I will forever remember how I felt feeding my little sister Fruit Loops, one at a time, in a hospital chair. She had stopped eating, she was so sick, and we had one fleeting moment of joy before I found out that she had Stage IV neuroblastoma. My experiences taught me what it’s like to be brave when you’re scared, to stay kind when life feels unfair, and to be there for someone even when it’s hard. I didn’t learn these things in school; I learned them in hospital rooms, in other people's homes when my parents had to travel, and through watching the nurses who supported my family. I want to be like them. As a kid, I played nurse with my family. I used a toy stethoscope and syringe, dressed up in scrubs for Halloween, and pretended to take blood pressure. Looking back, I wasn’t just playing; I was practicing how to care for others. Looking back, my desire to help people started with personal loss. My grandma, a nurse herself, died of lung cancer. I was young, but I remember trying to care for her, doing all the “nursing” tasks she told me about. Right after my grandma died, my grandpa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and I put the nursing skills she taught me into action. I helped feed him and walked him around the house, and he always made it fun for me, no matter how sick he was. It was two weeks before my grandpa died when my little sister was diagnosed with cancer. I remember asking, “Is she going to die like grandma?” It was terrifying. I spent the next two years after my sister’s diagnosis in hospitals, watching nurses do everything they could to help, not just for my sister, but for my whole family. Their kindness, patience, and care showed me what I wanted to become. My sister is now a cancer survivor, and I’m incredibly thankful. But those years affected every part of my life. I had to spend long periods of time away from home when I was younger, which always impacted my ability to make and maintain close friendships. It has led me to appreciate close communities and strive to create a sense of belonging for others. Part of what draws me to this career is that nurses share these same values. I’ve seen the bonds they share, and I hope to contribute to that same sense of belonging in college and my future career. I will always remember the Fruit Loops moment with my sister. As I pursue my dream to become a nurse, I want to create a safe space for other patients and families facing their own medical challenges. My goal is to specialize in pediatric oncology and give back to the childhood cancer community in the way so many wonderful nurses helped my family. I know that I will face more heartache along this journey, but it couldn’t be more worth it.

I know what it’s like to be brave when you’re scared, to stay kind when life feels unfair, and to be there for someone even when it’s hard. I didn’t learn these things in school; I learned them in hospital rooms, in other people's homes when my parents had to travel, and through watching the nurses who supported my family. I want to be like them. As a kid, I played nurse with my family. I used a toy stethoscope and syringe, dressed up in scrubs for Halloween, and pretended to take blood pressure. Looking back, I wasn’t just playing; I was practicing how to care for others. My desire to help people started with personal loss. My grandma, a nurse herself, died of lung cancer. I was young, but I remember trying to care for her, doing all the “nursing” tasks she told me about. Right after my grandma died, my grandpa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and I put the nursing skills she taught me into action. I helped feed him and walked him around the house, and he always made it fun for me, no matter how sick he was. Two weeks before my grandpa died, my little sister was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma. I remember asking, “Is she going to die like grandma?” It was terrifying. I spent the next two years after my sister’s diagnosis in hospitals, watching nurses do everything they could to help, not just for my sister, but for my whole family. Their kindness, patience, and care showed me what I wanted to become. My sister is now a cancer survivor, and I’m incredibly thankful. But those years affected every part of my life. I had to spend long periods of time away from home when I was younger, which always impacted my ability to make and maintain close friendships. It has led me to appreciate close communities and strive to create a sense of belonging for others. Part of what draws me to this career is that nurses share these same values. I’ve seen the bonds they share, and I hope to contribute to that same sense of belonging in college and my future career. College has always been the next step for me. I know nursing requires education, but I’m excited about more than just academics. I’m ready to grow, join clubs, make friends, and pursue my dream. College is where I’ll become the nurse and the person I’ve always wanted to be.

I know what it’s like to be brave when you’re scared, to stay kind when life feels unfair, and to be there for someone even when it’s hard. I didn’t learn these things in school; I learned them in hospital rooms, in other people's homes when my parents had to travel, and through watching the nurses who supported my family. I want to be like them. As a kid, I played nurse with my family. I used a toy stethoscope and syringe, dressed up in scrubs for Halloween, and pretended to take blood pressure. Looking back, I wasn’t just playing; I was practicing how to care for others. My desire to help people started with personal loss. My grandma, a nurse herself, died of lung cancer. I was young, but I remember trying to care for her, doing all the “nursing” tasks she told me about. Right after my grandma died, my grandpa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and I put the nursing skills she taught me into action. I helped feed him and walked him around the house, and he always made it fun for me, no matter how sick he was. Two weeks before my grandpa died, my little sister was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma. I remember asking, “Is she going to die like grandma?” It was terrifying. I spent the next two years after my sister’s diagnosis in hospitals, watching nurses do everything they could to help, not just for my sister, but for my whole family. Their kindness, patience, and care showed me what I wanted to become. My sister is now a cancer survivor, and I’m incredibly thankful. But those years affected every part of my life. I had to spend long periods of time away from home when I was younger, which always impacted my ability to make and maintain close friendships. It has led me to appreciate close communities and strive to create a sense of belonging for others. Part of what draws me to this career is that nurses share these same values. I’ve seen the bonds they share, and I hope to contribute to that same sense of belonging in college and my future career. As a nurse, I will be able to give back to others, sometimes helping them through their darkest times. Nurses do so much more than check IVs and administer medications. They are a sounding board, a shoulder to cry on, a smiling face for a patient who needs a friend. I look forward to supporting others in the way so many nurses supported our family in the past.

Volunteering has been important to me because I have seen how much even small efforts matter to people. My personal experiences have really helped to show me how much volunteering helps so many people. One summer, while I was visiting California, I volunteered at a daycare that served children who didn’t have much. Many of the kids came from families who were struggling financially, and it was clear that the daycare wasn’t just a place to go when their parents couldn’t watch them, but it was a safe and supportive environment for them. I helped with activities, played games, read books, put them to sleep at nap time, and just spent time giving them attention. It might not sound huge, but I could tell that having someone there who cared for them made a difference. Some of those kids really just needed kindness. That experience showed me that volunteering doesn’t have to be something dramatic to matter. Even just showing up consistently and being supportive can mean a lot. I also volunteered for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, and that cause is especially close to me. I chose to get involved because my little sister had cancer. Going through that as a family completely changed my perspective. I saw how scary and overwhelming it can be, not just for the child but for everyone around them. Volunteering for Alex’s Lemonade Stand felt personal. It wasn’t just about raising money; it was about supporting research and other families who were facing what we faced. It made me feel like I could turn something painful into something meaningful and helpful. I think volunteering is so important because there are so many people who need support in ways we don’t always see. The efforts that make the biggest difference are the ones that focus on helping those who need it, like children who don’t have many resources, families facing illness, or communities that need extra support. For me, volunteering isn’t about getting credit. It’s about using my time to help others in ways that I understand personally. Both of these experiences taught me that even small actions can have a real impact, especially when they come from a place of compassion. My past experiences have taught me the importance of helping others when they need it most. This is why I have chosen to pursue a career in nursing. I want to be able to help and support families as they struggle through some of their most difficult times, just like nurses have done in the past for my family.