As long as I can remember I have always wanted to work in the healthcare field. As a young child, I wanted to be a veterinarian. When I got a little older, I wanted to be a doctor. Things changed for me in the last half of my high school career. I became pregnant between my junior and senior years of high school. I realized that medical school would not be in the cards for me as a single teenage mother, but my love for medicine was strong. Throughout my pregnancy, I frequented my school nurse’s office and learned how much nurses do. My school nurse became my role model. When one of my friends went into labor in school, my school nurse was unwavering and supportive, knowing exactly what to do. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a nurse. In June 2000 I graduated high school as a 17-year-old single teenage mother. My son was seven weeks old when he attended my high school graduation. I graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. I then immediately enrolled in night courses for my prerequisites, regardless of what degree I would choose later. I went on to obtain my associate in health science and Licensed Practical Nurse license in 2005, and my associate in nursing and Registered Nurse license in 2008. I continued with my life, marrying my now husband, and raising three children. I promised myself I would go back to school for my bachelor's degree when my children were out of high school and I had more time to devote to my studies, no excuses. In 2022, at 39 years old, I enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University for my bachelor's degree in nursing. I completed my degree in one year, graduating in the spring of 2023 with a GPA of 3.94. I am now a school nurse in the same school district where I received my high school education. My high school nurse who was once my mentor that led me down my path, is now my co-worker. Even though we are in separate schools, I have the opportunity to talk with her and lean on her daily. It is my goal to continue to work here, being a mentor to our current youth and setting an example that despite challenges there are ways to rise, no matter how long it takes. I am enrolled to begin my master’s in nursing in May 2024. Obtaining my master’s degree will allow me to advocate and mentor at a higher level than previously. I feel it is also worth mentioning that I am the shop steward for school nurses for our local union, a member of the local Board of Health, a commissioner on the local Senior Services Commission, and I have dabbled in legislation.

For me, success is not about what I do on a personal level, it’s about what I do on a community level. I have spent most of my life striving to make things better for those around me, which in turn enriches my life. I am a bigger-picture type of person. It doesn’t do any good to be successful as an individual if the people around you are struggling. This does not mean I have not had personal successes throughout the years. In June 2000 I graduated high school as a 17-year-old single teenage mother. My son was seven weeks old when he attended my high school graduation. I graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. I then immediately enrolled in night courses for my prerequisites, regardless of what degree I later would choose. I went on to obtain my associate in health science and Licensed Practical Nurse license in 2005, and my associate in nursing and Registered Nurse license in 2008. I continued with my life, marrying my now husband and raising three children. In 2022 I enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University for my bachelor's degree in nursing. I completed my degree in one year, graduating in the spring of 2023 with a GPA of 3.94. I currently work full-time as a nationally certified school nurse, am the shop steward for my local union, sit on my city's Board of Health, and am a commissioner on my city’s Senior Services Commission. I also have a husband who is a disabled veteran whom I am the caregiver for, and have raised three, now adult, children. While this may seem like a lot for any person, I also have begun to dip my toes into politics. I successfully initiated, found a state senator to sponsor, and testified in the State House and State Senate legislation regarding school nurses in New Hampshire. This legislation was signed into law by the governor in July 2023. I have also completed one round of negotiations with my employer, improving pay and other conditions for the school nurses in the Manchester, NH school district, which was agreed to and signed by the Board of School Committee in September 2023. This is what success looks like to me. It is through these many roles that I hope to continue to improve the work environment for my coworkers and the students we serve and support my family and my community. While I have already had some time in these roles, there is still much work to be done. There will always be ways to improve, advocate, and educate for better outcomes for the many versus myself. It is unfortunate to say that, even with my many years of experience, many people look for letters after someone’s name when casting judgment. I hope that obtaining my master’s degree will provide me with more opportunities at the legislative level to help my community. Being selected for this scholarship would assist me in financing my education so that I may continue in my advocacy for others, without having people question my abilities simply because of the letters after my name. It will help me come to the table with the knowledge and abilities to further assist and tackle challenges that will improve outcomes for many.

