My name is Sabryna Petit-homme, and I am a Haitian immigrant who moved to the United States seeking better opportunities for myself and my family. Growing up in Haiti, I experienced firsthand struggles my family faced due to economic instability and limited opportunities. My mother, who played a central role in my life, always emphasized the importance of education. Though perfection was never directly demanded, the pressure to succeed was always present. For my mother, excelling in school was not just about making good grades, but about honoring the sacrifices she made for our family’s future. When my family moved to the U.S., the transition was overwhelming. The language barrier, the unfamiliar education system, and the cultural differences all posed significant challenges. Despite these challenges, I knew I was not alone in my struggles. Many other students shared similar pressures to succeed, which helped me feel less isolated. Being a foreign student in the U.S. opened my eyes to the broader meaning of success. In Haiti, education was more rigid and structured, and the path to success seemed clearer: good grades, a good job, and a stable life. In the U.S., however, I encountered a different approach to learning and success, one that emphasized creativity, critical thinking, and a diverse range of opportunities. While this new system was initially difficult to navigate, it also encouraged me to be more flexible and open-minded in my approach to challenges. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from my journey is about resilience and how to bounce back from setbacks and continue moving forward. This trait, which I observed in my mother and the Haitian community, became my guiding principle as I navigated the academic and personal challenges of being an immigrant. In high school, I took on dual-enrollment courses to challenge myself academically, but the workload and the transition to a new school were overwhelming. At one point, I nearly failed a math class. It was a humbling experience, and I felt as if all my hard work was unraveling. But I learned that failure wasn’t the end. With the support of my teacher, I turned the situation around and passed the class, which taught me a valuable lesson: resilience is not about avoiding failure, but about learning how to rise after it. This journey has not only shaped my personal growth but also influenced my career path. I’ve decided to pursue nursing, a field that aligns with my desire to help others and my experiences with resilience. The challenges I faced in school, as well as my understanding of what it means to overcome hardship, have made me more empathetic and compassionate. Nursing is a career that demands both intellectual knowledge and emotional strength, and I believe that my experiences in Haiti and as an immigrant in the U.S. have uniquely prepared me for it. Ultimately, this journey has taught me that success is not defined by perfection or a lack of failure. It is defined by the strength to face challenges, learn from them, and continue moving forward. As I pursue my nursing career, I know that the resilience I’ve built along the way will guide me in helping others navigate their own challenges, both in health and in life.