Mental health is not an easy thing to understand or accept. I was in high school when a lot of students from other schools and some students from my school decided to take their lives. I remember feeling this sorrow throughout the school; everyone was quiet for a few days. I feel that mental health is not spoken about enough. Schools try to help those who are depressed but it always seems to fall through. In my opinion, school is where people become sad and overwhelmed. With so many classes and people it's the same thing every day. There is nothing to look forward to if you are not on a sports team or a part of the musical. I deal with mental health issues, depression, anxiety, starvation, and ADHD, which affect my everyday life. Sometimes my anxiety gets bad to where I shake and go silent and not talk to anyone. I want to get better for myself, but it is tough. Things that help me are coloring and reading. It is very hard to focus on anything and by the end of the day I have a raging headache. I recently noticed I binge eat and sometimes I don't eat at all...I don't eat because I want to be skinny and look like those girls on Instagram and TikTok. I know this is not a good thing or a healthy thing to do. I am working on eating more every day and I think I am improving. I feel I deserve this scholarship because I want to spread mental health awareness. I am pursuing my Nursing career and returning to school to be a registered nurse. With this degree, I want to work in a mental health institute and help those most need it. Mental health has always fascinated me, and I love learning about it. I think working with those who suffer from mental health would benefit me as a person to have a greater understanding of how this affects a person. As well as helping those who experience suicidal ideations, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and many more mental health issues. I love helping people and I would love to help those who deal with mental health barriers. Currently, I work as an LPN in a medical office for those diagnosed with gynecological cancers. Our patients deal with depression and anxiety daily considering their diagnosis. As a nurse, I listen to their concerns and talk to them about things that they could try to do to improve their mood and lessen their anxiety. Sometimes all they need is a hug it reassures them and lets them know that someone is thinking and praying for them.

Hmm, I don't even know where to start, all of the Strangers Things characters are amazing, and they all have their quirks. Honestly, I would start with the obvious of course I would need to have Eleven on my side. She can go to the realm and find people through her mind, and she can move any object which is so creative. With her on my side, I would never lose against a new supernatural threat/event. I would also need to have Dustin on my team to keep the energy up and to crack some jokes. He has a great sense of humor and that is always needed. It can't be boring and miserable all the time it would get sad very fast. Dustin is also very smart, so we have brains and power. Now all I need is the looks which is why my third person would be Steve. He is very attractive and Dustin's best friend so why not? Steve is also pretty smart, and he cares a lot about his friends he would do anything for them. They all would. Well, that is 3 people that I would pick if I had to face a new supernatural threat. I know it might not be the smartest choice and that there are so many better characters to pick however I believe that these 3 characters would be the best choice for me, and I think we would beat that new threat.

I have had the Guts album on repeat since it came out. As well as her other album Sour. Both of these albums have given me an outlet for my emotions and have helped me grieve my teenage years. A lyric from her GUTS album that resonates with me is from the song Teenage Dream with the lyric of "got your whole life ahead of you, you're only nineteen, but I fear that they already got all of the best parts of me." These lines resemble me and my life perfectly. I am only 21 and I feel like my life is already over and I already know what my future is going to look like. Right after high school, I went to trade school for my LPN, and I finished that within 9 months. Since then, I have been working full-time and am about to start school again for my RN. People my age are still in school at a university and partying every night. That's the life and the path a part of me wishes I took. I would be having so much fun and that's all life is about. Enjoying your 20's however here I am already working full time and engaged and attempting to buy a house right now. These lyrics mean that I have my whole life ahead of me, but I'm honestly already burnt out with all the schooling I have already done and now I am going back again. I fear that my teenage years were the best years of my life and even then, I did not do anything other than study and extracurriculars that weren't even fun to me anymore. I have worked so hard for the degree that I have but with all the studying I feel like I didn't have a life and now I feel like it is over because I am looking for my first house, working a full-time job, getting married, and going back to school. Olivia's whole career has been working as well as making music and acting since she was 16 or 17 and now, she is 21 and famous. I bet she is tired too and I feel like she could relate to how I feel. Everything we get out of life is from work whether that be working or schooling. Even though these lyrics relate to me perfectly I feel they say that life is too short not to have fun. I wouldn't change my decisions.

I Have chosen to pursue a career in healthcare because I want to make a difference in the world and the nursing field. I am currently an LPN and I love it I get to care for those who are diagnosed with cancer. I get to be an advocate for them and to sit by their bedside and hold their hand for when times get rough, and they have no family to care for them. I am going back to school for my RN so I can expand my knowledge and experience. I eventually want to work in labor and delivery however there are so many opportunities for those who work in healthcare not even just RNs. My mother and grandmother work in health care as well they are occupational therapists. When I was little, I would go to work with my mom and spend the day with the residents and I think seeing the nurses running around on the floor, giving the residents medications, and caring for them made me want to be just like them. I love learning and, in the healthcare field, there is always something to be learned. I want to make a difference in the world. You always hear the negative stuff about nurses like negligence, neglect, abuse, and malpractice. I want to be a good nurse and give my 100%-time, energy, and effort to patients. As a woman, I hope to make a positive impact in the nursing field by keeping up with my knowledge, double-checking everything before I do something, and documenting everything I do. I want to save those who say they have no chance of improving. Most of the nursing/healthcare population is women and that speaks volumes. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of male nurses and men who work in the healthcare field as well however women are more caring, selfless, and give off a motherly feeling to those who need care for. Being a mother can be compared to being a female nurse because they are nurturing and care for everyone. However, that is just my opinion, and everyone has a right to their own opinion. Nurses are the strongest people I know, and they are my heroes they can't save everyone, but they can and do give care and compassion to patients while they take their last breath. I might not be able to cure cancer or Alzheimer's but I can take care of them, respect their wishes, and keep them comfortable.

Experiencing the birth of a child is eye opening and a blessing. This is why I want to expand my knowledge and become a labor and delivery nurse. My name is Madelyn, and I am 21 years old. I am looking to continue my education and become the best nurse that I can. As a child I always liked to play "doctor" with my little fake stethoscope and pretending to save my friends lives. As I grew up my goal has not changed, I still want to help people and be an advocate for my patients and their families. Throughout high school I was a part of a career and technical program dedicated to nursing. By my senior year I passed my skills/paper test and received my STNA license, shortly after I got a job working with those diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia. I learned a lot by caring for the residents. I was their voice and their family member when no one came to visit and for that I am grateful. In 2022 I attended Portage Lakes career center enrolled in a 9-month accelerated program and received my LPN license. Since then, I have been working at a medical office for those diagnosed with gynecological cancers. Originally, I wanted to work in a NICU and be there for those little babies who are fighting for their life, but after consideration I felt as if I am not yet strong enough mentally and emotionally. I am very hopeful that gaining more experience and completing my RN will help me gain confidence to pursue my career as a NICU nurse. For now, after I complete my RN, I want to become a labor and delivery nurse. Pediatric nursing to me is described as helping save those who will grow up and help improve the world. As for the families of these infants I want to be the one who holds their hand, stays calm at the bedside, and give those families a peace of mind knowing they have the best nurse to care for their child. Due to the pandemic, there is a nursing shortage across the U.S, and it is very scary. Imagining no more hospitals, no more nurses or doctors to help those who are critically sick or have a chronic condition. However I believe the nurse community will grow, and I want to be a part of that. One thing I love about nursing is that the opportunities are endless, there are so many jobs and specialties I wish I could try them all, but the future is unknown. I am looking forward to continuing my education and moving towards my goal of becoming a labor and delivery nurse and hopefully a pediatric nurse working in the NUCI.