My interest in healthcare began when I was a sophomore in high school and has since grown. Every summer, beginning in 2021, my sophomore year, I worked with my high school as a summer camp counselor for kids ages four through eleven. This job fostered my love and compassion for children -- it forced me to see the privilege of these kids who received a private education in a safe environment compared to students who were not as fortunate to attend a private school. In high school, coming from an all-black community to a predominantly white institution was a culture shock, but I continued to find ways to help and live out my passion. The children at the summer camp school had older students like me to guide them, have fun with them, and protect them from harm, whereas other children may have to fend for themselves and figure out the world independently. Ever since then, I knew I wanted to be someone I knew I needed for kids when I was younger. To elaborate on my interests in healthcare, in the summer of 2022, I was offered a job as a patient care tech intern at Atlanta Pediatric Partners, PC. At this job, I learned and experienced many things I never thought I would, especially while still in high school. At Atlanta Pediatrics, I first started at the front desk: answering phone calls, making appointments, and transcribing documents. After working in the front office for a while, I learned to love the flow and work environment, but I sought something more fast-paced and hands-on. Shortly after, to my luck, I began working with patients. Working up the patients, recording their vitals, talking to them, being a voice for them, and helping them feel safe in an environment that may have seemed scary brought me peace in a work environment that could sometimes feel intimidating. Throughout life, I’ve learned that young children who are still exploring the ups and downs of life are undeservingly a part of the vast population of underrepresented individuals. Working at my old high school’s summer camp and Atlanta Pediatric Partners were both my aha moments – this was when I knew I wanted to be a nurse. As a first-year student at Florida A&M University, I plan to explore the opportunities that Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University’s School of Nursing offers. With the financial assistance this scholarship would offer, I could continue to learn from and work beside the many accomplished nurses and doctors at FAMU, which would be an aspiring moment for me – a future nurse in the making. Once I have developed more vital leadership and nursing skills to excel, I will not be stopped as I dive head-first into adversity.

"Mine, mine, mine," exclaimed a girl on court A! There I was, an eighth grader standing clueless on the court. I had never played volleyball, let alone touched one, so trying out for the team on a random Wednesday evening was a step out of my comfort zone. I stood on the sidelines nervously waiting to go up and complete my turn of the drill. Although I saw five people complete the drill in front of me, it was hard to catch on -- I didn't know how to hold my hands or get the ball to go where I wanted it to go. Finally, it was my turn to complete the drill. I shanked every ball that came hurling at me. Balls went everywhere-- left, right, up, and down -- you name it! I was utterly embarrassed and did not want to show my face at the next tryout. As the days passed, I still went to the tryouts despite feeling embarrassed about knowing nothing about volleyball. Friday approached quickly, and it was time to see if I had made the team. Deep down, I knew I didn't make the team, but I had an inkling of hope that I would make the team. I walked up to the paper on the wall with a list of everyone who had made the team. The name Kendall Jones was nowhere to be seen. I was slightly disappointed, but I knew that if I had a better attitude toward the situation and put in more effort, I definitely would have had a better chance at making the volleyball team. As the volleyball season started, I was determined to make the freshman volleyball team the following year. During the spring, I attended clinics and open gyms to improve my technique and involve myself in game-play situations. On top of all the clinics and open gyms I went to, I gave myself volleyball-related homework. I did exercises to improve my vertical, researched at-home drills that I could do, and started to run in my neighborhood to get in better physical shape to play the game of volleyball. By summertime, and high school tryouts were approaching, I was an entirely new individual. I couldn't believe the progress I made in just a year! Trying out for my eighth-grade volleyball team pushed me to want to be a better scholar-athlete. In my freshman year of high school, I made the JV team -- I exceeded my expectations of making the freshman team! At the end of every school volleyball season, I went to clinics and training to level up and be better for the next school season. I loved volleyball so much that it became a year-round sport; I never stopped playing because the season was over. Playing volleyball has taught me that consistency is the number one key to being a successful scholar-athlete. Whether that is being consistent in the gym or school tutorial sessions. As long as I put the work in and wanted to be better, I would see the results I wanted.

