Relying on Welfare and living in the projects or " the bricks" a common term used in my home town was the norm for many African American families, including my own. I was raised in a single parent household with two younger siblings, which under the circumstances I found myself caring for while my mother worked at a very young age. I never once complained, because even as a child I knew my mother was doing the best that she could with minimal education. I remember riding the city bus to the welfare office to wait in these long lines, while my mother talked to rude people who always looked at us funny and made me feel insecure as a child. I look back now on those hardships and the promises I made myself as a child, and I seem to have fallen not so far from the tree that created me. I am now the replacement of my mother, on the city bus and dragging my own children along to obtain the assistance just so I can provide for them. I am however, determined to break the generation curse of poverty by taking the first step and finishing what I have started my nursing degree. Two years ago, I put my plan into action and started school to finish my associate's degree. Just last month, I graduated from Georgia Military College with an Associates in Science. I prayed long and hard to get accepted into a nursing program, because the enemy weighed me down with every possible doubt and dismay that could be thought of. I didn't look like a nurse, I couldn't pass the entrance exam, and the worst of all was that my situation was not so bad. I am thankful for where I come from and what God blessed with me thus far, but I know that he had better in store for little oh me. Testimony time.... I passed my nursing entrance exam and received an early acceptance into a school where many that look nothing like me attend. I ran out of that testing site and just continued to say thank you Jesus, because without him I would not have been able to do it. I know this may not be much to most, but to me this degree would be the stepping stone to what I know God is going to continue to do in my life financially and spiritually. The scripture says faith without works is dead. I have faith now, I intend to put in the work so that I can better support my own children and place us in a better living situation.

Can I be honest? Well, I have to be honest, if not to you than myself. I was inspired to become a nurse because of how I have been put down as a nursing assistant by nursing staff that I work with. There is no I in team would be the perfect slogan for my hospital unit if most believed it. I have witnessed firsthand the prejudice of how nurses treat "the help" as I have been called". I simply love my patients and the extra time that i get with while bathing them, assisting them with their meal, or something as simple as being a listening ear to the patient who has no visitors. I believe that my job is just as vital to the health care system as the next so is that some nurses get the letters behind their name and look down on their team? I inspire to be the change to nursing and the behavior that is attached with it. I want to obtain this degree to not only be able to give my patients adequate nursing care, but to show others that you can be a humble nurse. My goal ultimately is to help people and not tear them down, because underneath it all we are all the same. I have a genuine desire to make a small impact on as many lives as possible while I'm on this earth and nursing provides the platform to serve my purpose. I realize that receiving my BSN can place me in management positions where I can help others that are tormented and discouraged on their position in the hospital. I want to provide a safe environment for the patients and the staff that is caring for the patients. I plan to continue working with patients who have been diagnosed with different cancers and blood diseases. I have a strong background working with Oncology patients and I am familiar with different types of cancers and treatment patients receive. I plan to finish at Wesleyan University where I will obtain my BSN in nursing and apply for a job in my hospital Oncology unit. I plan to build onto my nursing skills until i am ready to pursue opportunities in management and education. I plan to be the change for those overlooked in the healthcare system because we are all apart of a big train system and although CNA may not be the motor their participation is much needed .

I have always aspired to be a nurse for as long as I can remember. I remember my siblings pleading with me to come outside to play, but I was more interested in playing hospital with my raggedy Ann doll. This characteristic of caring and nurturing others really grasped hold of me when my daughter Brianna was diagnosed with Sickle Beta Thalesemia. I was frantic, scared and worried, because the internet gave me a grave prognosis on my daughters health and the life she would live. I was distraught however going to visit her hematologist for the first time and learning the facts on this disease gave me clarity and a sense of relief. I want to be the caring and nurturing person that families can depend on in these crisis that occur in life. I understand that every patient depends on their medical staff and no matter age each patient is important. However, to see a child in pain is the worst hurt a parent can experience. Watching my 6 year old ball in a hospital bed in so much pain that she had to be placed on a pain drip made me feel helpless. I cried, I tried to console her, and my only relief was when the medicine started to do its job and she fell asleep. I would retreat to the hallways and sob and her nursing staff would console me. The nursing staff not only gave my daughter pain relief but in the caring and nurturing, they gave me a little relief as well. I knew then that I wanted to be work in Peds. Caring for your Peds patient has to be rough but to extend a loving gesture to a torn parent is a different kind of care. I want to be that kind of caring and nurturing nurse to my patients and their loved ones. I never understood what parents endured watching a sick child until I myself was placed into that situation. I always thought that working with children was probably the easiest in the medical field. I realize now I was wrong and that working with children takes a special kind of patients towards the child and their families. I am very than for my daughters nursing and hematologist team because they have helped me and my daughter fight some pretty tough battles throughout the years. I want to be a part of a great peds team that helps families when they need them most.

