As a first generation college graduate whose parents didn’t even graduate from high school, it is important to me to show my two teen sons that personal success isn’t determined by socioeconomic status but by perseverance. They have watched me inchworm my way to an associate’s degree in nursing, then obtain my bachelor’s during the COVID-19 pandemic while working mandatory overtime as an ICU nurse. I later developed an autoimmune joint disorder that affects my ability to perform the physical functions of patient care. Now, I have 4 semesters remaining before I finish my master’s degree to work as a nurse practitioner in my underserved area. A scholarship award would greatly support me in my pursuit of completion of my graduate degree as well as preparation for the board exam.