The first time I heard my mother say "I have cancer" was a day I will never forget. She sat my little sister and I down and explained what kind of treatment was involved, what the prognosis was, and how we could all navigate this Cancer path together. While she did all she could to protect my sister and I from the dark sides of that sentence, she also didn't hide anything from us. She knew we would want to know how best to proceed with perseverance, dignity, grace, and Hope. I knew then that my True Calling was to become someone who would help others through their cancer journeys. My goal as a nurse is to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to help children and their families down the long, winding, harrowing road that is Cancer. I want to be the beacon of Hope and light that my mother's nurses were to her, and to us as her family. They walked the walk with all of us, held our hands when they needed holding, laughed with us when we needed to laugh, and cried both sad and happy tears, when necessary, too. They explained all the big scary words to my sister and I and helped us see how we could best care for mom, and each other. I want to remind my patients and their families that strength comes in varying forms and in the most surprising of situations. I am halfway through my Nursing School program at Kent State University. I have some clinical experience under my belt already. My first clinical rotation was on an Oncology floor. I hand-picked this rotation to be first because I knew that if I could get through this one relatively unscathed, I could handle anything else that might come my way. I met some truly brave warriors, some who are still with us, and a few who are not. It was truly eye opening to come in every week and I did not know who would still be there and for what reason they might not be. I will forever be changed by that rotation. I am working part time at a local hospital as a Nursing Student Technician. I am not only surviving the rigorous class and clinical schedule, but I am thriving through them. I became an active member of Alpha Lambda Delta sorority in the Spring of 2024, with aspirations to achieve Phi Beta Kappa prior to graduation in 2027. I am on my way with my exemplary grades, work ethic, and determination to provide Compassion, Empathy, Strength, & Hope to my patients.

The first time I heard my mother say "I have cancer" was a day I will never forget. She sat my little sister and I down and explained what kind of treatment was involved, what the prognosis was, and how we could all navigate this Cancer path together. While she did all she could to protect my sister and I from the dark sides of that sentence, she also didn't hide anything from us. She knew we would want to know how best to proceed with perseverance, dignity, grace, and Hope. I knew then that my True Calling was to become someone who would help others through their cancer journeys. My goal as a nurse is to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to help children and their families down the long, winding, harrowing road that is Cancer. I want to be the beacon of Hope and light that my mother's nurses were to her, and to us as her family. They walked the walk with all of us, held our hands when they needed holding, laughed with us when we needed to laugh, and cried both sad and happy tears, when necessary, too. They explained all the big scary words to my sister and I and helped us see how we could best care for mom, and each other. I want to remind my patients and their families that strength comes in varying forms and in the most surprising of situations. I am halfway through my Nursing School program at Kent State University. I have some clinical experience under my belt already. My first clinical rotation was on an Oncology floor. I hand-picked this rotation to be first because I knew that if I could get through this one relatively unscathed, I could handle anything else that might come my way. I met some truly brave warriors, some who are still with us, and a few who are not. It was truly eye opening to come in every week and I did not know who would still be there and for what reason they might not be. I will forever be changed by that rotation. I am working part time at a local hospital as a Nursing Student Technician. I am not only surviving the rigorous class and clinical schedule, but I am thriving through them. I became an active member of Alpha Lambda Delta sorority in the Spring of 2024, with aspirations to achieve Phi Beta Kappa prior to graduation in 2027. I am on my way with my exemplary grades, work ethic, and determination to provide Compassion, Empathy, Strength, & Hope to my patients.

The first time I heard my mother say "I have cancer" was a day I will never forget. She sat my little sister and I down and explained what kind of treatment was involved, what the prognosis was, and how we could all navigate this path together. While she did all she could to protect my sister and I from the dark sides of that sentence, she also didn't hide anything from us. She knew we would want to know how best to proceed with perseverance, dignity, grace, and Hope. I knew then that my True Calling was to become someone who would help others through their cancer journeys. My goal as a nurse is to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to help children and their families down the long, winding, harrowing road that is Cancer. I want to be the beacon of Hope and light that my mother's nurses were to her, and to us as her family. They walked the walk with all of us, held our hands when they needed holding, laughed with us when we needed to laugh, and cried both sad and happy tears, when necessary, too. They explained all the big scary words to my sister and I and helped us see how we could best care for mom, and each other. I want to remind my patients and their families that strength comes in varying forms and in the most surprising of situations. I am halfway through my Nursing School program at Kent State University. I have some clinical experience under my belt already. My first clinical rotation was on an Oncology floor. I handpicked this rotation to be first because I knew that if I could get through this one relatively unscathed, I could handle anything else that might come my way. I met some truly brave warriors, some who are still with us, and a few who are not. It was truly eye opening to come in every week and I did not know who would still be there and for what reason they might not be. I will forever be changed by that rotation. I am working part time at a local hospital as a Nursing Student Technician. I am not only surviving the rigorous class and clinical schedule, but I am thriving through them. I became an active member of Alpha Lambda Delta sorority in the Spring of 2024, with aspirations to achieve Phi Beta Kappa prior to graduation in 2027. I am on my way with my exemplary grades, work ethic, and determination to provide Compassion, Empathy, Strength, & Hope to my patients.

