I've been a fan of Sabrina Carpenter since her days on "Girl Meets World". As a kid, I loved watching her play Maya Hart, especially because she was funny, witty, and completely unapologetic about who she was. One of my favorite storylines was her huge crush on Josh Matthews, which felt both hilarious and relatable at the time. Maya's humor and confidence made her one of my favorite characters on the show, and she was the reason I first became interested in Sabrina Carpenter. As I got older, I continued following her career and loved seeing her in movies like Tall Girl and The Hate U Give. No matter the role, what always stood out to me was how funny, quirky, and charismatic she was. The same personality that made her entertaining on television also shined through in her interviews. She has a natural sense of humor and doesn't take herself too seriously, which makes her feel relatable despite her success. After discovering more about Sabrina outside of acting, I started listening to her music and quickly became obsessed. Some of my favorite songs include Nonsense, Feather, and Juno. I love how her music combines clever lyrics, humor, and confidence while still being honest and vulnerable. Her songs always seem to have a distinct personality, which is one of the reasons they stand out to me. What I admire most about Sabrina Carpenter is her growth over the years. Watching her transition from a Disney Channel actress into a successful musician and performer has been inspiring. Her career has shown me the importance of embracing who you are, taking creative risks, and not letting other people define your path. She has remained authentic while continuing to evolve, and that confidence, humor, and determination are qualities I greatly admire.

Growing up in a traditional South Asian family, conversations about careers in healthcare were common. Like many families from Asian and Eastern cultures, there was often a strong emphasis on healthcare professions. I occasionally noticed the stigma surrounding certain roles within the field. However, as the daughter of two healthcare workers, I was always drawn to stories about patient care, and the impact healthcare professionals can have during vulnerable moments in a person's life. My decision to pursue a career in healthcare became especially clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Around that time, my mother’s uncle contracted COVID-19 and was admitted to the hospital. At first, my family believed he would recover, but within weeks his condition rapidly worsened. Due to strict pandemic restrictions, it was painfully difficult to watch someone we loved and had visited just months earlier slowly decline from a distance. In his final days, what impacted me and my family most was not only the medical care he received, but also the nurses who remained present through every stage of his illness. They sat at his bedside, adjusted his blankets and treated him with dignity even as his condition deteriorated. The nurses became the bridge between my family and the closed doors of the hospital. Watching nurses balance compassion with professionalism opened my eyes to the profound impact of the profession and changed the way I viewed healthcare. Now, as a nursing student looking back on the COVID-19 pandemic, I often think about how lonely and frightening that time must have been for patients and families due to visitation restrictions. I realized that healthcare workers were present in one of the hardest moments of their lives and preserved their dignity even in times of fear, and loss. Following the pandemic, I had the opportunity to explore healthcare by volunteering as a greeter, where I transported patients, conducted deliveries, and guided patients and families throughout the hospital. I quickly realized how meaningful simple acts of kindness and guidance could be for patients who were unfamiliar with the hospital environment. Through this experience, I fell in love with the atmosphere of the hospital and the sense of teamwork that exists within healthcare. Later, I participated in a summer internship at Mount Sinai Hospital as a material handler. This role gave me a deeper appreciation for how every position contributes to patient outcomes. One example is preparing suicide precaution bags, where I realized every little effort plays into better patient outcomes. As a woman in healthcare, I hope to make a positive impact by advocating for and empowering women throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. My goal is to begin my career as a labor and delivery nurse and become a nurse-midwife, where I can help educate women about their healthcare choices and support them through one of the most emotional experiences of their lives. I am particularly interested in women's health and evidence-based birthing practices, as I hope to help patients make informed decisions on different birthing methods and maternal care options. Beyond providing clinical care, I hope to contribute to a healthcare environment where women feel heard and involved in decisions about their bodies. Pregnancy and childbirth can be overwhelming, and many women enter the healthcare system feeling uncertain or unheard. I want to serve as an advocate who ensures that patients understand their options, have their concerns addressed, and feel empowered throughout the process. By combining compassionate nursing care with education and advocacy, I hope to contribute to improved maternal health outcomes while creating a positive birth experience that leave women feeling confident, and respected.

