I remember starting high school and learning there were no clubs that I could join that involved Community Service. I wanted to be in service to a good cause, but I didn’t know where to go. So, Freshman year, I felt a little lost. The following year I tried out for my school’s track team, and made it. The girls on the team were really good. And I liked being a part of a well respected team, but I kept feeling like something was missing. I wanted to be a part of something bigger. Something that made a difference in someone’s life. One day at track practice, my Coach, who was also my Social Studies teacher, got frustrated with me. The team had been working on hurdles for a few weeks, leading up to a really important track meet at the Audubon Armory . And I was still struggling. Coach kept telling me I needed to stop being afraid, and to “...just get to the other side of the hurdle Lee!”. He shouted from across the field. But I was terrified of hurdles. Sick to my stomach, kind of terrified. My fear wouldn’t let me commit to a clean jump to save my own life. Out of the seven hurdles standing, I cleared one. If you counted the last hurdle I nicked with my back toe, just before falling flat on my stomach. It was embarrassing. My teammates all turned away as I gathered myself. After ending practice early that day, Coach asked me if I even wanted to be on the team. I didn’t know what to say. I just stood there with throbbing shins, scraped knees, and a bruised ego and started to cry. That evening, I went home, straight to my room and cried some more. I thought long and hard about what Coach asked me. And then it hit me. I was afraid because I didn’t have any other emotion to put in place of that fear. Fear was my default emotion whenever I was trying something new, or when I was being met with a challenge, but lacked the passion to take it on. It was then that I realized I never went into track practice with my team in mind. I only saw it as a task. There was a shift in my thinking. I began to see my team as individuals who wanted to succeed, just like I did. I started to have a reason to go to track practice, and work harder. I cared about the girls on my team, and I didn't want to let them down. I became more team oriented, by working on the skills that would contribute to us being stronger, and ultimately leading us to wins. Today, as an experienced Hemodialysis Technologist, those lessons I’ve learned about team building, and being led by passion and purpose have brought me to this point in my journey. Everyday I go into work, I make myself available to my team. Not only do I anticipate the needs of the patients, but I anticipate the needs of the Nurses and Techs. I listen to any the Nurse's directives that will help solve any problems that arise, and I feel comfortable to share helpful input that makes a Nurses day go smoother. Spring Semester of 2025, I will be starting my Pre-Nursing program, and I’m so excited. Fear no longer dictates my life’s choices. Being a part of a team, and having a passion will always triumph over fear.

I have always known that I wanted to help people. When I was a child, I didn't know that I could make it my life's work. But helping others was just something I liked doing. Whether it was shoveling the snow off of my Grandma's neighbor's driveway with my friends, or helping my Art Teacher hand out the art supplies to my classmates, I wanted to help. Joining the Girl Scouts in elementary school was the first time I had ever experienced the feeling of belonging, and of community. It was a wonderful experience. I remember starting high school and learning there were no clubs that I could join that involved Community Service. I wanted to be in service to a good cause, but I didn’t know where to go. So, Freshman year, I felt a little lost. But the following year I tried out for my school’s track team, and made it. The girls on the team were really talented. And I liked being a part of a well respected team, but I kept feeling like something was missing. I wanted to be a part of something bigger. Something that made a difference in people's lives. One day at track practice, my Coach got frustrated with me. The team had been working on hurdles for a few weeks, leading up to a really important track meet at the Audubon Armory . And I was still struggling. Coach kept telling me I needed to stop being afraid, and to “...just get to the other side of the hurdle Lee!”. He shouted from across the field. But I was terrified of hurdles. Sick to my stomach, kind of terrified. My fear wouldn’t let me commit to a clean jump to save my own life. Out of the seven hurdles standing, I cleared one. If you counted the last hurdle I nicked with my back toe, just before falling flat on my stomach. It was embarrassing. My teammates all turned away as I gathered myself. After ending practice early that day, Coach pulled me aside and asked me if I even wanted to be on the team. I didn’t know what to say. I just stood there with throbbing shins, scraped knees, and a bruised ego and started to cry. That evening, I went home, straight to my room and cried some more. I thought long and hard about what Coach asked me. And then it hit me. I was afraid because I didn’t have any other emotion to put in place of the fear. Fear was my default, whenever I was trying something new, or when I was being met with a challenge, but I lacked the passion to take it on. It was then that I realized I never went into track practice with my team in mind. There was a shift in my thinking. I began to see my team as individuals who wanted to succeed, just like I did. I started to have a reason to go to track practice, and work harder. Being there for my team overshadowed my fear of hurdles. I became more team oriented, by working on the skills that would contribute to us being stronger, and ultimately leading us to many wins. Today, as an experienced Hemodialysis Technologist and Master Mixologist, those lessons I’ve learned about team building, and about being led by passion and purpose, have brought me to this point in my journey. Fear no longer dictates my life’s choices. My passion for helping people is leading me down the path of Nursing School. I will contribute to something bigger.

The first time I attended College, I was so thrilled be on my own, in a new city, and living on campus. I made friends quickly, and before I knew it, my social life became the center of my universe. I past my classes, and graduated on time, but if I'm being honest with myself, I didn't push myself, nor did I have a meaningful reason to. I was just kind of floating around without any true direction. I didn't know what I wanted out of life, because I never took the time to think past the idea of finally being "on my own". I floated through life like this for several years after getting my Associates Degree. Any job I worked, served only to pay the bills, and support my lifestyle. It wasn't until I started to realize that some in social circle, and even some of my coworkers were working toward something bigger and better. They had goals, and aspirations. I started to reflect on my life. I did want more. I wanted to be a become a Nurse. So, one day I visited a nearby College, and began the process of enrollment. I felt so proud that I took that first big step. A few weeks later, I found out I was pregnant. From the moment I knew I was going to have a daughter, I knew that my life would forever change. My dreams would be put on hold. I knew that this would be the first of many sacrifices. But I also knew that despite those sacrifices, I would to take Motherhood seriously. I would inevitably have to instill in my daughter the ways in which she must navigate through this World. I didn't want her to float through life with no direction like did. Raising a 13 year old that is of a generation that is vastly different from mine (Generation X), comes with its complexities. For example, my daughter’s view on the education system, and the workforce, makes for very interesting conversations at the dinner table. She repeatedly equates going to school every day to “going to work” but without getting paid for it. To which I say: “Knowledge is your currency, sweets.” As for her emotional and mental development, her mood rises and sinks with such vigor and ease, I have no choice but to adjust to its rhythm. She has become masterful at advocating for herself. Negotiating for a ten percent raise in her allowance and upping the stakes with Robux. Mid-week grievances, homework, and her gripes with friends who don't share, paled in comparison to the sighs of her adolescent boredom. Her glee, and spontaneous laughter, sparked by the most peculiar of content, lightens things up a bit. Rinse, repeat. What can I say? My teenager is thriving. Before now, most everything that I did was for her. No matter how tired I was after a 14 hour shift, I needed to prepare dinner, maker sure my daughter did her chores and her homework. If there was something I aspired to do, her needs naturally came before my dreams. But now, I am able to dream again. Being able to plan for this new chapter of my life, makes me so excited. I returned back to school this Fall after twenty-five years. Everything is different. The technology, the way I view the World. Now that I'm older, I am taking my education more seriously. There is so much on the line for me. I'm student, and I'm a full-time Mom. This scholarship will help ease those financial responsibilities.