My passion for nursing is deeply rooted in both my upbringing and my faith. Growing up, I watched my mother work as an emergency room nurse, and through her I learned what it truly means to serve others with compassion, strength, and selflessness. I saw firsthand the emotional and physical demands of nursing, but I also witnessed the fulfillment that comes from helping people during their most difficult moments. Her example planted the seed for my own desire to pursue nursing and showed me that caring for others is both a responsibility and a privilege. Christianity is also a central part of who I am, and it strongly shapes my purpose in life. I believe that God placed me on this earth to help others, to serve with love, and to bring comfort where there is pain. Nursing aligns perfectly with these values. It allows me to live out my faith through action by treating every patient with dignity, compassion, and kindness. I view nursing not only as a profession, but as a calling—one that allows me to reflect God’s love by caring for those who are suffering. What I hope to gain from my career as a nurse is the ability to make a real, lasting difference in people’s lives. I want to develop strong clinical skills while also growing emotionally and spiritually. Nursing will challenge me to become resilient, patient, and adaptable, while teaching me the importance of teamwork, communication, and advocacy. I hope to build meaningful relationships with patients and families and to be someone they can trust during uncertain and frightening times. The area of nursing I hope to enter is pediatric oncology. I have always loved working with children, and I am especially drawn to caring for those facing serious illnesses. Children with cancer demonstrate incredible strength and resilience, even in the face of fear and pain, and I want to be a source of comfort and stability for them. Pediatric oncology nurses play a vital role not only in administering treatments, but also in supporting children emotionally and helping families navigate one of the hardest experiences of their lives. In this specialty, I hope to make an impact by providing compassionate, patient-centered care that supports both the child and their family. I want to be a nurse who brings positivity, reassurance, and hope into the hospital environment, even on difficult days. By combining skilled nursing care with empathy and faith-driven compassion, I hope to ease fear, advocate for my patients, and remind families that they are not alone. Ultimately, my passion for nursing comes from a desire to serve God by serving others. Through pediatric oncology nursing, I hope to honor that calling by caring for children with love, strength, and unwavering compassion.

1. My personal inspiration for pursuing a career in nursing is deeply rooted in both my upbringing and my faith. Growing up, my mother worked as an emergency room nurse, and through her example I witnessed the strength, compassion, and dedication that the profession requires. I saw how she cared for patients during moments of fear, pain, and uncertainty, and how she remained calm and selfless under pressure. Watching her serve others with such commitment showed me that nursing is not simply a job, but a calling centered on caring for people when they are most vulnerable. Christianity plays an essential role in my life, and it has shaped my understanding of purpose and service. I believe that God placed me on this earth to help others, and nursing aligns directly with that belief. The profession allows me to live out my faith through action by showing compassion, empathy, and respect to every patient. I am inspired by the idea that through nursing, I can be a source of comfort, hope, and support for those who are suffering, while honoring my values of service and love for others. In addition to my upbringing and faith, my love for children has strongly influenced my desire to become a nurse. I am especially drawn to pediatric oncology nursing, where I can care for children facing serious illness with strength, patience, and compassion. I want to be someone who brings reassurance to young patients and support to their families during incredibly difficult times. Combining my faith, my role model in my mother, and my passion for caring for children has inspired me to pursue nursing as a lifelong career dedicated to service, ambition, and meaningful impact. 2. To me, the phrase “human touch” represents compassionate presence and intentional care rooted in love, empathy, and respect for human dignity. It goes beyond physical contact and includes listening without judgment, offering reassurance, and being emotionally present during moments of vulnerability. Human touch reflects the belief that every person is created with purpose and worth, and in healthcare, it is the foundation of truly holistic care. Human touch can have a powerful impact on patient care by creating trust and comfort during times of fear and uncertainty. When patients feel seen and valued as individuals, they are more likely to open up about their concerns and participate actively in their care. Simple gestures—such as sitting with a patient, speaking gently, or offering encouragement—can ease anxiety and provide a sense of peace. In moments when patients feel overwhelmed or powerless, compassionate presence can be just as healing as medical treatment. Faith plays an important role in how I understand human touch. As a Christian, I believe that caring for others is a way of serving God and reflecting His love. Human touch allows nurses to demonstrate patience, kindness, and humility, especially when patients are experiencing pain or loss. It acknowledges not only physical needs, but also emotional and spiritual ones. By approaching care with compassion and grace, nurses can help patients feel supported in every aspect of their healing journey. Human touch is especially meaningful in nursing care for children and their families. Medical environments can be frightening for pediatric patients, and gentle reassurance can help them feel safe and understood. For families, compassionate communication and emotional support can bring comfort during stressful or heartbreaking situations. Being present, offering prayer when appropriate, or simply listening can provide strength and hope during difficult times. Ultimately, human touch strengthens the nurse-patient relationship and allows care to extend beyond clinical skills. While technology and medical advancements are essential, they cannot replace compassion. Human touch reflects the heart of nursing and the call to serve others with love. Through faith-driven care, nurses can make a lasting impact by offering comfort, dignity, and hope to those they serve.

