Homelessness is a problem I encounter everyday I go to work. As an Emergency Department (ED) RN working in a hospital located in a lower socioeconomic area, homeless is prevalent in our patient population. According to the National Network for Youth, 1 in 10 young adults ages 18-25 experienced homelessness over a 1-year period, which is estimated to be 3.5 million young adults. Homelessness predisposes individuals to various mental illnesses, bloodborne diseases, respiratory infections, and more comorbidities. Programs such as the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program (RHYP) offer services such as Transitional Living Programs, educational resources, referrals to healthcare providers, counseling and more. However, my research into the RHYP revealed a major issue. Statistics into the outcomes of participants of this program only follow the youth for about a year or so after they have exited the program. Little to no research has been done on the status of these youth long term after leaving the program. A severe lack in longitudinal follow-up studies is prevalent upon literature review regarding youth homelessness in America. Additionally, eligibility for the program ends at the age of 22. I believe the age eligibility should be increased because 22 seems too early. I care about this issue because I have seen firsthand the effects that homelessness has on those within the demographic. Many of the homeless patients I see on all my shifts have a history of illicit drug abuse, mental disorders such as depression or schizophrenia, food insecurities, and so many more issues that make it nearly impossible for them to make a better life for themselves. I've heard many people who share the sentiment that patients such as these are a lost cause and the time and resources we pour into helping these patients are wasted. I strongly disagree with ideas such as these. Admittedly, my stance is influenced by my faith. The Bible teaches us that no one is unworthy of forgiveness and salvation. Of course, I'm not saying that I am like God to be able to deem someone as worthy of divine forgiveness or salvation. My point is that I believe that these patients always have the possibility of turning their life around and that reason alone is enough to deem them worthy of the resources to get their life on track no matter how long it takes. In my ED, "frequent flyers" are patients that come to our ED often. Many of our frequent flyers are from the homeless demographic. For me personally, it doesn't matter how many times we need to save someone from overdosing, or how many times someone relapses after trying to stay sober. As long as that patient is alive, they still and always will deserve a chance to turn their life around for the better. In order to do that, better resources need to be available to this demographic. We won't know how effect the currently available resources are unless we do the necessary research to follow up and evaluate the efficacy of implementation of the plan. That is how the scientific method works and has worked for centuries, no reason to change the the tried and true formula now. When I become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), I aim to empower my patients who are at risk or facing homelessness to be successful in managing their health and well being despite the obstacles opposing them. Whether it is through referrals to the right professionals or management of their medication regimen, my goal once I become a FNP is that homelessness will not be what controls or define my patient's health status.

My decision to pursue a degree in healthcare was initially inspired by my own mother. As a single mom, she worked 2-3 jobs as an LPN for decades before deciding to go back to nursing school in her 60's to become a Registered Nurse. Some days, she'd bring me with her to the nursing home she worked at and I got to see her work firsthand. Her compassion, her patience, her kindness, and her commitment to her patients was and still is palpable when observing the care she provided. My second inspiration is an innate desire to do my part in contributing towards a positive change in the world, one patient at a time. Now that I am in the profession, I thank God He lead me to follow my desire for this career. Working in the Emergency Department (ED) allows my the opportunity to help patients during what is one of the worst days of their lives. Whether it's something simple like back pain from a fall or something more emergent like a heart attack, nursing allows me the chance to make a difference in a patient's life. I pray each day the goodwill and compassion I try to exhibit in my care will inspire patients to pass on kindness and goodwill to others they encounter in life. Compassionate care in nursing goes behind giving patients their daily medications and doing assessments. It's taking the time to comfort a patient/family member and allowing them to vent regarding upsetting news related to the patient's status. It's encouraging a hesitant patient to sit in a chair or recliner after being bed ridden and weak for days and taking the time to help them do so. Compassionate care has many forms and can have a profound effect on a patient's recovery. The work I do in the ED is a blessing, but I want to be able to spread that goodwill and provide that passionate care outside of the inpatient setting. To accomplish this, I am currently enrolled in a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program. Through becoming an FNP, I'll be able to be part of my patient's lifelong health journey. I can help empower patients to take control of their health through providing/connecting them to the appropriate resources, education to make informed health decisions, and advocacy to help them achieve their health goals. This is why I pursued my career in nursing and why I still continue to strive further in my career. It's a honor and blessing to be able to provide to my community in this way and I look forward to seeing where it'll take me. I found out about this scholarship through Bold.org.

