Growing up, I learned that meaningful goals are never achieved by chance. They require a plan, commitment, and the ambition to work hard every single day to grow with your plan. The first time I stepped onto a medical-surgical unit for my clinical rotation, I remember the mix of feelings I had felt go through my body as soon as I walked onto the floor I was placed on. I felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty. I feared so much before walking into a patient's room. However, remembering that a plan and ambition with confidence knowing you made those plans, will always prove that it will be great. I had spent countless hours studying medications, disease processes on that floor, as well as the nursing skills we had recently learned as well as practiced, however, standing in the hospital surrounded by patients, nurses, and a fast-paced environment made everything feel real. I was really intrigued as I stood by my nurse awaiting to figure out our patient for the day. I remember wondering if I was truly prepared for the responsibility of caring for another person’s health and well-being. As the day went on, I had to tell myself that the ambition I have in this career and the preparation I have put myself through for this very moment, made me feel like I was ready for this. I had spent years preparing myself to learn, grow, and become the nurse I dreamed of becoming. Having a career where I could make a meaningful impact on people’s lives means the world to me, however my journey toward becoming a nurse has been built through intentional steps, discipline, and a willingness to challenge myself. As being in my last three semesters of nursing school, my goal is to graduate, pass the NCLEX, and become a compassionate and knowledgeable registered nurse. I plan to continue developing my skills through hands-on experience, lifelong learning, and opportunities to serve patients with the same dedication that inspired me to pursue this career in saving lives. I cannot wait for more clinical rotations as I can grow and bring my determination every single day. The journey toward becoming a nurse has taught me that growth happens through small, intentional moments. I learned this during my medical-surgical clinical rotation this past spring, when the nurse in the blue scrubs taught me more than I could have thought I would learn. She taught me things that can make the patient centered care moments better; how to improve my IV push technique, showing me how powerful it is to bring laughter, comfort, and reassurance to patients during some of the most crucial moments of their lives. That lesson has shaped the way I approach my own journey. Balancing nursing school with year-round cross country and track and field has challenged me to develop the same patience and perseverance that I witnessed in her. Distance running has taught me that progress is not created overnight—it is built through thousands of small decisions: showing up to practice, pushing through difficult workouts, and trusting the process even when the outcome is uncertain. I carry that same mindset into every lecture, exam, clinical experience, and patient interaction as I continue working toward becoming the healthcare professional I aspire to be. Thank you for your consideration

As soon as I saw my grandmothers expression shift as the nurse assisted her in her morning regimen, I knew that was what I wanted to do. It wasn't just a nurse doing her job, however it was what made my grandmother feel like herself, when in a gown and during a time of uncertainty. The nurse showed me strength and persistence in how she helped and advocated for these patients such as my grandmother, which showed me how important her role truly is. I hadn't known much of what the role of a nurse was until it was until it was for the nurse in the royal blue scrubs who created the biggest smiles on my grandmothers face. As I am in my second semester into nursing school, I have learned so much more than just to "pass meds". I learned the most hands-on I have ever learned during my clinicals as well as my labs. Being a nurse means to care for others and be there for patients during uncertainty and fear. I was lucky to have the chance to see patients during my clinical and assist them as well, with my clinical preceptor with me. Something I hadn't learned in my textbooks, was how much patients can appreciate care and comfort towards them. I walked into multiple patient rooms, greeting them with open arms, a smile on my face and being ready to assist them in whatever they may needed. If it was just a cup of water, I was pleased to help them. It made every single patient feel cared for in the way I would comfort them in even the smallest things. My "why" is the big smiles I receive as I walk into patient rooms with a smile of my own. Being able to be healthy enough to help others is something I enjoy doing. Being able to comfort someone with just holding their hand or engaging in a long conversation is sometimes just what one might enjoy. I want to be the nurse that made my grandmother feel cared for in ways she didn't believe one could do for her. I hope to contribute to my community in making patients feel loved. I hope to provide compassionate, patient-centered care and being an advocate for people who may not always have access to the healthcare resources they need. I also hope to build trust within my community by treating every patient with empathy, respect, and dignity. I hope to one day, be able to give the care to patients as the nurse had for my own grandmother. Thank you for your consideration.