One of the most tremendous adversities I have faced occurred during my freshman year of high school, when I learned a truth that permanently changed my understanding of my family and of trust itself. I discovered that my father had lied to me my entire life and had an affair while my mother was pregnant with me. My mother had chosen not to tell me because she wanted me to grow up with a positive image of my father, hoping to protect my childhood and allow me to form my own understanding as I matured. As I grew older and more curious, the truth eventually came to light, and it felt as though the foundation of my world had suddenly shifted. At the time, I viewed this experience as the hardest moment of my life. I felt betrayed, confused, and deeply hurt—not only by my father’s actions, but by the realization that something so significant had been hidden from me for so long. I struggled to process how someone I trusted could have caused such pain, and this discovery led to overwhelming trust issues. I began to question people’s intentions and found it difficult to believe that honesty and loyalty truly existed. Emotionally, it felt isolating, and I carried a heaviness that affected how I viewed relationships and vulnerability. Despite the pain, I knew I had to decide how I would respond to this adversity. My plan of action was not immediate or easy, but it was intentional. My faith played a central role in guiding my response. As a Christian, I believe deeply in forgiveness, knowing that God has forgiven me countless times despite my own shortcomings. I realized that holding onto anger would only deepen my pain and prevent healing. Choosing forgiveness did not mean excusing my father’s actions or forgetting the hurt, but it meant releasing myself from bitterness and allowing space for personal growth and peace. Through this experience, my perception of life changed in profound ways. I learned that people are imperfect, even those we look up to, and that pain can coexist with love. While the experience caused long-lasting trust issues, it also strengthened my relationship with my mother in ways I never anticipated. Her honesty, sacrifice, and desire to protect me became more apparent, and our bond grew deeper through shared vulnerability and open communication. I gained a greater appreciation for resilience, grace, and emotional strength. Ultimately, this adversity taught me that hardship can shape us without defining us. It showed me the power of forgiveness, the importance of compassion, and the value of choosing growth over resentment. While the experience was painful, it reshaped my understanding of life, faith, and relationships, leaving me stronger, more empathetic, and better equipped to face future challenges with grace and purpose.

My passion for nursing is deeply rooted in both my upbringing and my faith. Growing up, I watched my mother work as an emergency room nurse, and through her I learned what it truly means to serve others with compassion, strength, and selflessness. I saw firsthand the emotional and physical demands of nursing, but I also witnessed the fulfillment that comes from helping people during their most difficult moments. Her example planted the seed for my own desire to pursue nursing and showed me that caring for others is both a responsibility and a privilege. Christianity is also a central part of who I am, and it strongly shapes my purpose in life. I believe that God placed me on this earth to help others, to serve with love, and to bring comfort where there it's needed. I wholeheartedly believe nursing aligns perfectly with these values. It allows me to live out my faith through action by treating every patient with dignity, compassion, and kindness. I view nursing not only as a profession, but as a calling, one that allows me to reflect God’s love by caring for those who are suffering. What I hope to gain from my career as a nurse is the ability to make a real, lasting difference in people’s lives. I want to develop strong clinical skills while also growing emotionally and spiritually. Nursing will challenge me to become resilient, patient, and adaptable, while teaching me the importance of teamwork, communication, and advocacy. I hope to build meaningful relationships with patients and families and to be someone they can trust during uncertain and frightening times. The area of nursing I hope to enter is pediatric oncology. I have always loved working with children, and I am especially drawn to caring for those facing serious illnesses. Children with cancer demonstrate incredible strength and resilience, even in the face of fear and pain, and I want to be a source of comfort and stability for them. Pediatric oncology nurses play a vital role not only in administering various types of cancer treatments, but also in supporting children emotionally and helping families navigate one of the hardest experiences of their lives. In this specialty, I hope to make an impact by providing compassionate, patient-centered care that supports both the child and their family. I want to be a nurse who brings positivity, reassurance, and hope into the hospital environment, even on difficult days. By combining skilled nursing care with empathy and faith-driven compassion, I hope to ease fear, advocate for my patients, and remind families that they are not alone. Ultimately, my passion for nursing comes from a desire to serve God by serving others. Through pediatric oncology nursing, I hope to honor that calling by caring for children with love, strength, and unwavering compassion.

