My name is Milcah Moldogo and I was raised by two nurses who I thought were invincible. My passion for nursing started with not my own, but with my parents. My father has been a nurse for as long as I can remember. I've watched him care for his patients my entire childhood. So it never occurred to me that he could be the one to almost die. A nurse is someone who saves lives, not the other way around. But when I was eleven, my dad had a heart attack and almost left us. This is the moment I realized he isn't invincible. Despite his own heart problems, he never stopped working in hospitals and he never stopped caring for others. Similarly, there are many nights when my mother comes home from work with bruises, cuts, and even a limping leg. Just a few months ago, my mother was choked by her patient. She was left with visible marks and bruises on her neck. She was also left with emotional trauma. It's almost impossible to forget the feeling of hands, much larger than yours, gripping your neck until you can't breathe. Despite the trauma, my mom didn't complain and returned to work only a week later. There were simply not enough nurses for her to stay out of work. After hearing everything they go through, it must make people wonder why I'd want to follow their path. When thinking of the healthcare field, I'm sure many imagine being mistreated, overworked, and even changing the diapers of babies and elderly alike. But I see something entirely different. I see the selflessness and humility of nurses like my parents. I see the way they smile at every patient. The ability to throw away your ego and show compassion for people that potentially spit or curse at you. I'm dedicated to showing my community the beauty and privileges of the nursing career. My goal in becoming a nurse is to become even half as selfless as my parents. But I also want to take this opportunity to make hospitals a safer place for everyone, including healthcare workers. After seeing my mother's exhaustion and trauma first-hand, I'm determined to make a difference. The Covid outbreak led to a devastating shortage of nurses. My parents and nurses everywhere have been directly affected by it. As I embark on my journey toward a nursing major, I am driven by a strong desire to transform lives and encourage others to join the healthcare field. I want to support those in need during their toughest times, whether it's a patient, their family, or a fellow nurse. I can't wait for the day I'm able to care for, connect with, and share my smile with a patient who needs it. If I'm able to inspire someone else like my parents inspired me, then pursuing a career in nursing was worth every hardship.

Growing up as a Filipino-American, I was given a unique lens to navigate the world. My parents moved to the United States a few months before I was born. Like many other immigrant parents, they sacrificed everything for my future. For that, much of my hard work is dedicated to them. As a child, I was raised to be very religious. Christianity is a huge part of my culture and my life. In fact, my Church almost entirely consists of Filipinos. Thanks to my father's strictness on Church attendance, I graduated high school with nearly 400 hours of volunteer work. Ever since I could speak, I've been singing worship songs and participating in the Church. It's led me to become very involved as a Worship Leader and a Sunday School Teacher. Now, I can't imagine my life without my Church. It is a special place where I belong and made lifelong friends. Unfortunately, that sense of belonging wasn't everywhere. This year, I graduated from a high school where the least populous race were Asians. It wasn't rare for someone to joke about me eating dogs or needing to "open my eyes". But instead of feeling shame, these insults gave me a purpose. In my Senior Year, my close friend and I took charge of the school's very first Asian Student Alliance. I took initiative as the Vice President. Together, we created a safe space for Asians to educate others about their cultures and bring awareness to the issues we face as a community. Everyone was welcome to join! I will never forget the time we had a karaoke day and sang to our favorite Filipino artists such as Beabadoobee, Bruno Mars, AJ Rafael, and Olivia Rodrigo. Our biggest event was when we were invited to set up a booth in our town's first AAPI festival! It truly was a great honor to share my Filipino culture with my members and town. As I continue my education at Rutgers University, I'm determined to continue sharing my Filipino culture and creating a safe space for us. But this doesn't mean that I am done learning. I will continue to learn more of my mother tongue and spread awareness of any ongoing issues we face. I hope to join clubs and meet more Filipinos with the same mission so that we could make a difference together!