My “Pie in the Sky” dream is to become a compassionate, skilled nurse who makes a real difference in people’s lives every single day! Nursing feels like the perfect combination of who I am and who I want to be. Nursing means everything to me, especially when I know I will be able to help being an aid in peoples lives, when they need it most. The dream inspires me because I know how much impact a good nurse can have, yet it still feels a little out of reach as I’m learning, growing, and figuring things out. But it’s the dream that keeps me going every day. What sparked this dream was a moment that seemed small at the time. In high school, I spent a lot of time caring for my grandmother while she was in the hospital receiving care. I watched the way certain nurses treated her, not just with skill, but with warmth, patience and true patient-centered care. They made her smile on days she didn’t think she could. She told me how much of an impact the nurses had on her. They made me feel less afraid and more excited for what I can see myself doing in the future. That spark stayed with me, and now, as a nursing student, I’m beginning to understand just how powerful that kind of care can be! Being able to study nursing now, only brings me joy knowing I am becoming closer and closer everyday. It’s more than a job. It’s a way of showing up for people when they need it most! Being a collegiate athlete has also shaped this dream. Sports taught me discipline, resilience, and how to get back up after falling, literally and figuratively (especially when I fell during a relay race!!). Balancing 6AM training, nursing school, and clinical work hasn’t always been easy, but it’s shown me that I can push through challenges. Being a collegiate student-athlete made me resilient and manage my time, bettering me as a person overall. Athletics also gave me community. Having a team of women who hold each other accountable and be there, shows me how courage grows when people grow together and show up. That’s exactly what Harvest Goal Collective believes in, and it’s something I try to live every day!! My big dream is to eventually create a mentorship program for young women, especially for first-generation students, student-athletes and nursing students who just want to follow their dreams but want the push. I want to help them believe in their own “Pie in the Sky” dreams, even if those dreams feel too bold to say out loud. I want them to feel what I felt: that spark that becomes something bigger when someone says, “You can do this.” Being that person for someone who needs that push can mean anything and everything to them. To get there, I know I have steps to take. First, I need to continue growing as a nursing student, building my clinical skills, learning from mentors, and saying yes to opportunities that challenge me even if I am scared!! I need to trust my mentors and professors that are going to bring me where I need to be! I hope to pursue further education and leadership roles that will help me build the mentorship program I envision. My dream feels big, but it also feels true to who I am, a future nurse, athlete, and a woman who believes in support, and someone who knows that the highest goals grow when we speak them out loud! Thank you for this opportunity.

When I see myself in the reflection of the bathroom mirror under the stands behind the track, right before I start my race, I see ambition. I see myself a bit fearful, but in the best way possible. Being fearful before a race shows I care, it shows that I want my years, months, and hours of training to prove I can do this. Being a 'YGIG' means more than just being resilient. I’ve faced challenges that could have made me quit, but instead, they have only made me stronger. From overcoming injuries when running 50 miles a week, running all season from fall to summer, to battling self-doubt in competitive environments, I have learned to understand how to push forward when everything and everyone wants me to stop. I’ve become a leader on and off the field by showing up for my teammates, encouraging the younger girls behind me, and learning to celebrate progress over perfection. Being someone who has never felt enough is challenging. I never was able to afford "club sports", so wearing hand-me-down trainers with already 200+ miles on them and training myself during summer and breaks was routine and normal. Being put onto a cross country and track and field team at the collegiate was quite frightening, however knowing I had a coach who allowed me to focus on my studies, take time to myself and press on the break when needed, was all I needed to strive for! I wasn't able to join the team right away as financial struggles had me a setback. However, making the most out of it and working two jobs, inside and outside of school, I was able to transfer, start running and competing at the collegiate level. It was like the training I had put myself through, the hand-me-down sneakers, along with working two jobs, has gotten me to this point where I am at. One of my favorite days ever was an indoor track race, middle of the season, frigid outside, but thick humid air inside the track. I was told I was an alternate in the 4x4 relay. I never ran a 4x4 in my college career yet, so it was frightening as it was the last race of the day, which meant almost everyone was able