Most people my age start their mornings with iced lattes or energy drinks. Meanwhile, I start mine with a cup of strong South Asian tea and somehow end almost every night with green tea after dinner like a grandmother unwinding after a long day. According to my friends, this alone is enough evidence that I was born approximately 60 years older than everyone else around me. Growing up, I was constantly told that I “acted like a grandma.” While other people my age kept up with trends, I somehow became the person carrying tea in a cup, going to crochet club, and getting overly excited about finding a cute knit sweater. My favorite blue V-neck sweater especially did not help defend me against the allegations. At one point, my friends joked that I probably had strong opinions about home décor and orthopedic shoes despite barely being out of my teens. The funny thing is that they were not entirely wrong. I was raised closely by my grandmother, and many of the little habits people tease me about came directly from her. She was an avid tea drinker and introduced me to it at a very young age. She taught me how to slow down and appreciate quiet moments, and most importantly, how to properly dip cookies into tea without letting them completely dissolve into the cup. To this day, drinking tea still reminds me of comfort, warmth, and home. For a long time, though, I felt embarrassed by how different I seemed from everyone around me. It felt like everyone else effortlessly fit into what people expected teenagers and college students to be like, while I somehow skipped directly into middle-aged hobbies. Over time, however, I started realizing that those “grandma hobbies” were actually a huge part of what shaped me into who I am today and even contributed to my creativity and artistic abilities. Crocheting and painting taught me patience and attention to detail. Drinking tea and spending time with my grandmother taught me how important it is to slow down and genuinely connect with people. Even the way I dress reflects the fact that I value comfort and authenticity more than trying to follow every trend around me. Ironically, the same traits people teased me for are also the traits that have helped me become more involved in my community and in nursing. Through my honors program, peer mentoring, and clinical experiences, I have learned that patience, gentleness, and the ability to make others feel comfortable are qualities that truly matter. I think the same personality that made people call me a “grandma” growing up is also what allows me to connect with others in a compassionate and meaningful way. Now, instead of feeling embarrassed by those comments, I embrace them. If loving tea, crocheting blankets, and dressing like someone’s stylish grandmother makes me stand out a little, then honestly, I am perfectly okay with that.

“I asked my patient if he was hungry, and he slowly nodded.” That moment stayed with me more than I expected. During clinicals, I was providing care for an older patient who had been quiet for most of the shift. He barely spoke, barely moved, and seemed emotionally exhausted. When I asked him that simple question, he looked at me for a few seconds before slowly nodding his head. In that moment, I realized that sometimes people are too weak, overwhelmed, or alone to ask for help themselves. I sat with him while helping him eat, even though it was a small task that could easily be overlooked in a busy hospital environment. I asked what he wanted from his lunch tray and slowly fed it to him while trying to make conversation. At first, he barely responded, but eventually he began opening up about how lonely he felt being in the hospital and away from his family. Listening to him made me realize how isolating a hospital bed can be, especially for patients who lose the ability to do basic things independently. What affected me most was not the task itself, but the way his entire demeanor changed simply from having someone sit beside him and listen. Before that interaction, I viewed selflessness as doing something big or dramatic for another person. However, that experience taught me that selflessness can also exist in quiet moments that nobody notices, such as taking extra time with a patient, offering comfort when someone feels invisible, or simply being present when another person feels alone. As a nursing student, I have seen how vulnerable people become during illness. Many patients are not only struggling physically, but emotionally as well. That experience changed the way I approach patient care because I began paying closer attention to the little