I’ve been inspired by the level of care nurses provide throughout my life. These inspirations began with some of my earliest memories. My beloved older sister died following a brief illness when I was nearly 5. I remember the kind and gentle care the nurses provided my sister and my family. They helped to bring light into a very dark and sad time, easing my family’s suffering. I have always thought their actions positively affected our last moments with my sister. I also remember my grandmother’s cancer illness, and the impact the hospital and hospice nurses had on her care, allowing her to spend quality time with our family until the end of her life. I’ve had my own health experiences with nurses. Due to a diagnosis of childhood asthma and allergies, I’ve spent many hours connecting with clinic and school nurses. Their friendly and helpful nature made them approachable, and made my health care visits pleasant. During visits to the school nurse, I was also able to observe their care of one of my best friends, who has Type I Diabetes and a heart condition. They helped us see we could still be kids, even though we had health needs. Finally, my mom and maternal grandmother are master’s prepared Registered Nurses. I admire the work they have done throughout their careers and the positive impact they have had on many lives. My goal is to be able to apply the same level of care which I saw throughout my own life to my own patients one day. I have aspirations of working as a Registered Nurse upon the completion of my undergraduate degree, and one day attend graduate school to further my education and become a Nurse Practitioner. I believe this career path will allow me to make a difference in the lives of many individuals in need of human connection, and I feel very prepared to do so due to my school, work, and volunteer experiences. I am a good student and have excelled in my STEM-based classes. I also feel my personality traits align well with qualities I see as important for a nurse. I am known to be kind, caring, and approachable. I am a natural nurturer. And, my academic interests and experiences, combined with my personality traits, make me an excellent candidate for a career in nursing. I have been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for nearly a year and have received much praise in my work, including winning employee of the month at my company. This line of work has helped me to learn basic caregiving skills, which I will both utilize and build upon later in my nursing career. I know this work will also help to build my confidence in a healthcare setting. Through my experience as a math tutor, I learned patience, gained teaching skills, and mastered how to break down complicated concepts into smaller, understandable ideas. And finally, my volunteer work has given me experience working with individuals who have special needs and diverse social skills. My past work, volunteer experiences have supplied me with skills and knowledge that will be valuable in a nursing career. My employment opportunities have helped me advance my communication skills, work ethic, maturity, and customer service. My involvement in extracurricular activities such as my leadership role in a club based upon inclusion of students with intellectual and physical disabilities have taught me compassion and kindness. And finally, my unique life experiences have provided me with insights and knowledge that will make me a better nurse one day.

Strawberry blonde hair, blue-green eyes, a freckled nose, a contagious laugh that lit up a dark room, and a love for butterflies and the color pink. These are just a few of the things that made up my beloved older sister Annie. And, when I was four, there was no one else in the world I wanted to become than her. It was a sweltering summer and my family celebrated the Minnesota heat by swimming in local lakes several times a week. One of these days, we had a blast, splashing around in the warm water with our friends. Annie repetitively dove under the water, working on her summer goal to do the perfect handstand. I’ve spent every moment since wishing we didn’t go to the beach that day. Little did we know, the water we swam in had high amounts of amoeba, which entered Annie’s nose, traveling to her brain during one of her near-perfect handstands. A week later, I felt lonely as I sat in the cold hospital room. Thoughts and confusion about Annie filled my mind. I couldn’t bear to look at her lying lifelessly in the hospital bed, hooked up to machines, with tubes coming out of her little body. I didn’t understand why relatives kept showing up and giving me hugs, or why the Child Life Specialist kept checking to see if I needed anything. Above all, I didn't understand how somebody so vibrant could change so quickly. Days earlier Annie had been her normal bright self, and today she wasn’t waking up. But she’d be alright soon enough. We’d be dancing together in our living room in our dress-up clothes (which typically meant Annie putting me in a princess outfit)…That's what I told myself anyway. It’s said that the walls of hospitals hear more prayers than the walls of places of worship, because love is most felt when it’s leaving. I found this to be true over the next few days. I prayed for Annie every day, even though I didn’t really know how. I hoped that if someone was out there listening they would help Annie to feel better. But the prayers of a four year old were left unanswered. It has been fifteen years since my sister and best friend Annie died, and still I remember those moments at the hospital like it was yesterday. But the statement “life is lived in little moments,” is one I’ve truly come to understand. My memory of Annie is a composition of happy little moments. I’ve grown to smile when I think of her, rather than cry. When I see a butterfly, I feel it is her way of saying hello from the other side. Beautiful pink sunsets remind me of her memory. When something unexplainable happens in my rickety 1880 house, my family laughs and likes to see it as Annie’s ghost stopping by to say hello. And, when we go out to eat and are asked for a name for the order, we answer “Annie,” with no hesitation, just to hear her name called aloud. Annie’s life and death has taught me many things, but perhaps most importantly, it has inspired me to pursue a career in the nursing field. The kind and gentle care the nurses and child life specialists provided my sister and family helped to bring light into a very dark and sad time, easing our suffering. I have always thought their actions positively affected our last moments with my sister. Because of this, I have aspirations of dedicating my own career to doing the same for others.

