Almost 7 years ago my grandmother was hospitalized due to stroke, putting her life in danger. Our family was devastated, but the nurses of the facility made my grandmother feel at home. The nurses cared for my grandmother as if she was their own, treating her with respect and compassion. Talking with my grandma, she still remembers those nursing encounters because they’re so meaningful for her. The fact that the nursing role can be so impactful in someone’s life touched my heart forever. They became light in the dark moment my family and I went through. Nurses are committed to serving others in moments of need. Nursing fits best with my personality because it challenges my academic skills and fulfills my soul. Taking care of people when they are vulnerable is a privilege I’d love to have. Unfortunately, life happens, and it wasn’t until last year that I could pursue my dream of nursing. I moved to the USA in 2021 through a cultural exchange program, providing childcare to a family that hosted me. Giving my best effort in everything I do is key to being successful in my career. Since I started college in 2023, I’ve tried to learn as much as I could. So, I listened carefully to each of my professors and did all my homework trying to get as much knowledge as possible. This led me to be a high honor student in all my classes and president list in all my academic semesters. A cultural shock for me when I arrived in 2021 was to see how the elderly population are frequently left behind. I personally think that more compassion and empathy towards senior citizens is needed in America. The elderly are highly appreciated in my country Colombia because we find in them wisdom and resilience. For us, our grandparents are a living legacy of perseverance and taking care of them is a priority. The whole family grows around their initial seed. Showing compassion and advocating for vulnerable population is one of my motivations to pursue nursing, so after identifying this need, I wanted to do something about it. The first thing that came to mind was my grandmother’s happiness anytime I call her, even though we see each other through a phone-screen. Then, I imagine how powerful it could be visiting in-person a nursing home and be their “granddaughter” for a few hours a week. So, I started to visit the sisters of Immaculate Heart at Camilla Hall. At first it was hard to remember their names, food or drink preferences but engaging with them and making them smile wasn’t hard at all. They warmed up easily with me and shared about their day and even stories from former missionary experiences. As the time went by, I learned quickly what they liked, and the hard part was saying goodbye every evening when their dinnertime was over. Going every week can be challenging with my nursing classes and work-study position but it’s worth it. At Camilla Hall I’ve spent over 80 hours of volunteer service, and I find this a great success in my career goal. However, I’d like to find more recognition for the elderly population. That’s why I want to become an adult gerontology nurse practitioner. Although, teaching is definitely one of my long-term goals. I’d love to inspire other students, just like some of my professors have inspired me. I want to gain respect and empathy towards the elderly from future nursing generations, because in the end we’re born as the most fragile creatures, but our life ends in the same way.

My name is Natalia Rodriguez Lopez. I’m originally from Colombia, but due to the lack of opportunities I found in my country, I decided to move to the US as an Au-pair in 2021. After saving enough money for my tuition, I changed my status to an international student in 2023 and started my first semester at DCCC in PA. Living abroad has been the most challenging yet encouraging experience of my life. Leaving my parents as an only child has been very difficult, especially now that they are getting older, but being by myself in a different country pushes me to believe in my own judgment and defeat my doubts and fears. Although it hasn’t been easy, I’m evolving into a constantly improving version of myself. This funding will positively impact my education because my resources are limited. As a first-generation student who is pursuing her degree in a foreign country, the expenses are significantly higher than many other students. I have to pay for my own housing, food, and tuition, yet my visa only allows me to work 15 hours per week which barely covers my expenses. Becoming a Registered Nurse is my top priority, so all my efforts are focused on finishing my degree. This award would help me pay my tuition and strongly increase my chances of graduating. In the future I’d like to teach in a college level institution encouraging students to pursue their dreams through education just like I’m doing. My educational journey has been impacted by the stereotypes that suppress many people in an ethnically diverse country like the United States. As a Hispanic woman living abroad, I’ve encountered the social injustices minority groups face daily. The challenges I’ve faced on my journey echo the historical struggles Latin American immigrants have faced throughout history. Fighting against the social labels of a Latina is my way to make a difference, changing how my story is told. That would be my legacy. I believe that education can destroy prejudice, social classes, and discrimination because it’s a safe place to create and work together, no matter your income, nationality, or gender. The only way to break the Matthew Effect, where the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer is through education. Scholarships like “The Dreamers Scholarship” support the power of education and make it possible for dreamers like myself to counteract this cycle. As an undergraduate student, I’m already defeating the odds of Hispanics attending a post-secondary education. Having access to knowledge so I can secure a better opportunity in the workforce is my way to honor my parents’ dreams. As a woman who is prioritizing her education, I’m also breaking down the stereotypes by becoming an empowered and independent female. I’m trying to be an example of discipline and dedication to prove that stereotypes are only oversimplified ideas that are not based on truth. The systematic injustice inherited by our ethnicity can make it harder for us to overcome barriers and pursue our dreams, yet I strongly believe it’s possible to break that cycle of negligence. I acknowledge the challenges that come within the social status an individual is born with, but I want to believe that destiny is not determined by race or ethnicity. Instead, it is built on the daily choices we make as individuals. I refuse to perpetuate stereotypes and leave my dreams on the side just because statistics say so. I want to make a difference by achieving success in my career and in my academic journey, inspiring other Hispanics who aspire to attend college and fulfill their dreams.

