Growing up, I learned early that challenges can shape a person just as much as achievements. I am Madison Giesta, a senior at Arlington Catholic High School with a 4.37 GPA. Throughout high school I have worked to balance academics, athletics, leadership, and service. Whether in the classroom, on the court, or through volunteering, each experience has helped me grow into a determined and compassionate person who is excited to pursue a future in healthcare. Academically, I have challenged myself through honors and AP courses while remaining deeply involved in extracurricular activities. Outside of school, I completed more than 100 hours of community service, worked for three summers as a camp counselor with the Medford Summer Fun Program, served as a peer tutor and retreat leader, and participated in the Health Professions Club at AC. I have always been drawn to healthcare because I want to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives, especially during difficult moments when compassion matters most. My interest in nursing comes from both personal experiences and the example set by healthcare professionals who cared for me. As an infant, I was quarantined in Boston Children’s Hospital at two weeks old with a suspected case of MRSA. Luckily, after a three week stay, the doctor discovered I had a less severe type of staph infection. As a toddler, I developed nursemaid’s elbow, which required many trips to the ER to have my elbow reset. As a pre-teen and teen, I dealt with many sports related injuries, including sprained ankles, dislocated shoulders, fractured fingers, knee issues and occasionally, needing stitches. What stood out most was not the treatment, but the kindness of the nurses. They made stressful situations feel less frightening. Those experiences inspired me to pursue pediatric nursing with the goal of eventually becoming a pediatric CRNA. Pursuing education after high school is important to me because it is the path that will allow me to turn my passion for helping others into a career. Nursing school will provide me with the knowledge and clinical experience necessary to advocate for patients and provide compassionate care, the same type of care I have been lucky to receive. Sports have also had a major impact on my journey. As a four-year varsity athlete in volleyball and basketball, along with varsity track and lacrosse, I learned discipline, perseverance, and teamwork. Athletics pushed me outside my comfort zone, especially when I became captain of my basketball team. Naturally, I am a quiet person, so learning how to lead and speak up for my teammates was challenging at first. Over time, I gained confidence and became the leader my team needed. Serving as point guard during my junior and senior years taught me how to stay calm under pressure and lead by example. My coach called me the “Calm Captain,” but I lead our team and league in taking the most charges in a season. Winning the annual Reading Tournament after years of falling short and earning MVP recognition for that tournament showed me the value of hard work. At this time, I am excited to continue my education at Saint Anselm College, pursue a career in nursing, and make a positive impact on the lives of others.

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines acne as “a disorder of the skin marked by blemishes.” I hate that definition. It sounds so clinical and detached. It does not capture avoiding mirrors, turning off the bathroom light just to brush your teeth, or wondering if the first thing people notice about you is your skin. For a long time, acne felt like the only thing people could see. Every pimple and scar made me feel unworthy, and I let something I could not control take over my confidence. I tried everything to fix it. I changed my diet, bought every product that promised clear skin, and searched constantly for something that would make me feel comfortable in my own skin. Everything changed during one doctor’s visit. As a last effort, I was offered Accutane, which required blood work. During the blood draw, my vein collapsed and I passed out. When I woke up and passed out again, I realized something I had never let myself admit. Clear skin was not worth that kind of pain. I had been so focused on fixing how I looked that I was neglecting who I was. That moment changed me. I started with small steps. I looked in the mirror again. I showed up without makeup. I slowly allowed myself to be seen. Over time, I began to appreciate myself for more than my appearance. My acne did not disappear entirely, but it stopped defining me. What once felt like a flaw became a lesson in humility and empathy. This experience changed how I see others too. I realized everyone is carrying something, whether visible or not. Because of that, I listen more, judge less, and try to see people for their character rather than their appearance. That empathy is what led me to nursing. My own experiences as a patient also shaped that path. As a baby, I spent weeks quarantining in the hospital with my mom due to a serious staph infection scare. As a child, I made repeated hospital visits for nursemaid’s elbow. Later, as a three-season varsity athlete, injuries brought me back into medical settings again and again. What I remember most is not the injuries, but the nurses. I still remember the nurse who gave me a lollipop after resetting my elbow, and another who shared her story about balancing athletics and medicine. They showed me healthcare is not only about treating a condition. It is about caring for a person. When I think about my future, I see myself dedicating my life to pediatric healthcare. I plan to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, become a Registered Nurse, and gain experience in a pediatric intensive care unit before pursuing a Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia. My ultimate goal is to become a pediatric CRNA in the Boston area, providing safe anesthesia care to children during surgery and medical procedures. I am motivated by the responsibility and trust placed in CRNAs and am fully committed to the years of education and hard work required to reach this goal. I hope to impact others by offering the same empathy and kindness that once changed me. Whether it is comforting a nervous child or simply listening, I want people to feel seen beyond their condition. I may not be able to change everything, but I can change how someone feels in a difficult moment. That is the kind of impact I hope to make every day.