things: whether someone seems anxious, whether they need reassurance, or whether they simply need another person to talk to. I learned that compassion is just as important as clinical skill. I try to embody selflessness not only in clinical settings, but in everyday life as well. Through my honors program, I peer mentor other students who may feel overwhelmed balancing academics and personal responsibilities. I try to guide my mentees on which classes to take, which professors to choose, and what experiences may benefit them throughout their nursing journey. Likewise, I strive to be the type of person who listens without judgment and supports others even during stressful situations. Whether it is comforting a patient, helping a struggling classmate, or simply offering kindness during difficult moments, I believe genuine care can leave a lasting impact on someone’s life. Experiences like these continue to push me toward nursing because they remind me that healthcare is about more than treating illness. It is about preserving dignity, offering comfort, and making people feel seen during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

“Why nursing, why not medical school?” This was a phrase I heard often growing up in a traditional South Asian family. In many Asian and Eastern cultures, nursing is not viewed with the same respect as other healthcare professions, and I occasionally noticed that stigma in the people around me. Still, as the daughter of two healthcare workers, I was always drawn to the stories I heard about patient care and the role nurses played during vulnerable moments in people’s lives. My decision to pursue nursing became especially clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Around that time, my mother’s uncle contracted COVID-19 and was sadly admitted to the hospital. At first, my family believed he would recover, but within weeks his condition rapidly worsened. Due to strict pandemic restrictions, it was painfully hard to watch someone we loved and had visited just months earlier slowly decline from a distance. In his final days, what impacted me and my family the most was not only the medical care he received, but the nurses who remained present through every stage of his illness. They were the ones sitting at his bedside, adjusting his blankets, speaking to him gently, and treating him with dignity even as his condition deteriorated. It was often the nurses who became the bridge between my family and behind the closed doors of the hospital. I still remember overhearing emotional conversations between my parents and the nurses on the phone at our dinner table. The nurses explained difficult information with patience, answered questions and comforted my family during the painful time. They were not only caregivers for the patient, but also emotional support systems for the family. Watching nurses balance compassion with professionalism opened my eyes to this profession and completely changed the way I viewed healthcare and nursing. Now, as a current nursing student looking back on the COVID-19 pandemic, I often think about how lonely and frightening that time must have been for patients and families due to the strict hospital restrictions. I realized that nursing is far more than clinical tasks or medical procedures, as it is about being present for people during some of the hardest moments of their lives and preserving their dignity even in moments of fear, uncertainty, and loss. Following the pandemic, I had the opportunity to further explore healthcare by volunteering at Long Island Jewish Hospital as a greeter, where I transported patients, conducted deliveries, and guided patients and their families throughout the hospital. Although these may seem like small tasks, I quickly realized how meaningful simple acts of kindness and guidance could be for patients who were overwhelmed or unfamiliar with the hospital environment. Through this experience, I fell in love with the atmosphere of the hospital and the sense of teamwork that exists within healthcare. Later, I participated in a summer internship at Mount Sinai Hospital as a material handler. Although the role was not directly related to nursing care, it gave me a deeper appreciation for how every position contributes to patient outcomes. I still remember creating suicide precautions bags and thinking how essential these little things were for a best patient care outcome. These experiences continue to reinforce my passion for becoming a kind nurse who provides clinical care, but make patients and families feel supported, and heard. I found this scholarship on Bold.org.

