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Kayla D´Angelis

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Finalist

Bio

I'm a senior at Methacton High School, planning to study nursing and become a pediatric nurse practitioner. I love committing my time to help others and have always had a passion for working with kids. I work part-time as a swim instructor for little kids, play basketball, am a member of different mentorship programs, NHS, and volunteer. I am looking for scholarships to help support students pursuing careers in healthcare.

Education

Methacton High School

High School
2022 - 2026

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
    • Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Medicine

    • Dream career goals:

    • Swim Instructor & Lifeguard

      Goldfish Swimschool
      2025 – Present1 year

    Sports

    Basketball

    Varsity
    2023 – Present3 years

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Community Cares — I served as a mentor, led monthly meetings, and attending 20+ hours of mental health conversation & leadership training.
      2025 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Bread Pantry — I distributed food, clothes, hygiene products, and drinks to families in need.
      2022 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Evan James Vaillancourt Memorial Scholarship
    Before I understood job security, competitive salaries, and flexible scheduling options, I understood comfort. It was the kind of comfort offered by a nurse´s gentle touch, a stuffed bunny, and glow sticks wrapped around breathing tubes. I plan to pursue a career in pediatric nursing because I believe in the power of care, especially for those who are most vulnerable, children. Kids are not only our future, they are our present and deserve care and love in every moment of their lives, especially in times of illness and fear. As a child, I remember being hospitalized for asthma. I was wrapped in tubes and wires that I didn't understand, struggling to breathe, and I didn't know why. I was so young that a lot of the details have faded, but what remains vivid is the kindness of the nurses on shift. Despite being overwhelmed with patients, they took the time to wrap my tubes in glow sticks. That small gesture turned a frightening experience into something brighter. I didn't just glow in the dark, I felt seen and cared for. That moment lit a spark in me: the desire to be that light for someone else, even if it's just a flicker on their darkest day. Years later, I fractured my arm playing soccer. It was broken in I think three different places, and I need surgery. I was terrified. The mask over my face, the sterile room, with bright lights, and the looming anesthesia. But then a nurse with a gentle voice stroked my forehead; her touch grounded me in safety. I don´t remember anything else before or after that, just the kindness that has stuck with me to this day. When I woke up, my arm was cradled in a blue cast, resting on a stuffed bunny the nurses had given me earlier. That bunny wasn't just a prop to keep my arm elevated; it was a symbol of care, of humanity in medicine. These experiences stuck with me and inspire me every day to try to be a light in someone's day. I want to be the nurse who wraps wires in glow sticks, who offers comfort in the form of a stuffed bunny, who makes a child feel safe enough to close their eyes. Pediatric nursing is more than a career to me; it's a way for me to offer hope, make real connections with patients, and directly help children in pain. I want to make a real contribution to the future of patient care by nurturing the well-being of those in need. That is why I chose nursing: to be a source of light, kindness, love, and strength when it's needed most.
    Kayla D´Angelis Student Profile | Bold.org