My name is Patricia Anglin, I am a mother to three adult children, wife and caregiver of a disabled veteran, and my motto in life is no excuses. I am returning to school to start my master’s degree in nursing at 41 years old. I have spent most of my life striving to make things better for those around me, which in turn enriches my life. I am a bigger-picture type of person. It doesn’t do any good to be successful as an individual if the people around you are struggling. As long as I can remember I have always wanted to work in the healthcare field. As a young child, I wanted to be a veterinarian. When I got a little older I wanted to be a doctor. Things changed for me in the last half of my high school career. I became pregnant between my junior and senior years of high school. I realized that medical school would not be in the cards for me as a single teenage mother, but my love for medicine was strong. Throughout my pregnancy, I frequented my school nurse’s office and learned how much nurses do. She became my role model. When one of my friends went into labor in school she was unwavering and supportive, knowing exactly what to do. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a nurse. In June 2000 I graduated high school as a 17-year-old single teenage mother. My son was seven weeks old when he attended my high school graduation. I graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. I then immediately enrolled in night courses for my prerequisites, regardless of what degree I would choose later. I went on to obtain my associate in health science and Licensed Practical Nurse license in 2005, and my associate in nursing and Registered Nurse license in 2008. I continued with my life, marrying my now husband, and raising three children. I promised myself I would go back to school for my bachelor's degree when my children were out of high school and I had more time to devote to my studies, no excuses. In 2022, at 39 years old, I enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University for my bachelor's degree in nursing. I completed my degree in one year, graduating in the spring of 2023 with a GPA of 3.94. I am currently a school nurse in the same school district where I received my high school education. It is my goal to continue to work there, mentoring our youth and setting an example that despite challenges there are ways to rise, no matter how long it takes. Obtaining my master’s degree will allow me to do this at a higher level than previously. I feel it is also worth mentioning that I am the shop steward for school nurses for our local union, a member of the local Board of Health, a commissioner on the local Senior Services Commission, and I have dabbled in legislation. I believe there are always ways to improve, and continuous education and advocacy are key to that growth. This scholarship would assist me in funding my education so that I may continue to advocate for those around me at a higher level.

My husband is a 100% disabled combat veteran. I have been his official caregiver for the past eight years due to his post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. My husband served as a mortarman in the United States Marine Corps from 2000-2004. He was based out of Camp Pendleton in California. He had two deployments to Iraq during his time in service. He was part of the initial invasion of Iraq in March 2003 with Lima Company 3/5 Marines. His second deployment was as a casualty replacement in 2004. During his second deployment, the vehicle he was riding in was destroyed by an IED. My husband was one of the lucky ones who survived and, except for some remaining shrapnel in his skull, is physically intact. My husband loves to speak about his time in the service. While his short-term memory is spotty after the explosion, his long-term memory is intact. In July 2023 we drove cross-country to his battalion reunion for the 20th anniversary of the invasion. He had the opportunity to show me around the base, where he lived, where he trained, and where different events happened that he frequently spoke about. My favorite memory is one that happened most recently. Due to his PTSD, my husband doesn’t fly, so we drove from New Hampshire to California for his battalion reunion. It is important to know for this story that as his caregiver I also have a base access card. Our first day driving home we were a few hours into the desert when I needed to stop to use the restroom. Lucky for me we saw the sign for Marine Corps Base 29 Palms. I suggested we stop and I could use the bathroom in the Px and we could pick up a snack. As we pulled up to the duty station my husband immediately became excited and started yelling the word “Savage”. It took a few minutes for me to realize that Major Gen. Savage was the Commanding General of 29 Palms. Savage was my husband’s commanding officer before his first deployment. He immediately asked the duty where the General’s office was. He attempted to locate it with the directions he was provided but ended up at the gym, where he asked some younger Marines where the General’s office was. Confused as to why this older civilian was asking this question, they pointed us in the correct direction. We pulled up to the General’s office and my husband walked in there like he owned the place. The duty in the office stood and watched my husband, with me in tow, walk past him and the stop sign, straight to the General’s door. Eventually, the administrative assistant stopped him and said she would mention to the General that he was there, but there were no guarantees that he would be willing to meet with my husband. The General immediately stopped the meeting he was in and met with my husband. We sat in Major General Savage’s office for over an hour while he and my husband spoke about life 20 years prior. My husband then presented the General with a challenge coin from the reunion. My husband and I have done a lot and seen a lot over the years. I don’t think any memory of my husband will ever top the time he walked into a Major General’s office, 20 years after he served, to meet with his commanding officer, and he wasn’t letting anyone stop him.

My husband is a 100% disabled combat veteran. I have been his official caregiver for the past eight years due to his post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. My husband served as a mortarman in the United States Marine Corps from 2000-2004. He was based out of Camp Pendleton in California. He had two deployments to Iraq during his time in service. He was part of the initial invasion of Iraq in March 2003 with Lima Company 3/5 Marines. His second deployment was as a casualty replacement in 2004. During his second deployment, the vehicle he was riding in was destroyed by an IED. My husband was one of the lucky ones who survived and, except for some remaining shrapnel in his skull, is physically intact. My husband loves to speak about his time in the service, especially about having the opportunity to swim in Saddam Hussein’s pool. While his short-term memory is spotty after the explosion, his long-term memory is intact. In July 2023 we drove cross-country to his battalion reunion for the 20th anniversary of the invasion. He had the opportunity to show me around the base, where he lived, where he trained, and where different events happened that he frequently spoke about. Along with my husband, I volunteer with veteran charities, work to spread the word about available treatment options, and reduce the stigma of mental health issues in the military community. Each year we participate in the 22 Until None: Operation Mercury 5K Ruck, which brings awareness to this stigma worldwide. This year my husband will be hosting a hike located in New Hampshire for the first time since the inception of this annual event. We are also involved in multiple veteran non-profits, even if it means just giving up a couple of days a year to hand out food. I am currently a school nurse at an inner-city high school where I live, but thanks to my husband I am actively involved in the veteran community. My experiences have made me want to help on a larger level compared to just an individual level. As a nurse, I help people individually seek out the treatment they need, but I want to be able to provide education to those who may not realize they work with this population as often as they do. The lack of understanding in the nursing community regarding veteran culture and how to care for veterans with PTSD is astonishing. I also want to assist in passing legislation to better protect mental health treatment access. As a caregiver, I have seen firsthand the care of the VA and the amount of advocacy that veterans need to receive appropriate care. My educational goal is to achieve my master’s degree in nursing, to further my ability to advocate at a higher level. I see myself continuing the work I have already started and then broadening it on a much larger level.