I plan to create a legacy through both healthcare and entrepreneurship by building a career centered on compassion, confidence, and helping others feel cared for both physically and emotionally. Growing up, I was always the type of person friends and family naturally came to for advice, comfort, or reassurance. Even in small situations, I realized how much kindness and genuine connection could impact someone’s confidence and emotional well-being. Over time, I recognized that one of my greatest strengths is making people feel comfortable, understood, and supported, which is something I hope to continue bringing into both healthcare and business. One moment that especially stayed with me was seeing how much confidence can impact the way someone carries themselves and interacts with the world around them. I have always been interested in aesthetics because I realized it is not simply about appearance, but also about helping people feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. Whether it was watching someone become more outgoing after feeling good about themselves or seeing how small changes could positively affect a person’s self-esteem, I became drawn to the emotional side of aesthetics. I began to understand that confidence can influence how people communicate, socialize, and even how they view themselves internally. That perspective made me interested in combining healthcare with aesthetic medicine in the future, because I want to help people feel both cared for and confident while creating an environment where they feel genuinely comfortable, understood, and uplifted. I want people to walk into my future business feeling nervous or insecure but leave feeling more empowered and self-assured. To me, aesthetics is not about changing who someone is, but enhancing confidence in a safe, ethical, and compassionate way. In addition to nursing, I hope to eventually become certified in aesthetic procedures such as Botox and open my own medical aesthetics business. My goal is to create an environment where clients feel welcomed, listened to, and respected. I am especially interested in combining healthcare knowledge with aesthetics in a way that promotes both safety and self-confidence. I want my future business to feel warm, professional, and empowering rather than intimidating or impersonal. As someone entering healthcare, I also hope to represent young South Asian women pursuing careers that combine both science and entrepreneurship. I believe I shine my light through empathy, positivity, and the ability to make people feel comfortable around me. Whether it is mentoring classmates, supporting patients during clinicals, or helping others feel more confident in themselves, I value creating meaningful connections with people. I also believe that leadership begins with kindness, patience, and being willing to genuinely listen to others. Through both nursing and my future business, I hope to build a legacy rooted in compassion, confidence, empowerment, and genuine care for others.

I am currently a sophomore in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and have always been passionate about healthcare, leadership, and helping others. Growing up as the daughter of two healthcare workers, I was exposed early on to the importance of compassion and patient-centered care. As a South Asian woman pursuing nursing, I have also experienced the cultural stigma sometimes associated with the profession. This has only strengthened my commitment to following a path that aligns with my values for caring for others. My experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic deeply influenced my decision to pursue nursing. Watching nurses care for my family member with compassion, dignity, and emotional support during his final days showed me the impact nurses can have not only on patients, but also on families during these vulnerable moments. That experience inspired me to seek opportunities within healthcare which had only confirmed my desire to become a nurse. Since then, I have continued building my experience through volunteering and internships. I volunteered at Long Island Jewish Hospital as a greeter, where I transported patients, conducted deliveries, and assisted patients and families throughout the hospital. Later that summer I had also completed a summer internship at Mount Sinai Hospital as a material handler, where I gained insight into the teamwork and coordination required within hospital settings. Currently, I am in the clinical phase of my nursing program, where I am learning firsthand about patient care, communication, critical thinking, and the importance of empathy in healthcare. Each semester I am placed on different unit and in which I apply my theoretical knowledge from lecture into practice. As of now I am very excited to be on a labor and delivery floor or the ICU as both may be unit I want to work on as a nurse. Outside of academics, I am involved in my college’s honors program, where I peer mentor nursing and honors students. Through mentoring, I have developed stronger leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills while supporting students navigating challenging academic environments. In the future, I hope to continue my education and pursue advanced practice nursing, specifically in either nurse midwifery or nurse anesthesia. My goal is to become a compassionate and knowledgeable healthcare professional who advocates for patients and provides emotional and clinical support during difficult moments. I also hope to contribute to a more diverse and inclusive healthcare environment where patients from all backgrounds feel understood, respected, and cared for.

