Sitting in a hospital room duetting Frozen’s “Love is an Open Door” for nearly the 30th time, I stared amazed at my resilient, incredibly tender, cancer-ridden seven-year-old sister. With no hair, no appetite, and being bound to a hospital bed, my little soldier was fully dependent on others for her care. I was only in eighth grade, but the reality and images of her struggles are forever etched in my heart and mind. During those days, it was not the doctors I remember caring so well for my sister – it was the incredibly compassionate, sweet, and attentive nurses that made all the difference. These “angels on earth,” as I so often hear them referred to, were the heart of that pediatric oncology floor. Their gentle touch and demeanor coupled with their skill and strength left me in full admiration. Looking back, I am still so moved by their selfless acts of service which extended far beyond their job description. Being a part of my little sister’s cancer recovery team inspired me to pursue a nursing career in pediatric oncology. In complement of that goal, I have secured a health science Bachelor’s degree which focused on wholistic patient care. I have also become a fulltime certified nursing assistant in a nursing-home-memory-care facility which focuses on incredibly vulnerable patient care. Both accomplishments have given me vital experiences as I prepare for a nursing career. I believe the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) will allow me to achieve further growth as I experience my education in a different part of the country from a reputable nursing college. Furthermore, MUSC’s academic goal to cultivate “competent and compassionate nurse leaders to meet the needs of diverse populations” directly supports my mission of becoming a well-rounded, adaptable, and compassionate nurse. Moreover, I am incredibly eager to begin the accelerated BSN program offered by MUSC as my ultimate goal is to begin my nursing career as soon as possible. With already obtaining my undergraduate degree and having a clear picture of what I desire for my future, I am thrilled to commit the next year completely to advancing my education. To ensure solid performance and complete focus throughout the program, I have made the decision to not work during my time in school. I understand that this accelerated program will be rigorous and will require my full attention. By doing this, I will be able to easily balance my personal obligations (as they will be virtually non-existent) and my professional responsibilities while in this program. With the aid of this accelerated learning experience, esteemed professors, and a comprehensive clinical experience, I hope to efficiently develop all of the needed tools to someday care for my very own Frozen-fanatic patients.

Sitting in a hospital room duetting Frozen’s “Love is an Open Door” for nearly the 30th time, I stared amazed at my resilient, incredibly tender, cancer-ridden seven-year-old sister. With no hair, no appetite, and being bound to a hospital bed, my little soldier was fully dependent on others for her care. I was only in eighth grade, but the reality and images of her struggles are forever etched in my heart and mind. During those days, it was not the doctors I remember caring so well for my sister – it was the incredibly compassionate, sweet, and attentive nurses who made all the difference. These “angels on earth,” as I so often hear them referred to, were the heart of that pediatric oncology floor. Their gentle touch and demeanor coupled with their skill and strength left me in full admiration. Looking back, I am still so moved by their selfless acts of service which extended far beyond their job description. Being a part of my little sister’s cancer recovery team was incredibly difficult, but it inspired me to pursue a nursing career in pediatric oncology. In complement to that goal, I have secured a health science Bachelor’s degree which focused on holistic patient care. I have also become a full-time certified nursing assistant in a nursing home memory care facility that focuses on incredibly vulnerable patient care. Both accomplishments have given me vital experiences as I prepare for a nursing career. Having had a sibling face death at such a young age and then having residents in their old age face death every day, I have developed a deep respect for the value of life and caring well for others every chance I get. Nursing, to me, allows for this strength to not only be utilized but also be enhanced. To care well for others is to understand and truly respect their innate value – I understand this and am eager to use this knowledge for the benefit of my future patients. To achieve this goal, however, I require the funds to be able to attend schooling. Despite working four jobs throughout my undergraduate degree and working full-time immediately after graduating, I will still not have the proper funds to afford obtaining my nursing degree. For this reason, it would be extraordinarily beneficial to receive this scholarship to help in this process. If I were to obtain this scholarship, I have big plans! With the aid of an accelerated learning experience, esteemed professors, and a comprehensive clinical experience, I hope to efficiently develop all of my needed scholastic nursing tools. Additionally, I hope that with the aid of my excitement, which propels me through the daunting hurdles of pursuing my nursing degree, and a deep longing to give back to the medical system for all they did for my sister, I will someday finally care for my very own Frozen-fanatic patient.