I never thought a classroom discussion would make me second-guess my faith. In my sophomore year of high school, it was a requirement to take World History. In this class, my classmates and I were asked to challenge our thoughts daily. Multiple ideals of faith, religion, and morality were brought up in class. Questions like "What is the origin story of human life? What is your purpose in life? Is God real or are His life and teachings a story made up to comfort people about their demise?" These were all questions I encountered daily. At the time, in my mind, I knew God was real; I was a strong believer and nothing could shake my faith. But little did I know, these questions would send me down a path to new discovery. This World History class ruptured the bubble -- in which I lived and indulged in God’s grace and mercy. All of the idea-provoking questions my teacher asked made me think deeper about the various aspects of Christianity and even religion. I didn’t know if God was real or not, and this idea changed my perspective on my faith. I wasn't comfortable that something so simple as a class could shake my faith, so I buried myself in journaling and prayer. Encouraging myself to be vulnerable with myself and think aloud -- ultimately helped me get back on track with my faith but it also taught me a vital lesson. I learned that religion, faith, and beliefs are not meant to be straightforward, they are supposed to be challenged. We live in a society where not every singular person has the same belief system. So, it's up to me to stand firm in what I believe in and stand up for what I think is right. Today, I am pleased that I went through this phase of confusion and doubt. I’ve learned that it’s important for me to stand strong in what I believe but also to dive deeper and expand on challenging concepts, thought-provoking questions, and ideals that I may not necessarily agree with. This struggle has turned me into someone who likes to be challenged because, in the end, the results may lead me down a path to new discoveries and deeper convictions. In the future, I want to promote mental health among students through journaling, group discussions, etc. I want them to know that their beliefs will be challenged but that's a part of life. I want them to know that it is up to them to decide whether or not they stick with what they believe in or alter them.

After graduating from nursing school and gaining an overabundance of experience in my education and future nursing career, I aspire to construct systems and techniques to promote self-care and emotional support for nurses. Nursing is one of the most well-respected career paths. Nurses care for their patients holistically -- physically, mentally, and spiritually. This level of care can be very strenuous on nurses and their physical and mental state, but they prevail -- coming back harder than ever and working to ensure their patients get the proper care they deserve. Often we have seen that the work nurses are assigned is so heavy and demanding that nurses are becoming scarce. Nurses care for patients, but who will care for them? When I become a nurse, I aspire to go over and beyond the usual nursing role. My job would entail being part of patients' care plans, providing patient care, and assisting doctors. Most importantly, promoting health and wellness. Furthermore, I will manufacture and promote original and helpful techniques to support nurses and their health and well-being. Mental and physical health and well-being are crucial for everyone, no matter the job. Nurses are constantly working to help others, but I want to ensure that they are being taken care of as well. With the support of the Healing Self & Community Scholarship, I will not only discover and achieve my dreams and aspirations to serve others but also inspire future generations in my community to do so as well.

In 2021, my junior year of high school, I got my very first job, an internship at Atlanta Pediatric Partners, P.C. Just at 17 years old, I landed a job as a patient care tech intern and worked in my dream career field. All of the medical experiences and knowledge I would soon gain excited me profusely. At Atlanta Pediatrics, during my internship, I first started at the front desk: Answering phone calls, transcribing documents, and scheduling appointments. T After working at the front desk for a while, I learned to love the sirene flow of the front-desk work environment, but shortly after, these simple tasks become daunting, and I sought something more fast-paced and hands-on. To my luck, soon after, I was promoted to working in the back office. In the back office, I was able to work in a lab, collect patient data, and have more medical-related interactions with the patients. My working in a doctor’s office led to more opportunities for me to develop higher-level credentials and skills to transition from a timid patient care tech intern to a robust one. Wanting to learn more and increase my skills and involvement with Atlanta Pediatric Partners, led me to research credentials I could obtain as a minor in the healthcare field. The research led me to find a school that trained individuals to become certified nurse assistants. After months of clinical training and challenging, long classes, I now work at Atlanta Pediatric Partners as a certified nurse’s assistant at eighteen years old. As a CNA, I have learned and experienced so many things that will help me thrive in college and the workplace, for example, teamwork and collaboration, communication, continuous learning, and adapting to diverse situations. In the medical world, or what I’ve experienced of it so far, these concepts are extremely important and I’ve got a sound understanding of them so far. One thing I pride myself upon is the determination and will I have for the things I am passionate about. The determination and grit of my passion for continuous learning and my career development have helped me become a well-rounded and seasoned healthcare worker – all of the studying to become a nurse’s assistant, on top of my usual high school studies and college applications, and my after-school job demanded an increase in both determination and grit. My job as a CNA, along with my career- and self-development, truly has shaped me into the person I am today. With the support of the Sara Jane Memorial Scholarship, I will not only realize my dreams but also inspire future generations in my family and community to aim higher and reach for the stars.

