When I was three years old, I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis type one. The diagnosis came as a shock to my family because I am a spontaneous mutation; no one else in my family has this condition. While my parents did their best to understand what this meant medically, growing up, I often felt like no one truly understood what I was experiencing. My doctors knew my diagnosis, my family knew my diagnosis, but emotionally and mentally, I felt completely alone. That sense of isolation followed me throughout my childhood and adolescence. As I got older, the weight of feeling different became heavier. There was a time when it became overwhelming enough that I needed therapy and antidepressants just to get through daily life. Unfortunately, medication could not shield me from the bullying I faced throughout my academic years. Because of the plexiform fibromas on my body, classmates targeted me with cruel names and rumors. Some even claimed I was contagious, telling others that if they touched me, they would “catch” my disease. Those moments were deeply painful and left lasting emotional scars, reinforcing the feeling that I did not belong. In addition to the emotional challenges, I faced significant physical obstacles. I experience extreme nerve pain that often makes everyday tasks difficult. In school, I struggled with writing due to a fine motor disorder, which made completing assignments frustrating and exhausting at times. Simple tasks that others took for granted required immense effort from me. I am currently a freshman at the University of Kentucky, where I am studying public health and nursing. My goal is to become a pediatric nurse so that I can help children who face challenges similar to mine. I know firsthand what it feels like to sit in a hospital room filled with fear, confusion, and pain. Because of my experiences, I can understand patients not only on a physical level, but also emotionally and mentally in ways that textbooks alone cannot teach. I want to be like the nurses that I had when I was younger, the ones who brought warmth, patience, and reassurance into an intimidating environment. Hospitals can be frightening places, especially for children, and it was the kindness of nurses that helped me survive some of my hardest moments. Their compassion gave me comfort when I felt powerless, and without it, I do not know how I would have made it through. By becoming a pediatric nurse, I hope to provide that same sense of safety and understanding to future patients, reminding them that they are seen, valued, and never alone. Becoming a nurse would be my way of giving back, to repay the compassion I once received, and to show others living with my condition that we are capable of doing hard things, achieving our goals, and creating meaningful change despite the obstacles we face.

When I was three years old, I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis type one. The diagnosis came as a shock to my family because I am a spontaneous mutation; no one else in my family has this condition. While my parents did their best to understand what this meant medically, growing up, I often felt like no one truly understood what I was experiencing. My doctors knew my diagnosis, my family knew my diagnosis, but emotionally and mentally, I felt completely alone. That sense of isolation followed me throughout my childhood and adolescence. As I got older, the weight of feeling different became heavier. There was a time when it became overwhelming enough that I needed therapy and antidepressants just to get through daily life. Unfortunately, medication could not shield me from the bullying I faced throughout my academic years. Because of the plexiform fibromas on my body, classmates targeted me with cruel names and rumors. Some even claimed I was contagious, telling others that if they touched me, they would “catch” my disease. Those moments were deeply painful and left lasting emotional scars, reinforcing the feeling that I did not belong. In addition to the emotional challenges, I faced significant physical obstacles. I experience extreme nerve pain that often makes everyday tasks difficult. In school, I struggled with writing due to a fine motor disorder, which made completing assignments frustrating and exhausting at times. Simple tasks that others took for granted required immense effort from me. Despite these challenges, I refused to let my condition define my limits. I found strength and confidence through movement and music. I danced ballet for seven years and participated in marching band for four years during high school, which are both activities that demanded discipline, resilience, and physical endurance. Today, I proudly continue these passions as a college student. I am currently a freshman at the University of Kentucky, where I am studying public health and nursing. My goal is to become a pediatric nurse so that I can help children who face challenges similar to mine. I know firsthand what it feels like to sit in a hospital room filled with fear, confusion, and pain. Because of my experiences, I can understand patients not only on a physical level, but also emotionally and mentally in ways that textbooks alone cannot teach. I want to be like the nurses that I had when I was younger, the ones who brought warmth, patience, and reassurance into an intimidating environment. Hospitals can be frightening places, especially for children, and it was the kindness of nurses that helped me survive some of my hardest moments. Their compassion gave me comfort when I felt powerless, and without it, I do not know how I would have made it through. By becoming a pediatric nurse, I hope to provide that same sense of safety and understanding to future patients, reminding them that they are seen, valued, and never alone. Becoming a nurse would be my way of giving back, to repay the compassion I once received, and to show others living with my condition that we are capable of doing hard things, achieving our goals, and creating meaningful change despite the obstacles we face.

