Becoming a nurse is a dream that I never knew I had until recently. Even though this is a new dream, I believe it will impact more than just my own life in the best ways. Fresh out of high school I began working towards my PharmD. My abusive mother is a Pharmacy Technician, so why not “one-up” the woman who has always knocked me down? With all my academic achievements, I was one of 300 people in the world selected to travel to Australia and study medicine in 2013. Without financial, or emotional support I beat the odds and I boarded the airplane to set off on an opportunity of a lifetime. It was truly a high point in my life as I met so many accomplished scholars and friends for life. When I returned home, the highest point in my life quickly took a turn to the lowest. I was attacked by 3 men, drugged, and raped. As I lay there in a hospital bed feeling completely violated, empty, and defeated, I waited for the nurse to enter the room. I was in a state of inexplicable disgust and lost my self-worth. I was angry not only with the men, but with myself. How could someone as intelligent as myself manage to get her drink spiked? The nurse entered the room. Her voice was patient, calm, respectful, and she reassured me that it was not my fault. A complete stranger managed to make me feel seen and safe. She took her time and went at my pace. Her kindness, compassion and empathy made the darkest moment in my life bearable. It took months of therapy, and years of recovery to finally decide to live my life with a purpose rather than spite. Now, as a mother of two girls, it is my job to set an example. No matter how hard or how often life knocks you down; no matter how long it takes you, get back up. Nine years later, I am getting back up. As SANE Nurse, I will be able to use my trauma to help heal and empower other people who are currently in the unfortunate situation that was once my rock bottom. At graduation, I will decorate my cap with the phrase “The comeback is greater than the setback” because nothing can keep me down. Please consider me for this scholarship so I can help show my daughters the sky is the limit, and allow me the opportunity to help others. All schooling is out of pocket, and I will do whatever it takes to achieve my goals.

The first time my life underwent drastic changes, I was 11 years old. My family fell apart and I was taken into the state's custody, where I bounced between group homes all over southern Arizona and the California bay area. Despite my unstable living environment, I was still able to achieve Honor Roll, as I have done my entire educational career. Eventually, my mom gained custody of her only daughter, and my dad mended the bridges he once burnt with her. We were living happily ever after, just in time for my dad to be diagnosed with stage 3 Esophageal Carcinoma. Doctors operated when I was a freshman in high school. At that time, they removed three-quarters of his esophagus, bringing his stomach up next to his heart. When the doctors did this operation, they attached his stomach with a fold, and this mistake led to his slow and painful death. I watched my father die right before my eyes. He beat cancer but lost the battle to starvation. After the death of my father, my life was again flipped upside down when my mother did not know how to deal with the pain. She kicked me out at the age of fifteen, leaving me to fend for myself. I lived in my car and stayed at friends' houses whenever possible. An all too familiar feeling was arising as I woke up every morning, not knowing where I’d be sleeping later that night. But not even this was able to stand in my way of academic excellence. Not only had I continued my lifelong Honor Role streak, but I was able to graduate from High School a semester early! But the story doesn’t end there. My dying father left me with enough financial advice which helped me save enough money to buy my first home at 19 years old; a home that no one could ever kick me out of. As a new homeowner, and 1 year out of high school I began working towards my PharmD. My abusive mother is a Pharmacy Technician, so why not “one-up” the woman who has always knocked me down? With all my academic achievements, I was one of 300 people in the world selected to travel to Australia and study medicine in 2013. Without financial, or emotional support, I beat the odds and boarded the airplane to set off on an opportunity of a lifetime. It was truly a high point in my life as I met so many accomplished scholars and friends for life. When I returned home, the highest point in my life quickly took a turn to the lowest, when I was attacked by 3 men. As I lay there in a hospital bed feeling completely violated, empty, and defeated, I waited for the nurse to enter the room. I was in a state of inexplicable disgust, and I lost my self-worth. I was angry not only with my attackers but with myself also. How could someone as intelligent as myself manage to get my drink spiked? It took months of therapy, and years of recovery to finally decide to live my life with a purpose rather than spite. Now, as a mother of two girls, it is my job to set an example. No matter how hard or how often life knocks you down; no matter how long it takes you, get back up. 9 years later, I am getting back up. At graduation, I will decorate my cap with the phrase “The comeback is greater than the setback” because nothing can keep me down.

