For most of my life, I felt like I was walking through the world with a map that looked different from everyone else's. I was always sensitive to sound, overwhelmed by change, and deeply emotional, but I didn’t have a name for it. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was younger, which made sense at the time, but it never fully explained how deeply I felt everything or how hard it was for me to navigate social dynamics. Being a woman made it even easier for my autism to go unnoticed. I learned how to mask early. I copied how other girls talked, smiled when I was supposed to, and worked hard to keep my sensory needs hidden. Everyone chalked my struggles up to ADHD, but I always felt like there was something more. Even after I started treating my ADHD, I was still exhausted, anxious, and overwhelmed in ways that didn’t make sense. I kept thinking, why am I still struggling so much if this is supposed to be under control? Getting diagnosed as autistic helped me look back on my life with more compassion. I now understand why group projects made me shut down, why certain textures or noises made me want to crawl out of my skin, and why I always felt like I was living life slightly off-beat. Instead of beating myself up for struggling, I’ve started honoring the way my brain works. I have also learned how strong I really am. I went back to school as a single mom, something that requires a lot of executive functioning and emotional regulation. Some days are harder than others, especially when I’m overstimulated or burned out from masking, but I’ve found ways to work with my brain instead of against it. I use structure, visual reminders, and lots of breaks to stay on track. I’ve also learned to advocate for myself in academic settings, asking for what I need instead of trying to tough it out silently. The best part is that I can now be a role model for my kids. I can show them that being different doesn’t mean being broken. It means you have to get creative sometimes, and it means you get to bring something unique into every space you walk into. My autism isn’t a flaw to fix. It’s a part of what makes me deeply empathetic, insightful, and passionate about mental health. I am currently working toward becoming a psychiatric nurse. I want to be the person that makes neurodivergent people feel safe, understood, and respected in medical spaces. I didn’t always feel that growing up, and I want to change that for others. Getting this scholarship would not only help me financially but also remind me that I belong in this field exactly as I am.

Growing up, I saw the impact of untreated mental illness and substance use in my own family. My father struggled with addiction and passed away when I was seventeen. My mother, who lived with severe PTSD, did her best to care for us, but our home was full of emotional chaos. I learned early on how to survive and take care of others, often stepping into a caregiving role long before I knew what the word really meant. I also became a mother at a young age. While my friends were figuring out who they were, I was trying to raise children while still growing up myself. It took an incredible amount of self-reflection and emotional work to break cycles I was raised in and become the kind of parent my kids deserved. Learning how to regulate my own emotions while helping them navigate theirs became my crash course in mental health. It was exhausting at times, but it also lit a fire in me to understand the reasons behind human behavior and emotional pain. Those experiences did not push me away from people. They made me want to help them more. I became the friend others came to when they were struggling. I volunteered with individuals who had developmental disabilities. I have always been the one to ask the deeper questions, to sit with someone in their hardest moments, and to believe that healing is possible. As a single mom of two, going back to school to pursue nursing has not been easy, but it has felt right. I want to show my kids that it is never too late to chase your calling and that even when life has knocked you down, you can get back up stronger. I am especially drawn to psychiatric and mental health nursing. I want to support people who feel misunderstood or left behind by the system and advocate for those who are struggling quietly. My life has taught me to listen without judgment, to hold space for pain, and to believe in second chances. Those are the same values I want to bring into nursing. Earning my RN and continuing on to become a psychiatric mental health nurse will allow me to turn my personal history into something powerful, a career where I can offer the care, compassion, and support that so many people, including my own family, needed but did not always get. I carry my story with me not as baggage, but as fuel. It is what drives me to keep going, even when the path is hard. Nursing is not just a career choice for me. It is a calling, shaped by every hardship I have faced and every lesson I have learned. With the support of scholarships like this one, I can keep building a better future not just for myself, but for the people I will care for and the children who are watching me lead the way.

Mental health has been a constant factor throughout my life, shaping both my struggles and my aspirations. Growing up in a household where addiction, trauma, and untreated mental illness were part of daily life, I saw firsthand the deep impact that mental health challenges can have on individuals and families. My father, who struggled with substance use, passed away from an overdose when I was a teenager. My mother lives with severe PTSD, and from a young age, I found myself trying to navigate not only my own emotions but also the emotional weight of my family environment. My own mental health challenges began early. I struggled with anxiety, depression, and ADHD, which often made school feel overwhelming and at times impossible. There were moments when I doubted whether I would ever pursue higher education, but I knew that I wanted to break the cycle I had grown up in. I wanted to understand mental health, not just from the perspective of someone who lived it, but as someone who could help others heal from it. As a single mother of two, my children are a constant reminder of why I keep pushing forward. Balancing parenting with school and financial stress has not been easy, but they are my greatest motivation to succeed. I want them to grow up knowing that it is possible to rise above difficult circumstances and create a life built on resilience, education, and compassion. When life has thrown challenges my way, my determination to create a better future for them, and to change the generational patterns I grew up with, has only grown stronger. This is why I am pursuing a nursing degree with the goal of becoming a psychiatric mental health nurse. My long-term vision is to work with trauma survivors, individuals facing addiction, and people who often feel unseen or unsupported by the healthcare system. I believe deeply in trauma-informed care and want to create spaces where people feel safe, heard, and validated. I am especially passionate about helping underrepresented communities, including low-income families and minority populations, who often face additional barriers to mental health care. As someone of Middle Eastern descent and a first-generation college student, I know what it feels like to grow up without seeing people like yourself represented in these spaces. This is one of the reasons I am determined to succeed. The fact that I am still pushing forward, despite everything life has thrown my way, is proof of how much I want to break generational cycles and create lasting change. Since returning to school, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA while completing. It has not been easy, but my perseverance reflects the depth of my commitment to this path. I know firsthand how isolating mental health struggles can be, and I want to be the kind of nurse who makes someone feel less alone during their darkest moments. This scholarship would not just help me as a student. It would help me as a mother who is determined to create a brighter future for her children while dedicating her career to helping others heal.