The first time I heard my mother say "I have cancer" was a day I will never forget. She sat my little sister and I down and explained what kind of treatment was involved, what the prognosis was, and how we could all navigate this path together. While she did all she could to protect my sister and I from the dark sides of that sentence, she also didn't hide anything from us. She knew we would want to know how best to proceed with perseverance, dignity, grace, and Hope. I knew then that my True Calling was to become someone who would help others through their cancer journeys. My goal as a nurse is to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to help children and their families down the long, winding, harrowing road that is Cancer. I want to be the beacon of Hope and light that my mother's nurses were to her, and to us as her family. They walked the walk with all of us, held our hands when they needed holding, laughed with us when we needed to laugh, and cried both sad and happy tears, when necessary, too. They explained all the big scary words to my sister and I and helped us see how we could best care for mom, and each other. I want to remind my patients and their families that strength comes in varying forms and in the most surprising of situations. I am halfway through my Nursing School program at Kent State University. I have some clinical experience under my belt already. My first clinical rotation was on an Oncology floor. I handpicked this rotation to be first because I knew that if I could get through this one relatively unscathed, I could handle anything else that might come my way. I met some truly brave warriors, some who are still with us, and a few who are not. It was truly eye opening to come in every week and I did not know who would still be there and for what reason they might not be. I will forever be changed by that rotation. I am working part time at a local hospital as a Nursing Student Technician. I am not only surviving the rigorous class and clinical schedule, but I am thriving through them. I became an active member of Alpha Lambda Delta sorority in the Spring of 2024, with aspirations to achieve Phi Beta Kappa prior to graduation in 2027. I am on my way with my exemplary grades, work ethic, and determination to provide Compassion, Empathy, Strength, & Hope to my patients.

The first time I heard my mother say "I have cancer" was a day I will never forget. She sat my little sister and I down and explained what kind of treatment was involved, what the prognosis was, and how we could all navigate this path together. While she did all she could to protect my sister and I from the dark sides of that sentence, she also didn't hide anything from us. She knew we would want to know how best to proceed with perseverance, dignity, grace, and Hope. I knew then that my True Calling was to become someone who would help others through their cancer journeys. My goal as a nurse is to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to help children and their families down the long, winding, harrowing road that is Cancer. I want to be the beacon of Hope and light that my mother's nurses were to her, and to us as her family. They walked the walk with all of us, held our hands when they needed holding, laughed with us when we needed to laugh, and cried both sad and happy tears, when necessary, too. They explained all the big scary words to my sister and I and helped us see how we could best care for mom, and each other. I want to remind my patients and their families that strength comes in varying forms and in the most surprising of situations. I am halfway through my Nursing School program at Kent State University. I have some clinical experience under my belt already. My first clinical rotation was on an Oncology floor. I handpicked this rotation to be first because I knew that if I could get through this one relatively unscathed, I could handle anything else that might come my way. I met some truly brave warriors, some who are still with us, and a few who are not. It was truly eye opening to come in every week and I did not know who would still be there and for what reason they might not be. I will forever be changed by that rotation. I am working part time at a local hospital as a Nursing Student Technician. I am not only surviving the rigorous class and clinical schedule, but I am thriving through them. I became an active member of Alpha Lambda Delta sorority in the Spring of 2024, with aspirations to achieve Phi Beta Kappa prior to graduation in 2027. I am on my way with my exemplary grades, work ethic, and determination to provide Compassion, Empathy, Strength, & Hope to my patients.