As long as I can remember I have always wanted to work in the healthcare field. As a young child, I wanted to be a veterinarian. When I got a little older, I wanted to be a doctor. Things changed for me in the last half of my high school career. I became pregnant between my junior and senior years of high school. I realized that medical school would not be in the cards for me as a single teenage mother, but my love for medicine was strong. Throughout my pregnancy, I frequented my school nurse’s office and learned how much nurses do. My school nurse became my role model. When one of my friends went into labor in school, my school nurse was unwavering and supportive, knowing exactly what to do. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a nurse. In June 2000 I graduated high school as a 17-year-old single teenage mother. My son was seven weeks old when he attended my high school graduation. I graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. I then immediately enrolled in night courses for my prerequisites, regardless of what degree I would choose later. I went on to obtain my associate in health science and Licensed Practical Nurse license in 2005, and my associate in nursing and Registered Nurse license in 2008. I continued with my life, marrying my now husband, and raising three children. I promised myself I would go back to school for my bachelor's degree when my children were out of high school and I had more time to devote to my studies, no excuses. In 2022, at 39 years old, I enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University for my bachelor's degree in nursing. I completed my degree in one year, graduating in the spring of 2023 with a GPA of 3.94. I am now a school nurse in the same school district where I received my high school education. My high school nurse who was once my mentor that led me down my path, is now my co-worker. Even though we are in separate schools, I have the opportunity to talk with her and lean on her daily. It is my goal to continue to work here, being a mentor to our current youth and setting an example that despite challenges there are ways to rise, no matter how long it takes. I am enrolled to begin my master’s in nursing in May 2024. Obtaining my master’s degree will allow me to advocate and mentor at a higher level than previously. I feel it is also worth mentioning that I am the shop steward for school nurses for our local union, a member of the local Board of Health, a commissioner on the local Senior Services Commission, and I have dabbled in legislation.

My name is Patricia Anglin, I am a mother to three adult children, wife and caregiver of a disabled veteran, and my motto in life is no excuses. I am returning to school to start my master’s degree in nursing at 41 years old. I have spent most of my life striving to make things better for those around me, which in turn enriches my life. I am a bigger-picture type of person. It doesn’t do any good to be successful as an individual if the people around you are struggling. As long as I can remember I have always wanted to work in the healthcare field. As a young child, I wanted to be a veterinarian. When I got a little older I wanted to be a doctor. Things changed for me in the last half of my high school career. I became pregnant between my junior and senior years of high school. I realized that medical school would not be in the cards for me as a single teenage mother, but my love for medicine was strong. Throughout my pregnancy, I frequented my school nurse’s office and learned how much nurses do. She became my role model. When one of my friends went into labor in school she was unwavering and supportive, knowing exactly what to do. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a nurse. In June 2000 I graduated high school as a 17-year-old single teenage mother. My son was seven weeks old when he attended my high school graduation. I graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. I then immediately enrolled in night courses for my prerequisites, regardless of what degree I would choose later. I went on to obtain my associate in health science and Licensed Practical Nurse license in 2005, and my associate in nursing and Registered Nurse license in 2008. I continued with my life, marrying my now husband, and raising three children. I promised myself I would go back to school for my bachelor's degree when my children were out of high school and I had more time to devote to my studies, no excuses. In 2022, at 39 years old, I enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University for my bachelor's degree in nursing. I completed my degree in one year, graduating in the spring of 2023 with a GPA of 3.94. I am currently a school nurse in the same school district where I received my high school education. It is my goal to continue to work there, mentoring our youth and setting an example that despite challenges there are ways to rise, no matter how long it takes. Obtaining my master’s degree will allow me to do this at a higher level than previously. I feel it is also worth mentioning that I am the shop steward for school nurses for our local union, a member of the local Board of Health, a commissioner on the local Senior Services Commission, and I have dabbled in legislation. I believe there are always ways to improve, and continuous education and advocacy are key to that growth. This scholarship would assist me in funding my education so that I may continue to advocate for those around me at a higher level.