Hi, my name is Loretta Chappell, and I am a 35 year old, a first generation college student. I currently work as a Nursing Assistant at a long-term acute care facility. I am a college graduate, but my greatest achievement is being the mother of 7 beautiful angels who I have the pleasure to hear call me mommy. I started college like most students right after high school, but unlike most students, I made myself a statistic. I began as a teen mom and had to choose to work to provide for my daughter instead of furthering my education. Many asked why didn't I just continue college? Well, I didn't have the resources or a support system like many others, as my mother lived below poverty and my father was not in the picture. I had to choose to now live for her, not myself, and that meant putting school on hold for a while. Two years ago, I decided to return to school to become a nurse. I had heard every discouragement known to someone under my circumstances, but I let the negativity fuel my drive to prove everyone wrong. I applied to Georgia Military College, received my pre-nursing degree in science, and applied to Wesleyan school for women. I studied for the entrance exam and received an early acceptance based on my high score on the exam. I want to make an impact in the nursing workforce. I believe there is a great need for caring and compassionate nurses willing to overcome this pandemic. I believe education is the key to success in all walks of life, and that we must educate ourselves to achieve big and small milestones. Education has broadened my perspective of my life, as well as the lives of others. Some of my colleges classes allowed me to learn about different people from other regions around the globe, and it helped me understand that although we are different, we are much more alike than we think. Without being educated about others and their society, we are left with an open-ended opinion of others instead of what is fact. I no longer judge others because of something that may not seem in the norm, because I have learned interesting facts about many cultures that I use to call weird. Being educated on different things helps open what was once blinded to me, and encourages me to want to learn more so that I can better understand others, especially in the nursing field.

I am a first generation college student, the first in my family to pursue nursing or college. I received my acceptance letter from Wesleyan a week ago into their nursing BSN program, and I felt so accomplished. I received calls from my aunts and uncles about how proud they were of me for returning to school at the age of 33. The most memorable was hearing my auntie say "baby, stay the course and continue to fight for what you want in your life." I cried because I was not only making myself proud, but also because I was making my family proud of me, something I thought I would never accomplish because of my past. I became a mother early on in life, and I allowed it to cripple my ambition for sometime, because I had become yet another "black statistic". I had to choose between college or being able to provide for my daughter, so I dropped out of college and found a job at a diaper plant. I felt established, but I was lacking the feeling of accomplishment. My second daughter, my true angel baby, guided me to my pursuit of becoming a registered nurse. At the age of 3, she was diagnosed with Sickle Beta-Thalasemia, a form of Sickle cell only found in African Americans. I didn't understand the disease or symptoms my daughter was experiencing, but I wanted to. I began to ask questions and do my own research on what was happening to my child and what I could do to prevent her pain crisis. My daughters disease sparked my pursuit in the health care field. I began working at a Level 1 trauma hospital as a nursing assistant in an Oncology unit with cancer patients. I have received Nursing Assistant of the Year recognition countless times, but my most valued accomplishments were being there for my patients when they needed a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. The money will help me and my family tremendously, as I am still that single parent one step closer to my prize, with only the obstacle of tuition in front of me. The money I save from not having to acquire anymore student loans will help me give me and my 7 children the life I have dreamt of having for them. I will no longer have to choose between which bill is most important and which can hold off for the next month. It will give me a head start on my finances, so I don't have to worry as much when I graduate from college as a registered nurse.

