Growing up I always had a love for science. I didn't know what I was doing with my little microscope or vial kit, but I sure had fun exploring and experimenting! My first book as well was this massive, gigantic anatomy book from Barnes and Noble that I just begged my mother for. And like a pig and a carrot stick, I was hooked. I didn't really know for sure that I wanted to become a nurse until I was put in the path of struggle. Until covid hit and I began to lose myself as well as my family relationships. The years 2020-2022 were pretty tough. I was 16 and working full time while managing a household and taking care of my infant brother. All while balancing my sophomore year of high school and helping my then senior sister graduate. I lost myself to the work and responsibility load, and it wasn't until I left that house did I find my spark and passion for all things science and nursing. Being in an abusive household up until a few months ago, I had to find things to keep my mind off of those negative thoughts. My anatomy and physiology class was just that. I had so much fun learning about the human body, functions, and most of all hands-on learning through dissection and labs. I found myself again through enjoying what I loved to do; and that was to learn. So with the encouragement of my great grandmother, I applied and got accepted! I hope to achieve many things throughout my long career as a nurse. I hope to heal others, bring joy and inspire others. Through reading the excerpt about Cindy, I have seen she was passionate, hardworking, and empathetic toward others and not just in her nursing career. I aspire to be just like Cindy. I want to show my passion and love for what I do each and every day. In order to do this, I need to show up every day with my best foot forward. And not let negativity bring me down. To show passion and excellence in what I do. This scholarship would help so much to get me through nursing school, I am paying for nursing school on my own but I am determined to make it through and get my registered nursing license. Then someday I'll be just like Cindy, and I can pave a new path in the field of nursing.

Sometimes it takes losing things to realize how lucky we are. I now thank God everyday for everything he has given me. I was kicked out of my home, and I moved in with my grandma. My mom took my car, my money and my hope. It was for the best, and I am now in better, safer conditions, but it was hard to be appreciative of my situation. It was hard to look at what I had left and be grateful for it. One day I woke up and I realized I was lucky. I was able to move in with my two grandmas who love me. They make sure I am okay and healthy. I am graduating early, I got into my dream nursing school, and I have a job doing what I love. As repayance, I take care of my grandmas, work hard at school and my job and thank God everyday for the blessings I was given. Because of this, I try to give back as much as I can because I am so grateful. I don't take for granted my life, and I appreciate the things I have no matter how small.

Growing up I have learned a lot about what it takes to make it in the world. It takes fearlessness, determination, intelligence and a drive for what is good. My name is Lydia Budreau and I am 17 years old. I raised my little brother, paid my way through high school and I have the drive to make a positive impact on the world. In december my mom kicked me out, and I had to move in with my grandma. I had to take on a lot of bills and responsibility, working full time on top of my senior year of high school. Graduating early, I have been involved with the gifted and enrichment program for 6 years. I have marched the flute and tuba in marching band for four years and I was the low brass section leader for one year. To make a long story short, life has been difficult. But instead of letting my circumstances break me I am using these experiences to push through life and make the world even a little bit better for my brother, my people and the future generation. In February I was accepted into the UPMC Jameson School of Nursing. I learned how much work it takes to be a nurse, so I decided to become a Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA) to prepare myself. It is just a few people, a few lives, but those few lives make a big difference. I put my all into my patients well-being. I make sure they are happy and very healthy. And when they are happy and healthy, their families are at ease and that is one of the best things, seeing a worried family finally have peace of mind. I plan to make a positive impact through nursing. I will do this through emergency care, speaking out, volunteering and advocating. I will help anyone who needs me, not just physically but mentally. By being kind to people that are hurting. We need more nurses in emergency care, in nursing in general. With the corona virus pandemic we have seen less health advocates going to schools and speaking out to children. I hope to be able to speak to people not just on health, but on being kind. I want to inspire people to be the best they can be. To have a positive impact on this world before I leave. I will do what it takes to be there for people and save as many as I can.

Ever since I was a young kid I have been interested in the medical field. Now, I did not know what I was going to do in it. Was I going to be a scientist? A doctor? A surgeon? We have seen that in light of the pandemic, nurses have burned out. We are on a low supply of nurses and Certified Nurses Assistants as well. Seeing this issue sparked a passion in me. I am going to be a nurse. Not only am I going to be a nurse but I will try my hardest to change the path nursing has turned into. I want to help every body that I possibly can. I plan to go to UPMC Jameson School of Nursing in August, and obtain my Registered Nursing Degree in the next two years. Being able to pay for nursing school would be a dream come true, so I can focus on school and not my fees and bills. I will work hard for success, and be the best in healthcare that I can be.

