Good afternoon! My name is Olga. I came to the United States from Ukraine three years ago with my husband and daughter. A couple of years later, my husband left, and now my daughter and I rent an apartment together. That was when my journey in healthcare truly began. When we first arrived, we lived with friends of my husband’s. His friend’s wife was a registered nurse who worked at a hospital. I loved talking with her about her job and discovered a lot about the healthcare system here. Medicine in the U.S. is completely different from what I knew in Ukraine. After hearing her stories, my desire to become part of American healthcare grew stronger. I wanted to contribute to the country that welcomed me and helped me when I needed support. At that time, my English was not very good, but I dedicated myself to improving it. I joined conversation groups, watched movies, and used learning apps—all in English. Eventually, I was able to enroll in a CNA program. It was not easy because of the language barrier, but my determination and goals helped me succeed. After two months of study, I passed my licensing exam. My first job was in a Subacute Care Center nearby, where I worked for a year. It was an incredible experience. The nurses and other CNAs shared their knowledge, guided me, and supported me. The residents became like family to me—I still remember each of their names. I worked in long-term care and spent every day caring for the same patients. Losing some of them was very painful, as I knew their habits, their favorite food, and how they liked their tea. Eventually, I decided to move forward and began working as a technician in a hospital’s cardiac unit. I have now been there for a year, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. The hospital is a different world—new challenges, new patients, and new lessons. I sometimes float to other departments to explore and learn more, which helps me decide on my future nursing specialization. Currently, I am completing my prerequisites for a nursing program and awaiting my application decision. My dream is to return to the hospital one day as an RN. Every patient teaches me something new—patience, compassion, and resilience. Working in healthcare is not just a job; it’s a calling. I truly believe I can reach my goal and continue helping people in a greater way

Good afternoon! My name is Olga. I came to the United States from Ukraine three years ago with my husband and daughter. A couple of years later, my husband left, and now my daughter and I rent an apartment together. That was when my journey in healthcare truly began. When we first arrived, we lived with friends of my husband’s. His friend’s wife was a registered nurse who worked at a hospital. I loved talking with her about her job and discovered a lot about the healthcare system here. Medicine in the U.S. is completely different from what I knew in Ukraine. After hearing her stories, my desire to become part of American healthcare grew stronger. I wanted to contribute to the country that welcomed me and helped me when I needed support. At that time, my English was not very good, but I dedicated myself to improving it. I joined conversation groups, watched movies, and used learning apps—all in English. Eventually, I was able to enroll in a CNA program. It was not easy because of the language barrier, but my determination and goals helped me succeed. After two months of study, I passed my licensing exam. My first job was in a Subacute Care Center nearby, where I worked for a year. It was an incredible experience. The nurses and other CNAs shared their knowledge, guided me, and supported me. The residents became like family to me—I still remember each of their names. I worked in long-term care and spent every day caring for the same patients. Losing some of them was very painful, as I knew their habits, their favorite food, and how they liked their tea. Eventually, I decided to move forward and began working as a technician in a hospital’s cardiac unit. I have now been there for a year, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. The hospital is a different world—new challenges, new patients, and new lessons. I sometimes float to other departments to explore and learn more, which helps me decide on my future nursing specialization. Currently, I am completing my prerequisites for a nursing program and awaiting my application decision. My dream is to return to the hospital one day as an RN. Every patient teaches me something new—patience, compassion, and resilience. Working in healthcare is not just a job; it’s a calling. I truly believe I can reach my goal and continue helping people in a greater way

My name is Olha, and I came to the United States from Odesa, Ukraine, three years ago with my 8-year-old daughter, fleeing the war in our country. Before the war, I worked as an administrator in a veterinary clinic, and I loved my job deeply. I enjoyed helping animals and supporting the doctors who cared for them. We had our own apartment, my parents lived nearby, and life felt simple and peaceful. But when I heard the first explosions, I knew in my heart that life would never be the same. I understood that, as a mother, I had a responsibility to protect my daughter and give her a better future. Eventually, we made the difficult decision to leave everything behind and move to the United States. When I arrived here, I quickly realized that without English, I couldn’t continue working as a veterinary administrator. I had to start over completely. I decided to enter the healthcare field because even in my veterinary job, I was always fascinated by medicine and how doctors help their patients—whether human or animal. However, becoming a veterinary technician in the U.S. would require years of education and still offer limited income, which wouldn’t be enough to support my family. That’s why I chose to pursue a career in nursing, where I could help people directly while also building a stable future for my daughter. Six months ago, my husband asked for a divorce and left. I am now a single mother, raising my daughter alone and fully supporting both of us. I pay for our small apartment on my own. The divorce has been emotionally and financially challenging, but I have not given up. I currently work full time as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Morristown Medical Center, where I help patients every day. I love my job, but I want to grow professionally and become a Registered Nurse. I recently completed ESL classes and finished all the prerequisites for nursing school. I also passed the TEAS exam with a score of 83%, which was a big milestone for me. Unfortunately, the cost of tuition is more than I can afford. I work 47 hours a week and still struggle to cover basic expenses. Receiving a scholarship would make it possible for me, as a single mother, to focus on my studies instead of worrying constantly about financial survival. It would also allow me to stay in a town with a good school for my daughter while continuing my education. My dream is to become a Registered Nurse and work at the same hospital where I am now. Morristown Medical Center has an incredible team that serves people of all ages across New Jersey, and I would be honored to grow within that community. Most importantly, I want to show my daughter that no matter how difficult life becomes, we can rise, rebuild, and achieve our dreams—even as a small, single-parent family. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, Olha

