Since I was a little kid in Lima, Peru, I grew up hearing heroic stories from my grandfather talking about his times in conflict during the era of terrorism. I reflect on how he treated other soldiers as a sort of nurse while in the jungle and surrounded by precarious conditions. I always thought those stories were fascinating and I always wanted to be like him since I didn’t have a father figure. He taught me many values such as responsibility, kindness, and caring for others. This led me to an early stage of my life to consider a career in science. Initially, I wasn’t sure what my path in that field would be, maybe biologist, chemist, veterinarian, or doctor. But after long research, I found nursing, a career that allowed me to do what I wanted: to help people. Nurses are the backbone of healthcare in any hospital around the world. I studied 2 years of nursing back in my home country where I learned first-hand what is to be a nurse in a third-world country, with many injustices, negligence, and a less educated population regarding their health. Unfortunately, during the COVID pandemic, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, and I had to stop studying to take care of her. I experienced injustices, negligence, and back healthcare settings in my own country. I found that hospitals and healthcare workers in Peru weren’t as prepared as I thought, many nurses were not nice to my mom and me, even though we were going through a bad situation. The sum of all these series of events reinforced my desire to become a good nurse and maybe in the future achieve my dreams as a great nurse. After those unfortunate situations, I felt I had to make a change, and I started looking for a place where I could study what I always wanted, become a nurse with a desire to change, offering to patients what my mother could never receive. I found the opportunity to come to America as an International Student and achieve my dream. As a future nurse, I consider patients and families deserve a holistic and caring approach, approaching them with empathy and understanding, and advocating for them since they could be going through a challenging situation. My goal is to become an oncology nurse since I spent considerable time in oncology hospitals talking to patients and finding what I love to do. As an international student from Lima, Peru, I see the U.S. as a diverse country that brings together people from various cultures. In nursing, this diversity requires cultural competence, which allows us to treat illnesses and understand and respect each patient's unique background. My own experiences inspire me to provide compassionate care, especially for those who may feel like they don’t belong. I believe accepting diversity in healthcare fosters a more inclusive, empathetic, and effective environment for all patients.

Since I was a little kid in Lima, Peru, I grew up hearing heroic stories from my grandfather talking about his times in conflict during the era of terrorism. I reflect on how he treated other soldiers as a sort of nurse while in the jungle and surrounded by precarious conditions. I always thought those stories were fascinating and I always wanted to be like him since I didn’t have a father figure. He taught me many values such as responsibility, kindness, and caring for others. This led me to an early stage of my life to consider a career in science. Initially, I wasn’t sure what my path in that field would be, maybe biologist, chemist, veterinarian, or doctor. But after long research, I found nursing, a career that allowed me to do what I wanted: to help people. Nurses are the backbone of healthcare and any hospital around the world. I studied 2 years of nursing back in my home country where I learned first-hand what is to be a nurse in a third-world country, with many injustices, negligence, and a less educated population regarding their health. Unfortunately, during the COVID pandemic, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, and I had to stop studying to take care of her. I experienced injustices, negligence, and back healthcare settings in my own country. I found that hospitals and healthcare workers in Peru weren’t as prepared as I thought, many nurses were not nice to my mom and me, even though we were going through a bad situation. The sum of all these series of events reinforced my desire to become a good nurse and maybe in the future achieve my dreams as a great nurse. After those unfortunate situations, I felt I had to make a change, and I started looking for a place where I could study what I always wanted, become a nurse with a desire to change, offering to patients what my mother could never receive. I found the opportunity to come to America as an International Student and achieve my dream. As a future nurse, I consider patients and families deserve a holistic and caring approach, approaching them with empathy and understanding, and advocating for them since they could be going through a challenging situation. My goal is to become an oncology nurse since I spent considerable time in oncology hospitals talking to patients and finding what I love to do. As an international student from Lima, Peru, I see the U.S. as a diverse country that brings together people from various cultures. In nursing, this diversity needs cultural competence, allowing us to not only treat illnesses but also to understand and respect the unique backgrounds of each patient. My own experiences inspire me to provide compassionate care, especially for those who may feel like they don’t belong. I believe accepting diversity in healthcare fosters a more inclusive, empathetic, and effective environment for all patients.