The first time I heard my mother say "I have cancer" was a day I will never forget. She sat my little sister and I down and explained what kind of treatment was involved, what the prognosis was, and how we could all navigate this Cancer path together. While she did all she could to protect my sister and I from the dark sides of that sentence, she also didn't hide anything from us. She knew we would want to know how best to proceed with perseverance, dignity, grace, and Hope. I knew then that my True Calling was to become someone who would help others through their cancer journeys. My goal as a nurse is to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to help children and their families down the long, winding, harrowing road that is Cancer. I want to be the beacon of Hope and light that my mother's nurses were to her, and to us as her family. They walked the walk with all of us, held our hands when they needed holding, laughed with us when we needed to laugh, and cried both sad and happy tears, when necessary, too. They explained all the big scary words to my sister and I and helped us see how we could best care for mom, and each other. I want to remind my patients and their families that strength comes in varying forms and in the most surprising of situations. I am halfway through my Nursing School program at Kent State University. I have some clinical experience under my belt already. My first clinical rotation was on an Oncology floor. I hand-picked this rotation to be first because I knew that if I could get through this one relatively unscathed, I could handle anything else that might come my way. I met some truly brave warriors, some who are still with us, and a few who are not. It was truly eye opening to come in every week and I did not know who would still be there and for what reason they might not be. I will forever be changed by that rotation. I am working part time at a local hospital as a Nursing Student Technician. I am not only surviving the rigorous class and clinical schedule, but I am thriving through them. I became an active member of Alpha Lambda Delta sorority in the Spring of 2024, with aspirations to achieve Phi Beta Kappa prior to graduation in 2027. I am on my way with my exemplary grades, work ethic, and determination to provide Compassion, Empathy, Strength, & Hope to my patients.

As I prepare for not only Fall semester at Kent State, but the 2025/2026 school year, I am humbled by how quickly the time has gone by. The past two years have taught me a great deal already. I have learned how to study on a whole new level. I have learned how to balance school, a small part time job, studying, and having a social life. I am halfway through my BSN journey, and I am working steadily and confidently to completing my program with a 3.6 GPA… or higher! I am an active member of Aloha Lambda Delta, and well on my way to Phi Beta Kappa. My desire to be a nurse and help people is my driving force. I wish to be a light of hope and resilience for my patients. I wish to help my patients and their families through some of their roughest times, and God willing, some of their happiest times. I am planning on possibly becoming an oncology nurse, or perhaps a Nurse Anesthetist. I have a strong desire to help in the fight against cancer. With a great many of my family members and friends surviving, thriving, and a good many losing the battle, I greatly wish to aid in the battle and hopefully one day, win the war against cancer. I am helping my grandmother navigate through a surgery after chemotherapy almost ripped her from this world twice last year. I am by her side navigating next steps and being a beacon of Hope on her journey. I’ve witnessed too much cancer in my young life. This drives me to succeed and help all in these situations. These hopes I have for my future are greatly resting on my ability to finish my education at Kent State University. I have a strong network of supportive family around me, although not fully equipped to help pay my way fully. This scholarship will continue to help me further my education and make an impact and add value in the Nursing Community. During times when nurses are in demand, yet hard to find, answering my call to Nursing is paramount to my success and my ability to help change the world. This scholarship that I found on Bold.org will further fuel my final two years of undergraduate studies, ease the burden on my family, and take me even further than I dared to dream.

Currently, I am sitting in the tallest building on Kent State University's campus, writing a research paper on Gender and Socioeconomic Bias in Healthcare. I spend an awful lot of time here and my grades reflect quite accurately the amount of time I spend dedicated to my studies in Nursing. I have excelled beyond my own expectations. I know my family is proud of me and the tremendous amount of time and effort I have put forth into my education. I am halfway through my journey to become a nurse! It’s quite shocking to realize that I am this far so quickly! While I am looking forward to the rest of my Summer break, I am also quite anxious that I am starting a job at Summa Health as a Student Nurse Technician. I have been assigned to a MedSurge floor. After my first clinicals, with several more to come, I am excited to see what this new experience will bring to my repertoire to help me narrow down what I want to specialize in. I have spent most of my life volunteering for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. It’s a calling my mom instilled in me and my sisters from the beginning. Giving back brings more reward than receiving. My mission is to be part of the solution for patients in Cancer Care. Cancer has been at the very forefront of my life from the beginning. My desire in nursing is dedicate my skills to Pediatric Oncology. I am still quite aware that there will be more bad days for the patients than there are good days. My list of connections to cancer is extensive, and would take way more than 600 words, so I’ll highlight the main motivators for me. My maternal grandmother is recovering after surgery and awaiting PETscan results to dictate just how much her cancer has spread and how aggressive the next rounds of chemo have to be. I have an aunt on my dad's side that has recently been diagnosed with cancer. My mom continues to monitor her thyroid cancer, staying proactive and ever vigilant to ensure that she is here for me and my sisters and my step-father. My perseverance, strength of character, empathy, along with all of the things I am learning in my Nursing Program will be what adds all of the value to my skills. The things I am learning will be applied to my whole life, making the lives of those people within my reach better and brighter. Your scholarship will allow me to continue my dreams, answer my calling, and fill the lives of my patients with Faith, Love, Strength, Compassion, and above all else... HOPE.