I am a firm believer that leaders are not born, they are made. I will be the first to admit that I previously had no interest or intention of ever being in any leadership position until the need arose, and I was the only one who stepped up. I never saw myself as the type of person who had the capabilities to be a leader. I have learned to embrace leadership as not only something that needs to be done but as something that can bring about a lot of good for the many around me. In May 2023, I graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with my bachelor's degree in nursing. By late July of the same year, I had successfully initiated, found a senator to sponsor, and testified in both the State House and State Senate for legislation that was passed and signed by the governor changing the requirements for school nurses in the State of New Hampshire. I also completed the requirements and obtained my national school nurse certification. In early September 2023, I completed my first round of negotiations with my employer and was successfully able to increase wages and improve some working conditions for my colleagues. On May 13, 2024, I will begin classes full-time for my master’s degree in nursing with the selected track of Executive Leadership. I will be doing this while working full-time as a school nurse at my local high school in Manchester, NH, serving as a member of the Manchester Board of Health, serving as a commissioner on the Manchester Senior Services Commission, and serving my second term as Shop Steward for the Manchester School District School Nurses under AFSCME Local 298. I would be remiss if I failed to mention that this coming fall while serving in all these capacities, I am also scheduled to begin our three-year negotiations with the school district to renew our contract. I take my role as a leader extremely seriously and make sure that any outcome has the community and stakeholders in mind, regardless of my personal feelings or opinions. I make every effort to take the time to gather as much information as possible before making any decisions. I learn as much as possible about every situation I am placed in to better understand everyone’s point of view. I will admit I spend much more time at Board of School Committee and Board of Mayor and Alderman meetings than I would like to admit, but taking this time and meeting and learning from everyone involved is necessary to understand to full scope of the community and how to best achieve one’s goals. Looking at the future I hope to be able to continue the work I have started and build off of that. I plan to advocate more at all levels and lead by example. In closing I would like to bring you back to one of my first statements, I never saw myself as the type of person who could be a leader. In June of 2000, I was a 17-year-old single teenage mother who had no idea what she was going to do with her life, except that she was never going to stop learning. Today I am writing this essay for a scholarship to assist me in financing my master’s degree in nursing while serving my community in multiple leadership positions. Never in my wildest dreams did I think my life would turn out this way.

I am the caregiver for my husband, who is a combat Marine veteran with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. My husband is 100% disabled from his combat-related injuries due to an IED blast in Iraq. I have been his caregiver for approximately eight years. With invisible injuries like PTSD and TBI, the public is not aware of the disability and shows little empathy for veterans. When they see a wife trying to assist her six-foot, 350-pound husband who is curled up in the fetal position in the middle of Walmart due to a panic attack, or they see him becoming agitated and raising his voice because someone looked at him the wrong way, the public is quick to judge, and the wife is the only one there to calm the beast and assist him in mentally returning to the civilian world. Different days require different strategies just to survive. When it comes to PTSD and TBI, you never know what to expect and you are always on your toes. I am currently a school nurse at an inner-city high school where I live, but thanks to my husband I am actively involved in the veteran community. My experiences have made me want to help on a larger level compared to just an individual level. As a nurse, I help people individually seek out the treatment they need, but I want to be able to provide education to those who may not realize they work with this population as often as they do. The lack of understanding in the nursing community regarding veteran culture and how to care for veterans with PTSD is astonishing. I also want to assist in passing legislation to better protect mental health treatment access. As a caregiver, I have seen firsthand the care of the VA and the amount of advocacy that veterans need to receive appropriate care. Along with my husband, I volunteer with veteran charities, work to spread the word about available treatment options, and reduce the stigma of mental health issues in the military community. Each year we participate in the 22 Until None: Operation Mercury 5K Ruck, which brings awareness to this stigma worldwide. This year my husband will be hosting a hike located in New Hampshire for the first time since the inception of this annual event. We are also involved in multiple veteran non-profits, even if it means just giving up a couple of days a year to hand out food. One of the biggest lessons I have learned from my husband and his PTSD is the need for things to be the way they were. When he was enlisted, he had a purpose and sense of belonging, and he feels as a disabled vet in the civilian world he lost that. Helping others has been a way for him to redevelop that sense of purpose and belonging and to help him heal. I make an effort to find a way for him to attend different veteran events whenever possible or for us to take trips to see his brothers across the country. The latter can be a little difficult as he doesn’t fly, but we do what we can. It is important for his healing. I am very big on advocacy. Advocating is the number one thing anyone can do to help someone else. While this essay discusses my husband and his PTSD, I also feel the need to mention my cousin. My cousin was a Navy SEAL who lost his battle with PTSD several years ago. I feel guilty for not advocating more for him daily.

