I had many challenges growing up. My father suffered of a stroke when I was only 11 in 2007. I felt I had many disadvantages wanting to join sports, or participate in extra curricular activities because my mom had to always be by his side as his primary care giver. It was hard having to grow up with out my dad, the stroke left him disabled unable to work. It was hard to wanting to go to college and do things not being able to have that financial support due to neither of my parents being able to work. I plan to further my education to be able to provide good, genuine care to patients as I would have wished all healthcare staff had treated my father. Being a minority in the US definitely affects us, feeling as if we don't deserve the same care as another person that. I want to be able to provide that care and for minorities to be able to receive that quality care from me as I would have wanted it to be done for my father when he was hospitalized, be able to feel that the nurses and staff assisting actually care. I want to be able to make a difference in todays world. I want other patients/families to feel that they can confide in me as a nurse. I want to be able to help others and those who are not bilingual not have to have that language barrier or fear when approaching healthcare facilities. With this scholarship I hope to be able to fully pay for the tuition and be able to succeed. As a minority, or coming for a Hispanic house hold this would mean everything to me, and would love to make my parents proud. That anything is possible.

I would say that it may seem hard when the initial thoughts come about college. But its always good to look at it in the long run. Be that first person in your family to pursue a degree. Don't be scared, or not want to pursue further education because no one else in your family has. There is always room to grow and do better things. I would encourage you to look into something you like and you will never know what life has in store for you until you give it a try!

My name is Maria Perez, born and raised in Waco, Texas. I recently lost my father to what I felt was lack of care from some healthcare professionals. My dad had a long term condition resulting from a stroke he had back in 2007 when I was only at the age of 11. Since then, my father had good/caring team of people assisting him, however not all of the health care workers always showed that interest, passion, and integrity to help their patients. Seeing my family go through these kind of struggles up until now always made me want to be more, and further my education. I want to be that positive impact in another families life, assisting, being there, and having that confidence to talk to me in either english or spanish. I want to be part of the change this world needs, and make it known that some of us truly do have the passion and willingness to assist others with as much as can be done. I am interested in pursing my associates degree in nursing and God willing hope I am able to get a scholarship and be able to pay for the tuition to my college classes for the program.

I had many challenges growing up. My father suffered of a stroke when I was only 11 in 2007. I felt I had many disadvantages wanting to join sports, or participate in extra curricular activities because my mom had to always be by his side as his primary care giver. It was hard having to grow up with out my dad, the stroke left him disabled unable to work. It was hard to wanting to go to college and do things not being able to have that financial support due to neither of my parents being able to work. I plan to further my education to be able to provide good, genuine care to patients as I would have wished all healthcare staff had treated my father. Being a minority in the US definitely affects us, feeling as if we don't deserve the same care as another person that. I want to be able to provide that care and for minorities to be able to receive that quality care from me as I would have wanted it to be done for my father when he was hospitalized, be able to feel that the nurses and staff assisting actually care. I want to be able to make a difference in todays world.