Cancer is my not-so-new normal. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is a thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I was privy to those same people helping her through a metastatic recurrence in 2018. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace as she has continually displayed. I have come to realize that I now have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or has cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already was a normal word for me, but now is more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom was a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, and I wanted to help raise money through her event. I sold rainbow loom bracelets to my neighbors. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sister and I formed a team of family and close friends. I got to further enrich my life by meeting local Survivors who became the inspiration on what I wanted to do with my life in the future. I am entering my Junior Year at Kent State University as a member of the Nursing Program with a 3.7 GPA. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I know that all outcomes may not be good... there will be a share of battles lost. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands, laugh and cry with them, & cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will miss them when they leave my care cancer free, even more so when they leave my care having lost their battle. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. The scholarship will help me get one step closer to securing my dream of helping rid the world of the devastation and widespread panic of hearing the words "You have cancer". This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals. It will allow me to remind all patients and their families that cancer is NOT a guaranteed death sentence anymore. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

Mental Health has become the cornerstone of a person's well-being across the globe. By nurturing our mental well-being, we are enabling ourselves to lead healthier, more productive lives. A healthy mind will lead us being able to navigate through societal constructs, navigate our own emotional responses, and learn to cope with external, as well as internal, stressors affecting our daily lives. By taking charge of our mental acuity, we will be able to be more productive in school, as well as out in the real world once we are finished with our education. As a college sophomore in the demanding field of Nursing, my ability to harness the anxiety, stress, joy, and physical work load is key for my success. Like anyone, I have a mountain of emotions that I sometimes cannot quite put a name to. The variety of anxiety I may feel in a given day ebbs and flows like the tides. Juggling classes, social engagements, extracurricular activities, family, and life can sometimes get overwhelming and make me feel bogged down. The pressure I put on myself to maintain my 3.7 GPA can make me feel bogged down and burnt out. I balance my studies and stressors by making sure I make time for fun and friends. I actively seek out the things that make me happy; going out with friends, participating in my sorority Alpha Lambda Delta activities, and providing myself time to decompress from each week. I work very hard to also remind myself to find the purpose and meaning behind my chosen field. I am working this hard to complete not only college as a first generation student, but to excel and succeed as a Pediatric Oncology Nurse. These self-reminders help to hold me accountable for my successes, as well as my failures, in my journey to become a functioning member of society who can make a difference in the world. On the days that seem a little extra daunting, I go home to bask in the unconditional love of my family and furry friends. My dogs, Blue and Zeke, are my very best friends. They know when I am hurting, anxious, happy, sad, angry, or generally overwhelmed. My family helps in whatever ways i need them to, but the dogs? They are the true bastions to my mental health some days. Their faces, their tail wags, their need to sit on top of me to take the pressure away from my brain mean everything to me. They have always been able to cure what ails me. No matter what, as I travel in my journey, my mental health and wellness stay at the fore front for me to acknowledge and navigate through. I take as many self care moments, the occasional trip to my therapist, and anxiety reducing activities to free my mind. In those moments, I rest my over-worked, over-stimulated, and over-taxed brain all while maintaining the mantra that "I can do what I set out to do. I can make a difference in this world. I am stronger than I know. I am smarter than I think. I can do all of the things, and I WILL do them with dignity, grace, and respect for both myself and others."