to watch. You might guess I had to be called in and be put into the race, and even was switched to anchor (the last leg of the 400 relay). Waiting after each girl passed the baton on to the next, I got more worrisome. I could barely feel my legs as I was shaking knowing I could be the one to drop it. We were in first place until the last leg. I held my hand out as long as I could go and grabbed the baton. Running absolutely as fast as I could I ran bringing the whole thing home! As I crossed the finish I was greeted with open arms by my coach, the one who told me I was capable of absolutely anything I was to put my mind to. The one who believed in me when I wasn't able to. A "You got it girl" or YGIG is someone who is a team player, dependable, resilient, shows up for themself and others, and doesn't let any downfall get in their way. Being a student athlete after not being able to start right away, had given me everything I could ever imagine. I am so lucky to be able to pick it back up and have this opportunity given by my amazing coach, Bisrat. Being now in my second year of athletics at the NCAA Division III level at North Park University, going into my regional race of the cross country season, I can say I am utterly and abundantly blessed through my team and school for allowing me to be where I am today! A 'YGIG' has a story to tell and has obstacles she has pushed through. She has worked through barriers and has positively changed Sports for Women. Every female athlete has a unique experience navigating the world of sports and interacting with the athletic community. Allowing me to receive this scholarship would mean I can be my best version and most successful self as a full time nursing student and dual-sport (all season) cross country, track and field athlete. Balancing the demands I have being a full-time nursing school with two collegiate sports has not been the easiest thing I have done. However, balancing the two has taught me perseverance and time management. This scholarship would allow me to continue pursuing both my athletic and academic passions without too huge of a financial strain, like I have currently. Thank you!

Strength and determination are qualities that often test us in the most unexpected moments, and for me, they surfaced when my grandfather passed away, leaving my grandmother vulnerable and in need of care. It was not just a loss for my family, but it changed everything for me. I found myself stepping into the caretaker’s shoes for my nana, not just out of obligation, but out of love for her. With that role I took on, it really shaped my outlook on life and solidified my dream of becoming a nurse one day. When my grandfather passed, my grandmother’s health and spirit began to decline. While watching someone i love, someone who had been so strong struggle with loss and daily challenges was hard. Our family was stretched thin, and I understood that I needed to be there for her. It was my calling. It felt as I was working with her and being there for my nana, even when I thought to myself I couldn't do it. Each day required patience, empathy, and resilience, qualities I had to cultivate as quickly as possible. It was hard for me to be there for my nana when I too was struggling with my own battles, missing my grandfather as well as taking on school. This wasn't the most fun part of my life, but it felt fulfilling to know I was there for my nana. This also showed me how important compassionate care is. More and more I take it day by day, caring for my nana, realizing that this is the job for me. I have wanted to be a nurse for all I could remember. To be there for someone in their lowest times is an unmatched feeling. Nurses and healthcare workers were these constant figures for my grandmother’s, especially as they not only medical support but very much gave her the emotional comfort support she never had to ask for. Their dedication inspired me deeply and I can still instill the image of her first smile since he had left us. From a young age, I have dreamed of becoming a pediatric nurse, and my experience caring for my grandmother only strengthened this desire more and more. I want to bring that same compassion, strength, and determination to children and their families. Giving kids the comfort and support they need aids them more than we will know. As someone as eager as I am to start clinicals in the Spring I got to visit the pediatric floor filled with nurses creating smiles on the childrens faces in their most vulnerable times. I am so excited to be that person for them one day. To one day make a little girl or boy smile, as how I showed caring for my grandmother, makes me so excited. Every child I care for will deserve someone who listens, encourages, and fights alongside them. Kylee Govoni’s story is a reminder of the importance of nurses who not only treat illnesses but be able to be there for them. Like Kylee, I aspire to face challenges with determination and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those I serve. Receiving this scholarship would not only honor Kylee’s legacy but also aid me in so many ways, to continue my education and ultimately provide compassionate care to children when they need it most. My journey so far has taught me that strength and determination is ultimately fueled by love. I can't wait to become a nurse one day.