"With a dreamy, far-off look, And her nose stuck in a book, What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle" I think Belle resembles genuine curiosity and seeing the best in others. Whenever she walked around her town, she felt like she did not belong. Every time she compared her small town with what the books showed her about the world, the more she wanted to read, learn, and travel. Nonetheless her knowledge, she never seemed to see herself as superior to others. Unlike other girls in town, she never cared about beauty, material stuff, or finding a cute guy to marry. Belle was more concerned about why there were not more books available in the town. Princess Belle was always full of a strong desire to learn, which I think is important to reflect on kids in movies. Often, we will see the presentation of smart characters as people who are not pretty or inferior. I believe that Belle is an icon to promote the passion and desire for knowledge as something to look up to. It is also wonderful how she reflects that being more knowledgeable than others, does not make us superior, but it gives us the power to educate others. She always remained humble and would be more kind than those who were popular in town, like Gaston. More than being a Disney figure to promote intellectuality, Bella represents amiability. When she met the Beast, her least concern was his appearance. She had read far beyond in books about the importance of kindness and respect, and not only she applied it to the beast but taught him about it. I think this is one of the most important lessons from her character because it reflects the power that we can acquire from books. Bella represents that reading and learning can give us the power to be kinder, more creative, and more curious.

We wanted a dog but were too busy with school. My fiance and I visited the Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT) looking for an older dog. We thought that an older dog would most likely be "potty trained" and would not demand as much attention as training a puppy. We encountered many adorable faces, but we found this one puppy. A small chubby cow-like puppy was playing in her crate. We asked to take her out after she convinced me that my fingers would be her favorite treat of the afternoon. We named her Odi, which was short for Odyssey, and she joined our family in 2018. Odi required two intense weeks of training and she required all of my attention. She was the perfect addition to our family to take over all of our free time. Odi became my favorite companion in Texas. We had recently migrated to Texas due to a Hurricane in Puerto Rico. We were starting from zero and I had to adapt to living far away from family and friends. As time passed by, I realized that making friends, was not within my strongest skills. Even if I went out to parks and cafes, starting conversations had a strange feeling that made me very nervous. My fiance would go out with his friends and I would feel lonely. I would stay at home most of the time and would facetime family or friends. Reconnecting with family via social media was comforting, but whenever I hung up the calls, the void of loneliness would arise. Growing up to learn about myself and how to love myself was a beautiful journey, but I wanted to have a companion. When Odi arrived at our little home, I never experienced extreme sadness ever again. She developed an innate instinct of reaching out to me whenever I felt sad or very anxious. To this day, Odi reflects such empathy for every person that comes to our home. Whenever they are feeling too anxious, she will make her way to them. Her classic moves include walking towards you and sitting in front of you. Odi has a fine radar to locate any free hands and will place her head in your hands. Her secret goal is to have you pet her until you can calm down. Another role she plays amazingly is being a secret trainer. There will be days where I do not feel very motivated to go out and want to lay in bed all day. She will launch me the classic puppy eyes, so that I can get up and take her out to play. Having a dog makes me happier, more physically active, and more responsible. If I had to adopt her again, I would do it without a doubt. I was trying to change a puppy's life, and she certainly changed ours for the best.

