare providers affects the patients in my community and how it has affected my own family. From a patient's perspective, this is frustrating and scary. When patients develop a relationship with a provider, they trust them and work together towards healthy living; when they constantly see new providers, they can't build that relationship, and many things fall through the cracks. When I become a family nurse practitioner, I will bring relief and hope to my community as a provider who wants to stick around. I have also worked with many healthcare providers who are in it for the money and do not take the time to get to know the patient; they judge based on the medications they are on, not on the health conditions they suffer from. I want to be a healthcare provider who listens and hears what the patient has to say, who is interested in them as a person, and who has their best interest at heart. I hope I have shown you what has inspired me to work in nursing, a public service career, and how I want to use my education to impact my community and the world and why.

My name is Katrina Elsfelder, and I’m 37 years old, pursuing a bachelor's degree of Science in Nursing at Simpson University in Redding, California. I am the first person in my family to attend college or follow a career. I am a dedicated mother of two children; I own my home, have two dogs, and work part-time, allowing me to focus on academics. I love working for God's kingdom and have volunteered in various ways to serve my community and help those in need since I was a child. I love to travel and have been on multiple mission trips to Ecuador, where I served an orphanage and an elderly community. Other hobbies I enjoy when not studying or working are spending time with my family, hiking, watching movies, camping, and roller skating. I have overcome a lot of hardships, such as poverty, alcohol and substance use, depression, and toxic and violent relationships, to get where I am. I am very proud of myself for never giving up on my dreams, no matter how long they take to become reality. I have had a heart for service since I was a little girl, and as I grew up and found myself, I realized that my purpose is to care for others and help those in any way I can. I started working in medicine in 2009 as a medical assistant and since then have gained so much knowledge and experience. I have impacted many lives in positive ways and hope to keep doing so when I become a nurse. In 2020, I was in the emergency department with a heart condition and saw this as an open door to return to school after 20 years; that’s when I decided to pursue nursing. I knew I wanted a job where I could maintain direct contact with patients and help them through difficult times. The unique relationship nurses and patients create can significantly impact each other's lives. Nurses are caretakers, patient advocates, educators, and leaders, which is why I am excited to become a nurse, but most of all, I want to do it because I love people and my community. I want to make a positive difference in people’s lives and help them be their best selves. I know I will be a great nurse because I am intelligent, kind, loving, compassionate, and caring. I will treat every patient as if they were my own family. When patients are well-loved and cared for, the nurturing environment provides them a place to heal properly. I want to bring that positive, loving energy into my work daily and be a light in the dark.

My best friend was Rachelle Amanda Pittman, more commonly known to many as "shells," who became one of God's Angels in his army on December 10, 2021. Knowing Shells, she most likely took on the role of being "the queen of the angels." She was my best friend, my sister, the only person I could talk to about anything and everything. I never received judgment but always encouragement and, most of all, love. Shells was the definition of beautiful, inside and out; she had a smile that was so bright and contagious. She was intelligent, funny, loyal, and an adrenaline junky; she loved sports and was very good at all of them, partly because she was like 6ft in third grade. She knew who she was in this world, not changing it for anyone, and wasn't scared to show it. She was fearless in many ways; no matter what stood in her way, she was a light that could never be dimmed. She was the most amazing person I have ever met, and I was lucky to know her and call her my friend and sister. We met in second grade and have never stopped being friends since I was nine. I moved about four hours away, and we lost touch for a few years. One night, my parents got a call around 1:00 am from the operator, who stated Rachelle was on the line looking for me. This girl called 411 the information line and tracked me down, that was one of the best days of my life. We reconnected, and it was as if we had never separated. As we continued growing out of our teenage years and into adulthood, we lived hours apart and didn't talk as much as we would have liked, but that never changed how we felt about each other. It was like we were never apart when we came together, not even for a day. We knew how much our friendship meant to one another, and we cherished that many weren't as lucky as we were to have one another. I can't tell you how often we would sit on the phone just talking about anything and everything. I have so many memories I could reminisce on, but one that I will forever be grateful for was the phone call we had a few weeks before she died. I will never forget it; it was November 15, my nephew's birthday, and I was getting the kids ready to leave for his party and Shells called. I picked up, and as always, she just called to chat; we started talking about how much we love each other and glad we have one another; we reminisced on our childhood and all the good times, specifically riding our bikes down her steep driveway and how the wall in front of her house was falling. When I got the call about her passing, I was in denial, but once reality set in, I realized that our last phone call was God's way to bring me closure. Her friendship was so important to me in many ways and helped shape my life. I only hope that people find a best friend like Shells because she was the epitome of what a best friend should be. We were there through thick and thin, and I'll miss her forever and always.