My name is Natalia Rodriguez Lopez. I’m originally from Colombia but I’m currently an international student at DCCC in PA. Immigrating has been the most challenging yet encouraging experience in my life. Leaving my parents as their only daughter has been tough, especially now that they are getting older. However, being alone in a different country pushed me to believe in my own judgment, defeating any doubts and fears. Learning a second language was an opportunity my parents lacked while growing up, so they worked hard to give it to me. As a first-generation student, by pursuing my education I’m simultaneously achieving theirs, which has been inspirational for me. After covid-19 pandemic, I moved to United States, leaving everything I knew behind. Deciding to live abroad without graduating from my veterinarian medicine degree in Colombia was a big challenge. I was only one-year-internship away from getting my diploma after spending 8 academic semesters. However, I didn’t feel that was the path I was meant to follow. I felt stuck in a comfort zone that I didn’t like, so I changed it. In 2021, I risked resources, time, and efforts by coming to the US through an exchange program as an au pair starting a whole new life. During that time, I decided to follow my dream of helping people, this time through nursing, so I saved money for my tuition and expenses. I wanted to study here because the cultural diversity of professors and classmates make American education unique and advanced. Additionally, the high-quality education and research done in US is unparallel to what it’s been done in Latin-American countries like mine. Starting a new career from zero in my late twenties wasn’t exactly part of my life plan and it has definitely been a challenge. Having classes with kids 10 years younger than me made me doubt whether I made the right choice, but I saw this degree transition as a way to simultaneously impact more lives and achieve my maximum potential. I learned that life is a non-lineal journey, and everyone’s process is different. Nursing fits best with my personality because it challenges my academic skills and fulfills my soul. Taking care of people when they are vulnerable is a privilege I’d love to have. My parents taught me to always aim to give my best effort in everything I do, so I’ve committed myself to doing so. Making them proud inspires me to keep doing my best. Likewise, one of my professors at DCCC inspired me to maximize the meaning of life. Dr Jonen taught me that living without trying my hardest is a waste because giving your best rewards you with beautiful relationships, appreciation for life and development of a strong and disciplined character. He is another Latino who defeated the adds, getting his doctorate degree and dedicating his life to teaching. He inspired me to be a model for other minority students, showing them that it is possible to change your life and achieve any goals. My post-graduate plans are getting my bachelor’s degree in nursing while working to gain experience in the field. Teaching is definitely one of my long-term goals because I’m passionate about academia. However, I would like to become an expert in a topic before becoming a professor, so getting a master or doctorate should come first. Further down the route I’d love to go back to my home country because the health system there needs improvement. I want to teach my valuable knowledge learned in America and share it to future generations in Colombia to make a difference there too.

My name is Natalia Rodriguez Lopez. I’m originally from Colombia but I’m currently an international student at DCCC in PA. In 2021, I was only one-year-internship away from getting my diploma after spending 8 academic semesters in a veterinarian medicine degree, but I decided to move to United states. At that moment of my life, I didn’t feel becoming a veterinarian was the path I was meant to follow. I felt stuck in a comfort zone that I didn’t like, so I changed it. I risked resources, time, and effort to start a whole new life by coming to the US through an exchange program as an au pair. During that time, I saved money for my tuition and expenses and decided to follow my dream of helping others, this time through nursing. I see this degree transition as a way to simultaneously impact more lives and achieve my maximum potential. Nursing fits best with my personality because it challenges my academic skills and fulfills my soul. Understanding how the human body works is mind-blowing, yet being there for others in tough times is what I see myself doing. What inspires me to pursue my education is being able to take care of people when they are vulnerable because it’s a privilege I would love to have. I believe that education can end prejudice, social classes, and discrimination because it’s a safe place to create and work together, no matter your income, nationality, or gender. “Through education dreams can become true”, my parents constantly said while growing up. So, as a first-generation student, by pursuing my education I’m simultaneously achieving theirs. My short-term goals are getting my associate degree in nursing and start working as a registered nurse. I’d love to get my bachelor’s degree in nursing while working so I can get experience in the field. Although I haven’t decided what specific field I want to practice in, my previous and current volunteering experience with the elderly population has been meaningful to me. I believe they are a forgotten community that has so much wisdom and love to give. The elderly are like an antique vase, underrated by many but appreciated by those who know the beauty of life. They seem fragile, but they're strong in their souls. I find it incredible to see how the cycle of life starts as a helpless baby and finishes as a vulnerable senior. The beginning and the end of life always in need of care and love. I always knew my life purpose was giving care and hope to others, so I find in nursing that possibility. Working in nursing homes is a job that requires vocation. There will be good and bad days, but for all of them, nurses need to be caring and understanding, which shows their true love for what they do. My goal is to be a nurse who makes a difference by committing myself to serving others in moments of need. This might be within a nursing home facility or somewhere else, but I want to become light in dark moments for my future patients and their families. Teaching is definitely one of my long-term goals because I’m passionate about academia. However, I would like to become an expert in a topic before becoming a professor, so getting a master or doctorate should come first. I would love to inspire other students, just like some of my DCCC professors have inspired me. I want to be a model for other minority students so they can see that it’s possible to change your life and achieve your goals.