My greatest passion is assisting people with their needs, whether babysitting, helping my family cook, or pet sitting; experiencing that joy and happiness with whoever I serve is beyond comparable – thanks to my family. As a child, performing acts of service was one of the concepts my family constantly presented to me. My family and I frequently searched for ways to improve the less favored part of our city. For example, we partnered with Comcast and Norfolk Southern to refurbish Kipp Academy and plant food gardens in urban areas. I was always so excited to go out and do good. As I got older and became interested in extracurriculars like soccer and cheerleading, finding time to serve and volunteer was a challenge. So, I found ways to help my community while doing things I loved. At evening soccer practices, canned food drives were almost a monthly occurrence. Every day before the drive started, I packed my soccer bag with cleats, shin pads, and a water bottle – and I couldn’t forget the canned foods! These coat and food drives looked so small, but I knew in my heart that these things helped a significant cause. The first year of high school started, and I enrolled in the Galloway School – an independent school an hour from where I lived. I constantly stayed late after school – waiting for a ride home, so I joined clubs and sports to fill the time. The first club I joined was Galloway Manana; Manana became the club I consistently participated in for the next four years. At this club, we created happy memories for underprivileged and sick children by celebrating and organizing their birthday parties. One of the first companies we partnered with was the AGAPE Youth & Family Center in Atlanta, Georgia. We threw the first party, and it was a hit! Each time we visited the center, the children’s faces were unforgettable. They were so excited to see us, even if it was for only one week out of the year to plan one particular day. Volunteering at AGAPE, constantly serving in my community, and participating in coat and food drives has taught me people’s lives are altered by their experiences. If donating coats and canned foods to families in need and organizing birthday parties for children positively changes their outlook and position in life – it makes me confident in myself and my abilities to help others. Knowing that I can make a difference in my community, surrounding areas, and other people’s lives is breathtaking – and the work I put into my community will come out in bigger and better ways than I ever could’ve imagined. This fall, I will attend FAMU as a nursing major, where I will gain and improve upon the necessary skills to touch people’s lives on a deeper level. The financial award from the Lauren Czebatul Scholarship will supply me with the money I need to pay for my first year at college and experience other educational opportunities.

In 2021, my junior year of high school, I got my very first job, an internship at Atlanta Pediatric Partners, P.C. Just at 17 years old, I landed a job as a patient care tech intern and worked in my dream career field. All of the medical experiences and knowledge I would soon gain excited me profusely. At Atlanta Pediatrics, during my internship, I first started at the front desk: Answering phone calls, transcribing documents, and scheduling appointments. T After working at the front desk for a while, I learned to love the sirene flow of the front-desk work environment, but shortly after, these simple tasks become daunting, and I sought something more fast-paced and hands-on. To my luck, soon after, I was promoted to working in the back office. In the back office, I was able to work in a lab, collect patient data, and have more medical-related interactions with the patients. My working in a doctor’s office led to more opportunities for me to develop higher-level credentials and skills to transition from a timid patient care tech intern to a robust one. Wanting to learn more and increase my skills and involvement with Atlanta Pediatric Partners, led me to research credentials I could obtain as a minor in the healthcare field. The research led me to find a school that trained individuals to become certified nurse assistants. After months of clinical training and challenging, long classes, I now work at Atlanta Pediatric Partners as a certified nurse’s assistant at eighteen years old. As a CNA, I have learned and experienced so many things that will help me thrive in college and the workplace, for example, teamwork and collaboration, communication, continuous learning, and adapting to diverse situations. In the medical world, or what I’ve experienced of it so far, these concepts are extremely important and I’ve got a sound understanding of them so far. One thing I pride myself upon is the determination and will I have for the things I am passionate about. The determination and grit of my passion for continuous learning and my career development have helped me become a well-rounded and seasoned healthcare worker – all of the studying to become a nurse’s assistant, on top of my usual high school studies and college applications, and my after-school job demanded an increase in both determination and grit. My job as a CNA, along with my career- and self-development, truly has shaped me into the person I am today.

