My desire to pursue a career in nursing is born from a lifelong witness to sacrifice, resilience, and unfulfilled dreams. Growing up, my primary inspiration was my father. Back in the Philippines, he graduated from college with a nursing degree, but the realities of supporting a family forced him to shift paths to work as a farmer. In 2008, he immigrated to the United States to build a better future for us, working in retail before eventually earning his Certified Nursing Assistant license. For years, my dad tried to obtain his registered nursing license, but the exhausting barriers of balancing full-time work and raising three children left him with no time to study or retake the grueling exams. Despite working long hours, he still comes home to cook dinner for our family every single day. He is a profoundly good, hardworking man. I am pursuing this career in honor of him. I want to show my father that the dream he deferred is still alive, and that if I can cross the finish line to become a nurse, so can he. My own path into the medical field has required that same family resilience. I started as an undergraduate nursing student at San Jose State University. When I took my TEAS entrance exam, my score was strong, but the extreme competitiveness of the program meant it wasn't enough to secure a spot. Devastated but undeterred, I enrolled at a community college to take extra classes to boost my application points. On my very first day of those classes, a private vocational school called to offer me a spot in their Licensed Vocational Nurse program. I pivoted immediately, diving into intense prerequisites, driving forty minutes to campus before dawn every day, and absorbing a massive volume of medical knowledge. I successfully graduated in July 2025. Today, I am proud to practice as an LVN, and I was recently accepted into the Registered Nurse program at Mission College to continue my journey. My ultimate career goal is to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, allowing me to provide advanced clinical care to children and support their families through difficult times. Currently, I work as a school nurse, managing the care of young students with complex medical needs, including diabetic care, seizure management, and gastrostomy tubes. My clinical experiences have taught me that being a pediatric caregiver requires much more than medical acumen; it requires an authentic human connection and the ability to preserve a child's joy, even in the midst of illness. While my professional calling drives me, maintaining a vibrant life outside of my scrubs is what keeps me grounded and whole. To find balance amidst the rigorous demands of nursing school and clinical work, I turn to the arts. Painting and drawing provide me with a meditative outlet where I can process the emotional weight of healthcare. On a canvas, there are no rigid clinical protocols, only freedom, color, and expression. This creative space allows me to recharge my empathy and return to my patients with a clear, focused mind. Music and dancing also bring immense vitality to my life. Whether I am listening to a favorite playlist to unwind after a long shift or dancing to let off stress, movement and rhythm provide a joyful release that keeps me energized. Most importantly, my deepest sense of purpose outside of my career comes from spending quality time with my younger siblings. As the eldest child and the only daughter in a first-generation household, I carry a deep responsibility to pave the way for them. Watching my parents work tirelessly, with my mom working seven days a week just to pay our bills, fuels my determination to succeed. But simply talking about success isn't enough; I want to be a present, loving role model for my siblings. Laughing with them, supporting them, and sharing everyday moments reminds me of the core values that started my journey: family, love, and mutual support. Ultimately, nursing is the vehicle through which I protect and heal others, but my art, my music, and my family are the anchors that sustain me. By embracing both sides of who I am, I can step onto the floor not just as a skilled clinician, but as a balanced, deeply empathetic caregiver.

My decision to pursue a career in nursing was born from a desire to transform vulnerable moments into sources of safety and strength for children. Growing up, I was frequently ill and spent a significant amount of time interacting with healthcare professionals. The genuine kindness, warmth, and compassion I received from my pediatric nurses completely reshaped what could have been a terrifying environment into one of comfort. That profound experience planted a lifelong seed: I wanted to give back the same dedicated care to the next generation. Today, as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) working with Ro Health, I am actively living out this passion. My career thus far has allowed me to dive deep into my desired specialty: pediatrics. Working within school health offices and community programs, I have discovered a profound fulfillment in caring for children. This unique demographic requires much more than clinical acumen; it demands a high level of trust, creativity, and emotional connection. One of the most impactful lessons my pediatric instructor taught me is that children have a vital job to do, and that job is to play. When illness strikes, their ability to just be a kid is compromised. My mission is to protect that childhood joy, ensuring my patients feel safe, heard, and happy even when managing complex health conditions. My specialized experience in school-based pediatric care has equipped me with a diverse, hands-on clinical background. Through my agency work, I have successfully managed the care of students with intricate medical needs, including one-on-one care for a student with diabetes and a severe seizure disorder, a patient with a gastrostomy tube (G-tube), and a student navigating a traumatic brain injury. Additionally, I provided routine medications and urgent first aid during a science camp rotation, and secured a contract with the San Jose Unified School District as an Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) LVN, specifically managing advanced diabetes care for young students. These experiences have solidified my expertise in pediatric chronic disease management, and I am eager to expand my clinical toolkit. As I transition into a Registered Nurse program to eventually become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, I plan to seek specialized training in stoma care. Mastering pediatric ostomy and stoma care is incredibly important to me, as it will allow me to better support and educate young patients—and their families—navigating life-altering structural changes, ensuring they can return to their "job" of playing with absolute confidence. By merging my current pediatric background with advanced specialized training, I am committed to delivering holistic, life-changing care to children when they need it most.