Since I was a little kid in Lima, Peru, I grew up hearing heroic stories from my grandfather talking about his times in conflict during the era of terrorism. I reflect on how he treated other soldiers as a sort of nurse while in the jungle and surrounded by precarious conditions. I always thought those stories were fascinating and I always wanted to be like him since I didn’t have a father figure. He taught me many values such as responsibility, kindness, and caring for others. This led me to an early stage of my life to consider a career in science. Initially, I wasn’t sure what my path in that field would be, maybe biologist, chemist, veterinarian, or doctor. But after long research, I found nursing, a career that allowed me to do what I wanted: to help people. Nurses are the backbone of healthcare and any hospital around the world. I studied 2 years of nursing back in my home country where I learned first-hand what is to be a nurse in a third-world country, with many injustices, negligence, and a less educated population regarding their health. Unfortunately, during the COVID pandemic, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, and I had to stop studying to take care of her. I experienced injustices, negligence, and back healthcare settings in my own country. I found that hospitals and healthcare workers in Peru weren’t as prepared as I thought, many nurses were not nice to my mom and me, even though we were going through a bad situation. The sum of all these series of events reinforced my desire to become a good nurse and maybe in the future achieve my dreams as a great nurse. After those unfortunate situations, I felt I had to make a change, and I started looking for a place where I could study what I always wanted, become a nurse with a desire to change, offering to patients what my mother could never receive. I found the opportunity to come to America as an International Student and achieve my dream. As a future nurse, I consider patients and families deserve a holistic and caring approach, approaching them with empathy and understanding, and advocating for them since they could be going through a challenging situation. My goal is to become an oncology nurse since I spent considerable time in oncology hospitals talking to patients and finding what I love to do. As an international student from Lima, Peru, I see the U.S. as a diverse country that brings together people from various cultures. In nursing, this diversity needs cultural competence, allowing us to not only treat illnesses but also to understand and respect the unique backgrounds of each patient. My own experiences inspire me to provide compassionate care, especially for those who may feel like they don’t belong. I believe accepting diversity in healthcare fosters a more inclusive, empathetic, and effective environment for all patients.

My journey as a nursing student is just beginning, Im a junior 1 at Aurora University in Illinois, and an international student with many dreams and goals to achieve. As a foreign student from Lima, Peru, I am passionate about helping people and making a positive difference in their lives. My dream is to become an oncology nurse and use my skills to provide care and comfort to those who need it the most. I believe that every individual deserves the best possible care, regardless of background or circumstances. Since I was a little kid my life has always been filled with ups and downs but I consider it important to never stop smiling and share that positivity with others in need, such as my patients, who sometimes come to the hospital feeling vulnerable. I hope to inspire others to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact on the world around them. My biggest motivation in life is my mom, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Despite her illness, she is still working hard with my family to pay for my studies in the US. I am determined to work even harder to give her back all she has done for me and more. If I am fortunate enough to receive this scholarship, it will be a game-changer. It will allow me to focus on my classes and pursue my academic goals without the worry of financial stress. I am eager to become the best version of myself and make my mom proud every single day, step by step.