My name is Olha, and I came to the United States from Odesa, Ukraine, three years ago with my 8-year-old daughter, fleeing the war in our country. Before the war, I worked as an administrator in a veterinary clinic, and I loved my job deeply. I enjoyed helping animals and supporting the doctors who cared for them. We had our own apartment, my parents lived nearby, and life felt simple and peaceful. But when I heard the first explosions, I knew in my heart that life would never be the same. I understood that, as a mother, I had a responsibility to protect my daughter and give her a better future. Eventually, we made the difficult decision to leave everything behind and move to the United States. When I arrived here, I quickly realized that without English, I couldn’t continue working as a veterinary administrator. I had to start over completely. I decided to enter the healthcare field because even in my veterinary job, I was always fascinated by medicine and how doctors help their patients—whether human or animal. However, becoming a veterinary technician in the U.S. would require years of education and still offer limited income, which wouldn’t be enough to support my family. That’s why I chose to pursue a career in nursing, where I could help people directly while also building a stable future for my daughter. Six months ago, my husband asked for a divorce and left. I am now a single mother, raising my daughter alone and fully supporting both of us. I pay for our small apartment, her school, and all living expenses on my own. The divorce has been emotionally and financially challenging, but I have not given up. I currently work full time as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Morristown Medical Center, where I help patients every day. I love my job, but I want to grow professionally and become a Registered Nurse. I recently completed ESL classes and finished all the prerequisites for nursing school. I also passed the TEAS exam with a score of 83%, which was a big milestone for me. Unfortunately, the cost of tuition is more than I can afford. I work 47 hours a week and still struggle to cover basic expenses. Receiving a scholarship would make it possible for me, as a single mother, to focus on my studies instead of worrying constantly about financial survival. It would also allow me to stay in a town with a good school for my daughter while continuing my education. My dream is to become a Registered Nurse and work at the same hospital where I am now. Morristown Medical Center has an incredible team that serves people of all ages across New Jersey, and I would be honored to grow within that community. Most importantly, I want to show my daughter that no matter how difficult life becomes, we can rise, rebuild, and achieve our dreams—even as a small, single-parent family. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, Olha

My name is Olha, and I came to the United States from Odesa, Ukraine, three years ago with my 8-year-old daughter, fleeing the war in our country. Before the war, I worked as an administrator in a veterinary clinic, and I loved my job deeply. I enjoyed helping animals and supporting the doctors who cared for them. We had our own apartment, my parents lived nearby, and life felt simple and peaceful. But when I heard the first explosions, I knew in my heart that life would never be the same. I understood that, as a mother, I had a responsibility to protect my daughter and give her a better future. Eventually, we made the difficult decision to leave everything behind and move to the United States. When I arrived here, I quickly realized that without English, I couldn’t continue working as a veterinary administrator. I had to start over completely. I decided to enter the healthcare field because even in my veterinary job, I was always fascinated by medicine and how doctors help their patients—whether human or animal. However, becoming a veterinary technician in the U.S. would require years of education and still offer limited income, which wouldn’t be enough to support my family. That’s why I chose to pursue a career in nursing, where I could help people directly while also building a stable future for my daughter. Six months ago, my husband asked for a divorce and left. I am now a single mother, raising my daughter alone and fully supporting both of us. I pay for our small apartment, her school, and all living expenses on my own. The divorce has been emotionally and financially challenging, but I have not given up. I currently work full time as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Morristown Medical Center, where I help patients every day. I love my job, but I want to grow professionally and become a Registered Nurse. I recently completed ESL classes and finished all the prerequisites for nursing school. I also passed the TEAS exam with a score of 83%, which was a big milestone for me. Unfortunately, the cost of tuition is more than I can afford. I work 47 hours a week and still struggle to cover basic expenses. Receiving a scholarship would make it possible for me, as a single mother, to focus on my studies instead of worrying constantly about financial survival. It would also allow me to stay in a town with a good school for my daughter while continuing my education. My dream is to become a Registered Nurse and work at the same hospital where I am now. Morristown Medical Center has an incredible team that serves people of all ages across New Jersey, and I would be honored to grow within that community. Most importantly, I want to show my daughter that no matter how difficult life becomes, we can rise, rebuild, and achieve our dreams—even as a small, single-parent family. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, Olha