By itself, being a caregiver can be overwhelming. Add in the additional pressures of working and raising a family and it can become too much for many. I have had many challenges over the years balancing work, academics, and caregiving. While this essay specified balancing work and caregiving I feel the need to also emphasize academics as my professional career started out as a single teenage mother in high school. I had to balance caring for an infant while completing high school. I then immediately enrolled in night courses for my prerequisites, regardless of what degree I would choose later. I went on to obtain my associate in health science and Licensed Practical Nurse license in 2005, and my associate in nursing and Registered Nurse license in 2008. I continued with my life, marrying my now husband, and raising three children. I promised myself I would go back to school for my bachelor's degree when my children were out of high school and I had more time to devote to my own studies. In 2022, at 39 years old, I enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University for my bachelor's degree in nursing. I completed my degree in one year, graduating in the spring of 2023 with a GPA of 3.94. My husband is a 100% disabled combat veteran with PTSD and traumatic brain injury. I have been his designated caregiver through the VA for approximately eight years. Balancing caring for a disabled spouse, raising three children, working full-time to support the household, and working on my education to provide a better future for my family has had many challenges. While I always wanted to be in medicine, I chose nursing when I was pregnant as it would provide me with more options to be home with my children. I had to choose jobs that worked around their schedule and child care schedules instead of jobs I would have preferred. Having a disabled husband with an invisible disability adds a different layer of challenges as many do not realize the level of support he needs and how often he requires care. I have been very lucky over the past decade to have employers that have allowed me to carry my phone on me at all times so I can keep track of him and he can reach me at any time while I am working. I have a tracker on his phone and cameras throughout the house in case there is an emergency. I fell into school nursing when my children were in school. While this was not my original career goal, it is the career that has fit my family’s needs the best and is the career I originally didn’t know I needed to be in. I believe I am stronger and a better advocate due to my experiences and struggles. It is important when juggling multiple roles, such as caregiving and working, that one finds a position that fits them, and their needs, the best. It isn’t always the direction you wanted or the direction you thought you would be going in, but it is usually the direction that you were meant to head in. It comes down to the butterfly effect. One small difference today can completely alter the future. I am where I am meant to be. While my life is frequently stressful, and balancing everything is challenging, I don’t think I would change any of it as this is where I am meant to be.

I have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. My mother and multiple extended family have been diagnosed and struggle with anxiety and depression. I am the caregiver for my husband, who is a combat veteran with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. As I nurse, I worked in corrections, where much of the population has some form of mental health condition, and in an inpatient psychiatric setting. I currently work as a school nurse at the high school level. I feel as though my personal, family, and professional experiences with mental health have had a large impact on how I interact with others. I have an understanding of where others are coming from and am willing to do what I can to actively listen, give them the respect that I would want if I were in their position, and assist them in any way that I can within my scope of practice. I have struggled with dark thoughts and how to come out of it on the other side. I have assisted others to do the same. Currently where I live our community is in crisis. My city struggles with drug addiction and homelessness, much of which is a consequence of our lack of mental health treatment options. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I watched our community mental health centers struggle to keep up with the demand. We only have one youth mental health in-patient facility in the state, which oftentimes is so strained that the children are discharged with little progress made, leaving the outpatient facilities strained to respond to increased emergency cases. As a high school nurse, I often respond to students who are actively suicidal or who participate in self-harm. My experiences have made me want to help on a larger level than just an individual level. While I still help people individually seek out the treatment they need, I want to be able to provide education to those who may not realize they work with this population as often as they do. I want to assist in passing legislation to better protect mental health treatment access. I currently sit on my city’s Board of Health, where I receive routine updates regarding the rates of homelessness and drug use in my city. We discuss the causes of both issues, which are often related to mental illness. Along with my husband, I volunteer with veteran charities and work to spread the word about available treatment options and reduce the stigma of mental health issues in the military community. Each year we participate in the 22 Until None: Operation Mercury 5K Ruck, which brings awareness to this stigma worldwide. This year my husband will be hosting a hike located in New Hampshire for the first time since the inception of this annual event. I hope that by obtaining my master’s in nursing I will be in a better position to assist more in my community on a higher level. It is unfortunate to say that, even with my many years of experience, many people look for letters after someone’s name when casting judgment. In addition to the education I will receive, having the title of my master’s will assist me in generating more support, with those at higher levels taking me more seriously in my efforts to create change.

My name is Patricia Anglin, I am a mother to three adult children, wife and caregiver of a disabled veteran, and my motto in life is no excuses. I am returning to school to start my master’s degree in nursing at 41 years old. In June 2000 I graduated high school as a 17-year-old single teenage mother. My son was seven weeks old when he attended my high school graduation. I graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. I then immediately enrolled in night courses for my prerequisites, regardless of what degree I would choose later. I went on to obtain my associate in health science and Licensed Practical Nurse license in 2005, and my associate in nursing and Registered Nurse license in 2008. I continued with my life, marrying my now husband, and raising three children. I promised myself I would go back to school for my bachelor's degree when my children were out of high school and I had more time to devote to my own studies, no excuses. In 2022, at 39 years old, I enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University for my bachelor's degree in nursing. I completed my degree in one year, graduating in the spring of 2023 with a GPA of 3.94. None of this would have been possible without support from family and friends, and always keeping the goal in mind. I have always tried to remember and live up to my motto, no excuses. There were many times that the stress and the pressures of life would become overwhelming, and I would need to take a step back to remind myself of the tasks at hand and the goals. This is how I overcame, and continue to overcome, most obstacles in my life. I am currently a school nurse in the same school district where I received my high school education. It is my goal to continue to work there, mentoring our youth and setting an example that despite challenges there are ways to rise, no matter how long it takes. Obtaining my master’s degree will allow me to do this at a higher level than previously. I feel it is also worth mentioning that I am the shop steward for school nurses for our local union, a member of the local Board of Health, a commissioner on the local Senior Services Commission, and I have dabbled in legislation. I believe there are always ways to improve, and continuous education is key to that growth.