At some point during their childhood, kids are asked what they want to be when they grow up. My answer has always been to be a nurse just like my mom. Growing up, I constantly heard stories about what she experienced as a nurse. She even told me a story about how she gave an unconscious guy CPR and brought his pulse back to the gym. day. She had an impact on people's lives, not just in a hospital setting. She was a hero growing up, she was my hero, and still is. She works in the ER, and I didn’t have a great desire for that. I had a different desire, but this one also came from my mom. My mother went through a lot the day that she had me. She has just found out about my fathers affair, and felt extremely lonely during her pregnancy. Gestation alone is hard enough on a woman, and adding on all of that extra baggage, I had no clue how my mom would have gotten through it. My mom talked to me about the labor and delivery nurse that got her through a time like this. My mother felt extremely isolated, but the nurse was there to listen to my mothers struggles and help her with it. She was a friend at that moment, but also served as her caregiver. My mother’s stress diminished greatly because of this nurse. Hearing about my moms experience when having to go through what she did made me realize that I want to have the effect that nurse had on her. Ever since then, my curiosity for nursing sparked even more and I decided that I want to be a labor and delivery nurse. I would never want another mother to feel like my mom did that day, and although I can’t solve all of those issues for every pregnant woman in the world, I can do my best to have a positive impact on pregnant mothers. I have recently committed to the University of Kentucky with a major of nursing, with the goal of obtaining by BSN, and eventually becoming a labor and delivery nurse. Although this is exciting, the University of Kentucky is expensive, and it’s going to take a lot of money to get through the 4 years of nursing school, along with the long term goal of becoming a nurse practitioner. Receiving a scholarship like this would immensely help me reach my goal and desire to make an impact on mothers through becoming a labor and delivery nurse.

My mother’s mental health battle has piqued my interest in pursuing a certain career. I wish to pursue a career where mothers’ mental health is being taken into account and prioritized. While my mom was pregnant with me, she was at the most vulnerable stage in her life. She would go to therapy to try to cope with the reality of my father’s affair, all while undergoing the drastic changes she was going through with her pregnancy. When it was time for her to deliver me, my father didn’t show up to the hospital to be there for her and for his own kid. No mother should have to deliver a kid under so much stress and pressure. My mother’s story makes me tear up every single time. Although she demonstrated strength during that time that helped her in the long run, a mother should never have to go through that type of loneliness. Being in a nursing career tech program at my high school, I have also gotten the opportunity to shadow the mother baby and labor and delivery units at the nearby hospital. There was one instance where the mother was explaining how much pain she was in and how stressed out she was from just having a kid, and her husband was across the room, on his phone, completely ignoring her. She was crying in pain, and she had no support from the person who’s supposed to support her the most. Mothers need extra support when they are in such an exposed situation like this. Listening to and watching these kinds of experiences have altered my career interest. I know there are countless cases of these types of things, with way worse circumstances for the mother. I want to make a difference and become a positive factor for a women who may have to go through similar situations like those. Another factor that sparked my interest in working in an area involving childbirth was my anatomy and physiology class junior year. We learned about the stages of pregnancy, all the way from a fertilized egg to a fetus. With that, we learned about all of the hormone changes a mother goes through while pregnant, and I then realized how much it truly does to a woman's body. Gestation is so hard on a women’s body, and it causes so much change and adversity that they have to do with. My mother and the women I encountered while shadowing already had enough stress as it was being pregnant, extra stress from others is cancerous to them. I’ve always wanted to work in healthcare, but now my interest has shifted to a more specific type of nursing in order to be a support system for patient’s like this. I now want to be a labor and delivery or NICU nurse to try to aleve women from feeling lonely during childbirth and post childbirth. I believe that it’s important to prioritize women’s mental health and to be part of their support system during a time where they need one.