I am the oldest of three sisters in my family. I have been first for everything. First Born. First to talk. First to walk. First to steal my mother's heart from her chest and walk around with it daily. I am the first big sister in my family. I will also be the first to graduate college. From the time I was old enough to hear and understand the things that my mother would tell me, I have known that I can do anything I set my heart and mind to. My mother tells me every day that I can and will do the big things... all of the big things. I used to think she told me that to dictate what I did with my life. I now know that she meant it as a mantra to inspire me to do the big scary things, to embrace the near impossible, and to push myself beyond what I think I am capable of. It is in this vein, that I am pursuing a nursing degree from Kent State University. My goal is to graduate as an RN, pursuing a specialty in pediatric oncology. Within the Oncology specialty, I hope to provide care and support for not only my patients but for their families as well. My mother is a cancer survivor and I firmly believe that the care and compassion and empathy the nursing staff provided for her has helped to dictate her survival, and thriving beyond her cancer. I want to be the person who is there for those hard discussions- what did the doctor just say? what is the quality of life vs quantity? How long are treatments? You need how many tubes of blood? Of course, my blood pressure is high, you just woke me up from a dead sleep at 3:00 am, what did you expect? All of these are examples of questions I have heard my mother ask. Her nurses have all been wonderful men and women who have been gracious enough to both appreciate and mollify her tough questions and humor. I wish greatly to be the one that my patients can turn to for direction and wisdom throughout their journey with me as their nurse. I plan on becoming a nurse in the next 4 years. I plan on being the first in my family to graduate college and pursue the career of my dreams to help others and use my compassion and empathy and great love to accomplish it all.

Cancer is my not-so-new normal. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is a thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I was privy to those same people helping her through a metastatic recurrence in 2018. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace as she has continually displayed. I have come to realize that I now have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or has cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already was a normal word for me, but now is more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom was a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, and I wanted to help raise money through her event. I sold rainbow loom bracelets to my neighbors. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sister and I formed a team of family and close friends. I got to further enrich my life by meeting local Survivors who became the inspiration on what I wanted to do with my life in the future. I am entering my Sophomore Year at Kent State University as a member of the Nursing Program with a 3.7 GPA. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I know that all outcomes may not be good... there will be a share of battles lost. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands, laugh and cry with them, & cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will miss them when they leave my care cancer free, even more so when they leave my care having lost their battle. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. The scholarship will help me get one step closer to securing my dream of helping rid the world of the devastation and widespread panic of hearing the words "You have cancer". This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals. It will allow me to remind all patients and their families that cancer is NOT a guaranteed death sentence anymore. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

Cancer is my not-so-new normal. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is a thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I was privy to those same people helping her through a metastatic recurrence in 2018. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace as she has continually displayed. I have come to realize that I now have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or has cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already was a normal word for me, but now is more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom was a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, and I wanted to help raise money through her event. I sold rainbow loom bracelets to my neighbors. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sister and I formed a team of family and close friends. I got to further enrich my life by meeting local Survivors who became the inspiration on what I wanted to do with my life in the future. I am entering my Sophomore Year at Kent State University as a member of the Nursing Program with a 3.7 GPA. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I know that all outcomes may not be good... there will be a share of battles lost. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands, laugh and cry with them, & cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will miss them when they leave my care cancer free, even more so when they leave my care having lost their battle. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. The scholarship will help me get one step closer to securing my dream of helping rid the world of the devastation and widespread panic of hearing the words "You have cancer". This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals. It will allow me to remind all patients and their families that cancer is NOT a guaranteed death sentence anymore. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

Mental Health has become the cornerstone of a person's well-being across the globe. By nurturing our mental well-being, we are enabling ourselves to lead healthier, more productive lives. A healthy mind will lead us being able to navigate through societal constructs, navigate our own emotional responses, and learn to cope with external, as well as internal, stressors affecting our daily lives. By taking charge of our mental acuity, we will be able to be more productive in school, as well as out in the real world once we are finished with our education. As a college sophomore in the demanding field of Nursing, my ability to harness the anxiety, stress, joy, and physical work load is key for my success. Like anyone, I have a mountain of emotions that I sometimes cannot quite put a name to. The variety of anxiety I may feel in a given day ebbs and flows like the tides. Juggling classes, social engagements, extracurricular activities, family, and life can sometimes get overwhelming and make me feel bogged down. The pressure I put on myself to maintain my 3.7 GPA can make me feel bogged down and burnt out. I balance my studies and stressors by making sure I make time for fun and friends. I actively seek out the things that make me happy; going out with friends, participating in my sorority Alpha Lambda Delta activities, and providing myself time to decompress from each week. I work very hard to also remind myself to find the purpose and meaning behind my chosen field. I am working this hard to complete not only college as a first generation student, but to excel and succeed as a Pediatric Oncology Nurse. These self-reminders help to hold me accountable for my successes, as well as my failures, in my journey to become a functioning member of society who can make a difference in the world. On the days that seem a little extra daunting, I go home to bask in the unconditional love of my family and furry friends. My dogs, Blue and Zeke, are my very best friends. They know when I am hurting, anxious, happy, sad, angry, or generally overwhelmed. My family helps in whatever ways i need them to, but the dogs? They are the true bastions to my mental health some days. Their faces, their tail wags, their need to sit on top of me to take the pressure away from my brain mean everything to me. They have always been able to cure what ails me. No matter what, as I travel in my journey, my mental health and wellness stay at the fore front for me to acknowledge and navigate through. I take as many self care moments, the occasional trip to my therapist, and anxiety reducing activities to free my mind. In those moments, I rest my over-worked, over-stimulated, and over-taxed brain all while maintaining the mantra that "I can do what I set out to do. I can make a difference in this world. I am stronger than I know. I am smarter than I think. I can do all of the things, and I WILL do them with dignity, grace, and respect for both myself and others."