I believe I deserve this scholarship because I bring not only academic dedication but lived experience, resilience, and an unshakable drive to turn hardship into healing for both myself and others. I am a first-generation college student, a single mother, and a woman of Middle Eastern descent navigating higher education after growing up in a home impacted by addiction, trauma, and financial instability. I carry with me the weight of what I have endured, but also the strength it has built in me. While others may come from more traditional or stable paths, I have had to fight for every inch of progress, juggling parenting, school, and healing from generational cycles all at once. Since returning to college, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA while pursuing my associate degree. My long-term goal is to become a psychiatric mental health nurse focused on trauma-informed care, especially for underrepresented and underserved populations. I want to support those who feel unseen and unheard because I know exactly what that feels like. What sets me apart is my ability to turn pain into purpose and to bring empathy and understanding to spaces that need it most. I am not just trying to earn a degree. I am working to become someone my children can look up to and someone my future patients can trust. Receiving this scholarship would ease the financial burden and allow me to focus more energy on achieving my goals. It would also be an investment in someone who plans to pay it forward every step of the way. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I bring not only academic dedication but lived experience, resilience, and an unshakable drive to turn hardship into healing for both myself and others. I am a first-generation college student, a single mother, and a woman of Middle Eastern descent navigating higher education after growing up in a home impacted by addiction, trauma, and financial instability. I carry with me the weight of what I have endured, but also the strength it has built in me. While others may come from more traditional or stable paths, I have had to fight for every inch of progress, juggling parenting, school, and healing from generational cycles all at once. Since returning to college, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA while pursuing my associate degree and completing prerequisites for nursing. My long-term goal is to become a psychiatric mental health nurse focused on trauma-informed care, especially for underrepresented and underserved populations. I want to support those who feel unseen and unheard because I know exactly what that feels like. What sets me apart is my ability to turn pain into purpose and to bring empathy and understanding to spaces that need it most. I am not just trying to earn a degree. I am working to become someone my children can look up to and someone my future patients can trust. Receiving this scholarship would ease the financial burden and allow me to focus more energy on achieving my goals. It would also be an investment in someone who plans to pay it forward every step of the way. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I bring not only academic dedication but lived experience, resilience, and an unshakable drive to turn hardship into healing for both myself and others. I am a first-generation college student, a single mother, and a woman of Middle Eastern descent navigating higher education after growing up in a home impacted by addiction, trauma, and financial instability. I carry with me the weight of what I have endured, but also the strength it has built in me. While others may come from more traditional or stable paths, I have had to fight for every inch of progress, juggling parenting, school, and healing from generational cycles all at once. Since returning to college, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA while pursuing my associate degree and completing prerequisites for nursing. My long-term goal is to become a psychiatric mental health nurse focused on trauma-informed care, especially for underrepresented and underserved populations. I want to support those who feel unseen and unheard because I know exactly what that feels like. What sets me apart is my ability to turn pain into purpose and to bring empathy and understanding to spaces that need it most. I am not just trying to earn a degree. I am working to become someone my children can look up to and someone my future patients can trust. Receiving this scholarship would ease the financial burden and allow me to focus more energy on achieving my goals. It would also be an investment in someone who plans to pay it forward every step of the way. The fact that I am still I am living proof that even when life tries to knock you down again and again, you can still rise. Every step I take is fueled by my determination to break generational patterns and rewrite my story. I am not just hoping to succeed, I am working for it like my life depends on it, because in many ways, it does.

My experience with mental health has shaped nearly every part of who I am today. My beliefs, my relationships, and the path I am building toward my future career. Growing up, mental health was not something openly discussed in my home. My father, who struggled with addiction, passed away from an overdose when I was a teenager. My mother has lived for years with untreated PTSD. I did not have the language for what I was seeing as a child, but I knew it shaped the atmosphere in our home, filling it with survival, emotional turbulence, and silence around pain. As I got older, I began to experience my own mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and ADHD. At first, I felt isolated and confused, unsure why certain things felt harder for me or why my emotions often felt overwhelming. Over time, through therapy, education, and self-reflection, I realized that what I had been carrying was not just being sensitive or overthinking, as I had been told. It was the impact of trauma and neurodivergence. These realizations have profoundly influenced my beliefs. I now believe deeply in compassion, in seeing the full person and not just the label or behavior. I believe in the importance of trauma-informed care, not only in healthcare but also in families, schools, and communities. I believe that healing is possible, but only when people have access to resources, support, and a sense of safety. My mental health journey has also reshaped my relationships. I have learned how to set boundaries, how to ask for help, and how to show up more authentically with the people I care about. I have learned to choose relationships that are supportive and to step away from dynamics that are harmful. I understand now that connection thrives in spaces where honesty and vulnerability are met with respect, not judgment. Most of all, my experiences have shaped my career aspirations. I am currently pursuing a degree in nursing with the goal of becoming a psychiatric mental health nurse specializing in trauma-informed care. I want to work in mental health settings because I know what it is like to be on the other side: to be the person in the waiting room, the person carrying invisible wounds, the person who just needs someone to listen. I want to be a nurse who helps others feel seen, supported, and safe. I want to work especially with people from underrepresented and low-income backgrounds who too often face additional barriers to accessing care. My goal is to help break the cycle of silence and stigma around mental health and to be part of building a system where people do not have to suffer alone or in shame. Mental health has not just influenced my life. It has given me purpose. It has taught me resilience, empathy, and the importance of using my voice to help others. My hope is that by sharing what I have learned, I can help others find healing too.

