Leaving home in search of greener pastures was easily the biggest decision of my life. It was filled with excitement, ambition, and fear- a dream come true. My mother’s family poured all their earnings into a dream I first had at fifteen: to become a nurse. That was a dream I could not pursue before because of financial burdens and a lack of educational resources in my country, but I could finally explore it. I moved here all by myself, boarding a two-day flight from Malawi with only my first tuition covered, hoping I could secure scholarships to fund my education once I arrived in the United States of America. Driven by ambition, I explored every opportunity upon arriving at Hillsborough Community College—from the Honors Program to student organizations. To keep my leadership spirit aflame and find where I belonged in a new country, I stepped far outside my comfort zone and attended meetings for Psi Beta, Cybersecurity, the Nursing Society, and Model United Nations. I found my spark in Model United Nations. I held my head high, excelled in my classes, and ensured my dedication was recognized. Yet, the relentless financial burden of tuition, books, and housing remained. My primary goal was to join the Honors Program, which offered a 12-credit tuition waiver. Sadly, my bubble burst when my international advisor revealed that the nursing track was entirely exempt from that award, leaving no institutional merit scholarships to help cover my costs. Refusing to give up, I kept pushing, excelling academically and volunteering locally. Since scholarships were off the table, I applied for campus jobs to cover housing. I emailed the culinary department twelve times before securing an interview. Expecting to start within a month, I waited three long months after my August application. Through sheer persistence, they finally hired me in October. My perseverance paid off, and I was finally at ease. One would expect that to bring relief from my financial toil, but it was just the start of a new challenge. They let me go in November, just a week after scheduling me for 20 hours of work at $15 an hour. My world came tumbling down again. Now, I had unpaid tuition and housing balances to address, and with the currency difference and foreign exchange shortage in my country, my bank could not guarantee any payments. Just as my house of cards collapsed, I looked at my daily journal containing all the dreams I wrote down to achieve, yet none of them seemed to have panned out. I cried my sorrows out and told myself this was not the end of my long-awaited journey. I was going to make it, one way or another. I researched other schools and states with a more sustainable educational system and strong support structures until I settled on Edmonds College. A spring of hope brewed up. The end of one path led me to a new beginning in a different state. I may not be Małgorzata Maggie Kwiecień, but I relate deeply to her story. I was alone on this journey, facing severe cultural barriers, with no friends, no community behind me, and very few resources to get me through. However, I stood my ground, and I am still standing. I will not let this dream remain just a dream; it will become my reality. This is only the beginning for me.

Growing up, I always wanted to pursue a career in medicine because I was fascinated by how the brain and body work. Unfortunately, I was not able to pursue that dream right away after high school. With fewer medical schools in my country, the admission rate was very low. As fate would have it, seven years later, I am now able to pursue that dream. While the transition has not been easy, the experiences, values, people, and my passion for nursing keep my dream alive. My family's sacrifices, my values, and my experiences all contributed to my passion for nursing. Growing up in a loving family was a blessing, but it was heartbreaking to watch two of my younger cousins grow up with autism without access to the care they needed. Other than that, I lost my grandmother, who was on dialysis, in a power outage as the hospital did not have backup generators. Those experiences made me realize what a huge gap in healthcare we have in Malawi. Luckily, my aunt could afford medical care for my cousin with autism in a different country, but what about those families in the villages? Those experiences ignited a fire in me: I realized then and there that I had to do something; thus, I enrolled in Edmonds College in America to get the quality education needed to establish tech-driven health facilities in my country. Even though I am not a nurse just yet, I do volunteer as a caregiver for two families. I have always enjoyed providing help whenever I can. I decided to start my healthcare journey early, and I got my nursing assistant certificate in Washington. As such, I can support families caring for their loved ones. Since my family was not able to get enough professional assistance, I wanted to at least provide relief to others experiencing that hardship. By helping with daily activities and providing companionship, I am able to give families peace of mind and allow them to focus on other responsibilities while knowing their loved ones are receiving compassionate care. As a college junior at Edmonds College, enrolled in an associate's degree in pre-nursing, I like to participate in several activities both on campus and off campus. I love art; therefore, I crochet clothes that the school later donates to the community. Additionally, I enjoy dancing: It is a form of therapy and relaxation for me. It brings balance to my studies and extracurricular activities. Other than that, I do volunteer with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. I actively participate in shaping policies concerning mental health, cyberbullying, and education accessibility. My experiences, values, the people who have shaped me, and my passion for providing compassionate care continue to fuel my desire to become a nurse. Looking at my cousins, who still need specialized care that is difficult to access in Malawi because of limited resources and infrastructure, motivates me to become a nurse and help improve healthcare in my country. Nevertheless, I do have a personality outside my career aspirations: dancing, crocheting, and volunteering. Other than that, I enjoy helping families by assisting with daily activities for their loved ones who need care. Overall, my journey has shaped me into a compassionate, resilient, and determined future nurse who is committed to improving healthcare in Malawi while continuing to serve and uplift others through both my career and the passions that define who I am.