The GTX scholarship catapulted me into finding confidence in myself. I am no longer ashamed of being a transgender male. Throughout this process, I have enjoyed all the physical and mental leaps that come with my hormone replacement therapy. I have lost and gained friends and, unfortunately, lost my wife. Becoming the person I am is rewarding but, at times, excruciating. I miss my wife every day. She was always supportive, but there was a disconnect between her attraction to Caleb and my newfound confidence. They don't tell you this in the doctor's office; you may have the same values and history, but you will become different. On March 11, 2024, my wife gave me my first injection. We were both excited and happy; it was one of the best moments of my life. She was 100% on board, and I was so lucky to have someone who loved me unconditionally. The next few weeks, she gave me my shots. We were going through new names that fit me. "Mel" was not cutting it. After hundreds of names like Joseph, Josiah, and Simon, she looked at me and said calmly, "Your name is Caleb." I replied, "My name is Caleb." At that moment, the universe said, "Here you go, enjoy your new name, my man." I excelled in nursing school this last semester in Adult Health II while working at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH), doing ICU clinical and transitioning. It was unbelievable how incredible life was going. The school staff and nursing students started calling me Caleb, even disability services, whom I tested with. I was not alone in this process, and I learned to be patient with the people who did not understand my transition. In May, I was finishing semester four and saving money for my summer to take my wife on vacation and get my newly scheduled top surgery. I've been looking forward to top surgery for years, and I planned it for July 6. I want to be fully Caleb inside and out while I complete my last semester of nursing school. My wife wanted to be there to care for me after surgery and was my biggest supporter. There was one problem: she was not adjusting as she had thought. Even though she's always known about me being transgender, her body and brain were not connecting to Caleb. The problem is that she married Melissa. It's been two months. I am now writing this at VPH while the youngsters sleep tonight. My wife has filed for divorce, and I have moved into my new apartment. I am heartbroken, as I am doing this journey on my own. I work every day this summer until my updated top surgery date, July 26. This date will give me enough time to heal before my last semester. My unexpected turn of events is devastating. Sometimes, things in life can genuinely suck. My story aims to stay true to one's self. Thoughts surfaced in my mind about going back to presenting as Melissa. Without the support of my friends in school and the VPH staff, my identity would be lost. I am a role model for my patients who are LGBTQAI+. Our minority group has wars that need winning. I lost a battle of losing my family, but I won, Caleb, and I know I will be able to be loved unconditionally one day. I will continue to obtain my Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner license and be the voice that one may need to hear. I will not stop trying; I will not stop fighting for the trans community.

Currently, I am surrounded by my beloved pets. As I type this, my feline friend Bella has taken up residence on half of my computer, while my faithful dog Tango has begun to snore beside me. I needed them today. This past weekend, I made the brave decision to come out to my loved ones and my nursing school as a transgender individual. The process would be relatively easy in a world where many individuals support the LGBTQAI community. However, I feel more lost than ever, with some individuals avoiding conversation and appearing uncertain about interacting with me. To express my true self, I have started presenting myself more masculinely, such as cutting my hair short. It's as if I'm living in a parallel world where everyone is mourning the loss of Melissa, including my parents, but I have yet to leave. Despite this, I am here and determined to be true to myself. In this essay, I will discuss how being transgender has affected my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. While in nursing school, I work as a behavioral health specialist at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. This has allowed me to work with many individuals who are LGBTQAI. The first transgender patient I encountered was experiencing severe depression due to his family not accepting him. He had nowhere to live because of presenting as his authentic self. I sat down and actively listened to his story, where he described the lack of conditional love and support. One thing that I noticed was the lack of support in Nashville with the Transgender community. This has shifted my beliefs, and now I understand the crisis a person who is transgender goes through with the lack of safe resources. The friend I thought loved me for my soul back peddled. This scenario was unexpected, as I thought one of my closest friends would hug me and assure me it would be okay. She never seemed to have any animosity towards the LGBTQAI community, as one of her closest friends was gay. Upon telling her my new pronouns and name, her response was, "Why?" I responded I'd been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, but that did not seem to ease her mind. I have not had much contact with her for a few weeks, as she was one of the first people I trusted to tell. Coming out as Transgender has affected my closest relationships, and I have learned to give compassion to my closest friends as they are mourning. When I think about the patients I encounter in my clinical rotations and at Vanderbilt, I think about what transgender individuals need: a supportive role model and a solid mental health foundation. When I graduate from nursing school, I will continue to work in the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital as a psychiatric nurse while obtaining my Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner license. My goal is to create an LGBTQAI-safe clinic where transgender individuals like myself can go for medical care. I aim to provide the resources transgender people can turn to when they are looking for support. While living in Tennessee, there is much room for growth in the community for safe spaces. Going through this has opened my eyes to how lonely this journey can be and how one can isolate oneself to avoid pain and embarrassment. I plan to reach my goals one step at a time and take it daily or even hour by hour. It's so easy to fall into the rabbit hole and feel lost through this journey of becoming who I know I am. Giving gratitude to myself on the hard days has been a blessing in disguise and has kept me resilient. Getting the opportunity to share my story here saves me little by little and assures me that it, too, does get better. Thanks for listening.