Knowledge is an invisible power that nobody can take away from us. We may have arguments with family, friends, or lovers, and never talk to them again. Material belongings can be lost due to the economy, having to move away, or even natural disasters. A book's information becomes immortalized knowledge whenever we learn what it is trying to teach us through its pages. I understood the true price of knowledge by speaking with a homeless guy for more than a minute. He had been a lawyer for the longest time and due to alcoholism, he lost his family and profession. One thing that amazed me, is that nonetheless of what he had gone through, he was still one of the most knowledgeable people that I had ever met. He had no home, car, or family, but he had the power to educate others, including me. This event, along with many others in life, has taught me the true value of knowledge. In my case, learning about the human anatomy and how to heal others, can even grant me the power to heal. It is not magic or casualty, but a mere dedication to learning that gives us the tools to nurture others. As nursing students, we are encouraged to exert what is called "continuing education" and learn about different specialties. Healthcare providers are also encouraged and required to often take courses with innovative knowledge. A great example of being open to all knowledge is that as nurses, we never know what medical condition we may encounter. I believe in the importance of always seeking to learn more, not only because it is exciting, but because data is often updated. In order to move along with innovative research and data, it is essential that we are always open to education. Once I graduate from nursing school, my next goal is to learn to be a quality clinical caregiver. Though I am yet indecisive about graduate school, I am certain that I would like to take business and finance courses along the way. Aside from our professions, learning is a concept that should be applied to every aspect of our lives. I believe that acquiring specialties is admirable, but even if we are not seeking to specialize in a topic, we should always be intrigued to learn. Each and every one of us was born without knowing how to walk or talk. If we would have approached these skills, only if we were certain that we would be speakers or runners, then many of us would not be here today. It is only by remaining open to knowledge, that we can move to other adventures!

We all know that college is nothing like high school, right? In college, you get the opportunity to meet more people like you. In high school, there is often a structure in which if you don't have certain features, then you do not fit in a group. Then, if you are not strong enough, you begin negotiating your passions and beliefs, just to "fit in". In college, things are a little different. As soon as you set a foot in a campus, you realize that nobody truly cares about what you are wearing or what family you are coming from. You learn that every student is there with a goal similar to yours, which is to earn a degree. Nonetheless of a person's style or music preference, you are given the opportunity to network and connect because you share other similarities. During your college journey, you get the opportunity to meet people that will help you grow toward your truest self. I think the most exciting part of college is having the opportunity to become more like ourselves. Classes, projects, and deadlines make you question your beliefs and morals. Maybe, you learn that you did not really agree with all the things that you were taught in your small communities. You get the opportunity to identify the things that you value the most in life. You become the captain of your future and each decision that you make, will be guiding you toward a different outcome. I think that, is the most exciting part of college. All of these experiences in college can be quite exciting, but also very stressful. Along with meeting people with similar interests as you, life can become busy very quickly. One day you are thrilled about finding social groups that feel like family, and the next day you are turning in assignments late. Just like that, you realize that unless you develop and master the art of time management, you may not make it through college. You realize that there are so many clubs and activities that you want to participate in, but there is so little time... Managing time can become quite challenging and you may easily forget to separate time for yourself. During college, I was personally challenged due to my poor time management skills, vague priorities settled, as well as a lack of spiritual strength. Some of the things that helped me get closer to the finish line of college were planners, reminders on my phone, separating time for family and support groups, developing communication skills, and learning my limits. As a senior, I am certain that there were multiple situations resolved just by being flexible with myself. I cannot stress enough how important it is to respect our limits and to learn to rest. Even when planning rest times, it is possible that our bodies become fatigued unexpectedly. Whenever these moments arise, it is so important to respect them. I personally would cancel my afternoons or morning plans and substitute them for activities that would help me feel better and relax. Most certainly, it would make me busier later on, but I knew that I was listening to my body. Over everything, learn to be patient with yourself and you will be giving the attention needed to your mind, body, soul, and spirit

