I was born to a young single mother in a small mountain town known as Ruidoso, New Mexico. The hospital where I was born was very small and only had the absolute necessities. I was born with a rare congenital defect known as Goldenhar syndrome however, this diagnosis was missed at birth, and I would not be diagnosed until my mom noticed that something was not right and took me to a large university hospital in Albuquerque nearly six months later. I would go on to have many surgeries and countless appointments with specialists who to this day, still check up on my health regularly to ensure that nothing has gone amiss due to my condition. Although being born with such a rare condition has certainly given me many challenges to overcome throughout the years, it is also what ultimately sparked my interest in the medical field. Spending so much time in hospitals and doctors’ offices allowed me to meet so many different nurses. Many of these nurses took such great care of me, taking the time to get to know me, and comforting me during procedures and after surgeries. In my eyes, these nurses were like superheroes with the knowledge needed to make the lives of others better. I knew by the time I was in fifth grade that I wanted to work in the medical field and help others, the way that so many doctors and nurses had helped me. As I got older, I began to think about how lucky I had been that my mom had taken me to the university hospital where I had been diagnosed with Goldenhar syndrome. Being diagnosed allowed me to receive medical care early in life so that I could live without anyone even knowing that I have a rare defect. I also realized how fortunate I had been to be able to receive such amazing care from so many different specialists even though I grew up in poverty. But what about the people who are born with medical conditions in small, rural hospitals who were misdiagnosed, or never diagnosed at all? What about the people who need medical care but simply cannot afford it? This is when I realized that if I dedicated my life to the field of medicine and worked hard to earn a college degree, I could give back to my community by working as a nurse in underprivileged areas. Doing so would allow me to help others and maybe even change the course of someone’s life by providing medical care that they otherwise would not receive. Now that I am in nursing school and have the opportunity to work with real patients, I realize how rewarding it is to be on the other end of healthcare, not as the patient but as the provider. However, I also realize how expensive it is to attend college and how difficult it is to come up with the funds when each new semester rolls around and tuition is due. Being awarded a scholarship such as this would not only be an honor but would also allow me to pursue my dream of helping others the way that so many have helped me.

I was raised by a young single mother who regardless of the fact that we struggled to make ends meet, never hesitated to do whatever she could to help others. This is a moral that she made sure to pass down to her children, two of which are United States Marines; one who is studying to become a geologist who will be able to help understand climate change; and me, who has dedicated the last ten years to learning everything that I can about the human body. I was born with a rare congenital defect known as Goldenhar syndrome. Because I was born in a small, rural hospital, I was not diagnosed with my condition at birth. I would spend plenty of time in hospitals and doctors offices throughout my life, receive many surgeries, and would meet many doctors and nurses along the way who would ultimately inspire me to one day go into the healthcare field as well. In January of 2021, I was accepted into nursing school where I could finally turn my dreams of helping people, the way that so many healthcare providers have helped me, into a reality. Going to nursing school in the midst of a global pandemic has given me the unique opportunity to help people during a time when everyone is struggling to find out what life in a pandemic looks like. I have been able to rekindle my love for volunteer work through my college and have had the incredible opportunity to support and help heal people during some of the most challenging times of their lives in a hospital setting. Now that I have had the chance to experience different specialties in the hospital, I hope to one day become a pediatric intensive care nurse and ultimately, a nurse anesthetist. Working in the ICU does not come without its challenges. Sometimes, regardless of the teams best efforts, things do not work out the way that everyone hoped they would. However, working in the ICU also gives you the opportunity to experience things that can only be described as miracles. Working as a pediatric ICU nurse and ultimately a nurse anesthetist will give me the opportunity to work with kids like me, who are struggling with health challenges that no kid should have to face and it will allow me to help heal kids so that they can continue on in life and one day be able to accomplish their goals and live their dreams. Growing up in poverty meant that my mom relied on government health insurance and special programs such as the Eyes on Sight Lions Club to provide me with glasses that we otherwise would not have been able to afford and the healthcare that I desperately needed to manage my health conditions. Becoming a healthcare provider myself means that I can volunteer my time and services to give back to the community that gave so much to me as an impoverished child. It also means that I can expand beyond just my own community and become part of organizations such as Doctors Without Borders where I can help make a positive impact on people around the globe. Receiving a scholarship such as this one would not only be an honor, but would also aid me in my mission to provide healthcare to people throughout my community and around the world.

I was born on a lazy Sunday to a young single mother in a small mountain town known as Ruidoso, New Mexico. The hospital that I was born in was very small and only had the absolute necessities. I was born with a rare congenital defect known as Goldenhar syndrome however, this diagnosis was missed at birth, and I would not be diagnosed until my mom noticed that something was not right and took me to a large university hospital in Albuquerque nearly six months later. I would go on to have many surgeries and countless appointments with specialists who to this day, still check up on my health regularly to ensure that nothing has gone amiss due to my condition. Although being born with such a rare condition has certainly given me many challenges to overcome throughout the years, it is also what ultimately sparked my interest in the medical field. Spending so much time in hospitals and doctors’ offices allowed me to meet so many different nurses. Many of these nurses took such great care of me, taking the time to get to know me, and comforting me during procedures and after surgeries. In my eyes, these nurses were like superheroes with the knowledge needed to make the lives of others better. I knew by the time I was in fifth grade that I wanted to work in the medical field and help others, the way that so many doctors and nurses had helped me. As I got older, I began to think about how lucky I had been that my mom had taken me to the university hospital where I had been diagnosed with Goldenhar syndrome. Being diagnosed had allowed me to receive medical care early in life so that I could live without anyone even knowing that I have a rare defect. I also realized how fortunate I had been to be able to receive such amazing care from so many different specialists even though I grew up in poverty. But what about the people who are born with medical conditions in small, rural hospitals who were misdiagnosed, or never diagnosed at all? What about the people who need medical care but simply cannot afford it? This is when I realized that if I dedicated my life to the field of medicine and worked hard to earn a college degree I could give back to my community by working as a nurse in underprivileged areas. Doing so would allow me to help others and maybe even change the course of someone’s life by providing medical care that they otherwise would not receive. Now that I am in nursing school and have the opportunity to work with real patients, I realize how rewarding it is to be on the other end of healthcare, not as the patient but as the provider. However, I also realize how expensive it is to attend college and how difficult it is to come up with the funds when each new semester rolls around and tuition is due. I am very proud to be one of very few Native American women in healthcare. Being awarded a scholarship such as this would not only be an honor but would also allow me to pursue my dream of helping others the way that so many have helped me.