Here it is, another greeting waking me from a deep sleep at 0330. Grabbing my chest, I brace for the impact of pain. Bam, crush, squeeze. Wait, is this a heart attack? I look at my wife with wide eyes and say, "I'm having a heart attack; we need to go!" I try to convince myself this is a part of my autoimmune symptoms, but the pain is so intense. Tunnel vision and lightheadedness enter the chat. Could this be happening? When someone thinks of psoriatic arthritis, no one thinks of an emergency. In many cases, not many people know the physiology of psoriatic arthritis (PA). In my diagnosis of PA, the connective tissues of my sternoclavicular and costovertebral joints can become inflamed; this causes severe chest pain, which innervates the same nerves as my heart and chest muscles. The inflammation can occur due to the stress of school, work, etc. Medication has helped significantly, as well as weekly psychiatric therapy to help control stress. I've found support with keeping medical professionals, family, and friends in my corner. These moments of relapse have helped me become a better student in nursing school during my patient assessments. One of my favorite parts about being a nursing student is the chance to help people in school during my clinical rotations. I always consider the patient's pain score on a 1 to 10 scale during my assessments. Pain is severely essential. If a patient starts to report pain that gradually increases, their vital signs will show it. Even referred pain can tell medical personnel where the origin of the stimulus is. Experiencing my pain with my autoimmune issue has made me hypervigilant and have empathy for my patients. The pain has helped turn my struggle into a strength, which I do not take for granted. My PA has made me become an avid, active listener. I've learned to listen to my patients who present with an array of symptoms, especially autoimmune. I now listen to my body for what it needs. Before a nursing exam, I ensure to stay hydrated, feed my body healthy fruits and vegetables, and have a bedtime for much-needed rest. I meditate on days when I know I will be in stressful situations. I make sure to educate patients on ways they can treat their bodies right when they, too, experience an autoimmune relapse. My PA disease has increased my knowledge of different autoimmune disorders so I can give the proper patient education. My diagnosis has made me a sharp student nurse. I still have the occasional relapse, but most days are positive. The idiopathic cause of autoimmune is frustrating, but the opportunity for comradery of individuals who have autoimmune disorders gives us hope.

It's a flashback that I never forget. It almost looks black and white now, except for the beat-up dark green Dodge caravan that smoked profusely and my mom's beautiful face, with tears falling slowly down her cheek. A darkness shadowed her wavy black hair and light brown eyes, which I hope no one experiences. We were in a church parking lot, and while sitting in my mom's lap, I wiped the tears from her eyes and told her, "It's going to be okay, Mommy." I thought the bruises throughout my mom's body were going to last forever, but they healed over time. She never gave up hope for getting us to safety. To this day, her resilience can be an emblem of the struggling mothers living in a world of domestic violence. In this essay, I will go over why my mother inspired me and what direction I have chosen as my field of study. Twenty-four years later, they call her retired Colonel and my biological father is hundreds of miles away, post jail. She rose through the ranks and became a wrecking ball once we escaped. My mom, a midwife in the Army, took me with her, and we traveled the world from station to station. She was not only my superhero but to others as well. Helping women in every form throughout her career ended up sparking a phenomenal turn of events in education with soon-to-be mothers. Deliveries in Somalian huts and bombings in hospitals throughout deployments did not stop my mom from fighting for others, as she was a soldier. Now, I am her age as she was with me as a child, and I look at the world through adult eyes. As I can see, there are cisterns in the world where we live, swept with violence, substance abuse, and undiagnosed mental health disorders. I asked myself, how can I prevent what happened to my mother and me? What impact can I have to help lift the burdens of our society? With the yearning to help people, I applied to nursing school. I knew that whatever direction I went in nursing, the fields were nearly endless, and I could help change my community like my mother did. Nursing school is a monster of its own. Taking down one test at a time has taken its toll, but it has also shown me that I, too, can harbor resilience. My single mother lived and took care of a person with quadriplegia for room and board during nursing school. She inspires me daily to keep going. I have obtained a nurse technical job at Vanderbilt University Psychiatric Hospital and continue to care for patients with psychiatric disorders while in nursing school. I see these patients who struggle at home to find safety, and providing a helping hand is the start of the journey. I have flown to Honduras this summer on a Medical Mission to give medical care inspired by my mother. These circumstances have led me to find a strength that I, too, have, which my mother passed on. My goal is to become a Psychiatric provider so I can help diagnose and treat mental health disorders. I will create my clinic, collaborate with other providers, and take my clinic on medical missions to third-world countries that need medical care. Reaching my goal will happen with every step I take. The Anna Milagros Memorial Scholarship will help me become one step closer to relieving my financial stress throughout school. Thank you. P.S, Thanks, Mom.

