Nursing is more than the career I chose—it is the purpose I have been working toward for many years. Before enrolling in nursing school, I worked in several healthcare roles that allowed me to see the tremendous impact nurses have on patients and their families. I watched nurses provide comfort during frightening diagnoses, educate patients who were overwhelmed, and advocate for people when they felt unheard. Those experiences inspired me to become the kind of nurse who not only provides excellent clinical care but also helps patients feel respected, empowered, and hopeful. Returning to school at 40 years old has been one of the most challenging and rewarding decisions of my life. I balance a full-time job, a part-time job, nursing school, clinical rotations, financial responsibilities, and the demands of being a single mother. There have been sleepless nights, difficult exams, and moments when I questioned how I would continue paying for school. Despite those challenges, I have never questioned my purpose. Every obstacle has strengthened my determination because I know this degree will allow me to change lives while creating a better future for my family. My long-term goal is to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, continue my education, and eventually become a Nurse Practitioner. I have developed a strong interest in caring for adults living with chronic illnesses, particularly diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Chronic illnesses require more than medication—they require education, trust, encouragement, and healthcare providers who are willing to build lasting relationships with their patients. I want to become the nurse who helps patients understand their conditions, make healthier choices, and regain confidence in managing their health. My passion for this specialty is deeply personal. My father has lived with hypertension, diabetes, gout, and chronic back pain that resulted from an injury he sustained while serving our country in the United States Army. Watching him navigate multiple chronic illnesses while remaining resilient has taught me how much compassionate healthcare can improve someone’s quality of life. My maternal grandmother also battled hypertension, diabetes, and ALS, while my paternal grandmother courageously fought both breast and cervical cancer in addition to diabetes. Seeing the emotional, physical, and financial toll these illnesses placed on my loved ones inspired me to become part of the solution. I want to provide the kind of care that not only treats disease but also gives patients and families hope during difficult seasons of life. Service has always been woven into my family’s story. Both of my parents proudly served in the United States Army. My mother worked in Communications Security (COMSEC), and my father served as a Military Police officer. Their dedication, discipline, and commitment to serving others shaped my values and taught me that true leadership is measured by how you care for people. Those lessons continue to guide me as I work toward becoming a nurse. Outside of school, I recently founded Helping Vets from a Distance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting veterans with resources and support. My goal is to combine my nursing education with community service by advocating for underserved populations, promoting preventive healthcare, and improving access to health education. Receiving the EverGreen Trails of Service Scholarship would ease the financial burden of completing nursing school and allow me to remain focused on becoming the compassionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated nurse I have always dreamed of becoming. I hope to spend my career improving lives, educating families, and serving every patient with the same compassion and dignity that my own family deserved. ⸻ Supplementary Questions 1. Chronic illness: My family’s experience with chronic illness has profoundly influenced my decision to pursue nursing. My father lives with hypertension, diabetes, gout, and chronic back pain related to an injury sustained during his Army service. My maternal grandmother had hypertension, diabetes, and ALS, while my paternal grandmother battled both breast and cervical cancer in addition to diabetes. Their experiences inspired my passion for chronic disease management and patient education. 2. Military service: Both of my parents served in the United States Army. My mother served in Communications Security (COMSEC), and my father served as a Military Police (MP) officer. 3. Parent in education: Neither of my parents worked in education.

Every time I walk into the Cardiac Critical Care ICU where I work as a Nursing Assistant, I am reminded why I chose nursing. Behind every monitor, diagnosis, and medication is a person who is scared, vulnerable, and hoping someone will care enough to make a difference. I realized that I wanted to be more than someone who assisted with care—I wanted to become the nurse who could advocate for patients, educate families, make critical decisions, and provide comfort during life’s most difficult moments. My journey into healthcare has been anything but traditional. Before entering nursing school, I worked in several healthcare roles, including as a medical assistant and surgery scheduling specialist. Each experience taught me the importance of compassion, communication, and teamwork. Today, working in a Cardiac Critical Care ICU has strengthened my desire to become a registered nurse because I witness the incredible impact nurses have every single day. Their ability to combine clinical knowledge with genuine compassion inspires me to become that same source of strength for my future patients. Pursuing nursing has also required tremendous perseverance. As a first-generation college student and single mother, balancing work, school, financial responsibilities, and family has been one of the greatest challenges of my life. There have been nights when I questioned how I would pay tuition, study after long shifts, or continue moving forward when life felt overwhelming. Yet every obstacle has reinforced my commitment to this profession. I know that if I can overcome these challenges, I will be able to encourage patients facing some of the hardest moments of their own lives. What draws me to nursing is the opportunity to care for people with both skill and compassion. A patient may not remember every medication they received, but they will remember how they were treated. I want to be the nurse who listens without judgment, advocates without hesitation, and treats every patient with dignity and respect regardless of their background or circumstances. Looking ahead, my goal is not simply to earn my BSN and become a registered nurse. I plan to continue my education, earn my master’s degree, and ultimately complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. I hope to mentor future nurses, improve patient outcomes, and help address healthcare disparities within underserved communities. I also plan to continue volunteering with organizations that support veterans and others in need because I believe nursing extends far beyond the walls of a hospital. Receiving this scholarship would ease the financial burden of nursing school while allowing me to focus on becoming the compassionate, knowledgeable, and resilient nurse I aspire to be. More importantly, it would serve as a reminder that others believe in my dream of caring for patients and making a lasting impact on the nursing profession. Every challenge I have overcome has prepared me for this calling, and I am determined to honor that opportunity through a lifetime of service.