Cancer is my not-so-new normal. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is a thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I was privy to those same people helping her through a metastatic recurrence in 2018. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace as she has continually displayed. I have come to realize that I now have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or has cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already was a normal word for me, but now is more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom was a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, and I wanted to help raise money through her event. I sold rainbow loom bracelets to my neighbors. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sister and I formed a team of family and close friends. I got to further enrich my life by meeting local Survivors who became the inspiration on what I wanted to do with my life in the future. I am entering my Sophomore Year at Kent State University as a member of the Nursing Program with a 3.7 GPA. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I know that all outcomes may not be good... there will be a share of battles lost. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands, laugh and cry with them, & cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will miss them when they leave my care cancer free, even more so when they leave my care having lost their battle. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. The scholarship will help me get one step closer to securing my dream of helping rid the world of the devastation and widespread panic of hearing the words "You have cancer". This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals. It will allow me to remind all patients and their families that cancer is NOT a guaranteed death sentence anymore. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

Cancer is my new normal. Too many of my family members and friends have been impacted by Cancer. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace that she has continually displayed. I know that I will also have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or have cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already is a normal word for me, but it is also more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom was a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, so I wanted to help raise money through her event. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sister and I formed a team of family and close friends. I got to further enrich my life by meeting local Survivors who became the inspiration on what I wanted to do with my life in the future. I have completed my first year at Kent State University as a Nursing student. I am securely holding a 3.7 GPA, and accepted into KSU's Nursing Program. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands. I will laugh and cry with them. I will cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will be there for their families through the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of their diagnoses & treatments. I will be there to help decipher the big, scary clinical terms brought to them by doctors and surgeons. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals whilst my family members are still picking away at vast medical bills from their own bouts with the disease, as well as continuing to care for me and my little sisters and cultivating their dreams. I will be able to help change the world by pursuing my dream to become a nurse. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

Cancer is my new normal. Too many of my family members and friends have been impacted by Cancer. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace that she has continually displayed. I know that I will also have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or have cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already is a normal word for me, but it is also more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom was a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, so I wanted to help raise money through her event. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sister and I formed a team of family and close friends. I got to further enrich my life by meeting local Survivors who became the inspiration on what I wanted to do with my life in the future. I have completed my first year at Kent State University as a Nursing student. I am securely holding a 3.7 GPA, and accepted into KSU's Nursing Program. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands. I will laugh and cry with them. I will cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will be there for their families through the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of their diagnoses & treatments. I will be there to help decipher the big, scary clinical terms brought to them by doctors and surgeons. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals whilst my family members are still picking away at vast medical bills from their own bouts with the disease, as well as continuing to care for me and my little sisters and cultivating their dreams. I will be able to help change the world by pursuing my dream to become a nurse. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

Cancer is my new normal. Too many of my family members and friends have been impacted by Cancer. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace that she has continually displayed. I know that I will also have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or have cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already is a normal word for me, but it is also more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom is a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, & I continue to help raise money through her event. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sisters and I have a team of family and close friends. We get to further enrich our lives by meeting local Survivors who are the inspiration on what I want to do with my life in the future. I have completed my first year at Kent State University as a Nursing student. I am securely holding a 3.7 GPA, and accepted into KSU's Nursing Program. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands. I will laugh and cry with them. I will cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will be there for their families through the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of their diagnoses & treatments. I will be there to help decipher the big, scary clinical terms brought to them by doctors and surgeons. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals whilst my family members are still picking away at vast medical bills from their own bouts with the disease, as well as continuing to care for me and my little sisters and cultivating their dreams. I will be able to help change the world by pursuing my dream to become a nurse. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

