In this world, everyone strives to make a change, and empowerment is key. Being underestimated can be discouraging, but the confidence to prove others wrong is all it takes. I love a challenge and aim to leave this world better than I found it. A leader is often seen as a strong, outspoken figure, but that’s not how I’ve always been. I've been called the "shy kid" and avoided confrontation. As I grew older, I felt this affected my life, with people judging me without giving me a chance to prove myself. Starting high school as a freshman, I knew I needed to branch out, try new things, and meet new people. I made my school's cheerleading team, a huge achievement for me. Although I'd cheered most of my life, high school cheer was a bigger challenge. With new opportunities and faces, I felt overwhelmed but excited. By my sophomore year, I had grown so much, no longer as timid as before. I worked hard and was determined to be a leader on my team. But many of my friends were naturally headstrong, and I thought I needed to act a certain way to be accepted. I tried to be someone I wasn’t, and it was exhausting. Over time, I kept hearing the same advice: “Just put yourself out there more.” No matter how hard I worked, the feedback didn’t change. In my junior year, my coaches were finally proud of my efforts, and I felt I had become the person I always wanted to be. As my senior year began, the coaches announced they’d be selecting team captains, and I hoped to be considered for all the hard work and passion I had invested. I knew I was a leader, though not in the typical sense. I’m a “silent leader,” someone who can help others and improve situations without the spotlight. I worked hard to support the team, offering help outside of practice and being a listening ear for the girls, seeing myself in them—the shy freshmen who just needed a little push. When the captains were announced, my name wasn’t called, and it was devastating. When I asked my coaches why, they said I needed to break out of my shell. It was the same feedback I’d heard my entire life, but it was harder to hear this time. Despite all my efforts to become someone I wasn’t, I didn’t give up. I continued helping the younger girls and always let them know I was there for them. Even though I didn’t have the title, I still made an impact on the team, communicated through the girls I helped. Hard work pays off, they say, but sometimes it doesn’t, and that’s okay. I’ve learned that life isn’t fair, but it’s how you respond to it that matters. You don’t need a title or authority to make a difference. All you need is confidence in who you are and the belief that you are enough. Don’t let others’ insecurities ruin your self-respect. Keep pushing to make a real change.

My name is Olivia Catherine Gilliam, but my family and friends call me Liv. I am 18 years old and currently a senior at New Richmond High School, where I’ve spent my whole life. My father, a New Richmond High School graduate, works as a Lieutenant Medic/Firefighter, and my mother works at New Richmond Middle School. My younger sister, Mallory, is in eighth grade. Growing up in a close-knit community like this has deeply influenced me and reinforced my desire to help others. From an early age, I’ve always been drawn to helping people. Like many children, I had various career dreams, but as I got older, one thing became clear: I wanted a profession where I could make a real difference. I was encouraged to follow my passion, as doing so would lead to both personal happiness and success. Eventually, I realized that nursing was the path that would allow me to serve others while finding fulfillment. My interest in nursing grew from my experiences with doctors and nurses during my childhood. I spent a lot of time in doctor's offices for routine visits and medical treatments. I was fascinated by how nurses combined comfort, care, and expertise in their work. I soon realized that they played an essential role in healing patients. The defining moment came when both of my grandparents faced significant health challenges, requiring frequent hospital visits and surgeries. During these times, I witnessed firsthand how nurses treated my grandparents with professionalism and compassion. Their ability to ease fears, explain procedures, and provide critical care made a lasting impact on me. It was then that I knew nursing was the career I wanted to pursue. Along with my passion for nursing, I possess personal qualities that will help me succeed. I am hardworking, reliable, and responsible, with a deep sense of kindness. I am patient and a quiet leader who takes pride in helping others, even when it goes unnoticed. Whether through small acts of kindness or taking on responsibilities, I find fulfillment in making a difference. I have a clear plan for my future. I’ve been accepted to Christ School of Nursing, where I am eager to focus on my studies, work part-time to help cover tuition, and live at home to stay grounded. My goal is not just to graduate, but to excel and ultimately become a nurse who offers the same care and comfort that was shown to my grandparents. In conclusion, my decision to pursue nursing is rooted in both my love for helping people and the experiences that have shaped my view of healthcare. I am excited to begin this next chapter, equipped with passion and a genuine desire to make a difference. Nursing is not just my profession—it’s my calling.

