My name is Raven Williams and I am a 17 year old young, single mother of an 8 month old baby girl. My daughter’s name is Raylen and our birthdays are only 11 days apart. I knew once I had my daughter I had to change. She makes me happy and now I see things differently and try to be positive in every way. Even though I had a baby at a young age, I have not given up, and I still strive for success. I have accomplished a lot, especially for being a young mom. I have learned it takes a village to raise a baby. Raylen is always joyful, and as a proud mom, I see how advanced she is. This shows me that I am doing a good job with her. I want to be a role model to my daughter. My plan is to go to college at Jefferson Community Technical College and I plan to become a Labor and Delivery nurse. I feel there should be more women in this field, providing a support system for those who are not comfortable with male nurses. I feel that women should have a say so when it comes to the nurse delivering their baby. This would help with the emotional support of the mother. In my own experience of delivery, if I had had a choice of male or female nurses, I would have felt more relaxed with a woman coaching me through labor and ensuring my voice was heard and supported. One of my greatest strengths as a mom, friend and student is that I am a leader. I always stay positive, trying to lead people in the right direction and guide them when they are lost or just need a shoulder to lean on during difficult times. This skill would be a great benefit as a Labor and Delivery nurse. Another strength is that I’m a good listener. I can listen to a person's problems and help with a solution. I give constructive feedback and am able to let a person know when they are wrong without hurting their feelings or being harsh. Being a single mom changed my life tremendously and helped me grow these strengths. I see love, I see life, I see happiness, and I see joy. I never knew having a baby would change my life in a matter of seconds. My challenges with motherhood are the restless nights and when my daughter is sick. It is hard to focus on rocking your baby and putting her to sleep when you are tired yourself or have to get up early the next morning and get ready for school. It is also a challenge when the baby is sick. Babies are more clingy while sick so it is hard getting anything done when a child doesn’t want to be put down. These challenges only add to my motivation. My daughter makes me want to finish school, and she makes me want to have a bright future. She makes me grind more and do whatever is necessary to provide happiness for the both of us. My positive impact on the community would be not only helping mothers feel heard, feel more comfortable, and feel more seen while they are in labor and delivery, but also show other young moms that they can thrive. This scholarship will help me start my journey of becoming a success.