There I was, staring at a way out. The only part which was horrifying was its permanence. I could not comprehend it then, but I was in a dark hole with no way to escape. If not for my phone call that rang with my friend Maxa on the other end, I would not be here. In late 2021, I was diagnosed with several mental illnesses. These illnesses included major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. While in my second semester of nursing school studying psychiatric mental disability, I learned that these disabilities stemmed from genetics, domestic abuse, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). I learned from my experiences as a police officer that past calls of service had a significant effect on my diagnosis. The way I overcame my disability was by using the support systems I sought. Between my mental health therapist, psychiatric provider, family, and professors, I've found the courage to be honest about my mental disabilities. Navigating school, work, and volunteering has been, at times, tumultuous but very rewarding. There are days I feel like I'm on top of the world helping patients and the next, I question why I'm on this planet. I try to keep a solid foundation with weekly therapy sessions, my mental health team, medication adjustments, and communication with my university. Maneuvering with mental illness is a constant battle, but I have found support. Within the next year, I have three semesters left of nursing school. The direction I am going in is psychiatric nursing. While working at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and attending school at Austin Peay State University, I have been able to help patients who struggle with mental illness. My empathy for these patients goes beyond words. My mission is to help people with disabilities like mental illness. After graduating from nursing school, I will apply to a nurse residency program specializing in psychiatric nursing. While working as a registered psychiatric nurse, I will pursue higher education and seek a DNP or master's program in psychiatric nursing. The title of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Certified (PMHNP-BC) will allow me to diagnose, treat, and eventually create my psychiatric practice. What I hope to accomplish while seeking higher education is to educate and empower individuals who are flummoxed by their disabilities. Sometimes, patients need a hand to guide them in the darkest times, and I know this from experience. The journey to be content looks different for everyone. For people who have mental illness disabilities, finding peace may be impossible without the proper support. Becoming a nursing advocate for the community with patients who struggle with mental illness is my purpose in life. The Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship will help make the financial burden less stressful so I can focus on my goal. P.S Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope this essay can be a sail to someone who is struggling with debilitating depression. If anyone is reading this, don't be afraid to get help. Getting help saved my life.

This one goes to my wife, Rebecca. My educational journey is not linear, and as a nontraditional student, returning to school in the middle of a pandemic was terrifying. I say this not to be dramatic, but when you have a solid income and then have to find another job because of life's curveballs, the avenues of failure creep into your mind. I was worried about not being a provider for my family and was scared that we would fall amid the world falling apart. My saving grace was Becca. She said it would be okay and assured me I would be a great nurse and go after what I'm great at. Rebecca is a different breed. She is a Physician Assistant, and every year since she graduated from PA school, she traveled to Honduras on medical missions. She would save up her ten days of PTO to leave the country to WORK MORE! I did not understand it at the time. I convinced her multiple times when we were dating to take some time for herself and go on a vacation or relax on a beach and get a massage. She could not go to Honduras during the pandemic, which would be her last time until this summer of 2023. I could see this affected her. As a nursing student, I went with her to see what all the fuss was about. I did not see what next was coming. Not only was Becca's speaking Spanish mind-boggling unique, but I also witnessed the life-changing medical care that my wife gave in Honduras. I met her Honduran friends she made relationships with and saw a world outside of myself. She went to the children's home confidently to care for the orphans, blowing me away. She helped people effortlessly, and I started to see the meaning of life more and more each day going along this journey with her. Slowly, over this trip, I was changing. Rebecca awakened a profound part of me that changed my life's trajectory. I knew I was going to be a nurse, and I knew I wanted to go into psychiatric nursing. However, on this mission with my wife, I discovered I wanted to start a clinic and a team that would travel to third-world countries to provide medical care. Rebecca supported me and inspired me on my nursing educational journey. This summer changed my life; it would have never happened without Becca. I found a new passion, one that I never saw coming. She knew I struggled with many of life's challenges and always stuck beside me. This woman gave me more grace and patience than I can comprehend and saved my life. Now, finishing my last year of school, I'm confident about my future and know I can support my family. Rebecca showed me a strength that I, too, have. Without meeting her, I would not be able to see the help I can bring to the world. She's my best friend, my life partner, and an inspiration to us all. I love you, Beck.