“Why nursing, why not medical school?” This was a phrase I heard often growing up in a traditional South Asian family. In many Asian and Eastern cultures, nursing is not viewed with the same respect as other healthcare professions, and I occasionally noticed that stigma in the people around me. Still, as the daughter of two healthcare workers, I was always drawn to the stories I heard about patient care and the role nurses played during vulnerable moments in people’s lives. My decision to pursue nursing became especially clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Around that time, my mother’s uncle contracted COVID-19 and was sadly admitted to the hospital. At first, my family believed he would recover, but within weeks his condition rapidly worsened. Due to strict pandemic restrictions, it was painfully hard to watch someone we loved and had visited just months earlier slowly decline from a distance. In his final days, what impacted me and my family the most was not only the medical care he received, but the nurses who remained present through every stage of his illness. They were the ones sitting at his bedside, adjusting his blankets, speaking to him gently, and treating him with dignity even as his condition deteriorated. It was often the nurses who became the bridge between my family and the closed doors of the hospital. I still remember overhearing emotional conversations between my parents and the nurses on the phone at our dinner table. The nurses explained difficult information with patience, answered questions honestly, and comforted my family during an incredibly painful time. They were not only caregivers for the patient, but also emotional support systems for the family. Watching nurses balance compassion with professionalism opened my eyes to this profession and completely changed the way I viewed healthcare and nursing. Now, as a current nursing student looking back on the COVID-19 pandemic, I often think about how lonely and frightening that time must have been for patients and families due to the strict hospital restrictions. I realized that nursing is far more than clinical tasks or medical procedures; it is about being present for people during some of the hardest moments of their lives and preserving their dignity even in moments of fear, uncertainty, and loss. Following the pandemic, I had the opportunity to further explore healthcare by volunteering at Long Island Jewish Hospital as a greeter, where I transported patients, conducted deliveries, and guided patients and their families throughout the hospital. Although these may seem like small tasks, I quickly realized how meaningful simple acts of kindness and guidance could be for patients who were overwhelmed or unfamiliar with the hospital environment. Through this experience, I fell in love with the atmosphere of the hospital and the sense of teamwork that exists within healthcare. Later, I participated in a summer internship at Mount Sinai Hospital as a material handler. Although the role was not directly related to nursing care, it gave me a deeper appreciation for how every position contributes to patient outcomes. I still remember creating suicide precaution bags and realizing how even the smallest details in healthcare can contribute to patient safety, dignity, and comfort. As a South Asian woman entering a profession where cultural stigma once made me question my own path, I hope to contribute to a more diverse and compassionate healthcare environment while serving patients from all backgrounds with empathy and understanding.

“Why nursing, why not medical school?” This was a phrase I heard often growing up in a traditional South Asian family. In many Asian and Eastern cultures, nursing is not viewed with the same respect as other healthcare professions, and I occasionally noticed that stigma in the people around me. Still, as the daughter of two healthcare workers, I was always drawn to the stories I heard about patient care and the role nurses played during vulnerable moments in people’s lives. My decision to pursue nursing became especially clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Around that time, my mother’s uncle contracted COVID-19 and was sadly admitted to the hospital. At first, my family believed he would recover, but within weeks his condition rapidly worsened. Due to strict pandemic restrictions, it was painfully hard to watch someone we loved and had visited just months earlier slowly decline from a distance. In his final days, what impacted me and my family the most was not only the medical care he received, but the nurses who remained present through every stage of his illness. They were the ones sitting at his bedside, adjusting his blankets, speaking to him gently, and treating him with dignity even as his condition deteriorated. It was often the nurses who became the bridge between my family and behind the closed doors of the hospital. I still remember overhearing emotional conversations between my parents and the nurses on the phone at our dinner table. The nurses explained difficult information with patience, answered questions and comforted my family during the painful time. They were not only caregivers for the patient, but also emotional support systems for the family. Watching nurses balance compassion with professionalism opened my eyes to this profession and completely changed the way I viewed healthcare and nursing. Now, as a current nursing student looking back on the COVID-19 pandemic, I often think about how lonely and frightening that time must have been for patients and families due to the strict hospital restrictions. I realized that nursing is far more than clinical tasks or medical procedures, as it is about being present for people during some of the hardest moments of their lives and preserving their dignity even in moments of fear, uncertainty, and loss. Following the pandemic, I had the opportunity to further explore healthcare by volunteering at Long Island Jewish Hospital as a greeter, where I transported patients, conducted deliveries, and guided patients and their families throughout the hospital. Although these may seem like small tasks, I quickly realized how meaningful simple acts of kindness and guidance could be for patients who were overwhelmed or unfamiliar with the hospital environment. Through this experience, I fell in love with the atmosphere of the hospital and the sense of teamwork that exists within healthcare. Later, I participated in a summer internship at Mount Sinai Hospital as a material handler. Although the role was not directly related to nursing care, it gave me a deeper appreciation for how every position contributes to patient outcomes. I still remember creating suicide precautions bags and thinking how essential these little things were for a best patient care outcome. As someone in my clinical phase, I have witnessed firsthand the critical thinking, and holistic care nurses whether it was helping encourage my full-care patient to increase fluid intake after my assigned nurse explained they had high sodium, or watching nurses sit beside emotional patients to comfort and reassure them. These experiences continue to reinforce my passion for becoming a kind nurse who provides clinical care, but make patients and families feel supported, and heard.