My interest in nursing and healthcare overall began when I was younger and has since grown. My greatest passion is being able to assist people in whatever it is they need, whether I am babysitting, helping my family cook, or pet sitting. Experiencing that joy and happiness with whoever I serve is beyond comparable. My school, The Galloway School has allowed me to see two worlds through a firsthand lens, and my perception of the world has changed, as have my experiences. Every summer, beginning in 2021, I worked with my school as a summer camp counselor for little kids. This job not only fostered my love and compassion for children but forced me to see the privilege these kids have compared to students who are not as fortunate to attend a private school. Coming from an all-black community to a predominantly white institution was a culture shock, but I continued to find ways to help and live out my passion. The children at my school have older students like me to guide them, have fun with them, and protect them from any harm, whereas other children may have to fend for themselves and figure out the world by themselves. Overall, I wanted to be someone I know I needed when I was younger for these kids. To elaborate on my interests in nursing, in the summer of 2022, I was offered an internship as a patient care tech at Atlanta Pediatric Partners, PC. At this job, I’ve learned and experienced many things I never thought I would, especially while still in high school. At Atlanta Pediatrics, I first started at the front desk: answering phone calls, making appointments, and transcribing documents. After working in the front office for a while, I learned to love the flow and work environment, but I sought something more fast-paced and hands-on. After months of clinical training, I now work at Atlanta Pediatrics as a certified nurse's assistant. Throughout life, by working with kids over the summer and at a pediatrics facility, I’ve learned that children who are still exploring the ups and downs of life are undeservingly a part of the vast population of underrepresented individuals. Once I have developed stronger leadership and nursing skills to excel, I will not be stopped as I dive head-first into adversity. If I win this scholarship, I will not disappoint, I will use this award to fund my love of forever learning, being innovative, and making a positive impact on the world through my medical career.

My interest in nursing and healthcare overall began when I was younger and has since grown. My greatest passion is being able to assist people in whatever it is they need, whether I am babysitting, helping my family cook, or pet sitting. Experiencing that joy and happiness with whoever I serve is beyond comparable. My school, The Galloway School has allowed me to see two worlds through a firsthand lens, and my perception of the world has changed, as have my experiences. Every summer, beginning in 2021, I worked with my school as a summer camp counselor for little kids. This job not only fostered my love and compassion for children but forced me to see the privilege these kids have compared to students who are not as fortunate to attend a private school. Coming from an all-black community to a predominantly white institution was a culture shock, but I continued to find ways to help and live out my passion. The children at my school have older students like me to guide them, have fun with them, and protect them from any harm, whereas other children may have to fend for themselves and figure out the world by themselves. Overall, I wanted to be someone I know I needed when I was younger for these kids. To elaborate on my interests in nursing, in the summer of 2022, I was offered an internship as a patient care tech at Atlanta Pediatric Partners, PC. At this job, I’ve learned and experienced many things I never thought I would, especially while still in high school. At Atlanta Pediatrics, I first started at the front desk: answering phone calls, making appointments, and transcribing documents. After working in the front office for a while, I learned to love the flow and work environment, but I sought something more fast-paced and hands-on. After months of clinical training, I now work at Atlanta Pediatrics as a certified nurse's assistant. Throughout life, by working with kids over the summer and at a pediatrics facility, I’ve learned that children who are still exploring the ups and downs of life are undeservingly a part of the vast population of underrepresented individuals. Once I have developed stronger leadership and nursing skills to excel, I will not be stopped as I dive head-first into adversity. If I win this scholarship, I will not disappoint, I will use this award to fund my love of forever learning, being innovative, and building on the legacy of an emboldened black culture by helping others with my future nursing licensure and degrees.