Cancer is my new normal. Too many of my family members and friends have been impacted by Cancer. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace that she has continually displayed. I know that I will also have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or have cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already is a normal word for me, but it is also more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom was a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, so I wanted to help raise money through her event. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sister and I formed a team of family and close friends. I got to further enrich my life by meeting local Survivors who became the inspiration on what I wanted to do with my life in the future. I have completed my first year at Kent State University as a Nursing student. I am securely holding a 3.7 GPA, and accepted into KSU's Nursing Program. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands. I will laugh and cry with them. I will cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will be there for their families through the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of their diagnoses & treatments. I will be there to help decipher the big, scary clinical terms brought to them by doctors and surgeons. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals whilst my family members are still picking away at vast medical bills from their own bouts with the disease, as well as continuing to care for me and my little sisters and cultivating their dreams. I will be able to help change the world by pursuing my dream to become a nurse. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

Cancer is my new normal. Too many of my family members and friends have been impacted by Cancer. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace that she has continually displayed. I know that I will also have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or have cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already is a normal word for me, but it is also more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom was a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, so I wanted to help raise money through her event. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sister and I formed a team of family and close friends. I got to further enrich my life by meeting local Survivors who became the inspiration on what I wanted to do with my life in the future. I have completed my first year at Kent State University as a Nursing student. I am securely holding a 3.7 GPA, and accepted into KSU's Nursing Program. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands. I will laugh and cry with them. I will cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will be there for their families through the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of their diagnoses & treatments. I will be there to help decipher the big, scary clinical terms brought to them by doctors and surgeons. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals whilst my family members are still picking away at vast medical bills from their own bouts with the disease, as well as continuing to care for me and my little sisters and cultivating their dreams. I will be able to help change the world by pursuing my dream to become a nurse. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

Cancer is my new normal. Too many of my family members and friends have been impacted by Cancer. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace that she has continually displayed. I know that I will also have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or have cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already is a normal word for me, but it is also more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom was a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, so I wanted to help raise money through her event. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sister and I formed a team of family and close friends. I got to further enrich my life by meeting local Survivors who became the inspiration on what I wanted to do with my life in the future. I have completed my first year at Kent State University as a Nursing student. I am securely holding a 3.7 GPA, and accepted into KSU's Nursing Program. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands. I will laugh and cry with them. I will cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will be there for their families through the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of their diagnoses & treatments. I will be there to help decipher the big, scary clinical terms brought to them by doctors and surgeons. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals whilst my family members are still picking away at vast medical bills from their own bouts with the disease, as well as continuing to care for me and my little sisters and cultivating their dreams. I will be able to help change the world by pursuing my dream to become a nurse. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

Cancer is my new normal. Too many of my family members and friends have been impacted by Cancer. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace that she has continually displayed. I know that I will also have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or have cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already is a normal word for me, but it is also more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom was a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, so I wanted to help raise money through her event. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sister and I formed a team of family and close friends. I got to further enrich my life by meeting local Survivors who became the inspiration on what I wanted to do with my life in the future. I have completed my first year at Kent State University as a Nursing student. I am securely holding a 3.7 GPA, and accepted into KSU's Nursing Program. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands. I will laugh and cry with them. I will cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will be there for their families through the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of their diagnoses & treatments. I will be there to help decipher the big, scary clinical terms brought to them by doctors and surgeons. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals whilst my family members are still picking away at vast medical bills from their own bouts with the disease, as well as continuing to care for me and my little sisters and cultivating their dreams. I will be able to help change the world by pursuing my dream to become a nurse. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

Cancer is my new normal. Too many of my family members and friends have been impacted by Cancer. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She fought the disease and won. After 25 years of remission, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. She once again fought valiantly and won. My own mother is thyroid cancer survivor. Through her diagnosis in 2012, I witnessed not only her strength, dignity and grace, but the empathy and compassion afforded her by the nursing staff in her doctor's offices, the surgery center in both pre-op and post-op, and in Nuclear Medicine where she did her treatments. I know that she will continue her journey with as much dignity and grace that she has continually displayed. I know that I will also have a lifetime of answering the question "Has anyone in your immediate family been diagnosed with or have cancer?" and I will have to respond with a "yes". Cancer already is a normal word for me, but it is also more than likely to be the future of my health. For as long as I can remember, cancer has been a common term in my household. At about 8 years old, I knew I wanted to help people who were battling cancer. My mom was a chairperson for our local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, so I wanted to help raise money through her event. My family has always stressed the importance of giving of myself: whether it be time, money, or my physical presence. My sister and I formed a team of family and close friends. I got to further enrich my life by meeting local Survivors who became the inspiration on what I wanted to do with my life in the future. I have completed my first year at Kent State University as a Nursing student. I am securely holding a 3.7 GPA, and accepted into KSU's Nursing Program. I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, with a plan to become Phi Beta Kappa. I will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinical practitioners. I plan to specialize in Pediatric Oncology. I want to be part of the solution and cure to cancer. I will be one of those supportive people who rally around those battling this horrifying disease. I want my patients to know that I will be there and have their best interests at heart. I will hold their hands. I will laugh and cry with them. I will cheer for them when they ring that bell on the day of that final treatment. I will be there for their families through the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of their diagnoses & treatments. I will be there to help decipher the big, scary clinical terms brought to them by doctors and surgeons. My empathy and compassion will allow me to be there to lead them all through the roughest parts, and to celebrate the wins when we can. This scholarship will help me to pay for the education needed to accomplish these goals whilst my family members are still picking away at vast medical bills from their own bouts with the disease, as well as continuing to care for me and my little sisters and cultivating their dreams. I will be able to help change the world by pursuing my dream to become a nurse. I will change the lives of my patients by being their strength, and to give them Hope at every turn while in my care.