My desire to pursue a career in pediatric medicine is deeply personal, rooted in my own childhood experiences and fueled by a profound belief that every child deserves happiness, comfort, and the freedom to simply be a kid—even in the face of medical adversity. Growing up, I was frequently sick and found myself visiting my pediatrician and nursing team quite often. Navigating illness as a young child can be terrifying, but the frightening clinical environment was completely transformed by the incredible people who cared for me. The nurses and doctors did not just treat my symptoms; they offered genuine kindness, warmth, and an authentic desire to help me feel better. The profound sense of safety they provided left a lasting impression on me. It was during those early, vulnerable moments that the seed was planted: I wanted to give back the exact same compassionate care I received and inspire the next generation of pediatric healthcare professionals. Now, as a Licensed Vocational Nurse currently working as a school nurse in a middle school health office, I get to live out this passion every single day. I have quickly learned that pediatric medicine requires much more than clinical expertise; it demands authentic human connection. I strive to be a nurse with whom my students can truly communicate, relate, and bond. I love making jokes, making them laugh, and seeing their faces light up with a smile. There is an unmatched professional fulfillment in bringing joy into a student's day and helping them navigate their health challenges with confidence. One of the most impactful lessons my pediatric nursing instructor taught me is that children have jobs too, and their primary job is simply to play. When a child is sick, their ability to do their job is deeply compromised. My mission is to protect that childhood innocence, ensuring that young patients feel deeply cared for, safe, and happy, even when they are facing complex health issues. This exact mission is why the legacy of children like Noah resonates so deeply with my nursing philosophy. Noah’s brave two-year battle with brain cancer highlights the extraordinary, life-changing impact of dedicated pediatric professionals. The medical teams who cared for Noah did not just administer treatments; they formed an unbreakable bond with him and his family, fiercely protecting his quality of life and making beautiful adventures possible despite his severe physical limitations. That is the absolute pinnacle of pediatric medicine—shielding a child's spirit and supporting their entire family through the darkest times. Receiving the Noah Jon Markstrom Foundation Scholarship would be a transformative honor as I take the next critical step in my professional journey. I am currently preparing to transition from an LVN to a Registered Nurse, with the ultimate career goal of becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. This scholarship would provide the crucial financial support needed to achieve my advanced degree, allowing me to focus fully on mastering the advanced clinical skills required to care for chronically ill children. With this education, I commit to honoring Noah’s legacy by dedicating my career to delivering lively, compassionate, and holistic care. I want to ensure that sick children are never defined by their diagnoses, that their families are thoroughly supported, and that they are given every opportunity to laugh, play, and smile. Thank you for considering my application and for investing in my future.

My desire to become a nurse is not born from a sudden realization, but from a lifelong witness to sacrifice, resilience, and unfulfilled dreams. Growing up, my inspiration has always been my father. Back in the Philippines, he graduated from college with a nursing degree. However, the realities of life shifted his path. To support his three children, he worked as a farmer, putting his professional aspirations on hold. In 2008, he moved to the United States to build a better future for our family, working at Target before eventually earning his Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license. For years, my dad has tried to obtain his nursing license, but the barriers of time, exhaustive work, and the responsibilities of being a father prevented him from passing. He takes care of us completely; despite working long hours, he comes home and cooks dinner for our family every single day. He is a profoundly good, hardworking man. Recently, I pushed him to take the NCLEX, but he faced a setback on his first attempt. He told me how incredibly difficult it is to study while balancing a full-time job and being an active father at home. I am pursuing this career in honor of my dad. I want to show him that the dream he deferred is still alive, and that if I can cross the finish line to become a nurse, so can he. My journey is a testament to our shared perseverance, proving to him that it is never too late. My own path into nursing has been far from easy. I started as an undergraduate nursing student at San Jose State University. When I took the TEAS exam, my score was strong, but the extreme competitiveness of the program meant it wasn't enough to secure a spot. Devastated but undeterred, I took a semester off and enrolled at a community college to take extra classes, hoping to boost my application points. On my very first day of those classes, a private vocational school called to offer me a spot in their Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) program. I pivoted immediately. That summer, I dove straight into intense prerequisites and finally experienced the grueling reality of a nursing student. It meant waking up before dawn every day, driving 40 minutes to campus, and absorbing a massive volume of medical knowledge. The sacrifice paid off when I finally graduated in July 2025. Today, I am proud to practice as an LVN, but my journey does not end here. I was recently accepted into the Registered Nurse program at Mission College in Santa Clara, California, and I am incredibly excited to take this next step toward my ultimate goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Ultimately, my motivation is rooted in the immense love and respect I have for my parents. My mom works seven days a week without a single day off just so we can pay our bills, while my dad balances his own job, cooking for us, and driving my mom to work on his rare days off. Seeing them give everything for our family fuels my determination. I am doing this to give them the life they deserve. I want to relieve their financial burdens, buy our family a home, and travel the world with them. By becoming a successful nurse, I am not just achieving a personal dream—I am lifting up my family, validating my parents' sacrifices, and walking alongside my father so that one day, we will both stand together as registered nurses. I found this scholarship in bold.org.