Growing up in a Hispanic household, I was taught the value of hard work and sacrifice, but I also felt the weight of expectations and stereotypes. In many Hispanic families, pursuing higher education isn’t always seen as the top priority. For many, life demands that you work as soon as possible to help support the family. I’ve seen how these expectations can hold people back, and I’ve always been determined not to let that happen to me. I hold myself to a high standard because I want to break that cycle and prove that we are capable of achieving so much more. My mother has been the greatest example of strength and perseverance in my life. She’s a single mother who has worked endlessly to provide for my sisters and me. Her journey hasn’t been easy. She went through the loss of my grandfather—her father—which pushed her into a period of deep depression. Around the same time, my parents separated, and we lost our home. Despite the emotional and financial stress, my mom got back on her feet and continued to fight for us. Watching her go through all of that while still being our provider, motivator, and safe space has shaped who I am today. I want to make her proud. I want to show her that all her sacrifices were worth it. That motivation led me to take advantage of every opportunity I had in high school, especially through my school’s health academy. Over the course of three years, I was given the chance to not only study healthcare but to experience it hands-on. We learned how to assess patients, practiced finding veins, drawing blood, using medical equipment, and even became CPR certified. One of the units that resonated with me the most was when we learned about fetal development and the journey of pregnancy. I was fascinated by the complexity of it all and deeply moved by the idea of helping bring life into the world. That’s when I knew: I wanted to become a labor and delivery nurse. Nursing is more than a career to me—it’s a calling. I want to be the person who patients can count on in their most vulnerable moments. I want to guide mothers through the process of childbirth, provide them with comfort, and ensure they feel seen, safe, and cared for. Becoming a labor and delivery nurse is how I want to make a meaningful impact. But I don’t just want to help people in a hospital setting—I want to give back to the community that raised me. I’ve seen firsthand the challenges people in underrepresented communities face when it comes to accessing quality healthcare. I want to be a part of the solution. As a nurse, I hope to return to serve communities like mine, offering not just medical care, but compassion, education, and support. I want to be a role model, especially for young Hispanic girls who may not believe they can go to college or pursue a professional career. I want to show them that it’s possible—that they don’t have to fit the stereotype, and that their dreams are valid and achievable. Pursuing a nursing degree isn’t just about fulfilling my own dreams—it’s about honoring my mom’s sacrifices, uplifting my community, and proving that I’m capable of creating a better future for myself and those around me. I’m ready to work hard, stay focused, and become the kind of nurse that patients trust, communities respect, and my family can be proud of.

Growing up in a Hispanic household, I’ve always felt a strong responsibility to succeed and rise above the stereotypes that are often imposed on our community. In many Hispanic families, education can sometimes feel secondary, and achieving higher education seems like a distant dream. However, my mom always emphasized the importance of education and pushed me to set high standards for myself. She instilled in me the belief that I should not let cultural expectations limit my potential. As a Hispanic individual, I’ve often felt the pressure to prove myself, to defy the stereotypes that label people like me as less capable or ambitious. I refuse to let that define me. I am determined to break through those barriers by showing that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve greatness. It’s important to me to set a higher standard for myself—one that doesn’t conform to societal limitations. I want to be someone who demonstrates that success comes from hard work, not from where you come from. My mom’s struggles and sacrifices have motivated me to pursue education seriously. Watching her face challenges head-on has inspired me to keep pushing forward despite obstacles. I want to become a nurse not only to fulfill my own dreams but to show my family and community that it’s possible to break through stereotypes and achieve success. By pursuing a career in healthcare, I aim to prove that with resilience, hard work, and determination, anyone can overcome challenges and reach their goals, no matter their background.

Empowerment, to me, is the ability to rise above life’s challenges, to take control of your destiny, and to persist even when the odds are stacked against you. It’s about finding strength in moments of vulnerability, and using that strength to push forward, grow, and inspire others to do the same. For me, empowerment is something I see in my mom every day. My mom is my greatest role model. As a single mother, she has been the sole provider for my sisters and me, working tirelessly to ensure we had what we needed. Her life hasn’t been easy. She lost her father, my grandfather, and the grief was overwhelming. She fell into a deep depression, and on top of that, my parents separated, and we lost our home. At times, it felt like everything was falling apart. But no matter how hard it got, my mom never gave up. She fought through her personal struggles and continued to work hard to keep our family together. She may not have had much, but she always made sure we had the love and support we needed to keep going. What I admire most about my mom is her resilience. Despite everything life threw at her, she never allowed herself to stay down for long. She faced adversity head-on and kept pushing forward. Watching her do this has shaped the way I approach challenges in my own life. It taught me that strength doesn’t come from avoiding hardship—it comes from facing it and refusing to let it break you. I want to embody that same resilience and determination in my own life. My mom’s sacrifices and unwavering strength are what drive me to succeed. I want to pursue a higher education and become a nurse not only to fulfill my own dreams but to honor the sacrifices my mom made for me. She has always worked so hard to provide for us, and I want to make all of her sacrifices worth it. I want to make her proud by proving that her struggles were not in vain, and that her strength inspired me to achieve something great. Empowerment, for me, is about using the lessons learned from those who have shown incredible strength—like my mom—and applying them to my own life. It’s about turning hardship into motivation, and using the power of resilience to reach my goals. I am determined to make my mom’s sacrifices count, and by pursuing a career in nursing, I aim to give back and create a future where I can be as strong and empowering as she has been for me.