I have grown up in family conditions that are not favorable. Because of this, I have struggled with severe depression and regular suicidal thoughts. When bringing these issues up to my mother, they were dismissed because "depression is not real". It was then I realized that mental health in today's day and age is still so stigmatized because of the past generations. Mental health issues such as suicide, depression and bipolar disorder were not talked lightly of even in the 20th century. This means that our mothers, fathers, grandmas and grandpas will likely not take these issues seriously. Having realized that some of my family will not take my mental health seriously struck a nerve. It made me feel as if I was faking it. But why would I fake something that pained me every waking moment of every day? Pushing that depression down and pretending to be happy made me lash out. I was angry at friends, family, my boyfriend even, because I was in so much pain and I wished they could just read my mind and help me without me seeking for help or attention. I know so many people struggle with those feelings. But it is so hard to find help. We are a lucky enough to have many readily available excellent mental health professionals. The problem, especially for minors, is getting the option of going to therapy or even talking about what is hurting us. It is not the mental health professionals fault. It is the fault of stigmas. The mental health stigma surrounding depression. That stigma prevents our parents from getting us help. "What will people think?" "Stop being so dramatic." "It will pass, it is temporary" My mental health affected my life choices, especially my college path. I went back and forth trying to decide what I should do. "What if I can't do that good enough?" "I'm too stupid for that." "I'm not good enough to do that, don't even try." So I took some time for myself. I prayed. I cried to God asking him for help with the pain. I'm not saying that God took away my depression, because he did not. Therapists and professional help is the best route. But what I'm saying, is that having a belief, something to hope for and believe in did help ease some of the pain. That time, and practice of faith did help me decide what I will do with my life. So I signed up for my TEAS test. I studied, went in and passed. I am now accepted, and enrolled, into UPMC Jameson school of Nursing. My goal is to take this opportunity and become a nurse. I want to be in the healthcare field and assist people the way I was never helped. While helping them physically, I want to help them mentally. I aim to be supportive, kind and comforting. Bringing back what I said at the beginning about stigmas surrounding mental health, I will someday assist in the movement of destigmatizing mental health, and get people the help they need. Thank you for your consideration.

Some events in life take time for you to be able to look back and laugh about them. In the moment they may not be funny, but after you have grown you can smile. My story begins in 8th grade. It was my very first forensic competition. Now, you may be asking, "What's forensics?" Well, it is an academic game. It does not actually involve science. It is a public speaking competition. Oh my, did I public speak. My chosen event in forensics goes like this: 1. You choose a random article from a table (you do not choose what it is about) 2. You get 15 minutes to write a humongous essay. 3. You present that essay entirely memorized in front of an audience of people your age. 4. You are judged based on everything; how you stand, how you talk, if you stutter, if you breathe for pete's sake. Now, that sounds fun right? Oh boy, was it fun. My article was about bees. Yes...bees! I cannot tell you for the life of me what on earth that article was about, but I can tell you that I did not include that article in my speech. I got up there, hands shaking. My legs were like jello. My arms were not arms, but pool noodles. I get up to that podium and look out to the crowd, and I spoke. "So, we've all heard of bees, right?" I asked the crowd. And from there my fate was set. I talked about how bees were scary, they were yellow, and they buzzed. Oh, and we can not forget my inclusion of the beloved "Bee Movie". The classic movie about bee rights, bees loving humans, and bees running the honey industry in the human world. You bet I protested for those bee rights. Those bees had my full support! I was so scared I rambled on for so long about bees. It was no where near close to the very professional article I was to base my speech off of. Quite, quite different. Back then, I was mortified. I was upset when I didn't win any awards. But It was fun. People enjoyed it. Now that I am older it is just a funny story to tell. And hey, why not support the bees.

I have grown up in family conditions that are not favorable. Because of this, I have struggled with severe depression and regular suicidal thoughts. When bringing these issues up to my mother, they were dismissed because "depression is not real". It was then I realized that mental health in today's day and age is still so stigmatized because of the past generations. Mental health issues such as suicide, depression and bipolar disorder were not talked lightly of even in the 20th century. This means that our mothers, fathers, grandmas and grandpas will likely not take these issues seriously. Having realized that some of my family will not take my mental health seriously struck a nerve. It made me feel as if I was faking it. But why would I fake something that pained me every waking moment of every day? Pushing that depression down and pretending to be happy made me lash out. I was angry at friends, family, my boyfriend even, because I was in so much pain and I wished they could just read my mind and help me without me seeking for help or attention. I know so many people struggle with those feelings. My mental health affected my life choices, especially my college path. I went back and forth trying to decide what I should do. "What if I can't do that good enough?" "I'm too stupid for that." "I'm not good enough to do that, don't even try." So I took some time for myself. I prayed. I cried to God asking him for help with the pain. I'm not saying that God took away my depression, because he did not. Therapists and professional help is the best route. But what I'm saying, is that having a belief, something to hope for and believe in did help ease some of the pain. That time, and practice of faith did help me decide what I will do with my life. So I signed up for my TEAS test. I studied, went in and passed. I am now accepted, and enrolled, into UPMC Jameson school of Nursing. My goal is to take this opportunity and become a nurse. I want to be in the healthcare field and assist people the way I was never helped. While helping them physically, I want to help them mentally. I aim to be supportive, kind and comforting. Thank you for your consideration.

