Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to become a nurse. I moved to America when I was 10 years old, when my mom re-married, and left home at 17, due to ongoing abuse. I graduated high school early and got my CNA license in the process. I had just started attending classes for a BSN at a university when I found out I was pregnant, at 18 years old. My whole world changed and my trajectory shifted. I went from being a teenager to a mother. I had to flee an abusive relationship and raise a child on my own, at just 19 years old. My son became my world. I tried to keep going to school for as long as I could, I even brought my son to lectures with me as a newborn, but ultimately the workload of school, single motherhood and providing for us, was just too much. I had to work full-time to pay the bills, take classes part time, and take care of my son full time. I was often up until 2am studying, and then would get up at 7am to start the whole process over again, this left me exhausted and burnt out. I dropped out in 2019 and had another unplanned pregnancy in the midst of Covid, in 2020. I tried a few different career paths, but could not find anything that was both sustainable as a single mom and fulfilling. I have gone job to job since, barely scraping by every month. I finally reached a point where I realized finishing my nursing degree was the only way I could provide a better future for us. Not only did I not want to give up on my dream, just because I was a young single mom, but I needed to do this FOR my kids. I want to show my kids that no matter how hard life gets, quitting is not the answer. There are no short cuts to success. No matter what happens to you, you have a choice in how you respond and the future you choose to create. If there's a will, there's a way. The biggest hurdle I've faced as a single mother pursuing a college degree, is the financial burden. Trying to fulfill all my financial responsibilities while in school, on top of my daily duties is my biggest challenge, which is why I'm applying to scholarships. Nursing is something I've always been passionate about as I am a very nurturing person, helping and caring for others is what brings me the most joy. I look forward to being able to use my skills and life experiences to help other women and young mothers, making a positive impact in as many lives as I can. A career as a nurse will not only be rewarding but it will ensure job security and financial stability for my kids and I, and therefore a healthier and more balanced life we've been longing for.