Working as an Emergency Department (ED) RN in a lower socioeconomic area, I'm privileged to work with a population is predisposed to multiple morbidities. Nursing has allowed me to do my part in helping those in need and contributing towards making the world a better place. The fact that I was even able to pursue a degree in nursing is a privilege within itself, so I feel that it is my duty and purpose to use the privileges I've been blessed with to help others. I love the work I do in the ED and it has shown me the direction I want to take with my career. Many of the issues I see in the ED are related to poor health management at home. Patients in DKA due to poor blood glucose control, patients in A-Fib RVR secondary to poor adherence to their heart rate control medication, patients overdosing on opiates or illicit drugs. These are just some of many presentations I see on a weekly basis. What I see consistently from these patients is a lack of understanding of how to manage their health. Poor adherence to treatment regimens lands many people in the ED. Being able to help people in these emergent situations is wonderful, but working in the ED has inspired a desire to help people manage their health so they can avoid an emergency situation completely. I want to be part of the primary and secondary preventive care for my patients, not just the tertiary care. I want to be a healthcare provider that empowers patients to take the reigns on their health status so they can control and determine the course of their lives rather than allowing their ailment or diagnosis control the course of their lives. Patients should not feel their are defined by their condition. With this desire in mind, I am currently enrolled in a Master's of Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Program. When I become a Family Nurse Practitioner, I'll be able to help a wide spectrum of patients from pediatric to geriatric populations. Through proper patient education, appropriate application and pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, and putting the patient at the center of the care plan, I not only believe but rather know that I can and will make a difference in the lives of my future patients. I believe my time working not only in the ED, but also on an Intermediate Cardiac Unit have helped in preparing me for the types of presentations to expect from patients. I continue to prepare myself for the next step in my career by being informed on the latest healthcare news, updates in evidenced based practice, and always looking to expose myself to something new on the job so I never stop learning. Empathy, compassion, selflessness, and devotion are core attributes any nurse needs in order to be great at what we do. The Kelly O. Memorial Nursing Scholarship would help immensely in making my career goals more attainable. Whether I'm fortunate enough to obtain this scholarship or not, I'll continue to strive to exhibit the same qualities Kelly O. exhibited to the patient's under her care. May she rest in peace and may her work continue to inspire other nurses in our community to be as dedicated as she was.

If I was lucky enough to have a free $1,000 right now, the obvious answer is that it would go towards paying for tuition and there's no doubt about it. However, let's imagine a beautiful scenario where my school fees are paid for and I can use this $1,000 however else I'd like. I'd probably give it to my mom to help her pay the bills. Anything to help ease her financial stress would be a blessing. If she didn't need the money, then I'd probably split it with my sister 50/50. I'd use $250 as investment money on the stock market, probably put it towards a mutual fund. I'd use the other $250 for spring break as money for food and gas so I can go visit friends I haven't seen in years. Now, let's imagine I got the $1,000 right now in cash and I had to use it RIGHT NOW. Seeing that I'm currently in midterms week with a bunch of stressed classmates in nursing, I'd probably buy pizza for everyone in my class, the other nursing class on our campus, and the staff/faculty who operate the building on our campus. Whatever else thats's left would just go towards my savings account since the bank I use is just across the street.