When I was three years old, I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis type one. The diagnosis came as a shock to my family because I am a spontaneous mutation; no one else in my family has this condition. While my parents did their best to understand what this meant medically, growing up, I often felt like no one truly understood what I was experiencing. My doctors knew my diagnosis, my family knew my diagnosis, but emotionally and mentally, I felt completely alone. That sense of isolation followed me throughout my childhood and adolescence. As I got older, the weight of feeling different became heavier. There was a time when it became overwhelming enough that I needed therapy and antidepressants just to get through daily life. Unfortunately, medication could not shield me from the bullying I faced throughout my academic years. Because of the plexiform fibromas on my body, classmates targeted me with cruel names and rumors. Some even claimed I was contagious, telling others that if they touched me, they would “catch” my disease. Those moments were deeply painful and left lasting emotional scars, reinforcing the feeling that I did not belong. In addition to the emotional challenges, I faced significant physical obstacles. I experience extreme nerve pain that often makes everyday tasks difficult. In school, I struggled with writing due to a fine motor disorder, which made completing assignments frustrating and exhausting at times. Simple tasks that others took for granted required immense effort from me. Despite these challenges, I refused to let my condition define my limits. I found strength and confidence through movement and music. I danced ballet for seven years and participated in marching band for four years during high school, which are both activities that demanded discipline, resilience, and physical endurance. Today, I proudly continue these passions as a college student. I am currently a freshman at the University of Kentucky, where I am studying public health and nursing. My goal is to become a nurse so that I can help children who face challenges similar to mine. I know firsthand what it feels like to sit in a hospital room filled with fear, confusion, and pain. Because of my experiences, I can understand patients not only on a physical level, but also emotionally and mentally in ways that textbooks alone cannot teach. I want to be like the nurses that I had when I was younger, the ones who brought warmth, patience, and reassurance into an intimidating environment. Hospitals can be frightening places, especially for children, and it was the kindness of nurses that helped me survive some of my hardest moments. Their compassion gave me comfort when I felt powerless, and without it, I do not know how I would have made it through. By becoming a nurse, I hope to provide that same sense of safety and understanding to future patients, reminding them that they are seen, valued, and never alone. Becoming a nurse would be my way of giving back, to repay the compassion I once received, and to show others living with my condition that we are capable of doing hard things, achieving our goals, and creating meaningful change despite the obstacles we face. I am a strong candidate for this scholarship because my lived experience with a chronic condition has shaped my resilience, compassion, and commitment to nursing, motivating me to serve others with empathy, determination, and a deep understanding of both physical and emotional challenges.

I was born with a genetic condition called Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). Over the years, I have been under the great care of geneticists, neurologists, and other specialists. And, always present at these visits were awesome nurses. The nurses made me feel welcome and warm. I knew from a very young age that whenever I stepped into a hospital for an MRI, heart echo, or to get labs done that I would feel safe, warm, and welcomed. I was always able to connect with them and they always found ways to cheer me up. Especially the PEDS nurses. This is what sparked my passion for nursing - I knew that whenever I stepped into the doctor's office that I would be taken care of, and I wanted to do the same for others. I believe that everyone deserves to be treated with nothing but respect in the doctor's office, and I am a firm believer that you should feel safe and seen in the doctor's office. I would want to go into nursing in a neurology unit so I can help people just like me. I feel like having a physical understanding of what they're going through is important but it can make a patient feel more special and connected with you if you understand them mentally as well. I'd also be interested in PEDS because I want to make sure no kid is scared when they enter a hospital or medical facility. The same thing goes for the parent, I want to not only check up on my children patients but also their parents because they are also stressed. To start to prepare myself I have taken IB Biology HL for 2 years and Advanced Human Anatomy to help better my understanding. I have also run fundraisers collecting crafts and books for pre-teens and teens going through chemotherapy. For as I noticed when I had appointments Kentucky's Dance Blue Hematology and Oncology clinic, they have a lot of things for their younger patients but not a lot of things for kids my age. To make sure I am the most successful I can be I applied of the University of Kentucky's Public Health and Nursing program where you get both B.A's in Public Health and Nursing in 4.5 years. This program also guarantees a spot into UK's nursing school which is exactly what I need to be successful in my goals. I have been accepted into this program and I have also have obtained my CNA certification as of June 2025.

The first time I heard Chappell Roan sing on the radio, I felt like someone had finally cracked open the fluorescent, neon-pink, unicorn, glitter-covered corner of my soul that I never knew needed a voice. Her music didn’t just speak to me, it saw me, it was me. Her music inspired me to to be bold, messy, emotional, and entirely myself. Songs like “Pink Pony Club” and “Casual” hit me not only with their melodies but with their message: you’re allowed to chase joy, to want more, to be complicated. Her songs feel comforting to me as a queer woman in Kentucky. They make me feel like everything will be okay. Supporting Chappell Roan’s career feels like more than being a fan; it feels like standing up for the kind of world I want to live in, one where everyone is seen, one where artists can take risks and be bold, where young queer voices are uplifted, and where authenticity is celebrated. Her visuals, fashion, drag, and bold live performances remind me that there is power in performance, and that self-expression is a form of activism. She makes pop music feel revolutionary again. Her journey, grappling with industry setbacks, staying true to her vision, and finally breaking through on her own terms, inspires me as I navigate my own path into advocating for women and LGBT rights in the healthcare field.

I was born with a genetic condition called Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). Over the years, I have been under the great care of geneticists, neurologists, and other specialists. And, always present at these visits were awesome nurses. The nurses made me feel welcome and warm. I knew from a very young age that whenever I stepped into a hospital for an MRI, heart echo, or to get labs done that I would feel safe, warm, and welcomed. I was always able to connect with them and they always found ways to cheer me up. Especially the PEDS nurses. This is what sparked my passion for nursing - I knew that whenever I stepped into the doctor's office that I would be taken care of, and I wanted to do the same for others. I believe that everyone deserves to be treated with nothing but respect in the doctor's office, and I am a firm believer that you should feel safe and seen in the doctor's office. I would want to go into nursing in a neurology unit so I can help people just like me. I feel like having a physical understanding of what they're going through is important but it can make a patient feel more special and connected with you if you understand them mentally as well. I'd also be interested in PEDS because I want to make sure no kid is scared when they enter a hospital or medical facility. The same thing goes for the parent, I want to not only check up on my children patients but also their parents because they are also stressed. To start to prepare myself I have taken IB Biology HL for 2 years and Advanced Human Anatomy to help better my understanding. I have also run fundraisers collecting crafts and books for pre-teens and teens going through chemotherapy. For as I noticed when I had appointments Kentucky's Dance Blue Hematology and Oncology clinic, they have a lot of things for their younger patients but not a lot of things for kids my age. To make sure I am the most successful I can be I applied of the University of Kentucky's Public Health and Nursing program where you get both B.A's in Public Health and Nursing in 4.5 years. This program also guarantees a spot into UK's nursing school which is exactly what I need to be successful in my goals.