I have been passionate about mental health for as long as I can remember, though at first, it was not something I chose. It was something I lived. Growing up in a household marked by addiction, trauma, and untreated mental illness shaped the way I saw the world. My father, who was Iranian, struggled with substance use and passed away from an overdose when I was a teenager. My mother lives with severe, untreated PTSD. As a young person, I dealt with my own battles with anxiety, depression, and ADHD, often feeling unsupported and misunderstood. For years, I witnessed firsthand how mental health struggles can impact individuals and families, especially in communities with limited resources or where cultural stigma keeps people from seeking help. These experiences did not push me away from the mental health field. They pulled me toward it. I want to be part of the movement that changes how we understand, talk about, and treat mental health, especially for people who feel invisible in the current system. My long-term career goal is to become a psychiatric mental health nurse with a focus on trauma-informed care. I am currently working toward my associate degree in nursing, and I plan to continue on to a bachelor’s and potentially a master’s degree so that I can deepen my knowledge and expand the ways I can serve others. I am particularly interested in working in underrepresented and underserved communities, where mental health care is often inaccessible or carries deep social stigma. As someone of Middle Eastern descent and from a low-income background, I am acutely aware of how cultural and systemic barriers can prevent people from accessing the care they need. In many minority communities, including my own, there are cultural expectations to handle struggles privately or to minimize mental health symptoms. I want to help change that narrative by becoming a professional who not only treats symptoms but also validates experiences, respects cultural identities, and advocates for greater equity in mental health care. In school, I have been intentional about shaping my education around this mission. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA in courses such as psychology, English, math, and anatomy, all while balancing the responsibilities of being a single mother to two children. This balancing act has strengthened my resilience, time management, and determination to keep moving forward even when it is hard. It has also made me deeply aware of the need for mental health professionals who understand what it means to navigate complex life challenges. My passion for diversity and inclusion comes not only from personal experience but also from the hope of helping others feel seen. Too often, people from minority or low-income backgrounds do not see themselves reflected in their health care providers or in mental health research. I want to help bridge that gap, whether through direct patient care, advocacy, or someday participating in research that centers marginalized voices. I believe that by combining my lived experiences, academic training, and passion for mental health, I can help create a more inclusive and compassionate system. I am committed to using my education and future career to uplift underrepresented communities, reduce stigma, and advocate for meaningful change in the field of mental health.

Over the past two semesters, I have made significant academic progress while balancing multiple responsibilities. Since returning to college, I have earned a 4.0 GPA and performed well in psychology, English, math, and anatomy. These courses have strengthened my communication, critical thinking, and understanding of human behavior, which are all essential for my future in psychiatric mental health nursing. While enrolled full-time, I have also been raising my two children as a single mother and running a small vintage resale business to help support us. Managing all of this has required determination and resilience, and I am proud of both my personal and academic growth. I am a female-identifying undergraduate student of Middle Eastern descent. My father was Iranian, and although I was born and raised in the United States, I carry that identity with deep pride. I had the opportunity to visit Iran when I was younger, and even though I was a child, it left a lasting impression on me. It gave me a stronger connection to my roots and helped shape how I see myself. Being Middle Eastern is something I am proud of, and I talk about it whenever I can, especially in spaces where our voices are underrepresented. Navigating life as a Middle Eastern woman today comes with challenges, including stereotypes and assumptions that can feel limiting. I have experienced these barriers, both directly and in the way others view my potential. One issue that connects many parts of my story is stigma. Whether it is around mental health, addiction, or being a Middle Eastern woman, I have felt the weight of silence and shame. These cultural and societal pressures can prevent people from getting the support they need. I want to be part of changing that. Through nursing, I hope to create spaces where people feel safe being vulnerable and supported in their healing. Breaking stigma is a critical step in building a more compassionate and equitable healthcare system. Although I am not majoring in political science, I believe mental health care is a powerful form of advocacy. I want to work with individuals who are often overlooked, especially those struggling with trauma, addiction, or emotional pain. As a future psychiatric mental health nurse, I plan to serve in communities where support is limited. My goal is to shift the stigma surrounding mental health and advocate for accessible, culturally sensitive care. This path is deeply personal. I grew up in a household shaped by trauma, mental illness, and substance use. My father passed away from an overdose when I was a teenager. My mother lives with untreated PTSD. I have faced my own struggles with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. These experiences gave me the empathy and purpose that now drive me. I want to be a steady, supportive presence for people navigating difficult moments. As a mother, I also want my children to see what it means to rise above hardship and chase something meaningful. Everything I do is not just for me, it is for them and for the future I want to help build. I hope to be a voice for people who have felt unseen and to help create a world where more women, especially those from Middle Eastern backgrounds, are represented in healthcare and leadership. My education is about more than earning a degree. It is about healing, advocacy, and creating a better future for the people I will care for and for the ones who will come after me.

I decided to pursue a career in nursing because I have seen what happens when people do not receive the care and support they need. I grew up surrounded by addiction, trauma, and mental illness. My father struggled with substance use for most of his life and passed away from an overdose when I was seventeen. My mother, who only completed the eighth grade, lives with severe PTSD and has battled mental health challenges for as long as I can remember. These experiences shaped me deeply and made mental health feel personal, not clinical. From a young age, I knew what it felt like to live in survival mode. I was the emotional caregiver in my home before I even understood what that meant. As I got older, I began experiencing my own mental health struggles, including anxiety, depression, and ADHD. These challenges often made school and relationships difficult, and I spent years feeling misunderstood and unsupported. It was only after I began my own healing journey that I realized how badly our system needs compassionate, trauma-informed care providers. That realization sparked something in me, and it is what led me to nursing. I am currently pursuing my associate degree in a pre-nursing program, with the long-term goal of becoming a psychiatric-mental health nurse. I want to work in mental health settings, especially with patients who are recovering from trauma or substance use. I feel called to this field because I understand it from the inside. I do not want to treat symptoms, I want to truly see people, support them, and help them feel safe in their most vulnerable moments. As a single mother of two, returning to school has not been easy. I balance parenting, studying, and managing a small vintage resale business to support my family. My financial situation is often uncertain, and I rely on careful budgeting just to stay afloat. Still, I show up every day with determination, not only for myself but for my children. They are my biggest motivation. I want them to grow up watching their mother pursue education, overcome adversity, and turn pain into purpose. I want to show them that their past does not define them and that they can build something better. What inspires me the most is knowing that even small acts of kindness and empathy can make a lasting impact. I remember moments when a nurse or therapist took the time to really listen to me or my family, and those moments stayed with me. I want to be that person for someone else. Nursing, for me, is more than a profession, it is a way to take everything I have been through and use it to help others feel less alone. I found this scholarship through the Bold.org platform.