When I was younger, I always found myself drawn to helping people. I didn’t know exactly what my path would look like, but I knew I wanted a career where I could make a real difference in someone’s life. Over the years, I worked in several healthcare roles, including as a medical assistant, surgery scheduling specialist, and now as a Nursing Assistant in the Cardiac Critical Care ICU at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital. Every position taught me something different, but they all pointed me toward the same calling: nursing. Working in the Cardiac Critical Care ICU changed everything for me. I have the privilege of caring for patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. I see firsthand how a nurse’s knowledge, compassion, and quick thinking can comfort a frightened family, advocate for a patient who cannot speak for themselves, and even help save a life. Those experiences confirmed that nursing is not just a job for me—it is my purpose. My journey has not been easy. I am a first-generation college student, a single mother, and I work while attending nursing school full-time. There have been moments when I questioned how I would pay for another semester or whether I had enough energy to keep going after long shifts at the hospital. Even during those difficult times, giving up was never an option. Every obstacle reminds me why I started this journey in the first place. I want to become the kind of nurse who patients remember not only because I provided excellent care but because I made them feel heard, respected, and safe. Technical skills are essential, but kindness and compassion are just as important. I believe every patient deserves to be treated like family, regardless of their background or circumstances. Beyond my career, I hope my story inspires others who may think they are starting too late or facing too many obstacles to pursue higher education. I want my son to see firsthand that perseverance, faith, and hard work can overcome almost anything. My long-term goal is to earn my BSN, become a registered nurse, continue my education through a master’s degree, and ultimately earn my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree so I can continue serving patients while mentoring future nurses. Nursing has become much more than my career goal—it has become my life’s mission. Every class I complete, every clinical rotation, and every shift in the ICU brings me one step closer to becoming the nurse I have always dreamed of being. Receiving this scholarship would not only help ease the financial burden of nursing school, but it would also allow me to continue pursuing my dream of providing compassionate, high-quality care to those who need it most.

When people ask me why I chose nursing, my answer is simple: I want to be the nurse that people remember long after they leave the hospital. I want patients to remember someone who listened, advocated for them, and treated them with dignity during some of the hardest moments of their lives. My journey into nursing has not been easy or traditional. I am a first-generation college student, a single mother, and a full-time healthcare professional while attending nursing school. Every semester has required sacrifices, long work hours, financial planning, and countless late nights studying after twelve-hour shifts. There have been moments when the cost of school alone made me question whether I could continue, but every obstacle has strengthened my determination instead of weakening it. Working as a Nursing Assistant in the Cardiac Critical Care ICU at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital has confirmed that I am exactly where I belong. Every shift teaches me something new about compassion, teamwork, and the importance of remaining calm under pressure. Watching experienced nurses care for critically ill patients has inspired me to become the kind of nurse who not only provides excellent clinical care but also offers reassurance and hope to families during life’s most difficult moments. Beyond my work in the hospital, serving my community has always been important to me. I have volunteered with Helping Vets From a Distance, supporting veterans and their families, because I believe caring for others extends far beyond the walls of a hospital. Whether I am serving patients, veterans, classmates, or members of my community, my goal is always the same: to leave people feeling seen, valued, and supported. My long-term goal is to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, become a registered nurse, and continue my education through a master’s degree before ultimately earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. I hope to work in critical care and eventually give back by mentoring future nursing students, particularly those who believe their dreams are out of reach because of financial barriers or life’s challenges. Receiving this scholarship would do more than help pay for tuition. It would reduce the financial burden that accompanies every semester and allow me to focus more fully on becoming the nurse I know I am capable of being. More importantly, it would remind me that there are people who believe in students like me—students who refuse to quit despite the obstacles placed in front of them. My story is still being written, but one thing has never changed: I refuse to let my circumstances determine my future. My goal is not simply to earn a nursing degree. My goal is to build a career defined by compassion, excellence, leadership, and service while creating a legacy that my son and future generations can be proud of.