My name is Olha, and I came to the United States from Odesa, Ukraine, three years ago with my husband and our 8-year-old daughter, fleeing the war in our country. Before the war, I worked as an administrator in a veterinary clinic, and I loved my job deeply. I enjoyed helping animals and supporting the doctors who cared for them. We had our own apartment, my parents lived nearby, and life felt simple and peaceful. But when I heard the first explosions, I knew in my heart that life would never be the same. I understood that, as a mother, I had a responsibility to protect my daughter and give her a better future. Eventually, we made the difficult decision to leave everything behind and move to the United States. When I arrived here, I quickly realized that without English, I couldn’t continue working as a veterinary administrator. I had to start over completely. I decided to enter the healthcare field, because even in my veterinary job, I was always fascinated by medicine and how doctors help their patients—whether human or animal. However, becoming a veterinary technician in the U.S. would require years of education and still offer limited income, which wouldn’t be enough to support my family. That’s why I chose to pursue a career in nursing, where I could help people directly while also building a stable future for my daughter. Six months ago, my husband asked for a divorce and left. I now live alone with my daughter and fully support us both. I pay for our small apartment, her school, and all living expenses on my own. The divorce has been emotionally and financially challenging, but I have not given up. I currently work full time as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Morristown Medical Center, where I help patients every day. I love my job, but I want to grow professionally and become a Registered Nurse. I recently completed ESL classes and finished all the prerequisites for nursing school. I also passed the TEAS exam with a score of 83%, which was a big milestone for me. Unfortunately, the cost of tuition is more than I can afford. I work 47 hours a week and still struggle to cover basic expenses. Receiving a scholarship would change my life. It would allow me to focus on my studies instead of worrying about how to pay rent or bills. It would also make it possible for me to stay in a town with a good school for my daughter while continuing my education. My dream is to become a Registered Nurse and work at the same hospital where I am now. Morristown Medical Center has an incredible team that serves people of all ages across New Jersey, and I would be honored to grow within that community. Most of all, I want to show my daughter that no matter how difficult life becomes, we can rise, rebuild, and achieve our dreams. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, Olha

Good afternoon! My name is Olga. I came to the United States from Ukraine three years ago with my husband and daughter. A couple of years later, my husband left, and now my daughter and I rent an apartment together. That was when my journey in healthcare truly began. When we first arrived, we lived with friends of my husband’s. His friend’s wife was a registered nurse who worked at a hospital. I loved talking with her about her job and discovered a lot about the healthcare system here. Medicine in the U.S. is completely different from what I knew in Ukraine. After hearing her stories, my desire to become part of American healthcare grew stronger. I wanted to contribute to the country that welcomed me and helped me when I needed support. At that time, my English was not very good, but I dedicated myself to improving it. I joined conversation groups, watched movies, and used learning apps—all in English. Eventually, I was able to enroll in a CNA program. It was not easy because of the language barrier, but my determination and goals helped me succeed. After two months of study, I passed my licensing exam. My first job was in a Subacute Care Center nearby, where I worked for a year. It was an incredible experience. The nurses and other CNAs shared their knowledge, guided me, and supported me. The residents became like family to me—I still remember each of their names. I worked in long-term care and spent every day caring for the same patients. Losing some of them was very painful, as I knew their habits, their favorite food, and how they liked their tea. Eventually, I decided to move forward and began working as a technician in a hospital’s cardiac unit. I have now been there for a year, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. The hospital is a different world—new challenges, new patients, and new lessons. I sometimes float to other departments to explore and learn more, which helps me decide on my future nursing specialization. Currently, I am completing my prerequisites for a nursing program and awaiting my application decision. My dream is to return to the hospital one day as an RN. Every patient teaches me something new—patience, compassion, and resilience. Working in healthcare is not just a job; it’s a calling. I truly believe I can reach my goal and continue helping people in a greater way.

