Hello! I am Kimberly Perez and I am a 20-year-old first-generation student at Tarrant County College. I grew up in a single-parent household; my Mother worked over 60 hours a week, leaving me to be primarily raised by my beloved Grandmother. She taught me everything I know, from tieing my shoes to learning how to move forward through life's unexpected hardships. Unfortunately, I lost her while I was still in high school; the grief of losing her stayed with me for years to come and affected my choices, ambition, and motivation for anything and everything. It wasn't until I hit a peak in my grief that I realized that I was letting life pass by and I needed to start living my life as my Grandmother would want me; that I needed to pursue something meaningful where I can express the most important value she integrated into me which was love...that only love can truly change the world. Like Jean, I am also a giver and will do what it takes to give to those in need. Upon realizing this, I immediately thought of nursing and how helping others during what could be some of the darkest times of their lives is exactly how I can create a positive difference. One of my goals within nursing is to strive and demonstrate care for and express compassion toward the sick and their families. Not only do the patients deserve compassion, but so do other healthcare providers. Being a healthcare provider is one of the most stressful professions someone can pursue and unfortunately, within that environment, there will be individuals from both patient and healthcare perspectives that are not the friendliest. It will help to always have someone on the healthcare side flash a smile or share words of encouragement. To improve how people are treated in the healthcare system, I will make it a personal mission to teach others how to be loving and patient even in strenuous situations. I have another crucial goal within nursing as well. Patient advocacy has been a major issue in the healthcare system. Often, patients feel as if their needs and concerns are not being prioritized or listened to. People get misdiagnosed or are not ordered life-saving medical examinations. As a nurse, I want patients to confide in me and trust that I will listen to everything they feel they need to say, so I can communicate with doctors and other medical professionals. Furthermore, apart from hearing what physical symptoms people are feeling, I also want to hear their dreams, inspirations, and fantasies. I want to get to know these people as much as I can even if it is for a short time frame. Overall, I want to be a healer, a listener, and a friend. These are qualities I want to hold not only as a nurse but as someone that cares for their community. I often look at the world around me and am saddened by the cruelty and negligence before my eyes. I am so glad and grateful to be part of the journey toward making a change in this world. Although there is a long road ahead, I know for a fact that my Grandmother would be proud of who I am becoming. I may not be able to see or hold her, but I can feel her love within me and it will never go away; I can promise you that.