My name is Milcah Moldogo and I'm a high school graduate that's determined to take up nursing. But first, I'd like to thank Rosalie's family for my opportunity to apply for this generous scholarship. I truly believe that nursing is a special career. A fact about me is that I was raised by two nurses. My parents are the epitome of positivity and they've definitely passed that onto me. Despite every bruise, insult, and curse they receive at work, they never complain. They truly love their job and I can't wait to do the same. I want to spend my days as selflessly as they do. Despite my love for nursing, I don't underestimate the grueling nature of the career. I'm very aware of the hardships that come with it. The sleepless nights, those heartbreaking moments you'll never forget, experiencing burnout and mistreatment. Just a few months ago, my mother was choked by her patient. She was left with visible marks, bruises, and a raspy voice. She told me how terrifying the experience was, yet she returned to work only a week later. My goal in becoming a nurse is to become even half as selfless as my parents. But I also want to take this opportunity to make hospitals a safer place for everyone, including healthcare workers. After seeing my mother's exhaustion and dedication first-hand, I'm determined to make a difference. I noticed that many hospitals turn a blind eye to these unfortunate events. As a nurse, I will advocate for the rights of nursing professionals and influence the policies of healthcare systems. I strive to encourage teamwork among my fellow nurses to prevent mistreatment and actively participate in committees that promote healthy work environments. I believe that I can help prevent future nurses from experiencing trauma in the workplace like my mother did. As I embark on my journey toward a nursing major, I am driven by a strong desire to transform lives and leave a positive impact on my community. I will support those in need during their toughest times, whether it's a patient, their family, or a fellow nurse. I can't wait for the day I'm able to care for and connect with my patients. I firmly believe that everyone deserves love and kindness. I intend to smile at every patient, even the ones who spit and curse at me. If I'm able to leave a positive impact on even one patient, then every hardship will be worth it.

My name is Milcah Moldogo and I just graduated from high school. I was raised by two nurses who I believed were invincible. My nursing career started with not my own, but my parents. My father has been a nurse for as long as I can remember. I've watched him care for his patients my entire childhood. So it never occurred to me that he could be the one to almost die. A nurse is someone who saves lives, not the other way around. But when I was eleven, my dad had a heart attack and almost left us. This is the moment I realized that my dad isn't an untouchable superhero. Despite his own heart problems, he never stopped working in hospitals and he never stopped caring for others. Similarly, there are many nights when my mother comes home from work with bruises, cuts, and even a limping leg. Just a few months ago, my mother was choked by her patient. She was left with visible marks and bruises on her neck. She was also left with emotional trauma. It's almost impossible to forget the feeling of hands, much larger than yours, gripping your neck until you can't breathe. Despite the trauma, my mom didn't complain and returned to work only a week later. After hearing everything they go through, it must make people wonder why I'd want to follow their path. When thinking of the healthcare field, I'm sure many imagine being mistreated, overworked, and even changing the diapers of babies and elderly alike. But I see something entirely different. I see the selflessness and humility of nurses like my parents. I see the way they smile for every patient. The ability to throw away your ego and show compassion for people that potentially spit or curse at you. It truly is a special career. My goal in becoming a nurse is to become even half as selfless as my parents. But I also want to take this opportunity to make hospitals a safer place for everyone, including healthcare workers. After seeing my mother's exhaustion and wounds first-hand, I'm determined to make a difference. As I embark on my journey toward a nursing major, I am driven by a strong desire to transform lives and leave a positive impact on my community. I want to support those in need during their toughest times, whether it's a patient, their family, or a fellow nurse. I'm not sure what specific area of nursing I want to purse. But I can't wait for the day I'm able to care for, connect with, and share my smile with a patient who needs it. If I'm able to inspire someone else like my parents inspired me, then pursuing a career in nursing was worth every hardship.

My name is Milcah Moldogo and I was raised by two nurses who I believed were invincible. My nursing career started with not my own, but my parents. My father has been a nurse for as long as I can remember. I've watched him care for his patients my entire childhood. So it never occurred to me that he could be the one to almost die. A nurse is someone who saves lives, not the other way around. But when I was eleven, my dad had a heart attack and almost left us. This is the moment I realized that my dad isn't an untouchable superhero. Despite his own heart problems, he never stopped working in hospitals and he never stopped caring for others. Similarly, there are many nights when my mother comes home from work with bruises, cuts, and even a limping leg. Just a few months ago, my mother was choked by her patient. She was left with visible marks and bruises on her neck. She was also left with emotional trauma. It's almost impossible to forget the feeling of hands, much larger than yours, gripping your neck until you can't breathe. Despite the trauma, my mom didn't complain and returned to work only a week later. After hearing everything they go through, it must make people wonder why I'd want to follow their path. When thinking of the healthcare field, I'm sure many imagine being mistreated, overworked, and even changing the diapers of babies and elderly alike. But I see something entirely different. I see the selflessness and humility of nurses like my parents. I see the way they smile for every patient.The ability to throw away your ego and show compassion for people that potentially spit or curse at you. It truly is a special career. My goal in becoming a nurse is to become even half as selfless as my parents. But I also want to take this opportunity to make hospitals a safer place for everyone, including healthcare workers. After seeing my mother's exhaustion and wounds first-hand, I'm determined to make a difference. As I embark on my journey toward a nursing major, I am driven by a strong desire to transform lives and leave a positive impact on my community. I want to support those in need during their toughest times, whether it's a patient, their family, or a fellow nurse. I can't wait for the day I'm able to care for, connect with, and share my smile with a patient who needs it. If I'm able to inspire someone else like my parents inspired me, then pursuing a career in nursing was worth every hardship.