I’ve been inspired by the level of care nurses provide throughout my life. These inspirations began with some of my earliest memories. My beloved older sister died following a brief illness when I was nearly 5. I remember the kind and gentle care the nurses provided my sister and my family. They helped to bring light into a very dark and sad time, easing my family’s suffering. I have always thought their actions positively affected our last moments with my sister. I also remember my grandmother’s cancer illness, and the impact the hospital and hospice nurses had on her care, allowing her to spend quality time with our family until the end of her life. I’ve had my own health experiences with nurses. Due to a diagnosis of childhood asthma and allergies, I’ve spent many hours connecting with clinic and school nurses. Their friendly and helpful nature made them approachable, and made my health care visits pleasant. During visits to the school nurse, I was also able to observe their care of one of my best friends, who has Type I Diabetes and a heart condition. They helped us see we could still be kids, even though we had health needs. Finally, my mom and maternal grandmother are master’s prepared Registered Nurses. I admire the work they have done throughout their careers and the positive impact they have had on many lives. My goal is to be able to apply the same level of care which I saw throughout my own life to my own patients one day. I have aspirations of working as a Registered Nurse upon the completion of my undergraduate degree, and one day attend graduate school to further my education and become a Nurse Practitioner. I believe this career path will allow me to make a difference in the lives of many individuals in need of human connection, and I feel very prepared to do so due to my school, work, and volunteer experiences. I am a good student and have excelled in my STEM-based classes. I also feel my personality traits align well with qualities I see as important for a nurse. I am known to be kind, caring, and approachable. I am a natural nurturer. And, my academic interests and experiences, combined with my personality traits, make me an excellent candidate for a career in nursing. I have been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for nearly a year and have received much praise in my work, including winning employee of the month at my company. This line of work has helped me to learn basic caregiving skills, which I will both utilize and build upon later in my nursing career. I know this work will also help to build my confidence in a healthcare setting. Through my experience as a math tutor, I learned patience, gained teaching skills, and mastered how to break down complicated concepts into smaller, understandable ideas. And finally, my volunteer work has given me experience working with individuals who have special needs and diverse social skills. My past work, volunteer experiences have supplied me with skills and knowledge that will be valuable in a nursing career. My employment opportunities have helped me advance my communication skills, work ethic, maturity, and customer service. My involvement in extracurricular activities such as my leadership role in a club based upon inclusion of students with intellectual and physical disabilities have taught me compassion and kindness. And finally, my unique life experiences have provided me with insights and knowledge that will make me a better nurse one day.