1) Yes 2) What is your approximate total annual family income? Under $30,000 3) Please list the highest education level of each of your parent(s) and/or guardian(s) and their occupations. Mother: She did Complete the 8th grade, Father: High school in the middle east. Deceaced. My name is [Your Name], and I am a mother, a student, and a future psychiatric-mental health nurse. My path into healthcare was shaped by a lifetime of lived experience. I grew up in a household where addiction, trauma, and emotional instability were part of everyday life. My mother only completed the eighth grade and lives with untreated PTSD. My father battled substance use disorder for most of his life and died from an overdose when I was a teenager. These experiences left a lasting imprint on how I view mental health and what true support should look like. I have also faced my own challenges with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. These diagnoses shaped my academic journey and made navigating school more difficult at times. However, they also helped me develop resilience, compassion, and a deep desire to advocate for others facing similar struggles. I know what it feels like to be misunderstood, to go without the resources you need, and to feel lost in a system that is supposed to help. My goal is to become the kind of healthcare provider I needed growing up, one who sees the whole person and offers care that is rooted in empathy and understanding. Currently, I am enrolled in a pre-nursing program and completing the foundational courses required for nursing school. I plan to pursue an associate degree in nursing, with the long-term goal of becoming a psychiatric-mental health nurse. I am especially drawn to trauma-informed care and the connection between mental health and substance use. I want to work in communities where support is often limited and mental health is still stigmatized. My dream is to help people who feel invisible or broken understand that they are worthy of healing and support. As a single mother of two children, I have had to work incredibly hard to balance parenting, school, and financial responsibility. I also run a small vintage clothing resale business to help with basic expenses, although the income is inconsistent. While I’m proud of my ability to juggle it all, the truth is that the financial burden of school can be overwhelming. Scholarships like this one make a real difference. They allow me to stay focused on my goals without sacrificing my family’s stability. I come from a background where higher education was not always prioritized or even seen as possible. Returning to school as a mother has been both challenging and empowering. I want my children to grow up seeing education not as an obligation, but as an opportunity. I want them to know that no matter what you come from, it is possible to change your future. Becoming a nurse is not just a career goal. It is a way for me to break generational cycles and use my experience to uplift others. I am not just studying to pass exams. I am working to become a steady presence in the lives of people who need compassion, consistency, and care. I want to be a part of someone’s turning point, the moment they realize they are not alone.

The nursing industry interests me because it’s where compassion meets action. I’ve always felt drawn to helping others, especially those who are struggling or overlooked. For me, nursing isn’t just about medicine or procedures, it’s about human connection, healing, and advocacy. Growing up in a household affected by addiction, PTSD, and emotional trauma, I witnessed how much of a difference the right support can make. It showed me the gaps in our healthcare system but also inspired me to become part of the solution. One of my biggest goals as a future nurse is to work in the mental health field, particularly with vulnerable populations. I want to specialize in psychiatric nursing and serve communities where mental illness is often misunderstood or ignored. My hope is to help people feel seen, respected, and safe enough to begin healing. I also want to play a role in breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and make treatment more accessible for those who need it most. My personal experiences have played a huge role in shaping these goals. I’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, and ADHD for most of my life. Those challenges made school and relationships difficult at times, but they also gave me a deep sense of empathy and resilience. Becoming a mother pushed me to grow even more. Raising two children while pursuing higher education hasn’t been easy, but it’s one of my proudest accomplishments. It’s taught me how to stay grounded under pressure and remain focused on the future I want to create, not just for myself, but for them too. While I haven’t worked in a hospital yet, my lived experience has been its own kind of training. I’ve cared for family members during medical emergencies, sat in on countless appointments and therapy sessions growing up, and even advocated for loved ones in crisis. These moments helped me realize how important it is to have someone in the room who truly listens and advocates when others can’t. I’ve also taken anatomy, psychology, and other prerequisite courses that have deepened my understanding of both the body and the mind, and I’ve maintained a strong GPA while balancing school, work, and parenting. Every step I’ve taken so far has been leading me to this path. I’m not just choosing nursing as a career, I’m choosing it as a mission. My goal is to become the kind of nurse I once needed; calm, kind, and willing to sit with people in the hard moments. I may not have formal medical experience yet, but I bring a lifetime of heart, grit, and lived perspective to the table, and I’m ready to keep learning, growing, and giving back.

I’m pursuing a degree in the mental health field because I know what it’s like to grow up surrounded by untreated trauma, addiction, and emotional pain. These experiences didn’t push me away from this field. They pulled me toward it. I’ve seen what happens when people don’t get the help they need, and I’ve also seen the power of just one person showing up with compassion and understanding. As someone who lost a parent to addiction and was raised by a mother with severe PTSD, mental health has never been a distant issue for me. It has always been close to home. It shaped how I saw the world, how I coped, and how I related to others. It also shaped me in ways I am still working to understand. On top of what I witnessed growing up, I’ve also struggled with my own mental health. I developed anxiety at a young age and had a hard time regulating my emotions. I was an overly sensitive kid, always crying or overwhelmed, but never really knowing why. By the time I was a teenager, I was dealing with depression and had been diagnosed with ADHD. It took me years to even begin to understand myself, and I often felt like I was just “too much” for the world around me. I didn’t have the language to talk about what I was experiencing, and I didn’t always have the support I needed to process any of it. That feeling of being misunderstood followed me for a long time. Now that I’m older and on my own healing journey, I look back and see how many of my behaviors were shaped by survival. It makes me even more passionate about helping others who are dealing with similar struggles. There are so many people who walk around carrying invisible struggles, people who are trying their best but still feel like they’re falling short. I want to be a source of support for them. I want to be the kind of nurse who not only understands mental health clinically, but also emotionally and personally. My goal is to work directly with people facing mental health challenges, especially in underserved communities where stigma and limited resources make it even harder to get help. I want to be the person who creates a space where people feel safe, seen, and validated. I want to help people begin to unpack their pain and give them tools that I wish I had earlier in life. As a single mother of two, I’m also determined to break generational cycles. I want my children to grow up in a home where mental health is talked about openly and compassion is the default. Earning this degree and becoming a nurse is part of that vision. It’s about creating stability not just for myself, but for my family and the people I will serve in the future. I know I can’t fix everything, and I don’t expect to. But if I can be a steady presence in someone’s darkest moment, if I can help even one person feel less alone or more understood, then I will know I’ve made a difference. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I keep going.