1.) I really don't deserve any help paying for school. I should just rack up as many private loans as possible, and pray I can repay them all with my nursing salary. 2.) I really do not have a career path right now. My goals are to one day win the lottery or hope one of the scratch off tickets makes me rich enough that I no longer have to look through the help wanted ads. I might actually try my singing career out again at the great age of 35 so tell Beyonce she has competition. 3.) I had this test in which I didn't study at all for, and in the minds of others it was sort of a big deal. It only meant I would get into the nursing program, but I chose to just wing it, because if it was for me, I would get it. I decided not to take the test at all, and just put the college stuff on hold, and pursued my career as a professional lottery ticket scratcher. I overcame that obstacle by avoiding taking the test.

Hi, my name is Loretta Chappell, and I am a 35 year old, a first generation college student. I currently work as a Nursing Assistant at a long-term acute care facility. I am a college graduate, but my greatest achievement is being the mother of 7 beautiful angels who I have the pleasure to hear call me mommy. I started college like most students right after high school, but unlike most students, I made myself a statistic. I began as a teen mom and had to choose to work to provide for my daughter instead of furthering my education. Many asked why didn't I just continue college? Well, I didn't have the resources or a support system like many others, as my mother lived below poverty and my father was not in the picture. I had to choose to now live for her, not myself, and that meant putting school on hold for a while. Two years ago, I decided to return to school to become a nurse. I had heard every discouragement known to someone under my circumstances, but I let the negativity fuel my drive to prove everyone wrong. I chose this particular career field to help me understand what my daughter, who has Sickle Beta thalasemia, was experiencing, and how I could better take care of her and other pediatric patients with similar blood disorders. Finding out my child had this disorder, I was devastated and ran quickly to the internet, which gave me grave false information about this disease. I want to completely understand the disease and what it was doing to my daughter, so I began to research it and ask questions. I wanted to be able to help my child, because I felt helpless during her pain crisis. I applied to Georgia Military College, received my pre-nursing degree in science, and applied to Wesleyan school for women. I studied for the entrance exam and received an early acceptance based on my high score on the exam. I want to make an impact in the nursing workforce. I believe there is a great need for caring and compassionate nursing willing to overcome this pandemic. I plan to be the advocate for those in my care who otherwise have no one, with their best interest at heart. I know firsthand what it is like to feel like the person caring for your family member does not care about the patient, and I will ensure that my patients never have to feel like that. I know that whatever impact I may have may be small, but if I could just touch one person on my journey, I would not have failed in my mission to make an impact on the world.

Hi, my name is Loretta Chappell, and I am a 35 year old, a first generation college student. I currently work as a Nursing Assistant at a long-term acute care facility. I am a college graduate, but my greatest achievement is being the mother of 7 beautiful angels who I have the pleasure to hear call me mommy. I started college like most students right after high school, but unlike most students, I made myself a statistic. I began a teen mom and had to choose to work to provide for my daughter instead of furthering my education. Many asked why didn't I just continue college? Well, I didn't have the resources or a support system like many others, as my mother lived below poverty and my father was not in the picture. I had to chose to now live for her, not myself, and that meant putting school on hold for a while. Two years ago, I decided to return to school to become a nurse. I had heard every discouragement known to someone under my circumstances, but I let the negativity fuel my drive to prove everyone wrong. I chose this particular career field to help me understand what my daughter, who has Sickle Beta thalasemia, was experiencing, and how I could better take care of her and other pediatric patients with similar blood disorders. Finding out my child had this disorder, I was devastated and ran quickly to the internet, which gave me grave false information about this disease. I want to completely understand the disease and what it was doing to my daughter, so I began to research it and ask questions. I wanted to be able to help my child, because I felt helpless during her pain crisis. I applied to Georgia Military College, received my pre-nursing degree in science, and applied to Wesleyan school for women. I studied for the entrance exam and received an early acceptance based on my high score on the exam. I want to make an impact in the nursing workforce. I believe there is a great need for caring and compassionate nursing willing to overcome this pandemic. I plan to be the advocate for those in my care who otherwise have no one, with their best interest at heart. I know firsthand what it is like to feel like the person caring for your family member does not care about the patient, and I will ensure that my patients never have to feel like that. I know that whatever impact I may have may be small, but if I could just touch one person on my journey, I would not have failed in my mission to make an impact on the world.

