My name is Paris Smith, and my story has been shaped by both challenges and the people I have loved along the way. I grew up in California, where family always came first. From a young age, I developed a passion for helping and healing others, something that has carried me into my dream of becoming a nurse. Looking back, I can see how my background, my passions, and my experiences have all come together to guide me toward this career and to help me grow into the person I am today. One of the most meaningful parts of my childhood was helping to care for my grandfather. He was often sick, and my family worked together to make sure he was as comfortable as possible. I may have been young, but I wanted to help in any way I could. I brought him water, helped with little tasks, and kept him company. Before he passed away, he called me “his little nurse.” Those words stuck with me and planted the seed of nursing in my heart. Even though I was just a child, I realized that I wanted to be someone who could care for people when they were at their weakest and give them comfort when they needed it most. Later in my life, I faced another painful loss when my father passed away. Grief is never easy, and losing him was one of the hardest challenges I have ever experienced. At times I felt like giving up, but instead, I tried to turn my pain into motivation. I knew my father would want me to keep going, to keep striving for my goals. His passing taught me perseverance and reminded me how short and precious life is. It also strengthened my desire to become a nurse so I could honor his memory by helping others through their own struggles. Life has also meant moving from place to place. After growing up in California, I have lived in different states, and now I reside in Missouri. Each move brought new challenges—adjusting to new schools, new environments, and new people—but it also taught me resilience. I learned how to adapt, how to stay focused on my goals even when my surroundings changed. Those experiences have helped me become stronger and more independent, qualities I know will serve me well as a nurse. Today, I am enrolled in a nursing program that is both demanding and rewarding. Nursing school challenges me every day, but I have found strength in my passion for helping people. Through hard work and dedication, I have made the Dean’s List, which is an accomplishment I am proud of. It shows me that despite the challenges I have faced, I can succeed when I stay focused and determined. My passions are simple but powerful: helping people, healing people, and always working to become a better person. Nursing gives me the opportunity to do all three. It allows me to be there for patients and families during difficult times, just as others were there for my grandfather and father. It gives me the chance to grow, learn, and make a positive difference in the world. My story is one of love, loss, perseverance, and hope. My experiences with my grandfather and father, my journey across different states, and my dedication to my education have shaped me into someone who is determined to achieve her goals. I know that nursing is my calling, and I am committed to working hard to become the kind of nurse who brings both skill and compassion to every patient I care for.

I am passionate about helping those who are having trouble with addiction because I think everyone deserves kindness, respect, and a chance to get better. Addiction is not just a medical problem; it's also an emotional, mental, and social problem that affects the person, their family, and their community. People who are addictics typically deal with judgment and stigma instead of being understood and supported. This stigma can stop them from seeking the help and care that they need. Being a nursing student who is pursuing a nursing career, I want to be a part of the solution to erasing that stigma and not only providing medical treatment but also encouragement, advocacy, and resources that can aid people move forward in their recovery. I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing because I believe that nursing is a job that lets me care for the full person. Nurses don't just do clinical work; they also need to be there for patients when they are at their most challenging times providing emotional support for when patients are at their lowest. When caring for someone battling addiction, it is important to look beyond their condition and realize that this is a human being who is worthy of respect and healing. Becoming a nurse my goal is to approach my patient with kindness and make sure they feel protected, heard, and important. I believe that this kind of care could establish trust, which is typically the first step in breaking down the barriers that restrict people from getting treatment. One of my passions is challenging the stigma surrounding addiction. A large number of people view addiction as a weakness or a failure at discipline, when in reality it is a difficult health issue that requires medical treatment and ongoing support. When I become a nurse, I want to fight these negative stereotypes by treating patients with fairness and empathy. By doing this, I hope to encourage patients to view themselves with more kindness and to see that they are capable of change. Even simply listening to them without judgment can give someone hope at a time when they may feel hopeless. Beyond direct patient care, I also see myself as someone who can connect patients to supportive resources. Recovery from addiction does not end when someone leaves the hospital . Ongoing counseling, support groups, and rehabilitation programs are important. As a nurse, I will work to make sure that patients are aware of and have access to these resources. Whether it is by making a referral, providing educational information, or simply offering encouragement, I want to help patients take steps that will support their long term recovery.

Growing up, I watched my mother go through domestic abuse from our past stepfather, and it has shaped the way I view life and the way I approach others. Experiencing her struggle with domestic violence firsthand gave me a deep understanding and insight into emotional, physical, and social struggles that we as women face when being impacted by domestic violence and substance abuse. In addition, he used drugs, which played a part in his anger issues, which escalated his violence not only towards her but towards me and my siblings. Observing and being in these situations helped me realize the complex connection between domestic violence and substance abuse, as well as their effects on not just the individual but the whole family. Choosing nursing as a career path is not only a professional decision but also my calling. Through studies so far in nursing school, I have learned that quality care is a staple, and it goes beyond treating a person's physical needs; it requires listening, empathy, advocacy, and teamwork from different systems of support. I want to be a nurse who values my patients, not just providing medical care, but also being there for my Black community. I want to make sure that women who suffer from domestic violence and substance abuse are supported holistically. This means connecting them to resources, advocating for their needs, and helping healthcare teams communicate effectively so that a woman's experience is acknowledged and addressed. I see education as a powerful critical tool that will equip me with the knowledge and compassionate advocacy that is capable of bridging gaps in healthcare that can often lead to women feeling unseen and uncared for. In addition, being an African American myself and seeing how healthcare has treated us, I want to make a huge difference. Through people's personal experiences I've viewed on social media, statistics, and first hand experience, I've seen that healthcare doesn't value us. Using my education, I want to fight against systemic barriers that unequally impact African American women. By understanding healthcare disparities and developing strong communication and leadership skills, I plan to work in environments where African American women can finally feel safe, supported, heard, seen, and empowered to make decisions about their health and own well-being. My personal experience with my mother has motivated me to be a part of a solution, helping women to navigate challenges that are often increased by social, economic, and systemic barriers. Ultimately, my experiences with my family have shaped my passion and dedication for nursing and commitment to advocating for African American women. I believe with combining compassion, communication, education, and action, I can help improve the outcomes for African American women affected by domestic violence and substance abuse. I aim to become a nurse who not only heals African American women physically, but also supports them emotionally by empowering, advocating for, and educating them. I want to be someone who makes sure that no woman facing these challenges has to deal with them alone. Through my education and future career, I hope to be part of a generation of healthcare professionals who help transform care, coordination, and communication, creating meaningful change for black women and our families.