Throughout history, each generation has faced significant challenges that have tested their resilience and creativity. From the Neolithic period to the Pharaonic and Medieval years, humans have always found ways to overcome obstacles by using what they have. As a society, we have always lived, worked, and prospered in tribes, and the younger generation of millennials and Gen Z are no exception. They have witnessed the effects of social media and technological science, and their innovative ideas are helping to shape the future. The Ode to Millennials-Gen Z text highlights several problems we have adopted, with the global warming crisis being one of the most severe. Without a healthy world, our survival is uncertain. However, the bright minds of today's millennials and Gen Z are working tirelessly to create solutions to address these issues. Boyan Slat and Caesar Lamb are two inspiring examples of how young people significantly impact the world. Boyan Slat is the CEO of The Ocean Cleanup. Currently 29, Boyan founded his company at 18 in Delft, Netherlands 2013. "The Ocean Cleanup" is a nonprofit organization funded by individual, government, and corporate donations. According to www.theoceancleanup.com, his team now consist of over 120 people, consisting of scientist and other supporting roles. Polluted oceans create problems in our environment, health, and economy. Polluted oceans and riverways cause issues like toxins in our food chain and hindrances in our travel. According to the United Nations, 80% of ocean pollution is plastic, affecting over 800 species. In the last 30 days, Boyan and his team have removed 284,615 kg of trash from our oceans and are creating a focus on over 1000 riverways that accumulate 80% of the debris that flows into our seas. Boyan is among the many bright minds of the Millennial and Gen Z era. This summer, I took an opportunity to participate in a medical mission to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I learned of the vexing number of child trafficking and abandonment cases in the country. Per the U.S. Department of State, Honduras is at a level 3 travel advisory due to crime and kidnapping. Kidnapping and abandonment have been a long-standing issue for many years, and the youth of the Gen Z population is fighting back. Caesar Lamb, 22, is the first orphan of the Lamb Institutes children home in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, to graduate with his bachelor's degree. He advocates for the orphaned children in the home and wants to make Honduras safer. He wrote and directed a movie, "Baby Box," in 2023. His work highlighted the country's current crisis of leaving babies in the trash to fend for themselves and the issues of human trafficking. Caesar is a brave young man, and his tenacity to help the youth of Honduras is impressive. Caesar wants to be a sounding board for his brothers and sisters in the children's home and continues to educate the world on the climate of Honduras through the media. When I think about the Ode to Millennials-Gen Z text, I think about the hope for our future. I think about the minds like Boyan and Caesar and know we will be okay. Who's to say what crisis and innovations will happen in the next few decades? My generation is thriving with ingenuity and passion. I'm excited to see the progress we will make. Millennials and Gen Z minds will maneuver and create, and the next generation will take over. That's the beauty of life. Ask yourself how you can take part in it.

Cast Away is an absolute masterpiece that captures the essence of the human spirit and resilience in adversity. From its starting setting in Memphis, Tennessee, to the ending of unknown roads, the movie is a beautiful reminder to cherish life's smallest moments and never lose hope. Tom Hanks's unforgettable portrayal of Chuck Noland teaches us the importance of perseverance and optimism. His famous quote, "I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?" is a powerful reminder to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough. As someone who has faced mental illness and other challenges, I can confidently say that Cast Away is an incredible source of inspiration. It motivates us to challenge ourselves beyond our limits and shows us that we can achieve great things even in difficult circumstances. Chuck's resourcefulness and ingenuity in making fire, calculating probabilities, and building a boat from the island's resources are astounding. The movie's ending is a testament to the power of hope and the human spirit. Chuck's unbreakable determination to survive and his unwavering faith in the future are inspiring. His goodbye to Wilson, Kelly, Albert, and the island is a poignant reminder that life is a journey, not just a destination. The package he kept with angel wings symbolizes hope, and he never gave up hope, even during the darkest times. Cast Away is a cinematic masterpiece that teaches us about the resilience and strength of the human spirit. It is a must-watch for anyone who needs a reminder of the beauty of life and the power of hope. The movie reminds us to appreciate the little moments and never lose sight of the bigger picture. The film's conclusion is a tribute to the resilience and fortitude of humanity and a reminder never to lose faith, no matter how overwhelming the obstacles may seem. When Chuck returned home to discover his friend's wife died of cancer and Kelly was newly married to his Dentist, Mr. Spallding, Chuck apologized to his friend for not being there when his friend's wife died and respected Kelly's new life as a mother and wife. Cast Away inspired us to ask ourselves how we respond to life's adversities. Do we blame the world, or do we keep moving forward? When everything is stripped away from us, yes, one will go through agony and pain beyond belief, but the sun will rise, and a new day is ahead. Who knows what the tide will bring?