As I type this essay, I'm sitting in my Foundations of Nursing class. From time to time, I like to remind myself why I'm in this course. I think about what motivates me to keep striving in my classes, especially when learning about a difficult unit with so much information. Seeing that this is my second attempt at a nursing degree, what is the reason I came back to it? What is driving me? The answer that I come to when thinking to myself is the need I feel to support my community. Through nursing, I'd be able to not just treat my patients for their conditions, but also promote healthy living. A crucial step in the nursing process is educating your patients on their health. It should be safe to say it's general knowledge that healthy living is the best way to keep someone out the hospital or urgent care. The body is like a car, you take care of it and you'll get a lot of mileage out of it. Some examples would be eating healthy, exercising, and staying away from certain substances (smoking, drinking, drugs). Despite this being common knowledge, the irony of the situation is that not everyone knows how to live healthy. Even though I've lived in my current community for 2 years now, something that has become very apparent to me from working at a pharmacy is the lack of health literacy in many people. I say this not to insult or criticize the intelligence of anyone. I bring this up to highlight how mis- or uninformed the everyday person can be regarding their body, health, or the medicine they take. I'd like to emphasize the danger of patients not knowing their medicines or why they are taking it. For example, a patient taking a diuretic (helps you get rid of fluid in body) to help with peripheral edema (fluid swelling in the hands or legs) could be at risk for hypotension (low blood pressure) if they continue to take that drug even after they have resolved their initial problem. A lack of health literacy can be life threatening! In my career, I want to emphasize the importance of making sure my patients know how to practice certain health practices and more importantly why they are doing it. At the end of my career, I want use all of the experience and knowledge I've gained and become a professor of Nursing at a University. What better way to leave a positive impact on the world than to share your expertise with the next generation of healthcare workers? By doing this, I can contribute to the mutual effort of leaving the field in the hands of capable individuals.

What I submitted is a link to my account on CastingCallClub.com. It's a website where creatives can post their projects in order to connect with other creatives and collaborate. On my account, you can find different auditions I've submitted for Voice Acting opportunities. Through listening to each of my submissions, I'm sure it's clear that I'm very amateur at the craft. However, you could also tell by my amount of submissions that I really enjoy exploring this art form which until early this year was very new to me. My ratio of projects landed to not landed is definitely nothing to brag about, but it's hardly the reason I do it. I've gone into this hobby because of how much joy it brings me. Being raised by single immigrant Ghanaian mom, I'm sure you can imagine the emphasis on success, doing well in school, and getting into a good career. Even now, it seems like "hustle" culture is something that has become more popular over the years. Even though I understand the importance of finding what you are good at and making profit from it, I also understand another fundamental truth I've accepted in my life: It's okay to do things simply because you like too! I've seen people who drop dreams or interests because they believe they are no good. My artistic vision is for people to find what makes them happy and not feel the need to justify how it benefits them financially or career wise. If I felt the same, I certainly wouldn't spend time recording, editing, and submitting auditions. I aim to become great at voice acting one day and improving my skills is part of the fun. Like I always say, if it's fun and hurts no one, why not?

I submitted a video I made on Tik tok. If there is a way to email the video, my email is Kenneth.k.boateng@gmail.com

Currently, I work at a Walgreen's as a Pharmacy Technician. Due to some recent events such as losing a staff pharmacist, Hurricane Ida ravaging South Jersey which some a lot of pharmacies out of commission (not including mine), and a couple of new Technicians who still have a lot to learn, my job has been very stressful for the past 2 months. I didn't even mention how we have even more patients to see to now that we are doing Covid shots and testing. There have been many times where myself and the rest of the Pharmacy staff is being slammed from all sides and there aren't enough of us to handle everything efficiently. Patients yelling at us and speaking down to us certainly doesn't help morale. Everyday, I wish I could just walk out and never come back. However, I remind myself that a lot of these people are only being rude and mean because they have a loved one or a prior engagement to see to and they aren't able to do return home at the end of the night without the medicine that keeps them alive and functioning. When I remember this, I make sure to stay focused on getting the job done quickly and correctly to make sure all people are seen to. Of course, I don't just do this alone. I recognize that teamwork makes the dream work. Therefore, if I see a newer technician struggling, I make sure to lend my assistance when possible. Not only that, I'll make sure to show them how to fix the problem to foster independence within their pharmacy skillsets. If a problem is too tall of an order to fix with them, I'll delegate a simpler task to them and take on the harder one. This way, more patients can be helped and I can employ the strengths of the newer technicians in areas where they would be most effective. A good leader doesn't just know how to give commands. I believe it's important to know the strengths and weaknesses of those working with you. By doing this, you can utilize their skills in the most optimal way. On top of that, a good leader needs to know how and where to help. It'd be wrong of me to not help the newer technicians just because I'm dealing with my own problems. They need to know they can trust and rely on me when they need help. I've experienced what it's like to be afraid to ask for help out of fear that you are inconveniencing someone or bothering them. I don't put that feeling on those I help. Through coordination, communication, and teamwork, we are able to get by everyday no matter how bad it gets. Even though the job is rough, I'm thankful for it and the staff I have the honor of working with. It's because of them that I get to learn more and be better everyday, no matter what wrenches or problems get thrown our way.