As a bisexual woman in a long-term relationship with a man, my sexuality is assumed as straight most of the time. I grew up in a strict Adventist environment where most of my social peers, including my family, were heterosexual. I had to listen to my family, teachers, and friends use despective words for women who looked "more masculine" or "men who thought of themselves as women". I actually internalized this to a point, that I was always self-conscious about what I would wear or if I acted in a certain way, then I could be rejected or judged. I would even wear outfits that thought I felt uncomfortable in them, they would portray "more of a feminine look" and would save me from receiving negative (discriminatory) comments. Fortunately, my mother had a few friends who were part of the LGBTQ+ community when I was a child. I always felt relief when spending time with her because I felt like I could truly be myself around her. She always taught me that we should love everyone the same no matter what. If it wasn't for my mother's simple, yet essential lesson, I would probably be a completely different person today. It wasn't until I began college and went to live at a studio by myself, that I felt comfortable and free enough to fully define my sexuality and identity. Unfortunately, I still face rude discriminatory comments from my family because they are not aware of my sexual orientation. However, even though I don't feel confident telling them about my sexual orientation, I will now comfortably stand up for the need to respect everyone equally. I am currently majoring in Nursing and my goal is to educate the community on the importance of caring for the human body from a holistic perspective. It is only by creating a balance in the mind, spirit, and body that we are able to truly heal and achieve our optimal state. Amongst the importance of educating people about holistic care, is the need for teaching people to respect others and fulfill their spirits. The healthcare environment needs more people who speak and educate about the trans community and how to care for the spirit of the trans-community patients. It is very often that we find health care providers that disrespect our trans allies by using the wrong pronouns behind their backs. One of my goals is to educate my future coworkers about how to use proper pronouns and how to respectfully address our trans-allies. It should be considered unacceptable, that people nowadays still use the wrong pronouns "because they don't know". If I have to do presentations within the units about the inclusivity of our trans patients, I will do them, but it is time that every patient receives equal care.

Loving others and always being open to learning have taught me the true meaning of life. We stress ourselves so often as of how to be successful in life or that until we achieve something, then we will understand our purpose in life. I believe that the meaning of life is to nourish the soul and spread knowledge and joy. Some of the ways that we can nourish the soul include feeling, giving, and receiving love. To love others is to be selfless and to smile upon someone else's smile. It doesn't take much to understand that we are here to feel, give and receive. I learned the meaning of life in a relative's smile at my silly jokes and in the hugs that a friend gave me during a rough time. Once I felt alive and plentiful during these moments, then I understood that those were the small things that made life meaningful and worth the ride. There is no need to overcomplicate our journey in this life, because as long as we love and understand that we can learn from absolutely everything, then we will feel alive.

My goal in education is to acquire knowledge that will connect me to the healing properties of our flora. I want to educate myself in the properties of the organic matters that surround us. Along with my nursing BSN degree, I want to study botany and learn how to educate my patients about non-pharmacological interventions that can treat their medical conditions. For as long as I can remember if I felt unwell, there was always someone asking if I had "taken anything for it". These words would imply the physiological need for pharmacological intervention, to return to my well-being. When I turned sixteen years old, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. My father had to take me to the hospital biweekly so that I could have blood drawn to evaluate my thyroid hormone levels. I visited multiple specialists who worked together to identify what was the right dose for my medical condition. I had to take around 6 pills daily, as a possible cure for my uncontrolled tachycardia, excessive sweating, and severe anxiety. I remember wondering if taking so many medications could have a negative impact on my health. A few months passed by and what once was hyperthyroidism shifted to hypothyroidism. It appeared to be that taking such high doses of these medications also harmed me. At this point, my parents and the physicians did not know what to do. It wasn't until my mother suggested visiting a naturopathic doctor that everything changed. We never stopped visiting the specialists, but the medications along with a change in exercise and nutritional habits cured my thyroid imbalances. We hear so often about the importance of nutrition and exercise, yet we tend to often reach out to the medication drawers. I wonder what my life would be like nowadays if I had never considered holistic care. Because I understand the importance of the balance between alternative and western medicine, my goal is to lead research. I want to research the effects of different non-pharmacological interventions. Including the healing properties of plants, I want to study the relationship between patients' outcomes and their spirituality. After all, individuals' spirituality should never be seen as the need to practice a religion, but rather the practice of attending the soul. There are a few research projects relating these topics with patients who have undergone chemotherapy. I believe this topic could create a whole new outlook on health care goals. My ultimate goal would be to open a wellness center that exerts evidence-based practice interventions and works in the application of holistic care along with a team of western medicine doctors.