It was July 20th, 2021. I was so angry about the call I received from my mom. A hit-and-run driver killed my wonderful, talented, incredibly kind aunt when she was cycling home. Sher Stewart was extraordinarily active and biked everywhere, and we shared that commonality. She was also an activist for the LGBT community and astonishing artists living in New Orleans. She was one of those people who had empathy beyond words. The convicted criminal who hit my aunt completely disregarded cyclists, affecting many. I am sad about losing my aunt and the carnage it caused my family. An organization called Ghost Bikes plans to put a bike by the accident that memorializes cyclists. Before my aunt's death, several close calls were on the road when I started cycling. In the spring of 2014, I bought my first road bike, a Marin Ravenna carbon fiber delicacy. She's perched on my wall, and I have put thousands of miles on her. During that spring, I road her on as many routes as possible. I always kept safety in mind and was cautious on the road. One day, when I was riding home, a reckless driver nearly hit me when they failed to stop at the stop sign. I yelled a reactionary "Hey!" Then the car slammed on its brakes, and the driver lowered his window and cussed me out. I was confused because I followed the bike laws and almost got hit by a negligent driver. From that day on, I carried pepper spray for the occasional dog that would chase my bike and in case an angry driver tried to attack me. As a former police officer, I tried to stop anyone who failed to follow bike laws. One of my first stops was on a man who flew through a four-way intersection on his bike when he had the red light, almost causing a multiple-vehicular collision. When I pulled this man over, he was irate and on the defensive. I calmed him down and reviewed the bike laws so he would not endanger himself or anyone. Some people must remember that cyclists follow the same signs that cars, buses, and motorcycles follow. As a nursing student, I am starting to require the skills necessary to give a complete head-to-toe assessment for head injuries, broken bones, and more. One of my goals to help improve our roadways is to educate patients with injuries from cycling about adequate PPE (personal protective equipment). Helmets are a must, and having helpful tools such as a bike helmet mirror, extra tubes, and participating in group riding can be paramount when you least expect it. Accidents happen, and my aunt's case can attest to that. After I start my first nursing job, I plan to create a cycling community club. My cycling club would instill group rides and knowledge about safer routes cyclists can take and what fundamentals to apply when on the roadway. My aunt would have liked that. Safe riding.

I FEEL LIMITLESS when I step onto the tee box and see the green in the distance. I wish there were another way to describe it, but in all honesty, with every swing, there are millions of different ways to play the game. When it comes down to it, this was instilled in me by my father. From the moment I was six, he had me swinging a gold club and on the greens, escaping the monotony of everyday life. There was always a way out of a sandbox, a loftier shot. Maneuvering the impossible was just the beginning of what golf taught me. My Dad and I have not had the best relationship. He was in and out of jail for domestic abuse when I was a little girl. Growing up with visitation rights, Dad always took me to play golf. He convinced himself he would go pro, and with him living in Myrtle Beach, there were endless courses to choose from. Not knowing my father when I was a little girl, as I know him now, I thought my father would beat Tiger, John Daly, or Phil Mickelson. He was a great golfer, and he said I had the athletic ability to be great like Michelle Wie or Annika Sörenstam. Hindsight is 20/20, and I think he just wanted to impress and bond with his kid, me. In high school, I tried out for the golf team when my mom got stationed in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. The area was new; I had no friends, but I could partake in a sport that made me feel closer to my Dad and allowed me to compete. My mom hated the game because of the memories of my father, but she still went to every tournament in which I competed and drove me all over Tennessee and Kentucky for championships. I learned an essential lesson in this timeframe. You can control what you choose to affect you and what does not. My mom, at the time, had been through rough beatings with my Dad, and she still decided to support me despite the past. Graduating with my first degree, becoming a police officer, getting injured, and now becoming a nursing student, I have taken many opportunities to get to the end trying to be perfect. I wouldn't say I liked that I got hurt and couldn't sprint anymore because I lost a career I loved. Although, golf helped me learn something precious along the way. Life is not about being perfect. The game is not about trying to make a birdie or an eagle; it's about the journey. Outside, with the scenery surrounding you, the course's quiet and unknown curves are the whole point of the game in the first place. Life is meant to be like a golf game; we are here to relish every moment. I look back on my life and thank my Dad and my Mom. I thank the game of golf and what it has taught me.

I can almost see it just right around the corner, I am in the mountains of Honduras. I dream of a stethoscope in my ears while listening to the S1 and S2 heartbeats of the people who most need it. Not as a nursing student but as a nurse practitioner. Just a few more tests. I can do anything.

I'm at the point where I could administer 1000mLs of Starbucks pumpkin spice latte in my brachial vein in my anticubital fossa daily; this is another way of saying I'm addicted to Starbucks. I'm not ashamed of this addiction. In fact, it's the 20th year to celebrate the pumpkin spice latte, and when August 24th hit, I got my IV bags and bolus ready because Ms. Pumpkin is the only thing that gets me through my day in my third semester of nursing school. I can name a few reasons why this folklore of a drink is extraordinary. When I was a tiny tot, my grandmother used to bake pies. She won many championships and had her own restaurant. The two pies I loved from her the best were her pecan pie and, my absolute favorite, her pumpkin pie. The memories of getting off the bus from school and running home to help make my grandmother's pumpkin pie are priceless. She has now passed. Smelling the aroma of the pumpkin pie latte from Starbucks takes me back to those special moments with my grandmother. She would have loved the drink and possibly put it in a recipe. Did I mention both of our favorite seasons are Fall? There’s a fun fact that I have enjoyed knowing about Starbuck's pumpkin spice latte. This fact has made it a fundamental reason I don’t belong to Dunkin Donuts. When Starbucks drink artists were developing the pumpkin spice creation, it took them three months of drinking coffee and eating pumpkin pie until they got the superb concoction. Dunkin who? That shows dedication and engineering to a degree that most will never experience. My fall would not be the same without my favorite fall-inspired drink. There would be no Instagram photos worth posting, no pumpkin orchard worth meandering, or romantic walks through the park with my better half. Does it even ring fall when crunching through leaves on the ground going to class without my favorite drink? I think not. Some things in life are forgettable, but the pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks is not. Life is so short, and appreciating the small parts of the day that make me smile is what I’m going to remember. When I graduate from nursing school and work as a nurse for hopefully a long time, I will remember sitting up at the front row of my lecture, pumpkin spice in hand, leaves starting to change colors, and knowing my grandmother would have been proud of me.