I am diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. I struggle every day to maintain control over my emotions and responses to others. I also have difficulty understanding when things are not black and white. Throughout my academic and personal life, this has led people to label me as unfriendly, a “know-it-all, " or difficult. Even while in nursing school, while teaching about tolerance, understanding, and individual differences, very few professors practiced this and were quick to judge me, creating additional hardships with my assignments. When I asked for help and what I could do, one professor looked at me and stated there was nothing I could do, there was no help for me. That was 20 years ago. While I still have my diagnoses, and I still struggle frequently, I have also had two decades to mature and develop coping strategies to get through difficult situations. I also have different challenges. I am the caregiver to my husband, who is a disabled veteran with traumatic brain injury and PTSD, and we have three adult children, two of whom have their struggles. I also work full-time as a school nurse at an inner-city high school where I live, am on the School Nurse Steward for the local union, sit on the Board of Health, and sit on the Senior Services Commission. Balancing everything can be a struggle, yet I always feel the need to be doing something. I am going back to school for my master’s in nursing at 41 years old. I have emotional ups and downs regarding this. I know deep down I can do it, but frequently I doubt myself and question if it is worth it. I question how I will be able to keep up with everything and maintain my sanity. I constantly struggle with questioning myself, regardless of the situation. I will perseverate on things unnecessarily. I am lucky to have a supportive family. While my husband has difficulty comprehending the full scope of everything, he frequently encourages me to take little breaks, step away for a little bit, and refresh. I have friends and family I can talk to and vent to when overwhelmed and stressed. In my family exercise is frequently used as an outlet for emotional stress. We have a home gym set up in the basement that was given to us before the epidemic. Music and nature have also been outlets for me my entire life. My primary coping mechanism when it comes to tasks with school and work is the same one I frequently recommend to students who come into my health office overwhelmed. I break everything down into smaller pieces and attack each smaller piece one at a time. The bigger picture can become very overwhelming, but seeing a smaller task that can easily be accomplished is not so overwhelming, and I am less likely to shut down. I take all of my assignments and draft my outlines. I then work on each section of the outline separately, sometimes jumping around, until my assignments are complete. Using this technique, I was able to graduate with my bachelor's degree in nursing in only one year with a 3.94 GPA. I plan on continuing to use this technique for my master’s.

As long as I can remember I have always wanted to work in the healthcare field. As a young child I wanted to be a veterinarian. When I got a little older, I wanted to be a doctor. Things changed for me in the last half of my high school career. I became pregnant between my junior and senior year of high school. I realized that medical school would not be in the cards for me as a single teenage mother, but my love for medicine was strong. Throughout my pregnancy I frequented my school nurse’s office and learned how much nurses do. She became my role model. When one of my friends went into labor in school, she was unwavering and supportive, knowing exactly what to do. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a nurse. In June 2000 I graduated high school as a 17-year-old single teenage mother. My son was seven weeks old when he attended my high school graduation. I graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. I then immediately enrolled in night courses for my prerequisites, regardless of what degree I would choose later. I went on to obtain my associate in health science and Licensed Practical Nurse license in 2005, and my associate in nursing and Registered Nurse license in 2008. I continued with my life, marrying my now husband, and raising three children. I promised myself I would go back to school for my bachelor's degree when my children were out of high school and I had more time to devote to my own studies, no excuses. In 2022, at 39 years old, I enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University for my bachelor's degree in nursing. I completed my degree in one year, graduating in the spring of 2023 with a GPA of 3.94. I am now a school nurse in the same school district where I received my high school education. My high school nurse who was once my mentor that led me down my path, is now my co-worker. It is my goal to continue to work here, mentoring our current youth and setting an example that despite challenges there are ways to rise, no matter how long it takes. Obtaining my master’s degree will allow me to do this at a higher level than previously. I feel it is also worth mentioning that I am the shop steward for school nurses for our local union, a member of the local Board of Health, a commissioner on the local Senior Services Commission, and I have dabbled in legislation. This essay is supposed to be about the positive impact of women in the healthcare field, but I feel the need to go further in not only explaining about women in healthcare, but women in healthcare who have struggled and overcame, and how they can lead by example. The school district I work in is the most diverse and has the highest rate of socioeconomically disadvantaged students. It only takes one person to make an impact on one person’s life. If I can make an impact on just one person, as my nurse did for me, I will consider all my struggles a success. My mentor and I still discuss the day she almost had to deliver a baby at the school. Nobody believes her when she mentions it, but I always make sure I am there to confirm it really happened.