Full transparency, my career path isn't directly focused on being an educator. My interest lie in becoming a Registered Nurse. However, I plan on ending my career path with becoming a Nursing Professor. I honestly can't see a better way to top off the end of my career. To give some perspective, let's look focus on the big life event that's affected everyone for the past 2 years. We've seen in the past two years how important healthcare workers are, especially nurses. If I were to ask most people what their experience with Covid was, most would answer that a lot of things become virtual and not as accessible. Maybe their favorite restaurant closed, their job become remote, or maybe they even got Covid themselves. Based on the mortality rate, most people who had Covid were sick for about 2 weeks and eventually were back to normal. Arguably, the worst experience someone could've had would be losing a family member or friend to the virus. I can speak on that and say that's the worst thing Covid has done to me in the past two years with the passing of my brother in July 2021. Now, let's shift this question specifically to healthcare workers like Nurses. Purely based on the profession, the common person's worst experiences with Covid would seem mundane in comparison to what Nurses have to deal with. They've seen people on the brink of death on ventilators, young people with their whole life ahead of them dying, families being permanently fractured from a loss, working overtime to make up for the nurses out of commission from contracting the virus, and so much more. The hardships this pandemic has brought upon the average person is experienced tenfold for health care workers. I mention all this to highlight the weight of the profession all nursing students are going into. Nurses are pillars that keep the healthcare doctor's offices, hospitals, clinics and other places running. The takeaway from this is that anyone going into the nursing profession needs to be as prepared as possible for everything the job will throw at them. With this understanding, I put a lot of responsibility and value in the opportunity to be an educator for future nurses. By sharing my knowledge and experience to the future nurses of tomorrow, I can give them a head start in not just becoming nurses, but practicing as amazing nurses. I can steer them in the right direction to prevent them from making the mistakes I made and help them form the core of the practice from an early stage so they are stronger. Ultimately, my positive impact on the world will be to contribute towards breeding the future generations of nurses. In the position of a nursing professor, I'll be able to ensure that I not only help produce superb nurses, but hopefully i can inspire future educators who can pass the torch and knowledge they've gained onto their students.