Sitting in a hospital room duetting Frozen’s “Love is an Open Door” for nearly the 30th time, I stared amazed at my resilient, incredibly tender, cancer-ridden seven-year-old sister. With no hair, no appetite, and being bound to a hospital bed, my little soldier was fully dependent on others for her care. I was only in eighth grade, but the reality and images of her struggles are forever etched in my heart and mind. During those days, it was not the doctors I remember caring so well for my sister – it was the incredibly compassionate, sweet, and attentive nurses who made all the difference. These “angels on earth,” as I so often hear them referred to, were the heart of that pediatric oncology floor. Their gentle touch and demeanor coupled with their skill and strength left me in full admiration. Looking back, I am still so moved by their selfless acts of service which extended far beyond their job description. Being a part of my little sister’s cancer recovery team was incredibly difficult, but it inspired me to pursue a nursing career in pediatric oncology. In complement to that goal, I have secured a health science Bachelor’s degree which focused on holistic patient care. I have also become a full-time certified nursing assistant in a nursing home memory care facility that focuses on incredibly vulnerable patient care. Both accomplishments have given me vital experiences as I prepare for a nursing career. Having had a sibling face death at such a young age and then having residents in their old age face death every day, I have developed a deep respect for the value of life and caring well for others every chance I get. Nursing, to me, allows for this strength to not only be utilized but also be enhanced. To care well for others is to understand and truly respect their innate value – I understand this and am eager to use this knowledge for the benefit of my future patients. To achieve this goal, however, I require the funds to be able to attend schooling. Despite working four jobs throughout my undergraduate degree and working full-time immediately after graduating, I will still not have the proper funds to afford obtaining my nursing degree. For this reason, it would be extraordinarily beneficial to receive this scholarship to help in this process. If I were to obtain this scholarship, I have big plans! With the aid of an accelerated learning experience, esteemed professors, and a comprehensive clinical experience, I hope to efficiently develop all of my needed scholastic nursing tools. Additionally, I hope that with the aid of my excitement, which propels me through the daunting hurdles of pursuing my nursing degree, and a deep longing to give back to the medical system for all they did for my sister, I will someday finally care for my very own Frozen-fanatic patient.

Sitting in a hospital room duetting Frozen’s “Love is an Open Door” for nearly the 30th time, I stared amazed at my resilient, incredibly tender, cancer-ridden seven-year-old sister. With no hair, no appetite, and being bound to a hospital bed, my little soldier was fully dependent on others for her care. I was only in eighth grade, but the reality and images of her struggles are forever etched in my heart and mind. During those days, it was not the doctors I remember caring so well for my sister – it was the incredibly compassionate, sweet, and attentive nurses who made all the difference. These “angels on earth,” as I so often hear them referred to, were the heart of that pediatric oncology floor. Their gentle touch and demeanor coupled with their skill and strength left me in full admiration. Looking back, I am still so moved by their selfless acts of service which extended far beyond their job description. Being a part of my little sister’s cancer recovery team was incredibly difficult, but it inspired me to pursue a nursing career in pediatric oncology. In complement to that goal, I have secured a health science Bachelor’s degree which focused on holistic patient care. I have also become a full-time certified nursing assistant in a nursing home memory care facility that focuses on incredibly vulnerable patient care. Both accomplishments have given me vital experiences as I prepare for a nursing career. Having had a sibling face death at such a young age and then having residents in their old age face death every day, I have developed a deep respect for the value of life and caring well for others every chance I get. Nursing, to me, allows for this strength to not only be utilized but also be enhanced. To care well for others is to understand and truly respect their innate value – I understand this and am eager to use this knowledge for the benefit of my future patients. To achieve this goal, however, I require the funds to be able to attend schooling. Despite working four jobs throughout my undergraduate degree and working full-time immediately after graduating, I will still not have the proper funds to afford obtaining my nursing degree. For this reason, it would be extraordinarily beneficial to receive this scholarship to help in this process. If I were to obtain this scholarship, I have big plans! With the aid of an accelerated learning experience, esteemed professors, and a comprehensive clinical experience, I hope to efficiently develop all of my needed scholastic nursing tools. Additionally, I hope that with the aid of my excitement, which propels me through the daunting hurdles of pursuing my nursing degree, and a deep longing to give back to the medical system for all they did for my sister, I will someday finally care for my very own Frozen-fanatic patient.