I began my calling to help others before I was even born. Yes, you read that correctly. My first American Cancer Society Relay For Life was in June of 2004 when my mother was pregnant with me. Since then, it has been my dream to help others and to support local causes that will help fund research to rid the world of cancer. During my brief 18 years on this planet, I have encountered cancer at every turn. My grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer well before I was born. My mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2012. My grandmother, who beat breast cancer, is currently battling colon cancer, as did her mother before her. I am pleased to say that these key women in my life not only are surviving their diseases but THRIVING! Sadly, I cannot say the same for the countless people in my life, and the life of my family, were as fortunate. We have lost a far greater amount of loved ones than those who have beaten the disease. My mother and my grandmother showed me how to execute traveling through times of despair with Love, Hope, Grace, and Dignity. Because of the tremendous leadership and character example set before me by my mother and grandmother, I would like to specialize in Oncology Nursing. While I know that not all of the outcomes will be positive, those positive ones will help make the negative outcomes bearable. I want to be the one to help guide patients and their families and friends through moments of despair and lead them to a road of Hope. I am strong-willed yet empathetic by nature, and I know I can make a positive impact in the lives of cancer patients. I am just as tough and driven as the women who have paved the way for me. They have encouraged me to think outside the box in ways I can help the world. They have encouraged me to be independent, strong, resilient, empathetic, kind, caring, and loving. My greatest gifts have been these two women who have taught me every little thing I need to succeed. These are the gifts I hope to be able to pass on to my patients and their families. Strength. Hope. Determination. Love. Kindness. Laughter. I will be there to lift their spirits when necessary and to be their biggest cheerleader always. I will be there to hold hands, laugh, cry, pray, and sometimes mourn with them all. I will be there, unwavering, strong and determined to help them through it all.

I am the oldest of three sisters in my family. I have been first for everything. First Born. First to talk. First to walk. First to steal my mother's heart from her chest and walk around with it daily. I am the first big sister in my family. I will also be the first to graduate college. From the time I was old enough to hear and understand the things that my mother would tell me, I have known that I can do anything I set my heart and mind to. My mother tells me every day that I can and will do the big things... all of the big things. I used to think she told me that to dictate what I did with my life. I now know that she meant it as a mantra to inspire me to do the big scary things, to embrace the near impossible, and to push myself beyond what I think I am capable of. It is in this vein, that I am pursuing a nursing degree from Kent State University. My goal is to graduate as an RN, pursue a specialty in oncology, or perhaps become a nurse anesthetist. Within the Oncology specialty, I hope to provide care and support for not only my patients but for their families as well. My mother is a cancer survivor and I firmly believe that the care and compassion and empathy the nursing staff provided for her has helped to dictate her survival, and thriving beyond her cancer. I want to be the person who is there for those hard discussions- what did the doctor just say? what is the quality of life vs quantity? How long are treatments? You need how many tubes of blood? Of course, my blood pressure is high, you just woke me up from a dead sleep at 3:00 am, what did you expect? All of these are examples of questions I have heard my mother ask. Her nurses have all been wonderful men and women who have been gracious enough to both appreciate and mollify her tough questions and humor. I wish greatly to be the one that my patients can turn to for direction and wisdom throughout their journey with me as their nurse. I plan on becoming a nurse in the next 4 years. I plan on being the first in my family to graduate college and pursue the career of my dreams to help others and use my compassion and empathy and great love to accomplish it all.