Even though it may sound very classic, I think my parents were who inspired me to pursue an advanced certification. My mother was sixteen years old when I was born. My father was studying to become a nurse. I was always surrounded by medical terminology and I remember asking thousands of questions. While other kids may have been asking the typical "why's" about nature and existence, I was asking my parents how allergies worked. My parents say that one of my first words, was in fact, fetus. It is hard to imagine a toddler's first word being a fetus, but it wasn't rare at all when my parents were always studying around me. During my teenage years, I remember saying that I would study anything as long as it did not have to do with the medical field. Though I had always been intrigued about human anatomy and medical conditions, it was hard to associate the sacrifice that my parents had to do in order to pursue careers in the health care field. I always thought of nurses as people who lived for their work rather than working to live. Later on, I was able to understand that within the challenges that nursing school may have brought to my parents, they were also economically challenged. They had just migrated from Colombia to Puerto Rico and though they were passionate about healthcare, this was also their opportunity to find a way to support our family. As a junior nursing student, I can confidently say that I love my degree. It feels like I will be giving back to a profession that has given my family so much. I will be able to teach others about thousands of medical terminologies and health conditions that grasped my attention as a child. I am hoping that I will be able to inspire others to learn more about human anatomy, to learn about how amazing our bodies are, and their ability to heal. Though I am not aware of my specialty field, I have an idea of what makes me passionate. I am passionate about three things in the health care field. The first one would be holistic care and non-pharmacologic medicine. Second, I feel responsible for empowering minority groups to receive personalized patient-care experiences. For last, I am passionate about beginning and end of life care. By clustering these passions, I am looking forward to acquiring experience in clinical settings and outpatient settings that will help me develop a wellness center in my homeland Puerto Rico .

After persevering through 7 years of school, I am ready to be a nurse. There have been so many times in my life when I have been about to give up. The first time I thought about quitting college was in my homeland. At first, it was the uncertainty of the future that made me doubt if my degree specialty was the right one for me. The second time I thought about quitting college was because I felt like I was not enough. While my friends were going out and balancing their time perfectly, I learned everyone's journey was different. I had to stay at home studying extra hours while I convinced myself that I was not a failure and that I could make it. When I migrated to the United States, I found myself navigating through the challenges of working extra hours to be able to pay for school. I reached a point where I asked myself if this would all be worth it in the end. There have been so many times that I have thought about throwing the towel and starting a new path, rather than finishing my college degree. However, I believe that commitment has brought me to my junior year of nursing school. I have always known that I am meant to graduate college and help others. As a teenager, I was diagnosed at high risk for developing a thyrotoxic crisis. My thyroid was completely out of control which lead me to experience severe symptoms of hyperthyroidism to the next month having hypothyroidism. While I was frustrated with my body, my parents focused on finding possible causes and cures for my medical condition. Along with a naturopathic doctor and my primary care physician, they were able to develop a care plan that cured my thyroid imbalances. This experience helped me understand the importance of many aspects of providing and receiving health care, but most importantly, it taught me the importance of nutrition. If I had not changed my nutrition, it is possible that I would have had to continue to the toughest treatments available for my medical condition. After living this experience, I understood that everyone deserves to learn about the importance of nutrition and its power in preventing medical conditions. My ultimate goal is to educate others on the importance of caring for their bodies. Acquiring this degree will provide me with the tools I need to lead research projects that will help me target specific issues amongst minority groups. I know that my experiences along this journey have been shaping me to make me capable of helping others grow, the same way that the health care team helped me when I needed it the most.

Alex Gray is a visual artist who creates art pieces that represent human life from a transcendental and spiritual perspective. He is the co-founder and minister of The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. I believe that he did a wonderful job opening his own temple where people get to admire his artistic creations. Art engages all senses and I think that his inclusion of spirituality amongst art is one of the most beautiful creations.