My name is Nicole, and I’m a 32-year-old single mother of two, currently enrolled in a pre-nursing program. Returning to school at this stage in my life hasn’t been easy, especially while balancing parenting, financial stress, and healing from my own past. But choosing nursing has never been something I’ve questioned. I’ve always felt drawn to the role of the caregiver. What solidified my decision to become a nurse, specifically in the field of mental health and addiction recovery, was my own lived experience. I grew up in a household marked by instability. My father struggled with opioid addiction for most of his life, and although I loved him deeply, his addiction often kept him at a distance both physically and emotionally. He passed away when I was seventeen from a drug overdose. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the complexities of addiction. I just knew it hurt. As I got older and began to process everything I experienced as a child and teen, I realized how common stories like mine are and how misunderstood addiction still is. That realization lit a fire in me. I became passionate about mental health and the need for compassionate, trauma-informed care in our healthcare system. People struggling with addiction are often judged instead of helped, especially in medical settings. I want to change that. I want to be the nurse who makes someone feel seen and safe when they’re at their lowest. I want to work in psychiatric nursing or substance use recovery, offering both medical support and empathy to those who have been failed by the system. To prepare for this journey, I’ve thrown myself into my studies while also learning from my own healing process. I’ve taken psychology courses that explore how trauma, environment, and biology intertwine. I’ve also spent time in therapy myself, which has helped me reflect on the importance of emotional intelligence in healthcare. I know firsthand that healing is not linear, and that every patient has a story. I believe my background, combined with my deep sense of empathy and emotional resilience, will help me show up for people in a way that truly matters. Balancing school and parenting has taught me how to manage my time, prioritize under pressure, and advocate fiercely not just for my kids, but for myself and my goals. These aren’t just useful life skills; they’re exactly the qualities a good nurse needs. I’m determined to create a stable, loving future for my children, and part of that means becoming someone they can be proud of. I want them to see that breaking cycles is possible. Nursing is more than a job to me. It’s a calling to care, to comfort, to educate, and to advocate. I’m ready to dedicate myself to this path not just because I want a better future for my family, but because I want to be part of the change I so badly needed when I was younger.

Becoming a parent at 19 changed my life overnight. I thought I was ready, I loved my daughter so much, but bringing her home that first night, I just remember lying in bed, wide awake while she cried, realizing my entire life as I knew it had changed completely. While my friends were focused on college, social lives, and figuring out their futures, I was holding a newborn in my arms, realizing that my future was no longer just my own. The weight of responsibility hit me hard. I had a child depending on me, and there was no pause button. The uncertainty was overwhelming. Giving up was never an option for me, I learned to manage my time better, working early mornings and late shifts to provide for my daughter. I knew that I needed to give her the childhood I didn’t have, and that was my motivation every step of the way. It reminded me that every sacrifice was for something bigger than myself. Looking back, I realize those moments revealed strengths I didn’t know I had. Growing up in a dysfunctional household, I witnessed firsthand the struggles that come with instability, addiction, and financial hardship. These experiences shaped my understanding of resilience and the importance of creating a better future, not just for myself, but for my children. I refuse to let them grow up in the same cycle of struggle. I want them to see that, no matter the obstacles, education is a path to opportunity and change. Breaking the generational cycle is a driving force behind my decision to return to school as a single mother. I want to show my children that education can open doors to opportunities and provide a path to a brighter future. Coming from a background where higher education wasn’t always prioritized, I am determined to break that cycle and create a legacy of learning and achievement. I am determined to create a better life for my children, to show them that resilience and hard work can open doors, and to use my experiences to help others. My dad struggled with opioid addiction my entire life. I saw firsthand how it affected his life. Even though I didn’t live with him, I had a relationship with him and witnessed the ups and downs of his battle with addiction. No matter how much he wanted to get better, the addiction always pulled him back. Eventually, it took his life, he died of a drug overdose which is the case for a lot of families. Losing him was heartbreaking, but it also opened my eyes to how devastating addiction can be, not just for those struggling with it, but for the people who love them. I knew then that I wanted to be part of the fight against addiction. Watching my dad’s struggles, I wanted to understand addiction beyond just the personal pain it caused. I started researching the science behind it, learning how opioids alter brain chemistry and why recovery is so difficult. I'm constantly reading books and listening to podcasts on Addiction. The more I learned, the more I realized I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be the kind of nurse who meets patients where they are, I haven't been in the addict position myself but always on the other side of it, hopefully giving a different perspective. Offering not just medical care but empathy. Someone who understands addiction not as a moral failing, but as a disease. Pursuing a career as an RN with an addiction treatment focus is more than just a job to me, it’s a mission. I know what it’s like to love someone struggling with addiction, to feel powerless but still hold onto hope. I want to be that hope for others. Whether it’s in a hospital, a rehab center, or a community outreach program, I want to be on the front lines, helping people take steps toward recovery. My experience growing up in that environment didn’t break me, it gave me a purpose. And now, I’m ready to turn that purpose into action. My primary focus is providing for my children while also striving to create a better future for our family through education. Covering tuition, school supplies, and childcare expenses, alongside daily living costs, requires careful budgeting and sacrifices. Despite these challenges, I am determined to succeed and set an example for my children about the value of perseverance and education. A scholarship would alleviate financial stress and allow me to dedicate more time and energy to my studies and my role as a parent. Becoming a young mother I have always felt behind in life compared to my peers and other people my age. Pursuing school wasn't always an option, just trying to survive being a single mom with two kids. The financial stress has always been a factor in everything in my life, from growing up the way I did to staying in an abusive relationship because I couldn't afford to live on my own. The financial stress I carry as a single mother often feels like a constant weight on my shoulders. It can be difficult to focus fully on my studies when I am constantly worrying about how to provide for my family. This scholarship would provide crucial relief from some of that stress, allowing me to focus more on my education and less on financial struggles. With this support, I would be able to dedicate more time and energy to my coursework, which would improve my academic performance and bring me closer to achieving my goal of becoming a registered nurse.