I'm currently on my flight back from Honduras. I'm not fond of flying, but this medical mission was worth the anxiety. Several experiences influenced my decision to choose nursing as a career. My adventures range from my past experiences as a police officer to this unforgettable Honduras medical mission. In this essay, I will go over two specific occasions I knew that catapulted me to choose nursing as my career. In 2018 my first experience, I joined the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. At the time, I needed a job and picked something I knew would pay the bills that had life insurance. I discovered that I have tenacity and ambition to help people. There was one call in particular where I knew I needed to go into nursing. On the morning of October 22nd, my partner and I received a call on the radio. It came in muffled, but it was a code three call with lights and sirens. It sounded like a domestic with an injury, so my partner and I went "peddle to the metal." I put my gloves on, ready to show up. As soon we were "97" on the scene, I saw a woman bleeding out on the concrete. I saw a fellow officer run into the home. Eric Lopez, the husband, was in a truck with a kitchen knife, stabbing himself. The children were inside sleeping, the mother was bleeding out, and my job was to stop the threat. I and a fellow officer tried to get Eric out of the vehicle. Unfortunately, he slammed on the gas, hit one of our police vehicles, and was stuck in a cul-de-sac surrounded by my team with our guns drawn. I started screaming, "Get out of the vehicle!" My team was screaming, "Drop the knife!" As he exited the vehicle with a knife, my fellow officer tased Eric Lopez, and we got him to the ground. As I turned him over, I saw adipose tissue and intestines protruding from his abdomen. I put pressure on the wounds coming from his chest and neck. I told my team to cover his abdominal region. We called for EMS, and they took Eric Lopez and his wife to the critical care unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. While there, I met brilliant nurses doing everything possible to keep both alive without bias. It was remarkable watching their teamwork. After that call, I knew I needed to pursue nursing to fulfill my potential. His wife died, and Eric Lopez lived and was deported by ICE to Mexico. The children are now without a mother and father. Nursing was looming in my future. I wanted to learn more about saving people medically, so I applied for nursing school. My second experience is the medical mission I am returning from as a nursing student. This is my first medical mission, and it encouraged me to transform nursing into not just a job but a career. The last village I went to was extremely remote in the mountains. I discovered a woman with atrial fibrillation, tied off an extra digit from an infant's finger, did a joint injection with supervision from the provider, found a boy with an enlarged liver, and helped diagnose him with hepatitis. These experiences influenced my decision to choose nursing as a career. Many calls and patients I've helped will not fit into a 600-word essay, and Honduras is an experience I am still decompressing from. There's no denying these experiences influenced me to choose nursing. Nursing will forever be a part of who I am.

It is 4:24 am, and my team around me sleeps while I think about the previous day in Honduras. This year is my first medical mission as a nursing student. Yesterday, we traveled to the village of Mateo. When we arrived, hundreds of Honduran people lined up in a tiny school with one room having electricity, the chapel. Dogs scattered the streets, scrounging for food; the bathrooms were holes in the ground. What I found so profound was the joy on the Honduran faces coming in for a clinic day. In this essay, I will go over three simple details from my experience of why it is essential to help others. It is an easy task to accomplish when considering taking Tylenol or Ibuprofen. I know that as a woman, I always carry Tylenol or, comically, Midol in my purse for myself and those around me. In Honduras, I’ve witnessed a family filling a prescription for a few tablets of Tylenol and them being so incredibly grateful. I didn’t see it until now, but small acts of helping others go a long way. A child with a fever in Honduras can be life-threatening, and a small act of kindness, supplying a family with a fever reducer, goes further than we think. Holding the hand of an older woman for a joint injection indeed went the distance. Active listening is significant when helping others. Yesterday I met a wonderful young man in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, at one of the children’s homes. Ethan has persevered like no one I’ve ever seen. He is transgender and transitioned in the last three years. The stigma here in Honduras can be deadly to the LGBT community. He has been through some of the worst things imaginable by living authentically. Ethan would be dead if not for the pastor taking him under her wing and adopting him. Helping others by giving them support creates a healthy foundation. Ethan is thriving now and shared his story with me. I watched his confidence grow as I supported and actively listened to his story. He is now and will forever be a leader and role model for other LGBT people. Fulfilling relationships improve mental health. We as humans thrive with community, culture, and interactions with one another. If you’ve ever seen the movie Cast Away with Tom Hanks, you can see what four years of loneliness does to a person. It is crucial to help others by building relationships; doing so fills a person with love. One of my team members, Rebecca, created a friendship on past medical missions with a Honduran woman. Rebecca treated her family and became close to this woman. The Honduran woman’s mother recently died at the age of 107. When we walked into the school in Mateo, the Honduran woman ran to Rebecca and was so joyous and full of tears. Rebecca pulled out a photo of the women’s mother from the previous year, and tears started flowing from everyone. The woman did not have a picture of her mother, and seeing her again was groundbreaking, even through a photo. Rebecca built a relationship with the family, which improved the woman’s mental health. When I think about why it is important to help others, I think about all the good from this medical mission. I believe that’s why we are here. Without helping others, there is no connection, joy, or opportunity to build confidence. We learn by helping others; it fulfills us in copious ways. In doing so, one will find the good that comes from it.

