I was born in Ireland, but my family is from Zimbabwe. I grew up in a single-parent household with me being the oldest of 3. I had to learn how to be someone that my family could lean on especially in tough times. Especially in an African household, being the oldest you are automatically the third parent, but in this household, I had to be the second. I struggled with a lot of acceptance with feeling like I had a place to belong because of daddy issues. Being an immigrant student is kind of eye-opening to different cultures, but you also feel a little left out. I came to America at 6 years old, and when I first started school. I still had my Irish accent and I also still had different ways of living. So, I felt left out in that aspect already, and then coming from different cultures, there isn't one specific that I fit in. Especially because I felt too African for school, I felt too American at home. My world tends to collide. One thing that I have learned about myself is that I do not have to be similar to other people. I should have my own opinions and no matter what other people's opinions don't have any power over me unless I give them to myself. I have learned that Zimbabwe is getting more and more dangerous and that's a big reason why my family has not been visiting. Also, the U.S. can be rough to fit in with especially with the idea of racism still being in this world. This journey has impacted my life because as a child of a single parent who couldn't always afford things and also as someone when mom was working and I had to step up. I understand what some kids are going through. Scared of needing to go to the hospital because mom couldn't afford it right now. That's why I want to become a nurse and I want to be that advocate for kids who are unable to advocate for themselves similar to maybe their parents weren't able to afford care or simply their parents are negligent. That's also why I want to become a PICU nurse. Kids are also so innocent and to be fair, I believe that my innocence was short-lived because I had to take care of some many people that I forgot to take care of myself.

Being a first-generation college student influences my career goals because even though I love my mom and I am thankful for everything that she has done for me and my siblings especially doing it all on her own, I have seen the struggles that she has had and the sacrifices that she has had to make and I not only want to give my kids a different life than how I was raised, but I also want to repay her for making me who I am today. In the beginning, my mom wanted a nurse, but she did not finish college. She dropped out to have me and I owe her for that. I am carrying out that dream for her and I am so glad that I am because even though I am not doing the career that she started out doing, I am making it my own. I am doing it with my interests and mine are about helping children who may live in similar situations and potential situations that are way worse than most. I've always known my career is child-focused, especially with those who can't advocate for themselves and those who struggle to. It's something that has been passed down to me especially since my mom was so caring for me.

I was born in Ireland, but my family is from Zimbabwe. I grew up in a single-parent household with me being the oldest of 3. I had to learn how to be someone that my family could lean on especially in tough times. Especially in an African household, being the oldest you are automatically the third parent, but in this household, I had to be the second. I struggled with a lot of acceptance with feeling like I had a place to belong because of daddy issues. Being an immigrant student is kind of eye-opening to different cultures, but you also feel a little left out. I came to America at 6 years old, and when I first started school. I still had my Irish accent and I also still had different ways of living. So, I felt left out in that aspect already, and then coming from different cultures, there isn't one specific that I fit in. Especially because I felt too African for school, I felt too American at home. My world tends to collide. One thing that I have learned about myself is that I do not have to be similar to other people. I should have my own opinions and no matter what other people's opinions don't have any power over me unless I give them to myself. I have learned that Zimbabwe is getting more and more dangerous and that's a big reason why my family has not been visiting. Also, the U.S. can be rough to fit in with especially with the idea of racism still being in this world. This journey has impacted my life because as a child of a single parent who couldn't always afford things and also as someone when mom was working and I had to step up. I understand what some kids are going through. Scared of needing to go to the hospital because mom couldn't afford it right now. That's why I want to become a nurse and I want to be that advocate for kids who are unable to advocate for themselves similar to maybe their parents weren't able to afford care or simply their parents are negligent. That's also why I want to become a PICU nurse. Kids are also so innocent and to be fair, I believe that my innocence was short-lived because I had to take care of some many people that I forgot to take care of myself.