I’m an international student from Lima, Peru whose dream is to become an oncology nurse and help as many people as possible around the globe, creating a positive impact on them and promoting a healthy style of life. Through my experience at Elgin Community College as a foreign student, I had a lot of experiences that helped me grow as a person and in the professional setting. I had the opportunity to be part of multiple organizations and clubs such as Phi Theta Kappa, Honors Society, and United Students of All Cultures where I went through a lot of challenges such as organizing events and promoting multiple cultures, religions, and points of view on campus and the community in Elgin. Likewise, I attended events such as the National Collegiate Honors Council in Chicago or the Student Retreat for Student Leaders, where I learned and met incredible people who became lifelong friends. With all this experience I consider I am a better version of myself and Im looking forward to growing as a person. As a transfer student, my goal is to keep working hard to make a difference and impact the community, with a positive attitude and good people surrounding me. While looking for a university to transfer to, I found Aurora University, known for its great BSN program and one of the most respected in the region, by going further, I noticed that this university has one of the highest passing rates for the NCLEX exam, which is the National Council Licensure Examination for the licensing of nurses. On the other hand, I talked with Senior students at Aurora University, and they gave me good references about the nursing program and student life in general with more than 40 student organizations and events every single week. By connecting all these points, I decided the best decision was to apply to Aurora University and try my best to be accepted in such a competitive program between hundreds of competitive students looking for the same goal, to be accepted. Luckily, some months ago I received the news I was waiting for, I got accepted into the nursing program and I’m currently working on the transfer situation as an F-1 student. I consider this as an achievement since I am a foreign student who worked hard to get the grades and knowledge I was looking for. At this point, Im finishing my Associate in Science and in August 2024 I’m transferring to Aurora. I feel that with the unwavering support of my family and friends, I’m confident that I am capable of pursuing my lifelong aspiration of becoming an Oncology Nurse. I am committed to investing my time, energy, and resources in acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to become better in this field and contribute to the lives of people battling cancer. Likewise, I will keep working on my dream which is traveling around the world and making a difference in every person I meet with a kind and positive attitude, gaining different perspectives and broadening my horizons.

As a prospective nursing student and an international student, my main objective has always been to create a positive impact on people's health and well-being. An idea I consider could change our society and a possible game changer, is improving stethoscopes to analyze not only the basic heart and lung sounds but also to detect small abnormalities indicative of various medical conditions would be a great idea. Likewise making them wireless, making them more easy to carry. The ability to detect cardiovascular diseases or abnormalities, as well as other medical conditions, would be an excellent way of changing the world, as patients can take preventive measures and stay on top of their health. The development of such a technology would have a significant impact on the medical industry, as it would not only improve the accuracy of diagnoses but also help to curb the spread of diseases. Moreover, an addition to this could be incorporating artificial intelligence into these stethoscopes would provide an added advantage, allowing the equipment to learn and improve over time by exposing them to various situations. The application of AI in stethoscopes could drastically improve the accuracy of diagnoses by detecting abnormalities that may not be easily detectable by doctors. The integration of advanced technology into the medical industry is important, and the development of stethoscopes with enhanced features could significantly contribute to this objective. As a nursing student with a passion for innovation and creating a difference in my community and around the world, I am eager to see these advancements come to fruition and make a substantial impact on the health of people worldwide. As an international student from Lima, Peru, I am passionate about helping people and making a positive difference in their lives. My dream is to become an oncology nurse and use my skills to provide care and comfort to those who need it the most. I believe that every individual deserves the best possible care, regardless of their background or circumstances. With the help of the Equal Access I.M.S.A Scholarship, I can achieve my goals and fulfill my dream of making a difference in the world with kindness and a positive attitude. I am grateful for this opportunity, and I am determined to work hard and give back to the community. I hope to inspire others to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact on the world around them. My biggest motivation in life is my mom, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Despite her illness, she is still working hard with my family to pay for my studies in the US. I am determined to work even harder to give her back all that she has done for me and more. If I am fortunate enough to receive this scholarship, it will be a game-changer for me. It will allow me to focus on my classes and pursue my academic goals without the constant worry of financial stress. I am eager to become the best version of myself and make my mom proud every single day.

