I am not a straight A student, and I think that makes me a better nurse. Nursing school was hands down the hardest thing I have yet to endure. But, looking back on each doubt filled professor, bad grade, and late night I find myself proud of overcoming such hardships and becoming the healthcare professional I was meant to be. I never imagined I would go back to school after obtaining my undergraduate degree. Working in a teaching hospital surrounded by an abundance of opportunities to teach and help develop future nurses nurses quickly changed my mind. Giving student nurses a hands-on experience changed my perspective on nursing and gave me a greater appreciation for the art of teaching by doing. For these reasons I will be beginning my graduate program in August of 2025 to pursue my Master's in Nursing Education with the hope of using that degree to help shape the nurses of the future. My journey to nursing was one filled with doubt, judgement, and lots of people telling me I "wouldn't" or "couldn't" do it. From high school guidance counselors intentionally attempting to guide me away from pursuing a nursing degree, to nursing school professors unwilling to support a student athlete. I overcame many obstacle both in my personal life and educational journey that have made this career all the more meaningful. My "aha" moment came much later than you would anticipate. Early in orientation at my current job, a patient stopped me looked into my eyes and said a few very simple words: "You are going to make a great nurse." While this gesture seems miniscule to most, that affirmation melted away all the doubt every person had thrown at me in the years leading up to that moment. By returning to school to become an educator, I hope to create an environment of empowerment, confidence, empathy, joy, and knowledge. These foundations are not only imperative for any nurse to learn, but for any student to experience in order to succeed in their professional lives. My goal is to my the professor I wished I could have experiences through nursing school, one that offers unending support, squashes doubt, and builds up students to be the best nurses they can be. The future of nursing rides on the back of their education, good nurses cannot be made without good education and a solid preparation for real world practice.

Nursing is a calling, it is not just something a person decides to do one day. It takes a special kind of person to work long hours, endure trauma and death on a daily basis, take verbal or even physical violence from complete strangers, but yet we show up every day because we care. I decided to go into to nursing to make a difference in people's lives. I have always had a love for science, medicine, biology, and anatomy. Combine that with my quick-wit and sense of humor and I was destined to interact with people on a daily basis. It's hard to pinpoint a specific person or entity that inspired me. I am the first nurse in my family, but my parents raised me to follow my dreams and to work hard for what I wanted. I owe every success to them. They worked hard to put me through private school until college, supported my ambitions of playing collegiate softball while completing my nursing degree and were my biggest fans when I finally received the degree I had worked so hard towards. Even now, as a nurse my family is still my biggest source of support each day. They pick me up on rough days, and cheer me on through my accomplishments. I truly would not be the woman, or nurse I am without their unconditional love and support. My goal now, is to further my education and earn a Master's degree in Nursing Education with the hopes of using that degree to help mold and shape the next generations of nurses. Healthcare is constantly changing and we need fresh new minds and eager hearts entering this practice. My inspiration for continuing my education is my coworkers. I was privileged to be mentored by some outstanding nurses during my orientation period. Without their guidance, I genuinely would not be the confident nurse I am today. They have taught me how to work hard, think quickly, teach, and help those around you. Being a part of such a great work environment has showed me that I am capable of so many great things within this career. They show me each day what it means to be a good nurse and give me examples to look up to and aspire to be as I continue to grow in my field. I hope to embody each good trait and pass it down as an educator for the future of nursing. I found this scholarship on Bold.org.

The most cliche answer any nurse can say to the question "Why did you want to be a nurse?" is that "I always wanted to help people". But the reality of this response is so much deeper than just wanting to help other people. Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. They deal with other people's worst days for 12 hours straight, and often neglect to take care of themselves. But through all the worst days, the long days, and thankless shifts, nurses continue to show up for one reason and one reason only. They want to help, they are driven to help. I was always the kid that wanted to make a difference. Growing up, I was unsure how. Until I found a love for medicine and all things related to healthcare. I knew a career in healthcare was what I was destined for. A doubtful guidance counselor was all the fuel I needed to launch my dreams full-forced into becoming a nurse. My college journey was anything but easy. Four years of varsity level collegiate athletics as well as the completion of a nursing degree. I am no stranger to a challenge, I am the type of person to set my mind to a goal and work as hard as I can to accomplish that goal. After graduation, I began working as a nurse on an Intermediate Cardiac Care Unit at the University of Iowa. Immediately I was immersed in the culture of working at a teaching hospital. We are blessed to have nursing students do clinical experiences each semester, which has opened my eyes to the joys of teaching. After having some fairly negative clinical experiences in my own nursing education, I make it my mission to give these eager future nurses the most positive clinical experience I can. Because of the time I have spent with students, both in a group setting and one-on-one as a preceptor, I have decided to further my education my pursuing a Master's degree in Nursing Education. With this degree I hope to provide the future generations of nurses with the confidence and skills needed to be well-rounded, safe, and influential members of the healthcare system. My hope is that I can work closely with students in their hands-on skills labs, simulations, or clinical settings in order to provide real world advice and knowledge to prepare them for practice. I spend a lot of time reflecting on how far I have come in the short year and a half I have been a nurse. I owe a lot of the confidence I have to the people I work with and the great teachers they were to me as a terrified new grad nurse. I also think back to nursing school, and how challenging it was both physically and mentally. I would have never imagined myself wanting to be an educator, after being doubted by so many along the way. But I am hoping to change that mindset and help push the future of nursing onto a brighter path.