I had always thought about a healthcare career, but after high school, my focus shifted to raising my children. Providing for them became my top priority, and school always felt like something I would get to “one day". Life kept moving and it wasn’t until I was 32 that I had my aha moment, I realized that if I kept waiting for the “perfect” time, it might never come. I thought about everything I had been through, the strength I had built, and the passion I still had for helping others. That was when I knew it was time to finally go back to school and pursue nursing. Becoming a parent at 19 changed my life overnight. I thought I was ready, but that first night home with my daughter, as she cried and I lay wide awake, reality hit, my life was no longer just my own. While my friends focused on college and social lives, I was navigating sleepless nights and the weight of responsibility. It was overwhelming, but giving up was never an option. Motherhood taught me resilience, patience, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Balancing work and parenting pushed me to become resourceful and compassionate, strengthening my desire to help others through difficult moments. Just as I had to show up for my daughter, I want to show up for patients when they need it most. Nursing isn’t just a career for me…it’s a path that aligns with the strength and empathy I’ve gained through my own experiences. My dad struggled with opioid addiction my entire life. I saw firsthand how it affected his life. Even though I didn’t live with him, I had a relationship with him and witnessed the ups and downs of his battle with addiction. No matter how much he wanted to get better, the addiction always pulled him back. Eventually, it took his life, he died of a drug overdose which is the case for a lot of families. Losing him was heartbreaking, but it also opened my eyes to how devastating addiction can be, not just for those struggling with it, but for the people who love them. I knew then that I wanted to be part of the fight against addiction. Watching my dad’s struggles, I wanted to understand addiction beyond just the personal pain it caused. I started researching the science behind it, learning how opioids alter brain chemistry and why recovery is so difficult. I'm constantly reading books and listening to podcasts on Addiction. The more I learned, the more I realized I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be the kind of nurse who meets patients where they are, I haven't been in the addict position myself but always on the other side of it, hopefully giving a different perspective. Offering not just medical care but empathy. Someone who understands addiction not as a moral failing, but as a disease. Pursuing a career as an RN with an addiction treatment focus is more than just a job to me, it’s a mission. I know what it’s like to love someone struggling with addiction, to feel powerless but still hold onto hope. I want to be that hope for others. Whether it’s in a hospital, a rehab center, or a community outreach program, I want to be on the front lines, helping people take steps toward recovery. My experience growing up in that environment didn’t break me, it gave me a purpose. And now, I’m ready to turn that purpose into action.

Becoming a parent at 19 changed my life overnight. I thought I was ready, but that first night home with my daughter, as she cried and I lay wide awake, reality hit, my life was no longer just my own. While my friends focused on college and social lives, I was navigating sleepless nights and the weight of responsibility. It was overwhelming, but giving up was never an option. Motherhood taught me resilience, patience, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. I really believe these qualities that are essential in nursing. Balancing work and parenting pushed me to become resourceful and compassionate, strengthening my desire to help others through difficult moments. Just as I had to show up for my daughter, I want to show up for patients when they need it most. Nursing isn’t just a career for me…it’s a path that aligns with the strength and empathy I’ve gained through my own experiences. My dad struggled with opioid addiction my entire life. I saw firsthand how it affected his life. Even though I didn’t live with him, I had a relationship with him and witnessed the ups and downs of his battle with addiction. No matter how much he wanted to get better, the addiction always pulled him back. Eventually, it took his life, he died of a drug overdose which is the case for a lot of families. Losing him was heartbreaking, but it also opened my eyes to how devastating addiction can be, not just for those struggling with it, but for the people who love them. I knew then that I wanted to be part of the fight against addiction. Watching my dad’s struggles, I wanted to understand addiction beyond just the personal pain it caused. I started researching the science behind it, learning how opioids alter brain chemistry and why recovery is so difficult. I'm constantly reading books and listening to podcasts on Addiction. The more I learned, the more I realized I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be the kind of nurse who meets patients where they are, I haven't been in the addict position myself but always on the other side of it, hopefully giving a different perspective. Offering not just medical care but empathy. Someone who understands addiction not as a moral failing, but as a disease. Pursuing a career as an RN with an addiction treatment focus is more than just a job to me, it’s a mission. I know what it’s like to love someone struggling with addiction, to feel powerless but still hold onto hope. I want to be that hope for others. Whether it’s in a hospital, a rehab center, or a community outreach program, I want to be on the front lines, helping people take steps toward recovery. My experience growing up in that environment didn’t break me, it gave me a purpose. And now, I’m ready to turn that purpose into action.