My interest in helping my community and other people began when I was younger and has since grown. My greatest passion is being able to assist people in whatever it is they need, whether I am babysitting, helping my family cook, or pet sitting. Experiencing that joy and happiness with whoever I serve is beyond comparable. My school, The Galloway School, has allowed me to see both worlds through a firsthand lens, and my perception of the world has changed, as have my experiences. Every summer, beginning in 2021, I worked with my school as a summer camp counselor for little kids. This job not only fostered my love and compassion for children but forced me to see the privilege these kids have compared to students who are not as fortunate to attend a private school. Coming from an all-black community to a predominantly white institution was a culture shock, but I continued to find ways to help and live out my passion. The children at my school have older students like me to guide them, have fun with them, and protect them from any harm, whereas other children may have to fend for themselves and figure out the world by themselves. Overall, I wanted to be someone I know I needed when I was younger for these kids. To elaborate on my interests in contributing to my community, this summer, I was offered a job as a patient care tech intern at Atlanta Pediatric Partners, PC. At this job, I’ve learned and experienced many things I never thought I would, especially while still in high school. At Atlanta Pediatrics, I first started at the front desk: answering phone calls, making appointments, and transcribing documents. After working in the front office for a while, I learned to love the flow and work environment, but I sought something more fast-paced and hands-on. Shortly after, to my luck, I began working with patients. Working up the patients, talking to them, being a voice for them, and helping them feel safe in an environment that may seem scary, brought me peace in a work environment that could sometimes feel intimidating. Throughout life, I’ve learned that children who are still exploring the ups and downs of life are undeservingly a part of the vast population of underrepresented individuals. Having the opportunity to learn from and work beside caretakers, teachers, and doctors was an inspiring moment for me. If I'm awarded the Walking In Authority International Ministry scholarship, I will use the money to fund my college tuition to study to become a nurse and join clubs and organizations that serve the community. These experiences and my degree will overall help me serve my community more than before.

My interest in healthcare began when I was younger and has since grown. My greatest passion is being able to assist people in whatever it is they need, whether I am babysitting, helping my family cook, or pet sitting. Experiencing that joy and happiness with whoever I serve is beyond comparable. Coming from an all-black school to transitioning to a predominantly white institution during my first year of high school was a definite culture shock. It forced me to see the privilege kids at my school had compared to where I originally came from. Despite the significant difference between the two worlds, I found ways to volunteer and contribute to change in my new environment. Throughout my four years of high school, I had the opportunity to work with children over the summer, and volunteer at prospective student panels, and this year, I had the opportunity to work at Atlanta Pediatric Partners, P.C., a pediatrics office near my school. Working and volunteering in my community has prepared me to help people on a higher level. In the fall, I will major in nursing at an HBCU because I want to assist to children of all ages and backgrounds from all over the world. Learning from, living with, and working beside hundreds of current and future black doctors and nurses at my HBCU would be an inspiring moment for a black female living in a world where white males are the prize. I am eager to feel the camaraderie amongst all my black brothers and sisters and to take in the knowledge and experiences my HBCU will instill in me to become a strong black leader.

At my school, I've contributed to positive social and cultural change through my unique background, my addition of ideas, and my determined mindset. Throughout my four years of high school, I have learned to be comfortable with myself in a predominantly white environment. Participating in clubs and events geared toward people of color, but not only for them, helped me find a place where I felt more included. At these clubs, we discussed various issues within the black community, Latinx community, and many other communities of color to make ourselves aware of racial issues. In hopes of getting the majority of students involved with their counterparts, we composed presentations at our school's Town Hall and coordinated ways to celebrate our colored communities. All of these measures happened within a school where I was in the minority. My sensible attitude and ideas regarding these issues within my school have helped build a community where inclusion frankly includes every one of the student body. Along with being a part of clubs and helping to compose ways to circulate racial awareness, I make displays that broadcast student-produced events and clubs around the school. Advocating for student-led clubs and events, especially clubs and events produced by people of color, makes me feel like a vital member of my small community, which is The Galloway School. Clubs produced by people of color tend to get the smallest turnout (except for the Minority Empowerment club) compared to other clubs offered at my school because of the difference in racial demographics and interests. Working behind the scenes to advocate and advertise for all clubs and events is what gives me joy. The outcome of not just my contribution to social and cultural change at my school but other students of color as well, has created a safer space within my school for future black students who may attend the Galloway School. For the incoming students at my school, I wanted them to know that they weren't alone in the journey of navigating their most important years of life in a predominantly white institution, which is why I started to apply for and participate in leadership roles and clubs at school. Overall, I wanted to be someone I know I needed when I was younger for these students. Advocating for and the circulation of racial issues, important events, and student-led activities is a part of who I am; it helps me contribute to positive change in my community.