My dream Barbie house would be nestled in the beautiful mountains of Montana. I envision a rustic log cabin that blends perfectly with the surrounding nature. I can't wait to cozy up next to the fireplace with Mrs. Barbie and enjoy the stunning views of the snow-capped mountains. In the summer, the long driveway leading up to the house would be lined with apple trees, and there would be a lovely orchard to explore. Inside the house, we would have a golf course and a deer farm where Mrs. Barbie and I could spend quality time with our family and friends. I can already see us feeding the deer and playing golf together. The indoor pool would be another highlight of the house, complete with a beautiful rock wall canopy. The seven bedrooms and six full bathrooms would be luxurious, each with a full marble shower and clawfoot tub. And, of course, each room would have a walk-in closet filled with an impressive collection of clothes and accessories for our guests. The dining room would have a stunning farmhouse table from a local carpenter featuring engravings of Montana's native wildlife. The dining sets would be light pastel colors of light blue and off-white, creating a serene and peaceful environment—our butler, who would remind us of Alfred from Batman would have his suite. The living room would be spacious, with tall beams lining the vaulted ceilings. During the winter, we would add a 20-foot Christmas tree that would fit perfectly in the tall-ceiling living room. Outside, we would have horses and stables, and we would name each horse after their unique personality. Riding these horses to the property stream with our dogs trotting alongside us would be a dream. Our property, Lomax Manor, would sit on 40 acres and offer the perfect blend of peace and luxury. I can't wait to call this Barbie Dream House my home!

In my first semester of nursing school, I was utterly overwhelmed. I'm a nontraditional student, and the adjustment was difficult. I studied as much as I possibly could. With that being said, nutrition was not my top priority. I went from a healthy, active individual to an obese individual with a cholesterol shooting up to 230 from 160. Learning about total cholesterol in nursing school and the causes and stress behind it was surreal. Learning about the adverse effects obesity can have on our overall health honestly scared me. During my second semester of school, some extremes happened in my life. My grandmother died, and I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Talking with my providers prompted me to start having a solid foundation in nutrition and healthy eating habits. I thought this was going to be an easy task. I had to learn to forgive myself if I messed up with my healthy eating goals. Once I started adding more nutritious options to my diet and creating meal plans I could sustain, I found that consistency with healthy eating began to improve my mental health and test scores in school. I didn't feel as sluggish, and prioritizing my water intake helped me feel much more energized for study sessions. While prioritizing healthy eating and fluid intake, I dropped my cholesterol from 230 to 164. My blood work was restorative, and I knew that my future looked brighter from implementing healthy eating habits. I felt I was in control of my body and mind for the first time. My mental health improved tremendously, and I started adding exercises, 20 minutes a day, to my routine and started taking walks on my study breaks. I was able to lose 23 pounds of fat. After getting body scans done with a professional company, my body fat percentage went from 41% to 30%. Going into my third semester, over the summer, I have continued eating healthy and exercising and have maintained a healthy mindset. My friends and family have noticed an improvement in my overall health and wellness, and so have I. Healthy eating catapulted me into a healthier lifestyle. Learning how to give me grace was a learning curve. If I mess up and have something sweet, I've learned it is okay and part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. My blood work shows that I am in healthy ranges, and the chances of a cardiac event or heart disease are meager. It's essential to have healthy eating habits; it's the foundation of health and wellness and is a building block for improving oneself.