My name is Patricia Anglin, I am a mother to three adult children, wife and caregiver of a disabled veteran, and my motto in life is no excuses. I am returning to school to start my master’s degree in nursing at 41 years old. In June 2000 I graduated high school as a 17-year-old single teenage mother. My son was seven weeks old when he attended my high school graduation. I graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. I then immediately enrolled in night courses for my prerequisites, regardless of what degree I would choose later. I went on to obtain my associate in health science and Licensed Practical Nurse license in 2005, and my associate in nursing and Registered Nurse license in 2008. I continued with my life, marrying my now husband, and raising three children. I promised myself I would go back to school for my bachelor's degree when my children were out of high school and I had more time to devote to my own studies, no excuses. In 2022, at 39 years old, I enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University for my bachelor's degree in nursing. I completed my degree in one year, graduating in the spring of 2023 with a GPA of 3.94. None of this would have been possible without support from family and friends, and always keeping the goal in mind. I have always tried to remember and live up to my motto, no excuses. There were many times that the stress and the pressures of life would become overwhelming, and I would need to take a step back to remind myself of the tasks at hand and the goals. This is how I overcame, and continue to overcome, most obstacles in my life. I am currently a school nurse in the same school district where I received my high school education. It is my goal to continue to work there, mentoring our youth and setting an example that despite challenges there are ways to rise, no matter how long it takes. Obtaining my master’s degree will allow me to do this at a higher level than previously. I feel it is also worth mentioning that I am the shop steward for school nurses for our local union, a member of the local Board of Health, a commissioner on the local Senior Services Commission, and I have dabbled in legislation. I believe there are always ways to improve, and continuous education is key to that growth.

I like to think that I have a great deal of experience with mental health. I have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. My mother and multiple extended family have been diagnosed and struggle with anxiety and depression. I am the caregiver for my husband, who is a combat veteran with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. As I nurse, I worked in corrections, where much of the population has some form of mental health condition, and in an inpatient psychiatric setting. I currently work as a school nurse at the high school level. I feel as though my personal, family, and professional experiences with mental health have had a large impact on how I interact with others. I have an understanding of where others are coming from and am willing to do what I can to actively listen, give them the respect that I would want if I were in their position, and assist them in any way that I can within my scope of practice. I have struggled with dark thoughts and how to come out of it on the other side. I have assisted others to do the same. Currently where I live our community is in crisis. My city struggles with drug addiction and homelessness, much of which is a consequence of our lack of mental health treatment options. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I watched our community mental health centers struggle to keep up with the demand. We only have one youth mental health in-patient facility in the state, which oftentimes is so strained that the children are discharged with little progress made, leaving the outpatient facilities strained to respond to increased emergency cases. As a high school nurse, I often respond to students who are actively suicidal or who participate in self-harm. My experiences have made me want to help on a larger level compared to just an individual level. While I still help people individually seek out the treatment they need, I want to be able to provide education to those who may not realize they work with this population as often as they do. I want to assist in passing legislation to better protect mental health treatment access. I currently sit on my city’s Board of Health, where I receive routine updates regarding the rates of homelessness and drug use in my city. We discuss the causes of both issues, which are often related to mental illness. Along with my husband, I volunteer with veteran charities and work to spread the word about available treatment options and reduce the stigma of mental health issues in the military community. Each year we participate in the 22 Until None: Operation Mercury 5K Ruck, which brings awareness to this stigma worldwide. This year my husband will be hosting a hike located in New Hampshire for the first time since the inception of this annual event. I hope that by obtaining my master’s in nursing I will be in a better position to assist more in my community on a higher level. It is unfortunate to say that, even with my many years of experience, many people look for letters after someone’s name when casting judgment. In addition to the education I will receive, having the title of my master’s will assist me in generating more support, with those at higher levels taking me more seriously in my efforts to create change.

I like to think that I have a great deal of experience with mental health. I have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. My mother and multiple extended family have been diagnosed and struggle with anxiety and depression. I am the caregiver for my husband, who is a combat veteran with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. As I nurse, I worked in corrections, where much of the population has some form of mental health condition, and in an inpatient psychiatric setting. I currently work as a school nurse at the high school level. I feel as though my personal, family, and professional experiences with mental health have had a large impact on how I interact with others. I have an understanding of where others are coming from and am willing to do what I can to actively listen, give them the respect that I would want if I were in their position, and assist them in any way that I can within my scope of practice. I have struggled with dark thoughts and how to come out of it on the other side. I have assisted others to do the same. Currently where I live our community is in crisis. My city struggles with drug addiction and homelessness, much of which is a consequence of our lack of mental health treatment options. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I watched our community mental health centers struggle to keep up with the demand. We only have one youth mental health in-patient facility in the state, which oftentimes is so strained that the children are discharged with little progress made, leaving the outpatient facilities strained to respond to increased emergency cases. As a high school nurse, I often respond to students who are actively suicidal or who participate in self-harm. My experiences have made me want to help on a larger level compared to just an individual level. While I still help people individually seek out the treatment they need, I want to be able to provide education to those who may not realize they work with this population as often as they do. I want to assist in passing legislation to better protect mental health treatment access. I currently sit on my city’s Board of Health, where I receive routine updates regarding the rates of homelessness and drug use in my city. We discuss the causes of both issues, which are often related to mental illness. Along with my husband, I volunteer with veteran charities and work to spread the word about available treatment options and reduce the stigma of mental health issues in the military community. Each year we participate in the 22 Until None: Operation Mercury 5K Ruck, which brings awareness to this stigma worldwide. This year my husband will be hosting a hike located in New Hampshire for the first time since the inception of this annual event. I hope that by obtaining my master’s in nursing I will be in a better position to assist more in my community on a higher level. It is unfortunate to say that, even with my many years of experience, many people look for letters after someone’s name when casting judgment. In addition to the education I will receive, having the title of my master’s will assist me in generating more support, with those at higher levels taking me more seriously in my efforts to create change.