"It's okay to be vulnerable." This was something that volunteering at the hospital taught me. At my local hospital, I worked as a greeter, assisting wheelchair-bound patients, directing family members, and, most importantly, ensuring the safe entry of people into the hospital. While these responsibilities required social skills, I discovered that the true bond between volunteers and families is strengthened when a vulnerability is present. As I stood in my usual spot near the scanning machines, I waited until another individual had trouble scanning their ID paper so I could assist them. It was a simple task, yet many struggled to align the barcode with the scanner. Often, people weren't aware of its use and would walk directly into the mechanical doors, expecting them to open. The lady at the front desk asked me to escort an elderly Indian man to the room where his wife was assigned. "Do you speak Hindi?" he asked. I stared at him blankly. I am of Pakistani origin, and while I can understand Hindi due to its similarity to Urdu, I knew I couldn't say anything beyond two sentences. Nevertheless, I chose to be honest and replied with a simple "no." As we walked side by side towards the elevator, I felt compelled to mention that I did understand Hindi, hoping to alleviate any concerns he might have had about being misunderstood. To my surprise, he began a conversation where he talked about where he and I were from. Along with a few words in Hindi, he started to discuss his situation. I felt that this was a moment where he and I both opened up and felt vulnerable. When we reached the floor, we tried to find the room number, and he thanked me wholeheartedly. While this instance lasted only 15 minutes, it was a profound experience that unfolded within an atmosphere of vulnerability. As I engaged with patients and listened to their experiences, I realized the importance of breaking down emotional barriers and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. Through my interactions with patients and families, I discovered the strength and beauty that can emerge from embracing vulnerability. It reminded me that vulnerability is not something to be feared or hidden but rather a fundamental part of the human experience. As a volunteer, you have the responsibility to make tasks and burdens easier for everyone around you. I hope to carry this learning experience into my future relationships and endeavors.

As a young Muslim, I have always attended Saturday classes at the mosque and volunteered at the mosque fundraiser every year. These events were organized by my parents to help me gain more knowledge of Islam. While I have never associated my Muslim identity with my academic circumstances, I have always found myself relying on God's will when facing difficult tasks or exams. It is common for young Muslims to humorously mention how we recite a dua (prayer) before exams, yet in reality, it sets us apart. My trust in God and seeking spiritual prayers for academic success demonstrate the significant influence of Islam in various facets of my life. I hope to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner and eventually open my own clinic. As someone who was raised in a South Asian household, I find the emphasis on mental health to be important. While the lack of mental health awareness may not be associated with Islam, many Muslims disregard mental health within their community. As a TikTok and social media user, I often come across instances where Muslims disregard people's mental health through insults, mean comments, and more. These situations frequently arise during religious debates or discussions regarding topics such as the hijab or different sects within Islam. While I do not hold individuals entirely responsible, their upbringing and environment have undoubtedly influenced their actions. Hence, I believe there should be more Muslims specializing in the psychiatric field to help diminish these behaviors and raise awareness of mental health. Similarly, many Islamic marriages that are on the brink of falling apart are not likely to be resolved by a Sheikh, but by therapists instead. Being a Sheikh is specialized in Islamic knowledge, they may not know how to address emotional and psychological issues within a marriage. Furthermore, working as a psychiatric nurse practitioner is a deeply fulfilling and charitable profession that allows me to make a significant impact on people's lives, potentially even saving them. I wholeheartedly believe that one's mental health can impact their religious journey. As stated in the Quran, "Verily, Allah will not change the condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness" [Al-Ra’d 13:11]. I believe winning this scholarship will provide economic assistance in completing my bachelor's degree in nursing. As a young Muslim woman, my parents have taken on the responsibility of paying for my college tuition. However, I hope to relieve them of the burden of long-term loans that may impact their lives.

