I am currently a Nursing student at Pikes Peak Community College, and I plan to go further than my Associate's Degree in Nursing to earn a Bachelor's. I grew up poor and around underprivileged and underrepresented communities almost all my life. My mom grew up poor, my grandmother grew up poor, it goes on. One common theme I saw was that we were all so scared to go to the doctor. Calling an ambulance or getting something checked out was our last resort and we wouldn't go unless we thought we could actually be dying. The list of reasons was always the same: it's too expensive, the doctors and nurses won't believe me or will treat me unfairly, what if there really is something horribly wrong with me and I have to spend days or weeks on end in the hospital... the anxiety does not end. This carried with me all my life and sparked a strong motivation in me to change this. I want to become a nurse and fight for affordable, if not free, healthcare and provide the best possible care for my patients of all backgrounds. I will never have a patient leave the facility I'm working in feeling like their needs were not met or they were ignored. I am white - and with that, I have privileges that I need to use for change. The medical racism and prejudice that has been ingrained into our learning and practice is far overdue to be erased. There are too many white, non-Black medical professionals who still hold onto these outdated and, quite frankly, disgusting ideologies that continue to mistreat Black patients and patients of color. Too many cis-gendered medical professionals that mistreat LGBTQ+ patients. Rich or middle-class medical professionals that mistreat poor and homeless patients. Abled medical professionals who mistreat disabled patients. Thus, I cannot enter this profession knowing that these biases exist without actively challenging myself and my peers who fit these criteria to take it upon ourselves to change and do better for our communities, the country, and the world. We are caregivers who are being trusted with people's lives. We must do better to be the voice that knows when to speak up and when to stand back. I am pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Nursing intending to become an emergency room nurse. I plan to work as hard as I can every day from the moment I put on my scrubs and walk into the building and bring one thousand percent attention, care, and dedication to my career and my patients. I have been and will continue to fight tirelessly for medical justice and affordability.

This is Buzz, my one-year old border collie! I took this photo as an attempt to get some cute fall pictures - the leaf was supposed to go on his head. But he decided it was a snack instead. Instagram handle: @mo.jtc