For me, success is not about what I do on a personal level, it’s about what I do on a community level. I have spent most of my life striving to make things better for those around me, which in turn enriches my life. I am a bigger-picture type of person. It doesn’t do any good to be successful as an individual if the people around you are struggling. This does not mean I have not had personal successes throughout the years. In June 2000 I graduated high school as a 17-year-old single teenage mother. My son was seven weeks old when he attended my high school graduation. I graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. I then immediately enrolled in night courses for my prerequisites, regardless of what degree I later would choose. I went on to obtain my associate in health science and Licensed Practical Nurse license in 2005, and my associate in nursing and Registered Nurse license in 2008. I continued with my life, marrying my now husband and raising three children. In 2022 I enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University for my bachelor's degree in nursing. I completed my degree in one year, graduating in the spring of 2023 with a GPA of 3.94. I currently work full-time as a nationally certified school nurse, am the shop steward for my local union, sit on my city's Board of Health, and am a commissioner on my city’s Senior Services Commission. I also have a husband who is a disabled veteran whom I am the caregiver for, and have raised three, now adult, children. While this may seem like a lot for any person, I also have begun to dip my toes into politics. I successfully initiated, found a state senator to sponsor, and testified in the State House and State Senate legislation regarding school nurses in New Hampshire. This legislation was signed into law by the governor in July 2023. I have also completed one round of negotiations with my employer, improving pay and other conditions for the school nurses in the Manchester, NH school district, which was agreed to and signed by the Board of School Committee in September 2023. This is what success looks like to me. It is through these many roles that I hope to continue to improve the work environment for my coworkers and the students we serve and support my family and my community. While I have already had some time in these roles, there is still much work to be done. There will always be ways to improve, advocate, and educate for better outcomes for the many versus myself. It is unfortunate to say that, even with my many years of experience, many people look for letters after someone’s name when casting judgment. I hope that obtaining my master’s degree will provide me with more opportunities at the legislative level to help my community. Being selected for this scholarship would assist me in financing my education so that I may continue in my advocacy for others, without having people question my abilities simply because of the letters after my name. It will help me come to the table with the knowledge and abilities to further assist and tackle challenges that will improve outcomes for many.

I am currently returning to school online for my master’s degree in nursing. Southern New Hampshire University offers its own large online resource including access to tutoring, advisors, finances, the bookstore, your academic record, and many others. The largest online resource I use during my schooling is the university’s digital library. The digital library not only contains content from their physical library, but links and free access to websites outside the university’s virtual walls that would normally charge for access. Most people don’t associate social media with master’s level education, but I use YouTube frequently for my education. It assists me when I am having difficulties understanding how to complete a function in a particular program. I am a visual person and being able to watch a video, pause it as needed, and work through the issue in real time assists me in better understanding how to accomplish the required task. Google is my go-to search engine platform. I find it the easiest to navigate with the largest availability of tasks. I can easily research topics for work and school. In addition to being a search engine, it offers many tools such as the ability to create and share documents, spreadsheets, surveys, and many other items. People often think that looking things up online is the easy way to find the answer, especially compared to when information was only in physical form on paper. While it can be easier in some respects, I believe that one needs to correctly know how to use these in order to learn the correct information. There is an abundance of information in the world, not all of which is accurate, and trying to find one small, specific piece of information can be difficult if you don’t know how to search correctly. While the online sites I listed assist my learning, they have also taught me how to learn by understanding how to research properly to obtain the desired information I am looking for. By obtaining the specific information required, I am better able to apply the knowledge I learned to either my school assignment or my project at work. It is a common misconception amongst the general public that nurses have vast knowledge of everything. While we are taught a lot during our different levels of education, it is impossible to teach every possible detail in medicine. With that said, I have yet to meet a nurse who doesn’t use google regularly to figure out something that they have never heard of before, whether it is a new diagnosis, new medication on the market, or a new treatment. Most nurses also complete the majority, if not all, of their continuing education to maintain their licensure online due to the convenience. I learn something almost daily, whether for work or school, by using google and knowing which credible sites to look for.