I’ve been inspired by the level of care nurses provide throughout my life. These inspirations began with some of my earliest memories. My beloved older sister died following a brief illness when I was nearly 5. I remember the kind and gentle care the nurses provided my sister and my family. They helped to bring light into a very dark and sad time, easing my family’s suffering. I have always thought their actions positively affected our last moments with my sister. I also remember my grandmother’s cancer illness, and the impact the hospital and hospice nurses had on her care, allowing her to spend quality time with our family until the end of her life. I’ve had my own health experiences with nurses. Due to a diagnosis of childhood asthma and allergies, I’ve spent many hours connecting with clinic and school nurses. Their friendly and helpful nature made them approachable, and made my health care visits pleasant. During visits to the school nurse, I was also able to observe their care of one of my best friends, who has Type I Diabetes and a heart condition. They helped us see we could still be kids, even though we had health needs. Finally, my mom and maternal grandmother are master’s prepared Registered Nurses. I admire the work they have done throughout their careers and the positive impact they have had on many lives. My goal is to be able to apply the same level of care which I saw throughout my own life to my own patients one day. I have aspirations of working as a Registered Nurse in the pediatric field upon the completion of my undergraduate degree, and one day attend graduate school to further my education and become a Nurse Practitioner. I believe this career path will allow me to make a difference in the lives of many individuals and children in need of human connection, and I feel very prepared to do so due to my school, work, and volunteer experiences. I am a good student and have excelled in my STEM-based classes. I also feel my personality traits align well with qualities I see as important for a nurse. I am known to be kind, caring, and approachable. I am a natural nurturer. And, my academic interests and experiences, combined with my personality traits, make me an excellent candidate for a career in nursing. I have been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for nearly a year and have received much praise in my work, including winning employee of the month at my company. This line of work has helped me to learn basic caregiving skills, which I will both utilize and build upon later in my nursing career. I know this work will also help to build my confidence in a healthcare setting. Through my experience as a math tutor, I learned patience, gained teaching skills, and mastered how to break down complicated concepts into smaller, understandable ideas. And finally, my volunteer work has given me experience working with individuals who have special needs and diverse social skills. My past work, volunteer experiences have supplied me with skills and knowledge that will be valuable in a nursing career. My employment opportunities have helped me advance my communication skills, work ethic, maturity, and customer service. My involvement in extracurricular activities such as my leadership role in a club based upon inclusion of students with intellectual and physical disabilities have taught me compassion and kindness. And finally, my unique life experiences have provided me with insights and knowledge that will make me a better nurse one day.

I’ve been inspired by the level of care nurses provide throughout my life. These inspirations began with some of my earliest memories. My beloved older sister died following a brief illness when I was nearly 5. I remember the kind and gentle care the nurses provided my sister and my family. They helped to bring light into a very dark and sad time, easing my family’s suffering. I have always thought their actions positively affected our last moments with my sister. I also remember my grandmother’s cancer illness, and the impact the hospital and hospice nurses had on her care, allowing her to spend quality time with our family until the end of her life. I’ve had my own health experiences with nurses. Due to a diagnosis of childhood asthma and allergies, I’ve spent many hours connecting with clinic and school nurses. Their friendly and helpful nature made them approachable, and made my health care visits pleasant. During visits to the school nurse, I was also able to observe their care of one of my best friends, who has Type I Diabetes and a heart condition. They helped us see we could still be kids, even though we had health needs. Finally, my mom and maternal grandmother are master’s prepared Registered Nurses. I admire the work they have done throughout their careers and the positive impact they have had on many lives. My goal is to be able to apply the same level of care which I saw throughout my own life to my own patients one day. I have aspirations of working as a Registered Nurse upon the completion of my undergraduate degree, and one day attend graduate school to further my education and become a Nurse Practitioner in the pediatric field. I believe this career path will allow me to make a difference in the lives of many individuals and children in need of human connection, and I feel very prepared to do so due to my school, work, and volunteer experiences. I am a good student and have excelled in my STEM-based classes. I also feel my personality traits align well with qualities I see as important for a nurse. I am known to be kind, caring, and approachable. I am a natural nurturer. And, my academic interests and experiences, combined with my personality traits, make me an excellent candidate for a career in nursing. I have been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for nearly a year and have received much praise in my work, including winning employee of the month at my company. This line of work has helped me to learn basic caregiving skills, which I will both utilize and build upon later in my nursing career. I know this work will also help to build my confidence in a healthcare setting. Through my experience as a math tutor, I learned patience, gained teaching skills, and mastered how to break down complicated concepts into smaller, understandable ideas. And finally, my volunteer work has given me experience working with individuals who have special needs and diverse social skills. My past work, volunteer experiences have supplied me with skills and knowledge that will be valuable in a nursing career. My employment opportunities have helped me advance my communication skills, work ethic, maturity, and customer service. My involvement in extracurricular activities such as my leadership role in a club based upon inclusion of students with intellectual and physical disabilities have taught me compassion and kindness. And finally, my unique life experiences have provided me with insights and knowledge that will make me a better nurse one day.

