I always knew that I was destined to be in healthcare. Growing up, my mother would find me with my nose in a medical book that wouldn’t normally pique the interest of a nine-year-old, but there I was, studying. I have always had a love for science and medicine, as well as helping others. I can even recall doing practice examinations on my family, including the dog. It breaks my heart to hear that some nurses are only in it for the money. I want to not only be the most helpful nurse that I can be but also be a nurse that patients can bond with and see as a comfort to them while they have their lives on the line. I know that in my experience I have dealt with a handful of nurses who were cold, cruel, and to the point. I don’t want to be like that. I want to not only help my patients but be there for them as well. I truly do love what I am learning in this journey of becoming a nurse. It feels second nature to me to be studying in this field. There was once a point in my life where I experienced some growing pains. Adolescence was difficult for me. I had lots of negative experiences that shaped me to be who I am today. Though painful while at the moment, I know that it was all in the path to get to where I am now and continuing to pursue. When I was sixteen years old, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Having that diagnosis hanging above your head at that age would be daunting to anyone. Right when I thought I would give up, I didn’t. I kept going and decided to take my life back. Something my dad used to tell me was that “everybody is going through something, just some people are better at hiding the fact.” I did not let this diagnosis stop me from pursuing what I loved, what I knew that I was destined to do. So every day I took it upon myself to take a step to better myself, and in turn my life. I picked up good habits, started medication, and focused on self-care. The journey from when I was sixteen to now hasn’t been linear, but I have moved exponentially upward in my life. I can confidently say that I am no longer depressed and I want to continue to move forward every day. Some days it seems there's little progress, while others feel like a milestone, but in the end, I'm always climbing upwards, I know that now. I have but one prerequisite left before starting the clinical phase of my nursing program and I am proud to say that I have maintained a 4.0 GPA average throughout all of my classes. I was able to overcome my diagnosis, for I am not bipolar, I’m just diagnosed with it. I am thankful for my past, despite the struggles it brought, but looking into the future, I won’t let this diagnosis stop me from being the best nurse that I can be.

If asked to describe my mother, many words come to my mind. A few would include independent, strong, beautiful, kind, and brave. My mother is my greatest inspiration in life. She has taught me countless valuable skills and lessons throughout my entire life and I do not know where I would be without her. For as long as I can remember it has always been just us. My father moved to Colombia when I was growing up, leaving just me and my mother behind in the United States. Since then, our relationship has flourished greatly and she has helped me become the woman that I am today, a woman that she and I are both proud of. My mother has set a wonderful example for me by finding ways to support us both, despite having a low-paying job and no second income. She made sure that I never felt as if we were poor, even though we were below the poverty line. She always emphasized that being poor wasn't about having little money, but rather the poor attitude that was expressed from the financial stress. What I did not have in material items, she made up for in life lessons and love. My mother's chosen career path is also in healthcare. After my father left she became a CNA at our local hospital. She worked hard, day after day, showing passion, patience, and perseverance as she made her rounds at work. After a few years of improving herself as a CNA, she decided to continue on. As my senior year of high school came to an end, my mother decided that she would return to school to become a nurse. She has a passion for learning and she is always looking to better herself. Currently, me and my mother are both in our second year of college as Nursing majors. It is such a wonderful experience to have my mother and best friend as my study buddy in this difficult major. We spend hours studying together and talking about healthcare and study skills. We inspire each other to continue down this difficult trajectory. When the going gets tough, I know that I will always have my mother to count on. I am forever grateful that I ended up with such a beautiful role model for a mother. I am very fortunate to have such a strong relationship with her, as I know many people do not have this bond that she and I share. She is selfless beyond belief and I am as proud of her as she is of me. As I enter adulthood and her role as a mother is diminishing, we now build each other up and motivate each other to continue on in our chosen paths. It is reassuring to know that I am not alone in my studies or in life. I hope to become a labor and delivery nurse following my graduation from the County College of Morris. It is my life passion to help others, and bringing new lives into this world is such a rewarding experience that I would love to have one day soon. My mother plans on becoming a wound nurse, and I have no doubt in my mind that she and I will be able to pursue our dreams of becoming nurses and aiding in this nurse shortage that we are currently experiencing.

@sb.ibanez

Growing up LGBT is not easy. Every single member of the LGBT community has their own struggles, their own stories, and their own triumphs. It is amazing how far we have come as a society in the acceptance of diversity. Although I discovered my sexuality during a time when gay marriage was already legalized, I still felt alienized by my teachers, classmates, and family. My story begins in late 2017. I was a seventh grader at the time, first learning about myself and my sexuality. My best friend had come out to me in November of that year, and shortly after, I developed feelings for her. I knew that she had feelings for me as well, making coming out to her quite easy. I remember everyone telling me how it wasn't going to last more than six days, yet we lasted just about three years. The start was rocky, for we hid our relationship for a good while in fear of how others would react. Rightfully so, because once our relationship was out in the open, we got treated much differently by teachers and students alike. We were constantly getting called down to the office for hugging in the hallways, while if a straight couple did the same thing, the teachers would call it cute and not bat an eye. Most of my peers were accepting of it, they were just curious since we were the only lesbian couple in the whole school at the time. My mom was very accepting as well, she has always been very supportive of me and my decisions. My dad though was not nearly as accepting. He thought it was weird and didn't believe that I was this way but instead insisted that it was simply a phase that I had to get through, and then I would be back to being a "normal," straight girl again. As we got into high school, I heard remarks made about me saying, "what a waste of a girl," among other harsh and rude comments. When I did finally end our relationship and decided to experiment with men, I got told that he spread a rumor that "he turned me straight," which was not true at all. Being bisexual isn't all bad though, I developed some strong friendships in middle school when it was a bit more uncommon to be part of the LGBT community. They supported me when times were tough, which proved to last through high school. Not to mention, being LGBT is much more widely supported now, and for that, I am forever grateful. I wouldn't change my past for the world. It makes me who I am, and I am proud to be a part of the LGBT community.