The desire to help others is a strong one that I would like to achieve through nursing. I have always had a an interest in the medical field and I've felt drawn to it as well as awed by it. I'm also a people person. I'm currently employed as a home caregiver for the elderly and I love my job. I love the relationships I get to create and develop and I feel nursing is the next best step in furthering this direction in my life. There have been some personal situations in my life as well that have also helped reinforce my interest in nursing. My mom spent a month in the ICU which was a sudden occurrence and I wish I had more knowledge at the time of what was going on and true expectations of her situation. Having that education and experience in nursing would've helped both myself and my family understand everything better which would have helped reduce the stress and uncertainty of her time spent there. My dad had an accident that led him to the ICU as well but he never returned home to live on his own again. He suffered brain damage and had to be transferred to a skilled nursing facility. I was living overseas at the time because of my husband's duty to the Air Force so I could not take him in to care for him. He was in and out of the hospital for the next year before passing away. Since I could not be there by his side for the majority of his short journey it would have helped immensely to have understood his situation better as well. The third person in my life that has had a major impact on my decision to pursue nursing is my mother-in-law. She was diagnosed with breast cancer about four years ago and went through chemotherapy and came out of the other side in remission. She was an incredibly strong and determined woman. Unfortunately, a year ago she was then diagnosed with AML and fought so hard this past year. She passed away a few months ago. We did move to Florida to be closer to her to help out in any way we could. I took her to many doctor appointments, infusions, and consults. Over this time I did a ton of research to try and better understand the disease, her outlook, trial options, and anything else I could think of to help. We got to have some really great, personal conversations that I don't think we would have had otherwise. I really treasured the time I got to have with her this last year and the appreciation of life and the unknown that I have gained. Her passing was the push to get back to that desire within to take the next step for myself so that I can help others get through life when the unexpected gets thrown their way. I think my own personal experiences will also help me understand those going through loss or the unknown and offer more compassion and empathy when it's needed most.

I am a later life student, mother, and wife. My academic goals are to excel in the RN nursing program that I am enrolled in. It's been over a decade since I was last in school so doing well is very important to me as well as a bit scary. I would like to successfully graduate from my program and pursue a career in a trauma unit caring for others on their worst days, hoping to make it better. I am in need of funding for the program because my financial aid advisor provided me with false information and my husband's VA benefits will not cover the program in the way we expected it to. I plan on paying for the difference out of pocket, but it's over $10,000 more than we initially planned for. I will have to pick up more shifts with my employer to help cover the cost difference which will put more strain on life overall getting through my program while juggling more work hours, my family and school. Heavy metal music to me is a release outlet. One that is crucial to help me stay focused and balanced in my busy life. I will usually listen to it in the car to and from work or school. I will use it for multiple reasons, including relieving stress from a difficult shift or to prolong an emotional high I may get. Most recently it was last night, I got my first midterm grade back after waiting impatiently for a week and was so stoked about it. I got a 98%, it was the highest score between both the day and evening programs for the course. I did not want to make my classmates to feel bad so I kept my grade to myself for the evening, but once I got to my car I turned up the tunes an sang along with some of my favorite artists. I also enjoy the music to help me stay pumped for my workouts, which have personally been a struggle to commit to. Heavy metal helps me focus on the music instead of the tempting excuses of quitting in my fitness journey. Once my soundtrack is complete, so is my workout which really helps keep me on track.

I love math because it has always been a subject that has come easy to me. I am able to learn new concepts and problem solving without much difficulty and then apply it to various equations. The boost in personal confidence I get when completing difficult or drawn out math problems with ease and getting to the correct answer can make my day. This comfort and knowledge of math is helping me excel in my college algebra class right now as a part of my registered nursing degree program. I have been able to not only maintain a 4.0 average in this class so far, but I have also been able to assist others in my class who are struggling with some of the concepts. I like the ability to be able to help others and is a main reason I am pursuing my nursing degree. Math is one of those areas of study that is not subjective like others and there is a right or wrong answer, not somewhere in between. I love the certainty of math. I know many people complain about when they will ever have to use math in real life situations, but there are so many things throughout my life so far that have required math. I can confidently complete my own taxes, work and rework various scenarios that I've encountered making major purchases such as my house, and most importantly, I have been able to help my own kids with their math homework without the fear that their homework will surpass my knowledge or abilities to help them with it. That is, with math at least!

The desire to help others has been my inspiration in pursuing an education to become a registered nurse. I currently work as a caregiver for the elderly and really enjoy my job. Our elderly population has so many great stories of their lives and so much wisdom to share. I get to travel to their homes right now and help them with everyday needs and offer my companionship as well. Everyday is something new and I have multiple clients that I have gotten to know and build friendships with. I have also realized the need for better care through this job when family does not understand the extent of care needed for a loved one or is unable to accept the reality of the level of care some truly require. I hope that nursing would help expand my knowledge and understanding to better advocate for the elderly population. Unfortunately, this same population often gets overlooked in the healthcare field or dismissed due to the perception of some health issues just being regarded as a normal progression of aging and not addressed or taken seriously. Nursing will help me progress in this field and expand my opportunities to grow as a healthcare professional and a person. I would love to help make a difference in the lives of veterans specifically. Becoming a nurse and working for a VA Hospital would allow me to make a difference in the lives of our veterans by helping ensure they are getting the care they need and deserve. As a military brat and military spouse myself, military members hold a special place in my heart and I would love to give back to them through a career I am passionate about. Our military members sacrifice so much for our country and freedoms that they deserve to be taken care of properly. I would love to be a part of the amazing teams that get to serve them in their time of need. Obtaining my registered nursing license will also allow me to keep up with my passion regardless of where my family ends up in the upcoming years. I know we are not done moving for the government yet, so this is a perfect fit for me and my family. I also love the versatility a nursing degree will give me. I will have options to work in a hospital setting, home setting for personal home health care, regular doctor offices, or nursing homes.