Throughout life, I’ve witnessed and learned that children who are still exploring the ups and downs of life are undeservingly a part of the vast population of underrepresented individuals. Coming from an all-black learning environment to attending a predominantly white high school forced me to see the privilege children at my school have compared to less fortunate kids. This summer, I was offered a job as a patient care tech intern at Atlanta Pediatric Partners, P.C. At this job, I’ve learned and experienced many things I never thought I would, especially while still in high school. At Atlanta Pediatrics, I first started at the front desk: answering phone calls, making appointments, and transcribing documents. After working in the front office for a while, I learned to love the flow and work environment, but I sought something more fast-paced and hands-on. Shortly after, to my luck, I began working with patients. Working up the patients, talking to them, being a voice for them, and helping them feel safe in an environment that may seem scary, brought me peace in a work environment that could feel intimidating. The many learning experiences at my internship fired up my passion for helping people (specifically children) and my interest in healthcare and nursing. Once I obtain my nursing degree, being able to provide assistance to children of all ages and backgrounds from all over the world will be my dream reality. Beginning my freshman year of high school, I started to join organizations and participate in activities that would get me experience in the healthcare field. Working over the summer with children at my school and throughout the school year at a pediatrics office taught me that sacrifice is worth it when you are pursuing your dreams. As I am sitting here today, I can confidently say that sacrificing a portion of my social life was worth it because I got to work towards my dreams and help and serve my community and I won’t be afraid to do it again. The opportunity to win this scholarship and fund my dreams with the reward would be a huge blessing. I want to continue helping people worldwide and not just in my community. After I graduate from undergraduate school and go on to nursing school, the assistance the Voila Natural Lifestyle scholarship would have provided me will allow me to help people on a much higher level than what I do currently.

Growing up, many children, including myself, were taught to appreciate what they had. Whether it be food, clothes, or education because thousands of miles away, "kids in Africa are starving and wish they could have what you have." Yes, this is true, but it's necessary to realize that kids only a few miles from my private school wish they had what I had. At the beginning of the school year, I joined my best friend's club called, Manana. Galloway Manana is a nonprofit organization that seeks to create happy memories for refugees, underprivileged, and sick children by hosting birthday parties. Recently we planned our first party with the Agape Youth and family center in Atlanta, Georgia. This party took weeks to plan, but with unexpected day trips and money coming out of our own pockets, we were able to give multiple kids a great time. Once the party was over and the volunteers and I started to pack up, we saw the somber expressions on these sweet kids' faces; they didn't want the party to end. We assured them we would be back soon, but it seemed like nothing we said could reassure them. This moment right here made me appreciative of all things. I was appreciative of my friends, family, wealth, school, and everything I had been blessed with throughout my seventeen years of life. I have never felt the abandonment some of those kids had and at that moment, I wished I could take it all away. I hope to continue creating happy memories for children, while in turn, the children stimulate gratitude in me.

Before the age of six, my mother died. She left me to bask in the sun of what people call "a better place." Anger filled my young, tender heart, breaking it into pieces. I asked God questions no one could seem to answer, like, "Why did you have to take her?" I was left unanswered, and I felt unheard and ignored. As I grew older, the unhealthy coping mechanism I adopted was victimizing myself. Any situation where things didn't go right, it was never my fault but always someone else's. I was the victim when my mother died; I was the victim years after that. I didn't listen to my friends, family, or teachers. Any help given to me, I ignored. I knew what was best for me, even if it wasn't good at all. This behavior provoked unnecessary trust issues within my family and friends; I didn't trust anyone, and they didn't trust me. At that point in life, I wish I had accepted the help offered. At 12 years old, I was depressed and suffered from various undiagnosed mental illnesses that affect me today. I wish I had listened to family and friends that wanted to help me grieve healthily about my mother's death. This regret subconsciously turned into action. Over the past few years, I changed my life for the better, and listening has become one of the things I do best. Coincidentally, I was voted best listener in a contest between my friends and me. Listening is a great and powerful part of my life now. Listening heals, helps, and empowers, and I hope to be a listener forever.