I’m an international student from Lima, Peru whose dream is to become an oncology nurse and help as many people as possible around the globe, creating a positive impact on them and promoting a healthy style of life. Through my experience at Elgin Community College as a foreign student, I had a lot of experiences that helped me grow as a person and in the professional setting. I had the opportunity to be part of multiple organizations and clubs such as Phi Theta Kappa, Honors Society, and United Students of All Cultures where I went through a lot of challenges such as organizing events and promoting multiple cultures, religions, and points of view on campus and the community in Elgin. Likewise, I attended events such as the National Collegiate Honors Council in Chicago or the Student Retreat for Student Leaders, where I learned and met incredible people who became lifelong friends. With all this experience I consider I am a better version of myself and Im looking forward to growing as a person, putting all my knowledge in the medical field. As a transfer student, my goal is to keep working hard to make a difference and impact the community, with a positive attitude and good people surrounding me. While looking for a university to transfer to, I found Aurora University, known for its great BSN program and one of the most respected in the region. As a future nurse, I'm inspired by my mom who was diagnosed with Cancer some years ago, even tho she is going through this difficult situation she has always supported me in all my decisions and pushed me to be a better person. With this scholarship, I would be able to focus more on my classes and not worry about the financial situation in my family. On the other hand, some months ago I received the news I was waiting for, I got accepted into the nursing program and I’m currently working on the transfer situation as an F-1 student. I consider this as an achievement since I am a foreign student who worked hard to get the grades and knowledge I was looking for. At this point, Im finishing my Associate in Science and in August 2024 I’m transferring to Aurora. I feel that with the unwavering support of my family and friends, I’m confident that I am capable of pursuing my lifelong aspiration of becoming an Oncology Nurse. I am committed to investing my time, energy, and resources in acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to become better in this field and contribute to the lives of people battling cancer. Likewise, I will keep working on my dream which is traveling around the world and making a difference in every person I meet with a kind and positive attitude, gaining different perspectives and broadening my horizons.

I’m an international student from Lima, Peru whose dream is to become an oncology nurse and help as many people as possible around the globe, creating a positive impact on them and promoting a healthy style of life. Through my experience at Elgin Community College as a foreign student, I had a lot of experiences that helped me grow as a person and in the professional setting. I had the opportunity to be part of multiple organizations and clubs such as Phi Theta Kappa, Honors Society, and United Students of All Cultures where I went through a lot of challenges such as organizing events and promoting multiple cultures, religions, and points of view on campus and the community in Elgin. Likewise, I attended events such as the National Collegiate Honors Council in Chicago or the Student Retreat for Student Leaders, where I learned and met incredible people who became lifelong friends. With all this experience I consider I am a better version of myself and Im looking forward to growing as a person. As a transfer student, my goal is to keep working hard to make a difference and impact the community, with a positive attitude and good people surrounding me. While looking for a university to transfer to, I found Aurora University, known for its great BSN program and one of the most respected in the region, by going further, I noticed that this university has one of the highest passing rates for the NCLEX exam, which is the National Council Licensure Examination for the licensing of nurses. On the other hand, I talked with Senior students at Aurora University, and they gave me good references about the nursing program and student life in general with more than 40 student organizations and events every single week. By connecting all these points, I decided the best decision was to apply to Aurora University and try my best to be accepted in such a competitive program between hundreds of competitive students looking for the same goal, to be accepted. Luckily, some months ago I received the news I was waiting for, I got accepted into the nursing program and I’m currently working on the transfer situation as an F-1 student. I consider this as an achievement since I am a foreign student who worked hard to get the grades and knowledge I was looking for. At this point, Im finishing my Associate in Science and in August 2024 I’m transferring to Aurora. I feel that with the unwavering support of my family and friends, I’m confident that I am capable of pursuing my lifelong aspiration of becoming an Oncology Nurse. I am committed to investing my time, energy, and resources in acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to become better in this field and contribute to the lives of people battling cancer. Likewise, I will keep working on my dream which is traveling around the world and making a difference in every person I meet with a kind and positive attitude, gaining different perspectives and broadening my horizons.