My name is Katrina Elsfelder. I'm 37 years old and pursuing a bachelor's degree of Science in Nursing at Simpson University in Redding, California. I am the first person in my family to attend college or pursue a career. I am a mother of two children; I work part-time, which allows me to focus on my academics. Since I was ten, I dreamt I would someday practice medicine. More specifically, I dreamt of being a pediatrician, a career where I could marry my two passions: children and helping others. As I grew up, life experiences changed my dream ever so slightly; now, my goal is to become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specializing in pediatrics. One day I plan to work in a practice where I can work with children and their families. Family Nurse Practitioners are caretakers, patient advocates, educators, and leaders, so I am excited to become one. If primary care providers spent more time taking an interest in the overall health of their patients, there would be less disease and better-managed health. I have been working in the medical field as a medical assistant for over 15 years and have gained much knowledge and experience. Every day, I fall deeper in love with medicine, helping others understand their health issues and finding ways to deal with them. I have experienced obstacles such as poverty, as I am always living paycheck to paycheck, but somehow, we always have what we need. I have been in relationships where domestic violence took place, and I have experienced multiple medical conditions. I have endured these challenging times, persevered, and come out on top. You can achieve your dreams if you maintain a positive attitude and keep moving forward. I am starting my last semester in nursing school at Simpson University, where I hold a GPA of 3.77. When I graduate in December 2024, I plan to study and pass the national nurse exam, NCLEX. After getting my registered nurse licensure, I plan to work for a local hospital for at least a year to gain experience and then start back to school for my doctorate in nursing and become an FNP. My ultimate goal is to work hard towards a career I love and set an excellent example for my children. I am breaking the cycle and making a difference for my children, hoping they will be better than me. I want my family to live and love hard, positively impacting everyone they encounter. I will do just that when I become a nurse and then eventually a FNP. This award would provide some financial relief and allow me to focus more on my academic performance and professional growth.

My interest in healthcare started when I was a child, after losing my brother, grandfather, and great-grandmother all within one year at the age of five. Growing up, I was surrounded by people suffering from drug addiction, mental illness, and health conditions; needless to say, my family did not lead healthy lifestyles, and they paid for it. I knew I didn't want that for myself and wanted to help people live better lives. In high school, I was diagnosed with a heart condition that landed me in an independent study program. To finish my credits for early graduation, I participated in an ROP course to become a certified nurse assistant. After graduating a year early, I immediately enrolled in a community college with aspirations to transfer to a university and become a pediatrician. I graduated with an associate's degree in general science and took a break from college due to some of life's beautiful obstacles. I started working at a multi-specialty medical clinic to gain medical knowledge and experience. I was promoted many times, worked in many departments, and worked as a medical clinic manager. Since then, I have worked for a few other medical clinics, and every person with a higher degree encouraged me to pursue my academic career. While I thought medical assisting was it for me, another medical condition landed me on disability in 2020, which opened the doors for me to return to school to further my education and solidified my interest in pursuing nursing. Looking back now, I see that my work and life experience have prepared and led me to pursue a career in nursing. I will have a job where I can maintain direct contact with patients, care for them, and help them through difficult times. The unique relationship you create can significantly impact patients' lives. Nurses are caretakers, patient advocates, educators, and leaders, so I am excited to become one. I know I will be a great nurse because I am intelligent, kind, loving, compassionate, and caring, and I will treat every patient as if they were my own family. When patients are well-loved and cared for, it provides the healing environment they need. I have had so many patients tell me that they would prefer me taking care of them than the doctors; this always made me feel good when I received these compliments because I knew I was doing my best to take care of them the best way I knew how. I know I will succeed because I am not afraid to admit I am wrong or ask for help if I don't know something. The medical field constantly changes and grows; I like learning new things. I am excited about my future in nursing and can't wait to see my impact on this world! I want to be a nurse and make a positive difference.

