From 2009 to 2012, I unsuccessfully tried to apply for CalWORKS in my county multiple times. I was an African and Mexican American single mother. I had no family support and was in college, working towards a bachelor's degree in healthcare and working part-time as a student assistant for the State. Each time, I was denied in some form or fashion. Some of the reasons were that I earned too much income as a student assistant for the state or because I could not participate in their Welfare to Work program (I was already going to school and work); I was told that my hours in school did not count towards my application. Most of my paycheck went to childcare so I could work and go to school, and anything left over went to food, rent, gas, and bills. For my fourth denied application, I asked to speak to management about why I could not receive government assistance. After hours of waiting at the county office, I was taken to the back by management and told that I could not receive government assistance because I was working towards a bachelor's degree versus a two-year program or certificate program. This experience showed me how unjust and complicated the government system was. I was already disappointed in my own family for casting me out because I was a single teen mother, and now I was being cast out by the government. Although I had a child support case, the father of my child was constantly evading legal employment, so I rarely received child support payments. I had no choice but to build resiliency and drop out of college to work full-time to support my child. It took a significant toll on my mental and physical health, as well as my ability to be a present mother. I told myself that someday I would return to school and finish my bachelor's degree. Throughout the years, I tried on and off to return to school, but faced financial and childcare barriers. At some point, I was even told I was being selfish for even attempting to finish my education while I had a young child. These experiences have shaped who I have become. I am no longer a shy person who will accept no as an answer but a strong woman of color who is not intimidated by someone in power. When I want to apply for a program, I do as much research as I can to know my rights in case I am being taken advantage of. It has forced me to grow up fast, and I am usually the go-to person for my friends when they need help from the government (e.g., FMLA, CalWorks, low-income housing applications, or applying for financial aid). I advise any parent going through a similar circumstance not to give up. If you feel you are being taken advantage of because you are someone of color or of a certain age, do your research, know your rights, and stand your ground. Do not let a denial be the be-all and end-all; there may be another way to accomplish your goal. Remember, you have someone counting on you, and getting an education can only benefit you and your family, opening doors to more opportunities.

A great nurse can make all the difference when people are most vulnerable. 2020 and COVID-19 have shown the need for essential workers like nurses to be on the front line, reinvigorating my desire to pursue this career. The minority population was heavily affected by the pandemic, which reinforced the importance of recognizing the social determinants of health in patients identified by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. As a Mexican and African American, I have seen the health disparities in the healthcare system first-hand, and I want to be someone who makes a difference in patients' lives. When I became pregnant with my first child at seventeen, I faced plenty of discrimination and not enough support from the healthcare staff. This was discouraging, as I did not have much support from my family either. After giving birth to my daughter at 18, I was asked by my nurse if I wanted my tubes tied. Looking back, this was completely inappropriate. When my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, no effort was put into her care to provide her with information in her first language (Spanish) or even in English terms that she could understand. It was up to me and my mother to interpret the medical terminology for her so that she could understand her options. With many other experiences from my past in mind, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare and be the person who helped bridge the gap. I want to be that nurse of color who recognizes a language barrier, does not judge the teen mother coming into the office, and provides patient-centered care. I began my college education at California State University, Sacramento in 2009. My major was Health Science. In the Fall of 2010, I realized that attending school full-time, maintaining a part-time job, and raising a child as a single mother was not sustainable. Fortunately, I earned enough credits to graduate from American River College with an Associate of Arts degree in Social Sciences in 2011. In 2019, I began school part-time at Sierra College and transferred back to Sacramento State in 2021. During that time, I had to learn how to balance school, working full-time, being a mom of three, and being a wife. In 2022, my husband and I decided that I would quit my job to focus solely on my education. After surviving the pandemic and knowing I had my husband's full support, I researched my options for nursing school. I graduated from Sacramento State in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Health Science and began at Chamberlain University School of Nursing in the fall of 2023. Raising a family on one income has proven extremely tough on my family. We have one child in high school and two in elementary school. My husband works two jobs seven days a week while I am in an accelerated BSN program. I am on track to graduate in December 2025. With that said, life has become very expensive. With rent being outrageous, afterschool care for the younger two while I am at clinicals, only having one car, going to a private nursing school, and inflation, we struggle to make ends meet. Being awarded this scholarship will make a difference in our lives and will help me continue my nursing journey.