My dad struggled with opioid addiction my entire life. I saw firsthand how it affected his life. Even though I didn’t live with him, I had a relationship with him and witnessed the ups and downs of his battle with addiction. No matter how much he wanted to get better, the addiction always pulled him back. Eventually, it took his life, he died of a drug overdose which is the case for a lot of families. Losing him was heartbreaking, but it also opened my eyes to how devastating addiction can be, not just for those struggling with it, but for the people who love them. I knew then that I wanted to be part of the fight against addiction. Watching my dad’s struggles, I wanted to understand addiction beyond just the personal pain it caused. I started researching the science behind it, learning how opioids alter brain chemistry and why recovery is so difficult. I'm constantly reading books and listening to podcasts on Addiction. The more I learned, the more I realized I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be the kind of nurse who meets patients where they are, I haven't been in the addict position myself but always on the other side of it, hopefully giving a different perspective. Offering not just medical care but empathy. Someone who understands addiction not as a moral failing, but as a disease. Pursuing a career as an RN with an addiction treatment focus is more than just a job to me, it’s a mission. I know what it’s like to love someone struggling with addiction, to feel powerless but still hold onto hope. I want to be that hope for others. Whether it’s in a hospital, a rehab center, or a community outreach program, I want to be on the front lines, helping people take steps toward recovery. My experience growing up in that environment didn’t break me, it gave me a purpose. And now, I’m ready to turn that purpose into action. Becoming a parent at 19 changed my life overnight. I thought I was ready, but that first night home with my daughter, as she cried and I lay wide awake, reality hit, my life was no longer just my own. While my friends focused on college and social lives, I was navigating sleepless nights and the weight of responsibility. It was overwhelming, but giving up was never an option. Motherhood taught me resilience, patience, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. I really believe these qualities that are essential in nursing. Balancing work and parenting pushed me to become resourceful and compassionate, strengthening my desire to help others through difficult moments. Just as I had to show up for my daughter, I want to show up for patients when they need it most. Nursing isn’t just a career for me…it’s a path that aligns with the strength and empathy I’ve gained through my own experiences.

Pursuing a career as an RN with an addiction treatment focus is more than just a job to me, it’s a mission. I know what it’s like to love someone struggling with addiction, to feel powerless but still hold onto hope. I want to be that hope for others. Whether it’s in a hospital, a rehab center, or a community outreach program, I want to be on the front lines, helping people take steps toward recovery. My experience growing up in that environment didn’t break me, it gave me a purpose. And now, I’m ready to turn that purpose into action. By becoming a nurse with a focus on addiction treatment, I will be able to give back to my community in a meaningful way. Many families are impacted by substance use, and I want to be a source of support and guidance for those struggling with addiction and recovery. Through compassionate care, education, and advocacy, I hope to break down the stigma surrounding addiction and help people access the resources they need. By using my personal experience to connect with patients and their families, I can contribute to a healthier, more informed, and more supportive community. Growing up, I saw how addiction can take over a person’s life. My dad struggled with opioid addiction, and I lost him to an overdose. Not only did I just lose my dad to addiction but I have also lost a few friends as well. Helping people as a career has always been a passion of mine and I know that I will be able to do that with the things I have gone through in my life. Those losses shaped me in ways I’m still understanding, but more than anything, it made me want to help people who are struggling. I want to be the kind of nurse who sees people beyond their addiction, who understands the weight of what they’re going through, and who treats them with the compassion they deserve. For me, education is my way of turning pain into purpose. It’s my way of building something better for my kids and ensuring they grow up knowing that no matter where you start, you can choose where you go. Breaking the generational cycle is also a driving force behind my decision to return to school as a single mother. I want to show my children that education can open doors to opportunities and provide a path to a brighter future. I know that nursing is a career choice that is still very much needed in these times and even more so coming from an empathetic standpoint and approach. I've always been someone who can read the room and really feel the emotions coming from other people and I know that would make me strong in this career. Coming from a background where higher education wasn’t always prioritized, I am determined to break that cycle and create a legacy of learning and achievement. Pursuing my degree is not just about personal growth; it’s about redefining what’s possible for my family and inspiring my children to aim higher, dream bigger, and believe in their potential.

Pursuing a career as an RN with an addiction treatment focus is more than just a job to me, it’s a mission. I know what it’s like to love someone struggling with addiction, to feel powerless but still hold onto hope. I want to be that hope for others. Whether it’s in a hospital, a rehab center, or a community outreach program, I want to be on the front lines, helping people take steps toward recovery. My experience growing up in that environment didn’t break me, it gave me a purpose. And now, I’m ready to turn that purpose into action. Growing up, I saw how addiction can take over a person’s life. My dad struggled with opioid addiction, and I lost him to an overdose. Not only did I just lose my dad to addiction but I have also lost a few friends as well. Helping people as a career has always been a passion of mine and I know that I will be able to do that with the things I have gone through in my life. Those losses shaped me in ways I’m still understanding, but more than anything, it made me want to help people who are struggling. I want to be the kind of nurse who sees people beyond their addiction, who understands the weight of what they’re going through, and who treats them with the compassion they deserve. For me, education is my way of turning pain into purpose. It’s my way of building something better for my kids and ensuring they grow up knowing that no matter where you start, you can choose where you go. Breaking the generational cycle is also a driving force behind my decision to return to school as a single mother. I want to show my children that education can open doors to opportunities and provide a path to a brighter future. I know that nursing is a career choice that is still very much needed in these times and even more so coming from an empathetic standpoint and approach. I've always been someone who can read the room and really feel the emotions coming from other people and I know that would make me strong in this career. Coming from a background where higher education wasn’t always prioritized, I am determined to break that cycle and create a legacy of learning and achievement. Pursuing my degree is not just about personal growth; it’s about redefining what’s possible for my family and inspiring my children to aim higher, dream bigger, and believe in their potential.

Breaking the generational mold is a driving force behind my decision to return to school as a single mother. I want to show my children that education can open doors to opportunities and provide a path to a brighter future. Coming from a background where higher education wasn’t always prioritized, I am determined to break that cycle and create a legacy of learning and achievement. Pursuing my degree is not just about personal growth; it’s about redefining what’s possible for my family and inspiring my children to aim higher, dream bigger, and believe in their potential. My dad struggled with opioid addiction my entire life. I saw firsthand how it affected his life. Even though I didn’t live with him, I had a relationship with him and witnessed the ups and downs of his battle with addiction. No matter how much he wanted to get better, the addiction always pulled him back. Eventually, it took his life, he died of a drug overdose which is the case for a lot of families. Losing him was heartbreaking, but it also opened my eyes to how devastating addiction can be, not just for those struggling with it, but for the people who love them. I knew then that I wanted to be part of the fight against addiction. Watching my dad’s struggles, I wanted to understand addiction beyond just the personal pain it caused. I started researching the science behind it, learning how opioids alter brain chemistry and why recovery is so difficult. Im constantly reading books and listening to podcasts on Addiction. The more I learned, the more I realized I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be the kind of nurse who meets patients where they are, I haven't been in the addict position myself but always on the otherside of it, hopefully giving a different perspective. Offering not just medical care but empathy. Someone who understands addiction not as a moral failing, but as a disease. Pursuing a career as an RN with an addiction treatment focus is more than just a job to me, it’s a mission. I know what it’s like to love someone struggling with addiction, to feel powerless but still hold onto hope. I want to be that hope for others. Whether it’s in a hospital, a rehab center, or a community outreach program, I want to be on the front lines, helping people take steps toward recovery. My experience growing up in that environment didn’t break me, it gave me a purpose. And now, I’m ready to turn that purpose into action.