I’ve been inspired by the level of care nurses provide throughout my life. These inspirations began with some of my earliest memories. My beloved older sister died following a brief illness when I was nearly 5. I remember the kind and gentle care the nurses provided my sister and my family. They helped to bring light into a very dark and sad time, easing my family’s suffering. I have always thought their actions positively affected our last moments with my sister. I also remember my grandmother’s cancer illness, and the impact the hospital and hospice nurses had on her care, allowing her to spend quality time with our family until the end of her life. I’ve had my own health experiences with nurses. Due to a diagnosis of childhood asthma and allergies, I’ve spent many hours connecting with clinic and school nurses. Their friendly and helpful nature made them approachable, and made my health care visits pleasant. During visits to the school nurse, I was also able to observe their care of one of my best friends, who has Type I Diabetes and a heart condition. They helped us see we could still be kids, even though we had health needs. Finally, my mom and maternal grandmother are master’s prepared Registered Nurses. I admire the work they have done throughout their careers and the positive impact they have had on many lives. My goal is to be able to apply the same level of care which I saw throughout my own life to my own patients one day. I have aspirations of working as a Registered Nurse upon the completion of my undergraduate degree, and one day attend graduate school to further my education and become a Nurse Practitioner. I believe this career path will allow me to make a difference in the lives of many individuals in need of human connection, and I feel very prepared to do so due to my school, work, and volunteer experiences. I am a good student and have excelled in my STEM-based classes. I also feel my personality traits align well with qualities I see as important for a nurse. I am known to be kind, caring, and approachable. I am a natural nurturer. And, my academic interests and experiences, combined with my personality traits, make me an excellent candidate for a career in nursing. I have been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for nearly a year and have received much praise in my work, including winning employee of the month at my company. This line of work has helped me to learn basic caregiving skills, which I will both utilize and build upon later in my nursing career. I know this work will also help to build my confidence in a healthcare setting. Through my experience as a math tutor, I learned patience, gained teaching skills, and mastered how to break down complicated concepts into smaller, understandable ideas. And finally, my volunteer work has given me experience working with individuals who have special needs and diverse social skills. My past work, volunteer experiences have supplied me with skills and knowledge that will be valuable in a nursing career. My employment opportunities have helped me advance my communication skills, work ethic, maturity, and customer service. My involvement in extracurricular activities such as my leadership role in a club based upon inclusion of students with intellectual and physical disabilities have taught me compassion and kindness. And finally, my unique life experiences have provided me with insights and knowledge that will make me a better nurse one day.

I’ve been inspired by the level of care nurses provide throughout my life. These inspirations began with some of my earliest memories. My beloved older sister died following a brief illness when I was nearly 5. I remember the kind and gentle care the nurses provided my sister and my family. They helped to bring light into a very dark and sad time, easing my family’s suffering. I have always thought their actions positively affected our last moments with my sister. I also remember my grandmother’s cancer illness, and the impact the hospital and hospice nurses had on her care, allowing her to spend quality time with our family until the end of her life. I’ve had my own health experiences with nurses. Due to a diagnosis of childhood asthma and allergies, I’ve spent many hours connecting with clinic and school nurses. Their friendly and helpful nature made them approachable, and made my health care visits pleasant. During visits to the school nurse, I was also able to observe their care of one of my best friends, who has Type I Diabetes and a heart condition. They helped us see we could still be kids, even though we had health needs. Finally, my mom and maternal grandmother are master’s prepared Registered Nurses. I admire the work they have done throughout their careers and the positive impact they have had on many lives. My goal is to be able to apply the same level of care which I saw throughout my own life to my own patients one day. I have aspirations of working as a Registered Nurse upon the completion of my undergraduate degree, and one day attend graduate school to further my education and become a Nurse Practitioner. I believe this career path will allow me to make a difference in the lives of many individuals in need of human connection, and I feel very prepared to do so due to my school, work, and volunteer experiences. I am a good student and have excelled in my STEM-based classes. I also feel my personality traits align well with qualities I see as important for a nurse. I am known to be kind, caring, and approachable. I am a natural nurturer. And, my academic interests and experiences, combined with my personality traits, make me an excellent candidate for a career in nursing. I have been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for nearly a year and have received much praise in my work, including winning employee of the month at my company. This line of work has helped me to learn basic caregiving skills, which I will both utilize and build upon later in my nursing career. I know this work will also help to build my confidence in a healthcare setting. Through my experience as a math tutor, I learned patience, gained teaching skills, and mastered how to break down complicated concepts into smaller, understandable ideas. And finally, my volunteer work has given me experience working with individuals who have special needs and diverse social skills. My past work, volunteer experiences have supplied me with skills and knowledge that will be valuable in a nursing career. My employment opportunities have helped me advance my communication skills, work ethic, maturity, and customer service. My involvement in extracurricular activities such as my leadership role in a club based upon inclusion of students with intellectual and physical disabilities have taught me compassion and kindness. And finally, my unique life experiences have provided me with insights and knowledge that will make me a better nurse one day.