The impact I want to make comes from the experiences that have shaped the people who have inspired me and me. Growing up, I learned what it meant to care for others long before I understood it could become a career. Some of my earliest memories are of helping my great-grandmother care for a paralyzed woman she loved like family. I helped feed her, sit with her, and make sure she was comfortable. Looking back, those moments taught me that caring for people is not just about meeting physical needs; it is about making someone feel valued and not alone. My mother has also been one of my biggest inspirations. As a single mother, she worked incredibly hard to provide for our family while always making sure I felt supported and loved. I remember waiting for her after work, watching her push through long days, and seeing her continue to show up for me no matter how exhausted she was. She taught me resilience, sacrifice, and the importance of showing up for the people who depend on you. Now, being in nursing school alongside her is something I am incredibly proud of. The person who inspires me most, however, is my son. Becoming a mother at eighteen completely changed my perspective on life. Before him, I was working toward goals for myself. Now, every goal I pursue is connected to the future I want to create for him. There are nights when I study after he falls asleep and days when balancing school, motherhood, and life feels overwhelming, but he gives me a reason to keep going. He reminds me every day that hard work has a purpose. My younger brother has also had a lasting impact on me. When he was diagnosed with Williams syndrome and needed open-heart surgery as a baby, I watched my mother fight to make sure he received the care he needed. Seeing how important advocacy was during his medical journey taught me that patients and families deserve healthcare professionals who truly listen. My experiences as a patient strengthened that belief even more. After giving birth to my son, I experienced a severe postpartum hemorrhage and nearly lost my life. During one of the most frightening moments I have ever faced, the nurses caring for me remained calm, reassuring, and compassionate. They made me feel safe when everything felt uncertain. That experience showed me how much of an impact a nurse can have on someone's life. As a future nurse, I hope to give back to my community by being that source of comfort, support, and advocacy for others. I am especially interested in Labor and Delivery because I understand how vulnerable patients can feel during major life events. I want women to feel heard, respected, and cared for. I also hope to encourage young mothers who may feel like their goals are out of reach. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to balance parenthood, education, and financial responsibilities, but I also know it is possible. I want to make people feel seen. I want families to know they have someone in their corner. I want patients to leave feeling like they mattered, not just because of the care they received, but because of how they were treated. If I can make even one person's difficult day a little easier, then I will know I am making the kind of difference I set out to make.