My interest in healthcare started when I was a child, after losing my brother, grandfather, and great-grandmother all within one year at the age of five. Growing up, I was surrounded by people suffering from drug addiction, mental illness, and health conditions; needless to say, my family did not lead healthy lifestyles, and they paid for it. I knew I didn't want that for myself and wanted to help people live better lives. In high school, I was diagnosed with a heart condition that landed me in an independent study program. To finish my credits for early graduation, I participated in an ROP course to become a certified nurse assistant. After graduating a year early, I immediately enrolled in a community college with aspirations to transfer to a university and become a pediatrician. I graduated with an associate's degree in general science and took a break from college due to some of life's beautiful obstacles. I started working at a multi-specialty medical clinic to gain medical knowledge and experience. I was promoted many times, worked in many departments, and worked as a medical clinic manager. Since then, I have worked for a few other medical clinics, and every person with a higher degree encouraged me to pursue my academic career. While I thought medical assisting was it for me, another medical condition landed me on disability in 2020, which opened the doors for me to return to school to further my education and solidified my interest in pursuing nursing. Looking back now, I see that my work and life experience have prepared and led me to pursue a career in nursing. I will have a job where I can maintain direct contact with patients, care for them, and help them through difficult times. The unique relationship you create can significantly impact patients' lives. Nurses are caretakers, patient advocates, educators, and leaders, so I am excited to become one. I know I will be a great nurse because I am intelligent, kind, loving, compassionate, and caring, and I will treat every patient as if they were my own family. When patients are well-loved and cared for, it provides the healing environment they need. I have had so many patients tell me that they would prefer me taking care of them than the doctors; this always made me feel good when I received these compliments because I knew I was doing my best to take care of them the best way I knew how. I know I will succeed because I am not afraid to admit I am wrong or ask for help if I don't know something. The medical field constantly changes and grows, and I like learning new things. I am excited about my future in nursing and can't wait to see my impact on this world! I want to be a nurse to make a positive difference in this world.

My career goal is to get my degree and become a registered nurse in California. This award would help me attain this goal by relieving some of the financial burden of tuition and fees. When I can worry less about the financial aspect of my degree I can focus more on my education. Regarding relevant accomplishments and skills that support my degree in nursing are that I have been a medical assistant for 15 years where I have executed my skills in patient advocacy, education, leadership, and customer service. I have learned so much medical terminology, knowledge of procedures and disease processes, not to mention the business side of it. I have worked my way up to management at every job I’ve been in so understanding that side of the business gives me an advantage. My extensive historical knowledge and experience have given me a leg up on all my other colleagues in my cohort. I have been involved in many community service events throughout the years, some include relay for life, serving fire survivors (Camp, and Carr), serving homeless during COVID, and financially supporting the summer lunch programs for schools to name a few. I am always in a leadership role; people look up to me because I always have a positive attitude and outlook on life. An example of a leadership role I have been in was when I managed a medical clinic and I oversaw around 30 employees including health practitioners, maintenance staff medical assistants and reception. My goals align with ACHE of SoCal’s purpose and objectives because I am a first generation female student who is pursuing a career goal in nursing. I am currently seeking my bachelors of science in nursing at Simpson University in Redding Ca. I am a strong and talented women who is reaching out for some financial help towards reaching my goal. It is no secret that there is an industry shortage of healthcare personal. This is one reason i want to get into nursing, we need people who care to take care of our sick. I see many people get into this industry because it makes money well, I am getting into because I like to serve others and help people be their best selves. The patients that need care are in a vulnerable spot and need someone to show them empathy, compassion, love and support. I believe that when we treat our patients as if they were our family the patient outcomes are by far better and the lasting outcome is greater. I want to be a nurse that changes the patients life for the better, I why to make a lasting impression on them and remind them that no matter what they are loved and cared for. I am ambitious, driven, passionate and regardless what gets in my way, I will persevere and overcome. My motto is keep moving forward. You should choose me, because my goals and life’s purposes align so beautifully with those of ACHE SoCal!