Considering Black history in America, I think the first step in achieving the Utopian vision would be de-stigmatizing mental health. Though my experience doesn't represent every Black person's experience, I've seen how the idea of seeking help regarding mental health can be seen as a negative. For some in the community, seeking help for a medical problem is seen as accepting or inviting in the sickness or mental illness that is actively trying to be treated or cured. Therefore, making the Black community comfortable with mental health is crucial. The significance in this first step is found in the fact that if it is achieved, the rest should follow. The origin of many issues facing the Black Community can be partially credited to lack of proper mental health treatment. When left untreated, the trauma can be passed down to future generations. The generational trauma ends up being an obstacle that prevents many in the community from utilizing all their potential. Normalizing mental health care in the Black community will also invite more Black professionals and experts into the field. For some, a barrier to receiving mental health care is the lack of Black representation. Speaking to a therapist who doesn't have a similar life experience as your own can lead to feelings of disconnect or not being understood. The therapist can be as sympathetic as they want, but having one who empathizes with patients provides a whole new layer of insight that can result in addressing problems better. In this utopian vision, we not only need Black people to seek help, but also be part of the help we seek. In this utopian vision where Black people are no longer being shackled by stigmas against mental health, Black people will be able focus on gaining better quality of life in America. I strongly believe lack of proper mental health maintenance is an obstacle stopping Black People from addressing societal injustices. How are we to stand up for what we believe in if we're being held down by said "shackles?" The only way is to free ourselves of those shackles. Once those shackles have been removed, we can work towards strengthening and healing ourselves and each other. With our minds fortified, our spirits at peace, and our efforts towards a better tomorrow for our community unified, that is when the community will be a force to be reckoned with. We saw first hand how much power our actions and voices carry during the BLM movement. Though the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and others seemingly would only affect the families of the deceased, Black people knew not to let tragedies like this slide anymore. Our assuredness in standing up for what was right is partially due to a stronger sense of the self. When I say sense of self, I mean as individuals, but also as Blacks in America. I believe the utopian vision of optimal mental health also includes Black people being the blue print and leading example for minorities gaining and maintaining respect in a country that originally didn't even see them as people. I believe as other communities see our underdog story, they too will be inspired to rise up for a better today and tomorrow for the future generations. A task like this isn't easy, but no one said it was supposed to be. Thankfully, my generation and the ones to come are already making strides to do better and be better than those who came before us. I can't predict the future, but I feel safe in saying we're on the right track.

Hello! My name is Kenneth Boateng and let me start by stating the significance of offering this scholarship. A chance for higher education is something I believe should be available to all. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in the US and some parts of the world. This scholarship is a blessing for this reason since it makes the impossible possible for someone. I hope I can rely on the help of this scholarship. For this, I thank you simply for being able to apply for this. I was born in New Brunswick at St. Peter’s Hospital. All my life, I’ve been raised by my single mother and sister. I gained my interest in healthcare from two inspirations: my mother and the world around me. My mother was a LPN for most of my childhood, working 2-3 jobs throughout. Occasionally, she’d take me with her and I’d get to see her work firsthand. Her commitment in making patients happy and investing in their care struck a chord even from a young age. My second inspiration for healthcare is from seeing the state of the world. Everyday, the news talks about terrorists, disease, war in other countries and other things. The way I see it, this world needs to learn to care and understand each other. I can’t reach out to every single person in the world and promote a message of compassion and understanding. However, what I can do is reach those in my community and help offset the negativity in the world by providing care and showing people that there is still good to be found. Currently, I'm pursuing my interests in the art of Voice Over. It's been so much fun learning a new skill. Under the umbrella of learning VO, I'm also learning how to edit, record, and essentially create content. I'm still practicing the skill and trying to find how best to use my voice, but I can confidently say I am on the right track. It feels good to have another hobby to engage in while pursuing my career in Nursing. On the side of education, I am currently finishing my prerequisites for the Rowan College at Burlington County Nursing Program. While taking these pre-requisites, I recently started working at Walgreens as a Pharmacy Technician. I wanted to get a job related to the medical field to help expose myself to the field in some way. Since I'm new, there is still a lot to learn but the process has been a fun one and my supportive co-workers have been a valuable resource during this period of getting adjusted to the job. Using this scholarship, I plan to attend Rowan College for an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. After obtaining my RN license and starting work, I’ll get my BSN. From then on, I’ll continue gaining experience and education so that I can become a Nurse Practitioner. At the end of my career, I want to help better myself and those around me becoming a Nurse educator for the next generation of healthcare providers. Once I’ve done what I could do in the field, passing on my knowledge to tomorrow’s leaders would provide a sense of peace knowing the world will be in capable hands.