Breaking the generational mold is a driving force behind my decision to return to school as a single mom going into healthcare. I want to show my children that education can open doors to opportunities and provide a path to a brighter future. Coming from a background where higher education wasn’t always prioritized, I am determined to break that cycle and create a legacy of learning and achievement. Pursuing my degree is not just about personal growth, it’s about redefining what’s possible for my family and inspiring my children to aim higher, dream bigger, and believe in their potential. My dad struggled with opioid addiction my entire life. I saw firsthand how it affected his life. Even though I didn’t live with him, I had a relationship with him and witnessed the ups and downs of his battle with addiction. No matter how much he wanted to get better, the addiction always pulled him back. Eventually, it took his life, he died of a drug overdose which is the case for a lot of families. Losing him was heartbreaking, but it also opened my eyes to how devastating addiction can be, not just for those struggling with it, but for the people who love them. I knew then that I wanted to be part of the fight against addiction. Watching my dad’s struggles, I wanted to understand addiction beyond just the personal pain it caused. I started researching the science behind it, learning how opioids alter brain chemistry and why recovery is so difficult. I'm constantly reading books and listening to podcasts on Addiction. The more I learned, the more I realized I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be the kind of nurse who meets patients where they are, I haven't been in the addict position myself but always on the other side of it, hopefully giving a different perspective. Offering not just medical care but empathy, someone who understands addiction not as a moral failing, but as a disease. Pursuing a career as an RN with an addiction treatment focus is more than just a job to me, it’s a mission. I know what it’s like to love someone struggling with addiction, to feel powerless but still hold onto hope. I want to be that hope for others. Whether it’s in a hospital, a rehab center, or a community outreach program, I want to be on the front lines, helping people take steps toward recovery. My experience growing up in that environment didn’t break me, it gave me a purpose. And now, I’m ready to turn that purpose into action.

My brain feels like I have 50 different browser tabs open at once. Having ADHD is not just about struggling to focus, it’s forgetting things even when I swear I won’t, it's getting overwhelmed by too many tasks, and having to work twice as hard to stay organized. In school, that can be frustrating, especially with deadlines and homework. But I’ve also learned that ADHD comes with its own strengths. I think fast, I adapt quickly, and I find creative ways to solve problems. For a long time, I would constantly beat myself up for not being able to do things "normally" as I would say but I have learned to lean into this as a superpower instead of fighting against it. I'm not perfect and I do still get frustrated with myself but I’ve learned to work with it. Breaking tasks into smaller steps, setting reminders for everything and I mean everything, and giving myself grace on the hard days. Managing ADHD while balancing school and motherhood isn’t always easy, but it’s taught me resilience, and that’s something I’ll carry with me forever. You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself first. Going back to school while raising two kids isn’t easy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. My mental health plays a huge role in how I handle both school and life at home. When I’m in a good place mentally, I can focus, stay motivated, and be present for my kids. But when stress builds up which it does because I'm a human and everyday life happens EVERYDAY! It can feel overwhelming, but I’ve learned that taking care of my mental health isn’t optional. I have been through quite a few therapists in my 32 years on this earth but currently, I have one that I see weekly and she has helped me unpack and really break things down when I get overwhelmed. Another huge stress reliever for me is exercise. From running to weight training it's my way of meditation. Growing up, I saw firsthand how addiction affects families. My dad struggled with opioid addiction, and I lost him to an overdose. That experience shaped me in so many ways but has left me carrying a lot emotionally. Balancing school, motherhood, and my own healing has been tough at times, but I know that to be the best student, future nurse, and mom, I have to take care of myself, too.

My dad struggled with opioid addiction my entire life. I saw firsthand how it affected his life. Even though I didn’t live with him, I had a relationship with him and witnessed the ups and downs of his battle with addiction. No matter how much he wanted to get better, the addiction always pulled him back. Eventually, it took his life, he died of a drug overdose which is the case for a lot of families. Losing him was heartbreaking, but it also opened my eyes to how devastating addiction can be, not just for those struggling with it, but for the people who love them. I knew then that I wanted to be part of the fight against addiction. Watching my dad’s struggles, I wanted to understand addiction beyond just the personal pain it caused. I started researching the science behind it, learning how opioids alter brain chemistry and why recovery is so difficult. I'm constantly reading books and listening to podcasts on Addiction. The more I learned, the more I realized I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be the kind of nurse who meets patients where they are, I haven't been in the addict position myself but always on the other side of it, hopefully giving a different perspective. Offering not just medical care but empathy. Someone who understands addiction not as a moral failing, but as a disease. Pursuing a career as an RN with an addiction treatment focus is more than just a job to me, it’s a mission. I know what it’s like to love someone struggling with addiction, to feel powerless but still hold onto hope. I want to be that hope for others. Whether it’s in a hospital, a rehab center, or a community outreach program, I want to be on the front lines, helping people take steps toward recovery. My experience growing up in that environment didn’t break me, it gave me a purpose. And now, I’m ready to turn that purpose into action. Breaking the generational mold is a driving force behind my decision to return to school as a single mother. I want to show my children that education can open doors to opportunities and provide a path to a brighter future. Coming from a background where higher education wasn’t always prioritized, I am determined to break that cycle and create a legacy of learning and achievement. Pursuing my degree is not just about personal growth; it’s about redefining what’s possible for my family and inspiring my children to aim higher, dream bigger, and believe in their potential.