The first time my life underwent drastic changes, I was 11 years old. My family fell apart and I was taken into the state's custody, where I bounced between group homes all over southern Arizona and the California bay area. Despite my unstable living environment, I was still able to achieve Honor Roll, as I have done my entire educational career. Eventually, my mom gained custody of her only daughter, and my dad mended the bridges he once burnt with her. We were living happily ever after, just in time for my dad to be diagnosed with stage 3 Esophageal Carcinoma. Doctors operated when I was a freshman in high school. At that time, they removed three-quarters of his esophagus, bringing his stomach up next to his heart. When the doctors did this operation, they attached his stomach with a fold, and this mistake led to his slow and painful death. I watched my father die right before my eyes. He beat cancer but lost the battle to starvation. After the death of my father, my life was again flipped upside down when my mother did not know how to deal with the pain. She kicked me out at the age of fifteen, leaving me to fend for myself. I lived in my car and stayed at friends' houses whenever possible. An all too familiar feeling was arising as I woke up every morning, not knowing where I’d be sleeping later that night. But not even this was able to stand in my way of academic excellence. Not only had I continued my lifelong Honor Role streak, but I was able to graduate from High School a semester early! But the story doesn’t end there. My dying father left me with enough financial advice which helped me save enough money to buy my first home at 19 years old; a home that no one could ever kick me out of. As a new homeowner, and 1 year out of high school I began working towards my PharmD. My abusive mother is a Pharmacy Technician, so why not “one-up” the woman who has always knocked me down? With all my academic achievements, I was one of 300 people in the world selected to travel to Australia and study medicine in 2013. Without financial, or emotional support, I beat the odds and boarded the airplane to set off on an opportunity of a lifetime. It was truly a high point in my life as I met so many accomplished scholars and friends for life. When I returned home, the highest point in my life quickly took a turn to the lowest, when I was attacked by 3 men. As I lay there in a hospital bed feeling completely violated, empty, and defeated, I waited for the nurse to enter the room. I was in a state of inexplicable disgust, and I lost my self-worth. I was angry not only with my attackers but with myself also. How could someone as intelligent as myself manage to get my drink spiked? It took months of therapy, and years of recovery to finally decide to live my life with a purpose rather than spite. Now, as a mother of two girls, it is my job to set an example. No matter how hard or how often life knocks you down; no matter how long it takes you, get back up. 9 years later, I am getting back up. At graduation, I will decorate my cap with the phrase “The comeback is greater than the setback” because nothing can keep me down.

Becoming a nurse is a dream that I never knew I had until recently. Even though this is a new dream, I believe it will impact more than just my own life in the best ways. Fresh out of high school I began working towards my PharmD. My abusive alcoholic mother is a Pharmacy Technician, so why not “one-up” the woman who has always knocked me down? With all my academic achievements, I was one of 300 people in the world selected to travel to Australia and study medicine in 2013. Without financial, or emotion support I beat the odds and I boarded the airplane to set off on an opportunity of a lifetime. It was truly a high point in my life as I met so many accomplished scholars and friends for life. When I returned home, the highest point in my life quickly took a turn to the lowest. I was attacked by 3 men, drugged, and raped. As I lay there in a hospital bed feeling completely violated, empty, and defeated, I waited for the nurse to enter the room. I was in a state of inexplicable disgust and lost my self-worth. I was angry not only with the men, but with myself. How could someone as intelligent as me manage to get her drink spiked? The nurse entered the room. Her voice was patient, calm, respectful, and she reassured me that it was not my fault. A complete stranger managed to make me feel seen and safe. She took her time and went at my pace. Her kindness, compassion and empathy made the darkest moment in my life bearable. It took months of therapy, and years of recovery to finally decide to live my life with a purpose rather than spite. Now, as a mother of two girls, it is my job to set an example. No matter how hard or how often life knocks you down; no matter how long it takes you, get back up. Nine years later, I am getting back up. As SANE Nurse, I will be able to use my trauma to help heal and empower other people who are currently in the unfortunate situation that was once my rock bottom. At graduation, I will decorate my cap with the phrase “The comeback is greater than the setback” because nothing can keep me down. Please consider me for this scholarship so I can help show my daughters the sky is the limit, and allow me the opportunity to help others. All schooling is out of pocket, and I will do whatever it takes to achieve my goals.

Becoming a nurse is a dream that I never knew I had until recently. Even though this is a new dream, I believe it will impact more than just my own life in the best ways. Fresh out of high school I began working towards my PharmD. My abusive mother is a Pharmacy Technician, so why not “one-up” the woman who has always knocked me down? With all my academic achievements, I was one of 300 people in the world selected to travel to Australia and study medicine in 2013. Without financial, or emotion support I beat the odds and I boarded the airplane to set off on an opportunity of a lifetime. It was truly a high point in my life as I met so many accomplished scholars and friends for life. When I returned home, the highest point in my life quickly took a turn to the lowest. I was attacked by 3 men, drugged, and raped. As I lay there in a hospital bed feeling completely violated, empty, and defeated, I waited for the nurse to enter the room. I was in a state of inexplicable disgust and lost my self-worth. I was angry not only with the men, but with myself. How could someone as intelligent as me manage to get her drink spiked? The nurse entered the room. Her voice was patient, calm, respectful, and she reassured me that it was not my fault. A complete stranger managed to make me feel seen and safe. She took her time and went at my pace. Her kindness, compassion and empathy made the darkest moment in my life bearable. It took months of therapy, and years of recovery to finally decide to live my life with a purpose rather than spite. Now, as a mother of two girls, it is my job to set an example. No matter how hard or how often life knocks you down; no matter how long it takes you, get back up. Nine years later, I am getting back up. As SANE Nurse, I will be able to use my trauma to help heal and empower other people who are currently in the unfortunate situation that was once my rock bottom. At graduation, I will decorate my cap with the phrase “The comeback is greater than the setback” because nothing can keep me down. Please consider me for this scholarship opportunity because all of my schooling is out of pocket. I will do anything in my power to succeed.