When the pandemic began, I was bored out of my mind. What do you do when you're stuck at home. All. Day. Every. Day? You find different hobbies, activities, games, etc. You sit on your phone for hours on end, or you binge your favorite TV show until "Oh no!" your series ended. I was in that exact situation. I was wrecking my body working out every single day because I was so extremely bored. I scrolled through social media making myself feel even worse. I was texting my grandma, and she was telling me all about her day. She was showing me pictures of the blankets she was crocheting. Thus began the infatuation with a hook and yarn. I blew up her phone with questions about crocheting. "How are you doing that?!" "What are you using??" "How do I do that?". I scrounged up some money and ran myself to the nearest walmart super center. The yarn aisle was gigantic. I was so overwhelmed by the different colors and hooks and sizes and buttons. So I started small. I began single crocheting a "blanket", I use quotes because it was not very good. A beginners crooked square. But I was determined. I was going to make those amazing stuffed animals and blankets and clothes everyone was making. Today, I have finished hats, scarves, that famous Harry Styles cardigan. I make stuffed animals for my loved ones, and blankets for new borns. My current project is making a variety of winter hats for the Rescue Mission in my town so those people have something warm to wear. I joke and make light of my discovery of crocheting. But in all reality, it pulled me out of a dark depression. I had the ability to now give back to people, whether it was silly gifts or something they could really use, it helped my mental health. Now, I'm not saying everybody needs to splurge on yarn and hooks, but I do believe everyone needs a hobby, it's something I'm passionate about, and something I continue to love.

I am currently a high-school senior and I graduate in 3 months. I was home schooled until 3rd grade, and my favorite after school activity was going to a bookstore. I remember being 5, and walking around the store. I got lost from my mom and somehow wandered into the science section. There was a gigantic book with a body on it. Half was covered in muscle, and the other was the skeleton. My mother found me a small time later, absolutely engrossed by this book. That fascination carried on throughout the years. I find myself, now, 13 years later still fascinated by the human body. My strange infatuation, though, is not the only reason I choose to take the difficult path of nursing. I chose this path because of certain life circumstances. In 2020, we all remember the corona virus. "Oh boy, 2 weeks vacation!" we all said this, not expecting the outcome we received. A few months into covid I turned 16. I was absolutely bored and had no money. So, I got my workers permit! Now to find a job... I applied at a nursing home. Because my mother made me. I dreaded it. Cleaning up people? Wiping body fluids? At first I was so grossed out, but a couple months in and covid got even worse. The cases here in New Castle, Pa were skyrocketing. So i worked full time. I was there sun up to sundown taking care of my residents, keeping them company. Seeing all of the nurses stay so strong was so awe inspiring. They were working double after double, taking care of the passed, comforting families. Things that would make any person give up, cry or scream, those nurses took it in stride. They kept a smile on their face. Stayed up during their shift. Never said one mean thing (though, I'm sure they definitely wanted to.) Nobody is perfect. I know even those nurses aren't. But they're strong. They help people even when they need help the most. They are a shoulder to cry on. A boulder in times of trouble. They remind me of my great grandma. She was a nurse until she was well into her 80s. And when she couldn't nurse, she taught. She cared for her patients like they were her own children. That is why I am pursing this career. I was accepted into Jameson UPMC school of nursing, and I plan to help people they way I was so inspired during this pandemic.

Covid started in 2020, and being stuck at home I was bored, I wanted to do more. So I began working at the haven nursing home. Being the peak of the corona virus, I worked 6 days a week helping my residents. I cleaned them, worked with dementia, mopped the floors and caught the aides up on any work they were backed up on. Two years later, I'm still at the nursing home and I love it. I love helping my residents everyday. Seeing them strive and feel happy and healthy makes my day just that much better. At school I tutor people in chemistry and geometry. I knew they were in trouble and I felt so bad for them. So everyday during 6th period, we sit down and study. His grades improved so much and he's still working hard. the pay is not the most important aspect to helping these people. Seeing them happy and healthy is the best pay for me.