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines acne as “a disorder of the skin marked by blemishes.” I hate that definition. It sounds so clinical and detached. It does not capture avoiding mirrors, turning off the bathroom light just to brush your teeth, or wondering if the first thing people notice about you is your skin. For a long time, acne felt like the only thing people could see. Every pimple and scar made me feel unworthy, and I let something I could not control take over my confidence. I tried everything to fix it. I changed my diet, bought every product that promised clear skin, and searched constantly for something that would make me feel comfortable in my own skin. Everything changed during one doctor’s visit. As a last effort, I was offered Accutane, which required blood work. During the blood draw, my vein collapsed and I passed out. When I woke up and passed out again, I realized something I had never let myself admit. Clear skin was not worth that kind of pain. I had been so focused on fixing how I looked that I was neglecting who I was. That moment changed me. I started with small steps. I looked in the mirror again. I showed up without makeup. I slowly allowed myself to be seen. Over time, I began to appreciate myself for more than my appearance. My acne did not disappear entirely, but it stopped defining me. What once felt like a flaw became a lesson in humility and empathy. This experience changed how I see others too. I realized everyone is carrying something, whether visible or not. Because of that, I listen more, judge less, and try to see people for their character rather than their appearance. That empathy is what led me to nursing. My own experiences as a patient also shaped that path. As a baby, I spent weeks quarantining in the hospital with my mom due to a serious staph infection scare. As a child, I made repeated hospital visits for nursemaid’s elbow. Later, as a three-season varsity athlete, injuries brought me back into medical settings again and again. What I remember most is not the injuries, but the nurses. I still remember the nurse who gave me a lollipop after resetting my elbow, and another who shared her story about balancing athletics and medicine. They showed me healthcare is not only about treating a condition. It is about caring for a person. Those experiences inspired me to pursue pediatric nursing, with the goal of becoming a pediatric CRNA. I want to be the person who brings calm in stressful moments and helps patients feel safe and understood. I hope to impact others by offering the same empathy and kindness that once changed me. Whether it is comforting a nervous child or simply listening, I want people to feel seen beyond their condition. I may not be able to change everything, but I can change how someone feels in a difficult moment. That is the kind of impact I hope to make every day.

When I think about my future, I see myself dedicating my life to pediatric healthcare. I plan to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, become a Registered Nurse, and gain experience in a pediatric intensive care unit before pursuing a Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia. My ultimate goal is to become a pediatric CRNA in the Boston area, providing safe anesthesia care to children during surgery and medical procedures. I am motivated by the responsibility and trust placed in CRNAs and am fully committed to the years of education and hard work required to reach this goal. I’ve always been drawn to a career in healthcare. When I was just two weeks old, I was quarantined at Children’s Hospital with my mom for three weeks. I spent more time in a hospital room, than I was alive at that time. The doctors suspected MRSA, but luckily, it turned out to be a less serious type of staph infection. As I grew older, I developed nursemaid’s elbow, where my elbow would dislocate just by playing. I was only a few years old, so I really couldn't communicate what was happening, but knew I would need a trip to the hospital to fix it. Then came sports. Between sprained ankles, dislocated shoulders, multiple stitches, knee issues and a few sprained fingers, I learned the ins- and – outs of the hospital. I was fortunate to have great nurses and doctors treating me, which made me realize that someday I wanted to be one of them. I wanted to be just like the nurse who gave me a lollipop when she reset my elbow or the one who talked about playing basketball at a D2 college even though she could have played D1, because she wanted to focus on studying medicine. These women in my community stood out. They were amazing humans giving their time and expertise to help others. And I want to be just like them! Because this path is both difficult and expensive, financial support would make a meaningful difference in my journey. I am not simply pursuing a career, but a journey of caring for children during their most vulnerable and difficult moments. A scholarship would help the burden of tuition costs and allow me to focus wholeheartedly on my studies and clinical preparation. With scholarship support, I will continue working diligently toward becoming a skilled and compassionate provider who will make a lasting impact on the children and families I help in my community.

I am proud of my academic success at Arlington Catholic High School, especially while balancing a demanding schedule both inside and outside of the classroom. In my four years at AC, I have maintained a cumulative GPA of 4.3682 while challenging myself with 19 AP and Honors classes. I am also a three-season varsity athlete, including captain of two sports, which has taught me how to manage my time and stay disciplined with classes, homework, practices and games. From freshman year to senior year, I have earned Honor Roll every semester, and I have scored a 3 or higher on all of my AP exams. These accomplishments reflect my commitment to myself. I always want to do my best. Receiving the University of Rochester Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award during my junior year, was a moment that reminded me that my hard work is being recognized. Beyond academics, I also take pride in being a leader within my school community. I have been selected as a retreat leader for younger classes, where I create a supportive environment for underclassmen. I am also a peer tutor, assisting other students who are struggling in specific classes. These experiences are rewarding as they have allowed me to make a positive impact on others. In addition, I have represented Arlington Catholic at multiple open houses, where I speak with prospective students and their families about my experience. I have also been chosen to have students shadow me for a day, giving them a real look into what life at Arlington Catholic is like. Knowing that I may have helped someone decide to attend my school is something I take a lot of pride in. Giving back to my community has been equally important to me, especially my time spent with the Saint Francis Girls Basketball program. I volunteered to run the shot clock during games and helped with skills and drills sessions. This program is especially important to me because it is the same one I grew up playing in. Having Coach Steve as a coach for so many years gave me the confidence to play basketball. I earned a spot on my high school varsity basketball team as freshman thanks to his support. I have also volunteered at Mary Queen of Peace Parish, where I assisted with First Communion retreats and helped at various parish events by setting up and serving food. These experiences have allowed me to connect with my community in a different way and be part of meaningful moments for younger students, families and seniors. My achievements in school are not just grades, sports accolades or awards. I am proud of who I am. I am dedicated, have a strong work ethic, and enjoy being involved with my school community. As I look toward college and my future as a nurse, I plan to continue making a difference and leaving a legacy for my younger sister, my parents, my teammates and the kids I mentor.