Life hasn’t always been easy for my family and me, but the challenges we’ve faced have shaped me into a stronger, more determined person. Growing up in a single-parent household, I watched my mom carry the weight of providing for my sisters and me on her own. She worked tirelessly to make ends meet, even as she faced emotional struggles of her own. When my grandfather passed away, my mom fell into a state of depression, and around that same time, she was also dealing with the separation from my father. We lost our sense of home, stability, and comfort all at once. Still, she got back up and pushed forward—because she had to. And in watching her do that, I learned how to do the same. Being born into a Hispanic household came with its own set of expectations and limitations. School was often seen as something temporary—something you did until life required you to start working. No one in my family could say they completed college or earned a degree. No one could claim they broke the generational curse or overcame the stereotypes placed on our community. But my mom always made it clear that I had to be different. Since I was young, she instilled in me the importance of education, of staying focused, and not repeating past mistakes. The pressure to succeed was real—but so was the love behind it. There has always been this inner drive to do better, to push through no matter the circumstance, and to reach a point in my life where I can proudly say, “I did it.” I didn’t let my situation define me. I didn’t make excuses. I didn’t play the victim. I am not a first-generation student, but I am one of the first—alongside my sister—to be on the path to earning a college degree and building a future for myself. That alone keeps me going. It keeps me motivated, hungry, and focused on the life I want to create. This scholarship would lift a huge weight off my shoulders and help relieve some of the financial burden my mom carries. It would allow me to focus on my education and continue chasing the dream I’ve held onto for so long—becoming a nurse, helping others, and proving to myself and my community that it is possible to rise above.

From a young age, I’ve always known that I wanted to be a nurse. That passion has never changed—it’s only grown stronger over time. I’ve always felt drawn to caring for others, offering support, and making people feel safe and understood. Nursing felt like a natural path for me, and specifically, becoming a labor and delivery nurse has always been my dream. There’s something incredibly powerful about being a part of one of the most meaningful moments in a person’s life—helping bring new life into the world and guiding families through that journey. One of the most influential experiences that confirmed my desire to become a nurse was my involvement in my high school’s health academy. From the beginning of the program, I was immersed in lessons about patient care, anatomy, and medical procedures. I remember being especially fascinated when we studied fetal development and pregnancy. Learning how a fetus grows over time and how the mother’s body adapts to support life was absolutely fascinating to me. It sparked a deeper interest in maternal care and reassured me that I was on the right path. As I progressed through high school and the health academy, the program became even more hands-on. By my junior year, we were learning essential clinical skills like finding veins, drawing blood, checking vital signs, and using medical instruments. I even became CPR certified. These experiences gave me a glimpse into the reality of working in the healthcare field. I wasn’t just learning from textbooks—I was practicing real skills and seeing how those skills could make a difference in someone’s life. It made me excited to continue my education and further prepare for a career in nursing. Beyond just the technical skills, being part of the health academy gave me the chance to work with peers who shared my interests and goals. There was something powerful about being surrounded by students who were just as passionate about healthcare as I was. We motivated each other, learned from each other, and grew together. I realized then that I truly belonged in this field—not just because of my interests, but because of the way it made me feel. Helping others, even in small ways, gave me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Every experience I’ve had—from childhood dreams to hands-on training—has shaped my desire to become a nurse. I’ve always known I wanted to help others, and nursing gives me the opportunity to do just that every single day. I want to be the kind of nurse who not only provides care but also brings comfort, understanding, and compassion. My journey so far has prepared me well, and I’m ready to take the next step toward making that lifelong dream a reality.

From a young age, I was clear about my career goals, and that determination has stayed with me throughout the years. I have always had a strong desire to help, support, and guide others in meaningful ways. Ever since I can remember, my dream has been to become a labor and delivery nurse. As I began to understand the world around me, it became increasingly apparent that this was the right path for me. This aspiration of pursuing a nursing career in labor and delivery has consistently remained a focal point in my life, driving my academic and personal endeavors. When I entered high school, I was fortunate enough to join my school’s health academy, which allowed me to explore my passion for healthcare more deeply and comprehensively. At first, we concentrated on learning how to assess patients during their appointments, and I quickly found myself captivated by the intricacies of the human body and the various systems that work together to maintain health. One of the most fascinating subjects we examined was fetal development during pregnancy. I learned about the various stages of fetal growth, the remarkable transformations that occur, and how a baby develops from conception to birth. This information not only fueled my interest in the human body but also reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career in the medical field, particularly in labor and delivery, where I could have a direct impact on the lives of mothers and their newborns. By my junior year, the health academy provided me with more hands-on experiences that were invaluable. I began to acquire practical skills that are essential in any healthcare setting, such as locating veins, drawing blood, and using various medical equipment. Practicing these skills in class was enlightening, and I was excited by how much I was learning, which aligned perfectly with my goals of becoming a skilled healthcare professional. Earning my CPR certification also significantly increased my confidence in handling medical emergencies, a critical aspect of being a healthcare provider. These practical experiences made my dream feel more achievable and within reach, motivating me to push myself even further. Throughout the three years I spent in the health academy, I underwent significant growth both academically and personally. I not only developed valuable medical skills but also had the opportunity to connect with fellow students who shared my enthusiasm for healthcare. The camaraderie and mutual passion for the field made me feel like I truly belonged on this career path. This journey solidified my commitment to becoming a labor and delivery nurse, and I am more determined than ever to make this dream a reality, ready to face the challenges and rewards that come with this noble profession.