My name is Loretta Chappell I am 35 and the mother to 7 beautiful children. I enjoy spending time with my children either on our scheduled game night or simply helping them with their homework. My greatest accomplishment is being their mother. I currently have an associates degree in science and just got accepted into the BSN program at Wesleyan College for women. I felt so accomplished that I had overcome the statistics of being a black single mother on welfare, first generation graduate, and living below the poverty medium. I thank God every day, because I feel that without him, I would not have made it past the obstacles in my life. I grew up in a single parent home, so I was no stranger to the struggle of having just one parent to depend on for my daily essential needs. My mother taught me how to be strong, respectful and caring young women something that I instill in my own children daily. I remember I always had a lot of dolls, the "old fashioned' kind with the lace dresses, and I could not go to sleep unless every single one had cover on them, because in my innocence I felt they might be cold. Caring for those dolls like they were real people nurtured the person I am today. I have so much compassion for others that I find myself feeling guilty when I am unable to help as much as I would like. My mom would say that that quality can sometimes be a blessing and curse, but I find it so fulfilling when I can help. When I complete nursing school, I plan to continue this behavior on the clinical floor among patients that need that caring person who has their best interest at heart. My main focus will be to heal my patients physically and mentally by sharing something as a smile to make their day better. I know that in this position, I will advocate for patients, making sure they receive the best possible care from everyone on their care team. I realize so many people pursue a career in nursing for the title or money. I want to change the stigma that people don't have sympathy after experiencing the hardship of working in the hospital. I want to be the change in people's lives, so that they know that they are receiving the best care possible, and that I would go to bat for them the same as I would for my children.

I have a pretty tight schedule, and trying to incorporate study time and ways to enjoy life or have fun can be challenging. I knew I had to create a balance somewhere, so that both worlds could collide, and benefit both my study and social life. I love creating songs and sang for much of my life, so I decided to create catchy songs about whatever I was studying to satisfy my creativity and get in the study time needed to pass my exams. I realized that by writing these songs, I was exploring new options of learning. I was in control of the tempo of the song, and since I am a soulful singer, most songs are song Acapella in a slower tempo. During social night with my friends, I performed one of my study songs and had the whole group singing the chorus by the end of the night. I found a way to combine my passion for singing, writing and studying all in one. We all have different levels of creativity, and the mind proves that there are no limitations to what we can do when we put a little creativity in it.

35 and the mother of 7 school ages children. There were many nights I cried and stressed about the life I knew me and my children deserved. I have heard every polite insult that could be imagined. People have asked how will you do it with 7 kids? How will you work and pay for school? And then maybe you should just stay a CNA, you make an OK salary. I have been programmed to settle because of my situation as a single mom for so many years. My 8 year old had a school project, and the topic was "What I want to be when I grow up". I asked Kaitlyn this question, and she answered, but then she turned and asked the question to me. I was shocked because I had placed my dreams on the back burner for my children, and everyone had failed to ask me what I wanted to do. On that day, I decided to pursue my dreams, which I had once dreamt of becoming a registered nurse. I decided to do everything that people were trying to influence me not to do. I finished my pre reqs for the nursing program, and just recently got accepted into a nursing program. I did what I was told couldn't be done by a single mother, on welfare with 7 amazing children. I have already begun to create study groups for mothers in similar situations as my own. Many women don't have a sufficient support system when it comes to bettering themselves on an educational level and I inspire them to give them that support. I will help in this support in sharing my success story, along with the resources that helped me achieve my own goals. I have had to overcome the statistics of being a single parent to 7 beautiful children and pursuing a college education. I not only overcame this obstacle, but I excelled and proved the nay sayers wrong. I did this by working a full time job to provide for my children, all while studying for the many exams I would take in the past two years, and I don't plan to stop now.