I was thinking about how much life was really worth it. During my early years, everything became questionable. I was uncertain about my own personality and would question every single thing around me. I grew up in a Seventh-day Adventist family, their schools, and social environments. I felt like I had been isolated from the rest of the world and that I had created my own biased ideas. After being accepted to college, I knew that my perspective of absolutely everything would be put under testing. Questioning things is essential for human life. It helps us expand our knowledge and to develop a sense of responsibility. During college, I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Learning about how different life was from how I thought it would be, led me to a mental crisis and a lot of stress. One day, I grabbed a journal and began writing. It was a very hard time in my life and composing poetry became my way of breathing and letting everything go. Every person that stumbled upon my poems would look at me differently. I think many people liked it. There was a point where I was asked if I had ever considered writing a book. At that point, I wasn't able to understand the power of transforming pain and emotions into art. Many times, I found myself telling friends I had plans and couldn't go out with them. As a matter of fact, I didn't really have plans. I would get so upset that I would isolate myself in my apartment. At times, I grabbed my guitar and tried playing. At times, I felt so weak and sad that I didn't even want to play or sing. Grabbing a pencil and a paper seemed way much easier. This is how I ended up writing about three whole diaries. They would narrate my days, concerns, emotions, and dreams. I developed a very strong connection with books, poetry, and art because they were my rescue. Art has the power to save lives. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by human emotions and by the rush of daily living. However, those who are able to sit down and transform their emotions into art may be relieving themselves, but they may also be helping others. There are many times in life, when we may feel alone or like this only happens to us, but books are there to differ. They show us that others have gone through similar situations and that strong emotions can be transformed into beautiful stories and poems. My goal is to one day publish a book that can save lives. I understand what it is to stumble with a book that resonates with you and allows you to free yourself from negative thoughts. I would like to help others the way those poetry authors helped me.

It can honestly be very hard to get to know ourselves in a world of influencers. "Was it my idea or am I trying to be like someone else?" These are the kind of phrases that may float around someone's mind when they haven't had the chance to really get to know themselves. As I realized that my desire to be skinny and fit came from the people I saw on my Instagram, I noticed that I wasn't the only one with this tendency. It is thousands of us being influenced by media and "influencers" that tell us what to wear, purchase, or how to think. We feel like we need to reach a level of perfection and synchronicity with our role models to be happy. I thought that if I didn't fulfill a very specific list of requirements to be happy, then I would never be content with myself. It was exhausting to wear makeup daily, to keep my teeth pearly white, make sure no one uploaded an ugly picture of me, and to always dress according to the current fashion trend. I lost my personality and so much self-love by trying to fit in and make everyone happy. As I grew out of my teenage years, I realized I didn't have to wear make up every day because it was okay to look tired. Becoming exhausted is natural and it is normal. Did you know that not all teeth are white? We will even push ourselves out of our natural state to look like others and feel comfortable with our bodies and our life. There is nothing wrong with wearing what you feel like, even though it doesn't match with the last trend. It was so fulfilling to start thinking about what genuinely made me happy and comfortable that I decided to never go back. I still find myself sometimes at the edge of saying things I don't really mean just to fit in with the occasion, but then I realize nothing is worth more than our uniqueness. It is within that genuineness that the beauty of life is found. It is okay if we are different and that's what creates the beautiful diversity within humanity.

I would say that one of the songs that inspires me the most is "Que vivan los estudiantes" by Violeta Parra and Mercedes Sosa. The title means "Long life to the students". It's an ode to college students and how we are the future of our country. I have accompanied this song with other songs like "Wild world", "Ain't no rest for the wicked", "Everything changes", "The harvest", and other projects whose rhythm soothe my soul during stressful moments. Hopefully, it may soothe someone else's day as well. Music is a universal language that needs no words.

"When you try to balance life and go out, but tests haunt you everywhere:" IG: @Learningtobeanurse