First and foremost, I want to offer my condolences to the Castinado family. Losing a loved one is one of the most tragic events and I’m truly sorry. My mission in joining the healthcare industry is unique. Similar to Brandon, I too felt a call to service. I went through the Police Academy in 2018 and soon started my career in Law Enforcement. I come from a military family who has also had a calling to service. Currently, my brother is overseas. I’ve had the luxury of watching him grow from a Second Lieutenant to a Lieutenant Colonel. Hearing Brandon not being able to do the same is heartbreaking. While being a police officer, I witnessed horrific events. One of the ones that stays with me, is a man who stabbed his wife multiple times after a drunken range. He then proceeded to stab himself all over his body in front of me and my fellow officers. Getting him to the ground while using all the first aid I knew created a fire in me. EMS soon took over to transport. The suspect ended up surviving while his wife perished leaving four children behind. While following up with my case and arriving at the Trauma Center at Vanderbilt Hospital, I met many nurses who worked with such tenacity and intelligence to try and save both parties without bias. That experience shaped my future. I started looking for nursing schools that best fit me. I found that school to be Austin Peay State University, which is 40 minutes away from the city of Nashville where I served as a police officer. I have now finished my first and second semester of nursing school. While doing my psychiatric rotations, I discovered the need for more psychiatric nurses. I also knew when I was a police officer many of my calls included people who struggle with mental illness, like the call I described earlier. Mental health is the foundation of healthy living, and yet it is still considered taboo for prime discussion in society. I believe with more patient advocacy, our society can change the taboo notion of discussing mental illness to having mental health a prime value in our schools, hospitals and jobs. My mission is to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Bored Certified (PMHNP-BC). With this schooling, I can help diagnose, treat mental illness and advocate for patients who are afraid to have a voice. I hope to open my practice and create a safe place for patients to come and seek help. One of the key factors in my future practice is to also advocate for LGBTQ patients with mental illness. I currently struggle with my mental illness which includes Major Depressive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. With the help of my family, continuous therapy and medication I have learned how to navigate life's challenges. My wife, Rebecca, has been one of my strongest advocates. My family accepting me for being a part of the LGBTQ community has also helped with my depressive episodes. My mission in the healthcare industry can be applied after my schooling is finished. With the help of the Brandon Tyler Castinado scholarship, I can help lead a better future in healthcare when it comes to mental illness. Thank you. -Melissa Lomax

My mental health is vital to me. Without a solid foundation of support and the utilization of healthy coping skills, I might not be here today. In 2019 I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This was in my late twenties when I was a Police Officer. Being a role model, I had to find ways to be reliable and safe for others. Having my mental health as my number one priority has allowed me to improve my communication skills, coping skills, and the lives of others. Through these highs and lows of my diagnosis, I have had the chance to improve my foundation and become an advocate for people that struggle with mental illness. Creating a durable foundation for my mental health has allowed me to use my strengths to empower individuals. I am now in nursing school and my goal is to become a Psychiatric Provider. During my journey, I became a Behavioral Health Specialist and Vanderbilt University Medical Center Psychiatric Hospital. The importance of mental health is a core value that I now teach to others. At my job and in nursing clinical, I assess my patients the best I can, with their mental health being one of the top priorities. I maintain my mental health through weekly therapy sessions with a therapist I have come to trust. With therapy, I also maintain mental wellness with healthy coping skills such as journaling, writing music and weightlifting. One of the new coping skills I have come to enjoy is learning new activities which motivate me to build my life and future. As of late, my new skill is learning Spanish, and I am starting to utilize the language in my workspace. This has allowed me to gain confidence and improve my mood. One critical component that maintains my mental wellness is learning about mental illness and what the root causes are. I now know that there are many causes of mental illness. Allowing myself to have grace about these causes gives me peace of mind, which I have also taught to others. Overall, these are the reasons why mental health is important to me. Maintaining my mental wellness has been trial and error, but I have come to love the process. The Pettable Mental Health Importance scholarship will help me support others who need mental health maintenance, guidance, and support to improve themselves and their futures. Help me make a difference.

Hello, my name is Melissa Lomax. I'm a former police officer for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. I'm now in nursing school at Austin Peay State University. When I was a police officer, many of my calls of service dealt with people who struggled with mental illness. In the worst cases, I was too late to help people who were suicidal. I noticed when policing the streets of the city of Nashville, most of the homeless population had a mental illness of some sort. I knew that the root cause of many calls could have been avoided if people had greater access to mental health facilities. I'm currently working for Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the Psychiatric hospital as a Behavioral Health Specialist. My goal after completing nursing school is to become a board-certified psychiatric nurse and obtain my Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Certified License (PMHNP-BC). This will open up doors for me to research people who struggle with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Schizophrenia, Paranoia, and Psychosis. The Elizabeth Schalk Memorial Scholarship will help fund my journey to obtain my nursing degrees which will supplement income for books and study materials. I live with MDD, GAD and PTSD. I have come to understand the importance of education, outreach and the utilization of coping skills. My goal is to become an advocate for others so they can successfully navigate through lifes challenges. It is possible to live a happy and healthy life with the right support system. Mental Illness has impacted my life for many years. I did not realize I suffered from mental illness until my late 20s when I was diagnosed. I believe this could have been avoided with more outreach as well as research in the field. Currently, mental illness seems more of a taboo in society and is not widely talked about or discussed. I want to be at the forefront of change for mental illness. With this in mind, collectively, with the right funding and support, we can more openly talk about mental illness; moreover, not shy away from the uncomfortable nature of the subject in the next few decades. Cities, schools and hospitals can benefit from more research and outreach. I'm making it my life's mission to do so. I need your help to fulfill this goal. With the Elizabeth Schalk Memorial Scholarship, I will have less financial stress regarding school which will help me in the long run. Thank you.