Since I was a child, a passion of mine has been to help others. I have led a life of service thus far and God willing will continue to do so throughout my nursing career. Despite the many obstacles I have faced as a child and adult including poverty, domestic violence, health struggles, substance and drug use, and depression, I have persevered and overcome. As a first generation college student, I started my educational pursuit fresh out of high school in 2005 with aspirations to transfer from community college to UCDavis and pursue medical school. God had other plans for me; as I was under the impression I was able to transfer once my two years was up but no; meeting with a more experienced counselor I found out I was given the wrong Ed plan and had two more years at the community college level. Discouraged and frustrated, I took a break from college and started working at a multi specialty medical clinic. I figured it was a way for me to become exposed to the medical field and would be a great learning opportunity. I was right, within a few month of starting in reception I was promoted and given an opportunity to become a medical assistant. While working for that company for 7 years I took on many roles such as clinic manager, and gained a great deal of knowledge and experience. I had two beautiful children, bought a car and a house which was a huge personal accomplishment as I was the first person in my family to do so. In 2020 I had 13 years experience as a medical assistant and was happily working until one day I had a medical condition that landed me in the hospital and on disability. Little did I know at the time but this was a Godsend; it opened the door up for me to go back to school and pursue me dream. As I was contemplating what degree I wanted to seek, Nursing was the only career that checked all my boxes. I started applying to Nursing schools and got into Simpson University in Redding, CA. I started the bachelor of science in nursing program in 2022 and I am now in my last semester of nursing school and am loving every minute of it. Looking back on my life I realized that everything that has happened was preparing me for this very moment. All my life experience will help me connect better with patients and allow me to better help them. Winning this scholarship would be such a blessing and would help tremendously with the financial stress of an undergraduate degree. Thank you for you consideration and God Bless.

One of my recent situations in which I demonstrated tenacity and perseverance and was a huge learning moment in life for me was an about six years ago. I was the manager of a medical clinic, was in a long term relationship of 10 years, had two beautiful young children, just bought a house and an SUV. My life was going well, or so I thought. Little did I know what was about to happen would change my life forever. My cousin and I planned a vacation to the Dominican Republic for her 30th birthday; I was very excited but nervous as it was my first time leaving my kids. Nevertheless, they were in good hands with their dad. Upon my return my boyfriend and children were going to pick me up but when the time came they never showed up. Instead I woke up to voicemails and videos of my boyfriend intoxicated saying he was leaving me. I called my mom, she picked up my children and came to get me; when I arrived home my house was trashed, and my boyfriend was nowhere to be found. I was completely blindsided and absolutely devastated. I was to return to work within the next few days but I was so distraught, I took a leave of absence. Come to find out my boyfriend left me for another women and was using hardcore drugs and drinking excessively. For the next few years there was much heartache and despair to come but also hope and and renewal. This separation made me realize that I had given all of myself to this person who took advantage and abused me for many years and during our relationship, that I thought it was a normal. At first I was very angry and felt as if there was something wrong with me and was so desperate to have him back. As time passed, I became depressed, stopped working and wanted to be home with my children. My son was having a very hard time with his dad leaving and never seeing him. All I could do was pray, then one day God help me understand my strength and worth. I started to take my life back, and figure out who Katrina was. I started doing things for me and my children, we sought counseling and I enrolled in a domestic violence program. I began to learn that it was best that we had separated and I could stand up for myself and kids. As time passed, I loved being a single mother. I started working again, the kids started preschool, attending church regularly and was comfortable with my situation for once. I never thought I could be alone, or be a single mother. After receiving help, I realized that I was a strong, smart, independent women who didn’t need anyone to tell me I’m worthy or validate me in any way. I was successful in many areas of my life and it was beautiful. Reflecting on my situation years later, I remember thinking I couldn’t do this and how would I survive but I did and came out stronger than before. I realized that even though it was a very difficult and sad time in my life, I was left extremely grateful for the situation and that it needed to happen the way it did for me to learn what I did and become who I am today. The Bible says suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character, hope. I couldn’t agree more!