Good afternoon! My name is Olga. I came to the United States from Ukraine three years ago with my husband and daughter. A couple of years later, my husband left, and now my daughter and I rent an apartment together. That was when my journey in healthcare truly began. When we first arrived, we lived with friends of my husband’s. His friend’s wife was a registered nurse who worked at a hospital. I loved talking with her about her job and discovered a lot about the healthcare system here. Medicine in the U.S. is completely different from what I knew in Ukraine. After hearing her stories, my desire to become part of American healthcare grew stronger. I wanted to contribute to the country that welcomed me and helped me when I needed support. At that time, my English was not very good, but I dedicated myself to improving it. I joined conversation groups, watched movies, and used learning apps—all in English. Eventually, I was able to enroll in a CNA program. It was not easy because of the language barrier, but my determination and goals helped me succeed. After two months of study, I passed my licensing exam. My first job was in a Subacute Care Center nearby, where I worked for a year. It was an incredible experience. The nurses and other CNAs shared their knowledge, guided me, and supported me. The residents became like family to me—I still remember each of their names. I worked in long-term care and spent every day caring for the same patients. Losing some of them was very painful, as I knew their habits, their favorite food, and how they liked their tea. Eventually, I decided to move forward and began working as a technician in a hospital’s cardiac unit. I have now been there for a year, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. The hospital is a different world—new challenges, new patients, and new lessons. I sometimes float to other departments to explore and learn more, which helps me decide on my future nursing specialization. Currently, I am completing my prerequisites for a nursing program and awaiting my application decision. My dream is to return to the hospital one day as an RN. Every patient teaches me something new—patience, compassion, and resilience. Working in healthcare is not just a job; it’s a calling. I truly believe I can reach my goal and continue helping people in a greater way.

How My Caregiving Experience Shaped My Goals, Journey, and Identity Good afternoon! My name is Olga. I came to the United States from Ukraine three years ago with my husband and daughter. A couple of years later, my husband left, and now my daughter and I rent an apartment together. That was when my journey in healthcare truly began. When we first arrived, we lived with friends of my husband’s. His friend’s wife was a registered nurse who worked at a hospital. I loved talking with her about her job and discovered a lot about the healthcare system here. Medicine in the U.S. is completely different from what I knew in Ukraine. After hearing her stories, my desire to become part of American healthcare grew stronger. I wanted to contribute to the country that welcomed me and helped me when I needed support. At that time, my English was not very good, but I dedicated myself to improving it. I joined conversation groups, watched movies, and used learning apps—all in English. Eventually, I was able to enroll in a CNA program. It was not easy because of the language barrier, but my determination and goals helped me succeed. After two months of study, I passed my licensing exam. My first job was in a Subacute Care Center nearby, where I worked for a year. It was an incredible experience. The nurses and other CNAs shared their knowledge, guided me, and supported me. The residents became like family to me—I still remember each of their names. I worked in long-term care and spent every day caring for the same patients. Losing some of them was very painful, as I knew their habits, their favorite food, and how they liked their tea. Eventually, I decided to move forward and began working as a technician in a hospital’s cardiac unit. I have now been there for a year, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. The hospital is a different world—new challenges, new patients, and new lessons. I sometimes float to other departments to explore and learn more, which helps me decide on my future nursing specialization. Currently, I am completing my prerequisites for a nursing program and awaiting my application decision. My dream is to return to the hospital one day as an RN. Every patient teaches me something new—patience, compassion, and resilience. Working in healthcare is not just a job; it’s a calling. I truly believe I can reach my goal and continue helping people in a greater way.

Dear Scholarship Committee (Maggie's Way- International Woman’s Scholarship), My name is Olha, and I came to the United States from Ukraine three years ago with my husband and our 8-year-old daughter, fleeing the war in our country. Since arriving in the U.S., my main goal has been to create a safe and stable future for my daughter and myself. I’ve always had a deep desire to work in the medical field, but I did not have the opportunity to pursue a nursing degree in Ukraine. Coming here gave me hope to follow that dream. Six months ago, my husband asked for a divorce and left. I now live alone with my daughter and fully support us both. I pay for our small apartment, her school, and all living expenses on my own. The divorce process has been emotionally and financially difficult. Despite these challenges, I have not given up. I currently work full time as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Morristown Medical Center. I truly enjoy my job and am proud to help patients every day. However, I want to grow professionally and become a Registered Nurse. I know I have the heart, strength, and dedication for this field, but I cannot afford nursing school tuition on my own. I work 47 hours a week and still struggle to make ends meet. I recently completed ESL classes and have been studying all the prerequisites for a nursing program. I’m currently applying to several nursing programs and recently passed the TEAS exam with a score of 83%. This is a big step toward my goal, but financial hardship makes it very difficult to move forward. A scholarship would make a huge difference in my life. It would allow me to focus more on studying and less on financial survival. It would also prevent me from having to choose between paying rent in a town with a good school for my daughter or continuing my education. My dream is to become an RN and work at the same hospital where I work now. Morristown Medical Center has an incredible team that helps people of all ages across New Jersey. I want to continue serving my community — not just as an assistant, but as a nurse. I also want to be a strong example for my daughter, showing her that no matter what life brings, we can rise and succeed. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, Olha