My mother’s mental health battle has piqued my interest in pursuing a certain career. I wish to pursue a career where mothers’ mental health is being taken into account and prioritized. While my mom was pregnant with me, she was at the most vulnerable stage in her life. She would go to therapy to try to cope with the reality of my father’s affair, all while undergoing the drastic changes she was going through with her pregnancy. When it was time for her to deliver me, my father didn’t show up to the hospital to be there for her and for his own kid. No mother should have to deliver a kid under so much stress and pressure. My mother’s story makes me tear up every single time. Although she demonstrated strength during that time that helped her in the long run, a mother should never have to go through that type of loneliness. Being in a nursing career tech program at my high school, I have also gotten the opportunity to shadow the mother baby and labor and delivery units at the nearby hospital. There was one instance where the mother was explaining how much pain she was in and how stressed out she was from just having a kid, and her husband was across the room, on his phone, completely ignoring her. She was crying in pain, and she had no support from the person who’s supposed to support her the most. Mothers need extra support when they are in such an exposed situation like this. Listening to and watching these kinds of experiences have altered my career interest. I know there are countless cases of these types of things, with way worse circumstances for the mother. I want to make a difference and become a positive factor for a women who may have to go through similar situations like those. Another factor that sparked my interest in working in an area involving childbirth was my anatomy and physiology class junior year. We learned about the stages of pregnancy, all the way from a fertilized egg to a fetus. With that, we learned about all of the hormone changes a mother goes through while pregnant, and I then realized how much it truly does to a woman's body. Gestation is so hard on a women’s body, and it causes so much change and adversity that they have to do with. My mother and the women I encountered while shadowing already had enough stress as it was being pregnant, extra stress from others is cancerous to them. I’ve always wanted to work in healthcare, but now my interest has shifted to a more specific type of nursing in order to be a support system for patient’s like this. I now want to be a labor and delivery or NICU nurse to try to aleve women from feeling lonely during childbirth and post childbirth. I believe that it’s important to prioritize women’s mental health and to be part of their support system during a time where they need one.

At some point during their childhood, kids are asked what they want to be when they grow up. My answer has always been to be a nurse just like my mom. Growing up, I constantly heard stories about what she experienced as a nurse. She even told me a story about how she gave an unconscious guy CPR and brought his pulse back to the gym. day. She had an impact on people's lives, not just in a hospital setting. She was a hero growing up, she was my hero, and still is. She works in the ER, and I didn’t have a great desire to do geriatrics. I had a different desire, but this one also came from my mom. My mother went through a lot the day that she had me. She has just found out about my fathers affair, and felt extremely lonely during her pregnancy. Gestation alone is hard enough on a woman, and adding on all of that extra baggage, I had no clue how my mom would have gotten through it. My mom talked to me about the labor and delivery nurse that got her through a time like this. My mother felt extremely isolated, but the nurse was there to listen to my mothers struggles and help her with it. She was a friend at that moment, but also served as her caregiver. My mother’s stress diminished greatly because of this nurse. Hearing about my moms experience when having to go through what she did made me realize that I want to have the effect that nurse had on her. Ever since then, my curiosity for nursing sparked even more and I decided that I want to be a labor and delivery nurse. I would never want another mother to feel like my mom did that day, and although I can’t solve all of those issues for every pregnant woman in the world, I can do my best to have a positive impact on pregnant mothers. My future healthcare goals include getting my BSN from the University of Kentucky. My first semester of senior year I obtained my Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate from my career tech program, so I also want to get experience as an aid while I’m going through nursing school. After I get my BSN, I want to work as a labor and delivery nurse for a couple years, and eventually go back to school to become an OB-GYN nurse practitioner. Throughout my time in the medical field, I wish to have a positive impact on all kinds of people, just like the impact that nurse had on my mother.

I faced tremendous adversity the day I found out about my father’s affair. Even though I found out the truth 15 years after it happened, it altered everything I thought about him and damaged the relationship that I had with him. He put on a front for years, blaming the divorce on my mother when in reality, he was a narcissist who I needed to get away from for my own sanity. Although I made the decision to cut him out of my life, I knew that wouldn’t hurt as bad as the constant hurt I would be feeling if I let him use and abuse me. I knew our relationship had come to an end. After weeks and months of crying about the damage he did to my mother and myself, I realized that this was a time to grow instead of time to dwell. I decided that it was time to be mature, learn to forgive, but know that I don’t need someone like that in my life. I began to take pride in numerous self care activities. This included hanging out with friends more, taking more time for physical self-care, working out, and taking pride in my school work and future career. Growing up, my dream was always to be a nurse and go to a big SEC school, but this dream seemed pointless with a narcissistic father in my ear telling me that would be too difficult for me. He would tell me over and over again that I wasn’t going to make it, and to pick something easier for myself. Having a father who’s goal in life seemed to be better than everyone that he surrounded himself with pushed me further, it was like a challenge to prove him wrong. I did just that, I proved him wrong. I finished my junior year being in the top 3% of my class of over 600. In my college credit anatomy and physiology class, I also finished with the 2nd highest average test grade. There were numerous ugly times despite these accomplishments. Some days having an absent father hit harder than others, especially during the holiday season and my senior night for soccer, but I knew that I had to keep going. I knew it was going to workout in the long run, and I was right. I applied for my dream college, University of Kentucky, as a pre nursing major. Not only did I get accepted into a selective major, I also received a merit scholarship for my grades and am looking to be selected into the honors program. I did all of that, without needing my father. Even though this time of my life was extremely difficult and is still upsetting some days, I am proud of myself for looking for the positive side of it all, and as an opportunity to take steps forward, instead of backwards. As I progress through life, and will undoubtedly struggle with adversity, I will remind myself that it’ll always get better, and there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, always. I will continue to push myself to be the best version of myself. I thank the universe every day for his true colors coming out, it’s been and will continue to be my greatest motivation.