Sisterhood, amusing storyline, Kendrick Lamar and a rush of adrenaline is what I got from the 'Bad Blood' music video from Taylor Swift's '1989' album. As I watched the music video I had forgotten to enjoy the song as I was so invested in the visuals and storyline. Being a 3rd grader I was repeatedly surprised when a new aspiring model or actress popped up on the screen in Taylor's music video. It felt revolutionary to see my favorite female models and artists all collaborate in one music video to display a storyline. A storyline in which each woman had their own fighting ability and a really cool codename. As a female who loves seeing empowerment, it was amusing to see Taylor Swift's vision in inviting various models and artists to help produce the music video. I have always categorized Taylor's songs to be about a country or teenage love but the song Bad Blood became a gem in the 1989 album to which I truly became a Swifty. The song presented a different type of music style compared to Taylor's past songs. Within 10 seconds of the song Kendrick Lamar, a popular artist, began to rap which I found to be an amazing addition to Taylor's music. The lyrics of the song conveyed bad blood which is a normal circumstance everyone experiences in life. Instead of conveying sadness through the lyrics and music, the beats and visuals of the video give the viewer an upbeat feeling toward the situation. One can feel more established on having bad blood with someone, and their boundaries through these lyrics. To this day I enjoy the song just as much as it was released in 2014. Watching the music video gives the same surprising and similar adrenaline rush as before. As an artistic person, I can commend Taylor's visions and ideas in her song Bad Blood. The style of the music video had given dark, feminine empowerment vibes that I can repeatedly watch. It was a song that spoke loudly through its lyrics but intrigued the viewers through the visuals. Bad Blood was a song in which Taylor Swift went a step further to incorporate various models and artists in her video to which many Swifties can gush over. A reunion of inspiring women we look up to in one video, is something that truly made Bad Blood to be different from the ‘1989’ album.

As a graduating high school student I would like to become a nurse practitioner in the field of psychology. My close friend of 6 years was addicted to weed to the extent it had impacted her life. While I was oblivious to the negative signs, I remember feeling confused and guilty to hear she wasn't doing well. I remember being the age of 14 when I had gotten the news that she was admitted to a teen rehabilitation program. To my relief, I came to learn a teen rehabilitation program provided support for teens' well-being, utilizing the study of the brain and human behavior. This increased my awareness of psychology and I decided to take a college-level psychology class during my spring semester of high school. The class introduced me to different types of therapy, about human behavior which increased the importance of mental health in my eyes. Motivated by the college class, and my friend's circumstances, I started volunteering at Long Island Jewish Hospital which introduced me to the hospital environment. Being a greeter I began to create relationships and strive to help individuals through activities such as wheelchair patients, escorting loved ones and even giving directions. This experience provided me with the ability to gain characteristics of sympathy, and attentiveness toward people in need. I believe these characteristics are vital to become a nurse. The field of nursing consists of hard work and dedication toward providing medical aid and services for patients. Nurses overall play an important role in healthcare whether it be through checking patients' vitals, stitching wounds to even recording patients' medical history. All of which provide a support system for individuals in hospitals and even the healthcare community. My desire to become a nurse stems from how large and flexible the career can be. Nursing consists of many different areas of study, such as dermatology, pediatrics, clinical, surgical, etc. This opens the floor to options for individuals depending on their interests. To further enhance my nursing career, I can work to get higher positions as a nurse practitioner. The position of nurse practitioner interests me due to its independence and flexiblity in helping patients. Being a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I feel I can help patients with their mental health, and provide services for them to live a better life. I can further take my study and education as a nurse practitioner to open my practice in the future and independently extend my services.