My life experiences started influencing my decision to choose nursing as a career when I was five years old. When I was five, I experienced the deaths of three close family men Evers, my little brother, my great grandmother and my grandfather. I was very interested in the reasons they died, and from then on I have wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. More recently I had a close to death experience which landed me on disability and time to reflect on my life. Up to that point I was always questioning my life choices and if I had made the right decisions or maybe if I made different ones I would be in a better more successful situation. My reflective journey made me realize that every situation I was in and choices I made led me to where I am now and was building me up for this moment which is right where I was supposed to be. Growing up I knew I wanted to practice medicine and I lived children so I decided that I wanted to be a pediatrician. I was a straight “A” student then in my sophomore year I was taken out of school and put on homeschool due to a heart condition. Discouraged but not defeated, I graduated a year early and enrolled in community college with aspirations to transfer to UC Davis and continue seeking my education in Medicine. When It was time to graduate and transfer I was informed by a counselor that I had been enrolled in all the wrong classes and would not be able to transfer. I was once again discouraged and thrown off track, I decided to take some time off school and gain some experience in the medical field. I started working as a receptionist at the largest multi specialty health clinic in town. Two months later after seeing my potential they trained me as a medical assistant. I had two children and confused to work as a medical assistant gaining a lot of experience and knowledge. The doctors and people I worked with always told me I was too smart and gifted to be a medical assistant my whole life and needed to pursue my dream of working in medicine. When I was 28 years old, my boyfriend of 10 years and father of my children left me and my two kids. I was devastated and heartbroken; it broke me more than I thought it would and lost everything, and became very depressed. Knowing I had to care for my two young children I sought help and started to look up again. I became very motivated and grateful for this experience because it made me stronger than I ever was before and a better mother. Working and raising two children has been hard but not impossible, I didn’t think I would be able to go back to school until they moved out. Then I was rushed to the emergency room and treated for a heart condition which landed me on disability opening up the door for me to continue my education. After a lot of reflection and prayer I had a revelation; one that showed me that every hardship and situation I have faced was only building me up for the present moment. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it was my for all my life experiences, and that I am grateful for.

Nursing is a career that many people take for granted, and is extremely under appreciated. It is a blessing and honor to be able to pursue a nursing career and provide care for our fellow brothers and sisters in their most vulnerable times. It is important that we value one another no matter what our background or status is and treat each other as if we are family. Nursing is a profession where you can exhibit love, kindness and compassion every day. Nurses wear many hats such as care givers, patient advocates, educators, healers amongst many others and takes a special person to be a good nurse. When I was a child, I tagged along with my aunt and uncle when they would serve people less fortunate than themselves by cooking and serving food to those who couldn’t afford it or lived on the street. I fell in love with serving others and helping people in any way I could; since then I have volunteered for numerous outreach programs and I do not plan to stop any time soon. I am always looking for ways to help the people of my community and this world be better. I have two young children that I bring with me in hopes that they too have a heart for caring and serving others, after all we are all living life together and need to support each other any way we know how. Pursuing a career in nursing was never my first choice, at age five I knew I wanted to work in medicine and until recently I wanted to be a pediatrician. I have been a certified medical assistant for over 14 years and enjoy the patient relationships I have created along the way. My interest in medicine only grew and I excelled in every aspect of my job. In 2020 I was rushed to the emergency department because of a heart condition; being home after gave me time to reflect on my life and goals. I then realized that I was given an opportunity to go back to school and seek my nursing degree. One of my greatest passions are helping others, and becoming a nurse I get to combine many of my interests and passions in one career. I am excited to finish my nursing degree and become a nurse at my local hospital where I will be able to love and care for my patients and help them heal. I know there will be times where I experience hard situations and death but even in those times I will be able to show love, kindness and compassion to people in their last moments. As a nurse I will be able to do Gods work and fulfill the purpose he instilled in me which is to help, love and serve others. I thank you for considering me for this scholarship and I hope that I have clearly stated for you why it is important for me to pursue a career in nursing.