Hello! My name is Kenneth Boateng and let me start by stating the significance of offering this scholarship. A chance for higher education is something I believe should be available to all. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in the US and some parts of the world. This scholarship is a blessing for this reason since it makes the impossible possible for someone. I hope I can rely on the help of this scholarship. For this, I thank you simply for being able to apply for this. I recently got hired as a Pharmacy Technician at Walgreens. I'm still in the training phase and I'm relatively new to the Pharmacy setting. So far, the job is great! I get to help count medications and I'm currently being shown how to use the software used for managing prescriptions and medication. I look forward to learning more and becoming a valuable member of the Walgreens team. On the weekends, I volunteer at my church House of Faith Ministries. I work in the Media/Tech Crew which works on the behind the scenes technical stuff in the church. The lighting, the audio, the video streaming etc. I've been doing this since 2014 and I love every second of it. To be able to contribute to my church community in a way that interest me is blessing within itself. Currently, I'm pursuing my interest in the art of Voice Over as a new hobby. In the past, I felt like I never had the necessary resources to get me started. When I say resources, I am referring to money, space, and maybe even faith in my abilities. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I decided I would finally take the dive. I can happily say that I don't regret this decision. It's been so much fun learning a new skill. Under the umbrella of learning VO, I'm also learning how to edit, record, and essentially create content. I'm still practicing the skill and trying to find how best to use my voice, but I can confidently say I am on the right track. It feels good to have another hobby to engage in while pursuing my career in Nursing. Using this scholarship, I plan to attend Rowan College for an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. After obtaining my RN license and starting work, I’ll get my BSN. From then on, I’ll continue gaining experience and education so that I can become a Nurse Practitioner. At the end of my career, I want to help better myself and those around me becoming a Nurse educator for the next generation of healthcare providers. Once I’ve done what I could do in the field, passing on my knowledge to tomorrow’s leaders would provide a sense of peace knowing the world will be in capable hands.

Hello! My name is Kenneth Boateng and let me start by stating the significance of offering this scholarship. A chance for higher education is something I believe should be available to all. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in the US and some parts of the world. This scholarship is a blessing for this reason since it makes the impossible possible for someone. I hope I can rely on the help of this scholarship. For this, I thank you simply for being able to apply for this. I was born in New Brunswick at St. Peter’s Hospital. All my life, I’ve been raised by my single mother and sister. I gained my interest in healthcare from two inspirations: my mother and the world around me. My mother was a LPN for most of my childhood, working 2-3 jobs throughout. Occasionally, she’d take me with her and I’d get to see her work firsthand. Her commitment in making patients happy and investing in their care struck a chord even from a young age. My second inspiration for healthcare is from seeing the state of the world. Everyday, the news talks about terrorists, disease, war in other countries and other things. The way I see it, this world needs to learn to care and understand each other. I can’t reach out to every single person in the world and promote a message of compassion and understanding. However, what I can do is reach those in my community and help offset the negativity in the world by providing care and showing people that there is still good to be found. Currently, I dream big in my life by using the freedom I have as a fresh college graduate to explore new interests and find my path in how I wish to make my dreams turn into a reality. For example, I've always had an interest in the art of Voice Over. However, I felt like I never had the necessary resources to get me started. When I say resources, i am referring to money, space, and maybe even faith in my abilities. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I decided I would finally take the dive. I can happily say that I don't regret this decision. It's been so much fun learning a new skill. Under the umbrella of learning VO, I'm also learning how to edit, record, and essentially create content. I'm still practicing the skill and trying to find how best to use my voice, but I can confidently say I am on the right track. It feels good to have another hobby to engage in while pursuing my career in Nursing. I'm a strong believer that besides God himself, we are the only one capable of making our dreams come true. So with that in mind, the first step to make the dreams I want out of my life possible is to just do it so that is what I am doing. As someone who is dreaming big and working towards those dreams, I push others in my life to obtain what they want out of life. In my mind, the worse that can happen is you don't get what you want and that's fine! You can always learn something from every experience, even things that don't go well. Achieving dreams is a personal journey for each person so the most I can do (and I happily do) is support and cheer on my friends and family from the sideline. Using this scholarship, I plan to attend Rowan College for an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. After obtaining my RN license and starting work, I’ll get my BSN. From then on, I’ll continue gaining experience and education so that I can become a Nurse Practitioner. At the end of my career, I want to help better myself and those around me becoming a Nurse educator for the next generation of healthcare providers. Once I’ve done what I could do in the field, passing on my knowledge to tomorrow’s leaders would provide a sense of peace knowing the world will be in capable hands.