Being a young girl I often wondered about my passion or goal in life especially being someone who was sheltered at a young age. If someone were to inquire about my hobbies, I would repeatedly mention drawing and physical sports. But to be honest drawing wasn't something I did daily on my own and physical sports only occurred in school. These attributes were something I always found to be diminished due to the nature of my upbringing. Growing up human behaviors and the brain had always been interesting at a young age. However, my distinct attraction to human behaviors started at a young age due to the heavy narcissism and toxicity during my childhood. The behaviors and reactions of narcissistic individuals became something I would identify with quickly due to encountering it daily. Being the age of 10 and searching up the symptoms of narcissism to see whether I was a victim might be a dark topic for many. Yet I find it empowering and unique that I slowly at a young age educated myself on these topics and found the ability to identify the mental games I was experiencing. Hence growing up I found myself to be someone who would observe people's behaviors, reactions etc. I would often make connections between how people acted their upbringing, etc. I continued my interest in the brain and human behaviors by enrolling in my first psychology 101 class where I was ready to further learn about human behaviors and unwind from my childhood experiences. This was only the first step towards my goal to help back to the community, as I plan to become a psychological nurse practitioner. I find that by working and understanding the topic of the brain and human behavior, I can help others by investing myself in this profession. As a young kid, I would have hoped to have an individual to talk to and unwind from the narcissistic abuse I encountered daily. Therefore the ability to open my clinic and become a psychiatric nurse will help me be able to help others mentally and physically. I hope to embody a safe place for many and help clients unwind from their trauma through a professional service. This goal of mine is something I start very early by investing my time as a volunteer n hospitals, talking to my friends about their problems and even learning to establish boundaries to put my mental health first.

My major will be nursing, specifically in the field of psychology. Through studying this I aspire to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner and open my own practice. By having my own clinic I will be able to help many who suffer from mental health and become a safe space for many individuals. The nature of my family and the state of the many Muslims inspire me to choose to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Growing up, derogatory treatment of women was normalized in my community and family. I had been exposed to women in my family, experience narcissistic abuse on a daily. This treatment was later translated into the way many of these women raised their kids, including me. Being able to identify these behaviors in my family, inspired me to learn and understand the narcissistic and mental nature of what I had experienced. I felt inspired to work in the field of psychology hoping to better understand the behavior of the mind. While many Muslims in the community will shamefully deny this, mental health and derogatory perception of women is prominent in the community, especially on apps like tik tok amongst the younger generation. Where one would hope this treatment would stop from the older generation, the younger generation may be continuing the cycle. Hence I find the field of psychiatric nursing will help me and others better understand the perception and behaviors of these individuals and further stop the harmful cycle. I seek higher education to honor the efforts of my grandfather who moved to America from Pakistan My grandfather had left Pakistan, a place in which he was a well-known successful veterinarian. He had his own office, driver, house and was very successful in his field. He would often receive calls from his tribal people to which they would inquire about issues with their livestock, which continued when he moved to America. When arriving in the U.S., my father and his five siblings were forced to work while going to school. My grandfather similarly worked at a gas station, where he mentioned the unfortunate feeling he had when he first received a quarter-cent tip. It opened his eyes to how his life changed from being a veterinarian to pumping gas in New York. While these stories are from the past they are often remembered, for the privileges I have today. Therefore, I find it to be rewarding and right for me to seek the opportunity of higher education in the country my family worked so hard to settle in. Due to my passion for working in the health field, I have volunteered at my local hospital as a greeter. Having this position I would help many visitors, patients and others safely and comfortably enter the hospital, by giving directions, wheeling wheelchair patients and even greeting them as they enter the hospital. Similarly, amongst the Muslim community, I would make treats for my childhood mosque for their yearly fundraiser. The mosque was run by my uncle, so I would often stand at the tables and sell the goods myself. As someone who was raised Muslim and often encouraged to become a better one, I find it to be an identity I hold onto when navigating the real world. Times, when I recite the small dua before a difficult exam or check the food label before buying a snack, is when I carry the elements of being a Muslim. After going to Umrah in 2023, I find that being Muslim at birth is a privilege, as we were taught at a young age how to successfully navigate this life.