My mother’s mental health battle has piqued my interest in pursuing a certain career. I wish to pursue a career where mothers’ mental health is being taken into account and prioritized. While my mom was pregnant with me, she was at the most vulnerable stage in her life. She would go to therapy to try to cope with the reality of my father’s affair, all while undergoing the drastic changes she was going through with her pregnancy. When it was time for her to deliver me, my father didn’t show up to the hospital to be there for her and for his own kid. No mother should have to deliver a kid under so much stress and pressure. Being in a nursing career tech program at my high school, I have also gotten the opportunity to shadow the mother baby and labor and delivery units at the nearby hospital. There was one instance where the mother was explaining how much pain she was in and how stressed out she was from just having a kid, and her husband was across the room, on his phone, completely ignoring her. Mothers need extra support when they are in such an exposed situation like this. Listening to and watching these kinds of experiences have altered my career interest. I know there are countless cases of these types of things, with way worse circumstances for the mother. Another factor that sparked my interest in working in an area involving childbirth was my anatomy and physiology class junior year. We learned about the stages of pregnancy, all the way from a fertilized egg to a fetus. With that, we learned about all of the hormone changes a mother goes through while pregnant, and I then realized how much it truly does to a woman's body. My mother and the women I encountered while shadowing already had enough stress as it was being pregnant, extra stress from others is cancerous to them. I’ve always wanted to work in healthcare, but now my interest has shifted to a more specific type of nursing in order to be caregiver for patient’s like these ones. I now want to be a labor and delivery or NICU nurse to try to alieve women from feeling lonely during childbirth and post childbirth. I believe that it’s important to prioritize women’s mental health and to be part of their support system during a time where they need one.

My mother had the biggest impact on my life. For the first few years of my life, it was just us two and my older brother, with her endlessly working night shift and our grandparents being primarily babysitters. She felt so much guilt that my brother and I wouldn’t get to grow up with two parents who love each other, even though she’s not the one to blame. When I hit high school and I began to think about things on a deeper level, curiosity sparked about what happened with the love my mother and father once had. My father had an affair while with my mother, and she still fought for their love just for the sake of us kids to grow up with the “normal” life that she wanted us to have.This happened while my mother was pregnant with me, and I found out winter of my freshman year, 15 years after it happened. During those 15 years my mom kept it a secret from me so that my dad and I’s relationship wouldn’t be in jeopardy. There were many times that I hurt my mother because of lies my dad would tell me, he was scared of me realizing who he really was so he projected anything that came up onto my mother. I resented my mother for 2 years, yet she never told me the truth, she wanted my life to be as easy as she could make it. Through those decisions and the way that she displays herself, my mother demonstrates selflessness. She persistently puts everyone before herself, especially my brother and I, and the two extra kids gained from her finding my step father. Whenever us kids need something, or need to ever rant about something, she drops everything in order to be there for us. I could count the amount of times on her hand that she has missed any of our kids sporting events. Her life literally revolves around making sure we grow up feeling loved and heard, even if she struggles with those essential feelings. Her selfishness and way of loving is how I desire to live my life, just like her. Often, I put others' feelings before myself, since my mother did just that, and sometimes it gets me hurt. My mother explained that although being selfless can force you to get hurt sometimes, you’ll never regret having a big heart. My mom believes that if you show people you have a big heart, and that you care on a deep level, that things will eventually workout for you, even if they take time. It took my mom a long time before she realized that this was true, she eventually found my now step-father, and she has never been happier. She is finally being treated right after she finally got the love that she deserves. My mom’s selflessness and big heart push me to be a better person every single day.