My name is Olivia Catherine Gilliam, but everyone calls me Liv. I’m eighteen years old and currently a senior at New Richmond High School. I’ve lived in New Richmond my entire life, and my family’s roots here run deep. My father is a graduate of New Richmond High and serves as a Lieutenant Medic/Firefighter, while my mother works at New Richmond Middle School. My younger sister, Mallory, is in eighth grade. Growing up in this close-knit community has greatly influenced who I am and solidified my passion for helping others. From an early age, I’ve always been drawn to helping people. As a child, I imagined many careers, but as I grew older, one thing became clear: I wanted to make a difference in others' lives. I was encouraged to pursue something I was passionate about because that would bring both happiness and success. Over time, I realized nursing was the perfect fit for me—a career where I could help others while finding personal fulfillment. My interest in nursing began through my own experiences with doctors and nurses. As a child, I spent time in medical offices for routine visits and treatments, like surgeries. I became fascinated by how nurses provided comfort, care, and expertise. They played a crucial role in patients’ healing, and I admired their ability to make a difference in ways that went beyond just medical care. However, the defining moment came when my grandparents faced significant health challenges in their later years. They had frequent hospital visits and surgeries, and I witnessed the exceptional care nurses provided. The nurses not only treated my grandparents with professionalism but also with genuine compassion. It was in those moments that I realized nursing was the path I was meant to follow. I saw the impact nurses had on not just the healthcare process, but on patients' emotional well-being. I knew this was the career where I could thrive and make a tangible difference. Alongside my passion for nursing, I possess qualities that will help me succeed in the field. I am hardworking, reliable, responsible, and deeply kind. I’m a patient, quiet leader—not one to seek attention, but always taking pride in helping others. Whether through small acts of kindness or taking on responsibilities, I find fulfillment in making a difference, even if it goes unnoticed by most. Looking ahead, I am excited to attend Christ School of Nursing, where I’ve already been accepted. I plan to focus on my studies, work part-time to help pay for tuition, and live at home to stay grounded. My goal is not just to graduate, but to excel and become a nurse who can offer the same care and compassion that I saw during my grandparents' health journeys. In conclusion, my decision to pursue nursing is deeply personal, shaped by my love for helping others and the experiences that have shaped my view of healthcare. I am eager to begin this new chapter with passion, dedication, and a genuine desire to make a difference. Nursing isn’t just my career, it’s my calling.

My name is Olivia Catherine Gilliam, but my family and friends call me Liv. I am eighteen years old, currently in my senior year at New Richmond High School. I have lived in New Richmond my entire life, and my roots here run deep. My father is a proud graduate of New Richmond High School, and now serves as a Lieutenant Medic/Firefighter. My mother works at New Richmond Middle School, and my younger sister, Mallory, is an eighth grader. Growing up in such a tight-knit community has shaped who I am today and reinforced my passion for helping others. From an early age, I have always been drawn to helping people. Like many children, I had many dreams about what I might do when I grew up. As I got older, though, one thing became clear: I wanted a career where I could make a difference in the lives of others. I was often advised to pursue something I was passionate about because that would not only bring me happiness, but it would also lead to success. Over time, I realized that nursing was the path where I could both serve others and find personal fulfillment. My interest in nursing first started to grow through my experiences with doctors and nurses during my childhood. I spent a lot of time in doctor's offices for routine visits and medical treatments, such as surgeries and dermatology appointments. I found myself intrigued by the work of nurses—how they could offer comfort, care, and knowledge all in one. It was clear to me that nurses played a vital role in healing and supporting patients. However, the turning point for me came through the experiences my grandparents went through in their later years. Both of my grandparents faced serious health challenges, which involved frequent hospital visits and surgeries. During these times, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the incredible work nurses do. The way they not only treated my grandparents with professionalism, but also with compassion, made a profound impact on me. I could see how important nurses were to the entire healthcare process—how they eased fears, explained procedures, and provided critical care. It was in those moments that I knew nursing was the field I was meant to pursue. I saw it as an environment where I could thrive, contribute, and make a tangible difference in people's lives. In addition to my passion for nursing, I bring a set of personal qualities that will help me succeed in this career. I am hardworking, reliable, and responsible, with a deep sense of kindness. I am patient and a quiet leader—someone who doesn't seek the spotlight but takes pride in knowing that I've helped others. Whether through small acts of kindness or by taking on responsibilities, I find fulfillment in making a difference, even if it's in ways that may not always be seen by everyone. Looking ahead, I have a clear plan for my future. I am excited to attend Christ School of Nursing, where I have already been accepted. I am committed to focusing on my studies, working part-time to help cover my tuition, and living at home so I can remain grounded and focused on becoming a successful student. My goal is not just to graduate, but to truly excel and eventually become a nurse who can offer the same care and comfort to others that I witnessed during my grandparents' healthcare journeys.