Hi my name is Salihat Abdalla, I am the first person in my family to go to college. The nursing industry interests me as a career choice because it is a career where you can give back and help countless patients recover. It is not a field where there is only one department you give your whole self to; instead, you give your care to every department. It is a place where you show love and care to patients and treat them with safety and respect. My goals for a successful career are to be a full time student and learn as much as possible to help my future patients have the best care and safety. During my senior year of high school, we got to go to clinicals and do patient-centered care. One patient said to me that I would be a good nurse because my goal is to be respectful, slow paced, and truly understand the patient instead of rushing them. I count this as a meaningful personal accomplishment that helped prove I am on the right path. I also have past volunteer experience that helped shape me. I volunteered at local hospitals by stacking supplies, printing paper, and bringing water to patients. I also spent time volunteering at a veterans hospital. It fascinated me how when I met new patients there, I instantly felt like I am speaking with my own grandparents. It deeply upsets me if someone speaks down to an elderly patient or treats them like they are lying just because they are old. That experience taught me how important it is to protect the truth and dignity of older patients. My other volunteer experience was at a food bank. To me, working there is a lot like being a nurse because you are making sure families don’t face hunger or struggle. The food bank instilled an etiquette of care in my heart. Packing that food taught me that you never know what someone is going through in their life, so it is important to be kind to everyone and have good manners in your heart. In life, I have gone through many experiences, both good and bad. When I see a person treat me wrong, I try to understand it through empathy. I think about how that person might be having a bad day, so I choose to treat them softly, calmly, and respectfully. Finally, a personal health situation helped build my interest in nursing. I didn’t feel good one time and had to go to the hospital in an EMT ambulance. I was treated by the nurses in a respectful, safe manner. Because I am a girl in a religious faith, I wanted a female nurse to treat me. The staff actually listened to me, and I got treated by one. Carrying that experience with me makes me want to give that same exact comfort, safety, and respect to my future patients.

Hi my name is Salihat Abdalla I'm a first gen, the nursing industry interests me as a career choice because it is a career where you can give back and help countless patients recover. It is not a field where there is only one department you give your whole self to; instead, you give your care to every department. It is a place where you show love and care to patients and treat them with safety and respect. My goals for a successful career are to be a full time student and learn as much as possible to help my future patients have the best care and safety. During my senior year of high school, we got to go to clinicals and do patient-centered care. One patient said to me that I would be a good nurse because my goal is to be respectful, slow paced, and truly understand the patient instead of rushing them. I count this as a meaningful personal accomplishment that helped prove I am on the right path. I also have past volunteer experience that helped shape me. I volunteered at local hospitals by stacking supplies, printing paper, and bringing water to patients. I also spent time volunteering at a veterans hospital. It fascinated me how when I met new patients there, I instantly felt like I am speaking with my own grandparents. It deeply upsets me if someone speaks down to an elderly patient or treats them like they are lying just because they are old. That experience taught me how important it is to protect the truth and dignity of older patients. My other volunteer experience was at a food bank. To me, working there is a lot like being a nurse because you are making sure families don’t face hunger or struggle. The food bank instilled an etiquette of care in my heart. Packing that food taught me that you never know what someone is going through in their life, so it is important to be kind to everyone and have good manners in your heart. In life, I have gone through many experiences, both good and bad. When I see a person treat me wrong, I try to understand it through empathy. I think about how that person might be having a bad day, so I choose to treat them softly, calmly, and respectfully. Finally, a personal health situation helped build my interest in nursing. I didn’t feel good one time and had to go to the hospital in an EMT ambulance. I was treated by the nurses in a respectful, safe manner. Because I am a girl in a religious faith, I wanted a female nurse to treat me. The staff actually listened to me, and I got treated by one. Carrying that experience with me makes me want to give that same exact comfort, safety, and respect to my future patients.

Hi my name is Salihat Abdalla, the nursing industry interests me as a career choice because it is a career where you can give back and help countless patients recover. It is not a field where there is only one department you give your whole self to; instead, you give your care to every department. It is a place where you show love and care to patients and treat them with safety and respect. My goals for a successful career are to be a full time student and learn as much as possible to help my future patients have the best care and safety. During my senior year of high school, we got to go to clinicals and do patient-centered care. One patient said to me that I would be a good nurse because my goal is to be respectful, slow paced, and truly understand the patient instead of rushing them. I count this as a meaningful personal accomplishment that helped prove I am on the right path. I also have past volunteer experience that helped shape me. I volunteered at local hospitals by stacking supplies, printing paper, and bringing water to patients. I also spent time volunteering at a veterans hospital. It fascinated me how when I met new patients there, I instantly felt like I am speaking with my own grandparents. It deeply upsets me if someone speaks down to an elderly patient or treats them like they are lying just because they are old. That experience taught me how important it is to protect the truth and dignity of older patients. My other volunteer experience was at a food bank. To me, working there is a lot like being a nurse because you are making sure families don’t face hunger or struggle. The food bank instilled an etiquette of care in my heart. Packing that food taught me that you never know what someone is going through in their life, so it is important to be kind to everyone and have good manners in your heart. In life, I have gone through many experiences, both good and bad. When I see a person treat me wrong, I try to understand it through empathy. I think about how that person might be having a bad day, so I choose to treat them softly, calmly, and respectfully. Finally, a personal health situation helped build my interest in nursing. I didn’t feel good one time and had to go to the hospital in an EMT ambulance. I was treated by the nurses in a respectful, safe manner. Because I am a girl in a religious faith, I wanted a female nurse to treat me. The staff actually listened to me, and I got treated by one. Carrying that experience with me makes me want to give that same exact comfort, safety, and respect to my future patients.

As the only person in my household who can navigate the American school system as an eldest child in the family, I grew up teaching myself skills such as figuring out how to do all subjects, including English, Mathematics, and Sciences (by watching YouTube videos). This fall I am going to attend nursing school at University of Portland, and that field requires a lot of studying and being a full time student to succeed in Nursing school. My family's hardworking background comes from making a living to support their family working as a Lyft driver and a wheelchair assistant. I have overcome challenges in school by taking 4 AP classes such as AP Pre calc, AP Lang, AP Gov, and AP Lit, and I finished with a 3.9 GPA. These classes require me to study so much (by watching youtube videos) as I am the only person in the house to help myself academically, because I am the future for myself and for my family. I stayed up late nights, finishing homework assignments, and studying for tests. Obstacles I have overcome was to learn a mindset of learning how to stand up for myself academically in college this upcoming fall as a freshman in college, through speaking up for myself and my future. It taught me not to be a quitter but a person that seeks opportunities when it comes to me. I plan to use my education to be a kind, compassionate nurse that wants to help her community. Another obstacle I have overcome was trying to find a volunteering opportunity as I had to navigate it by myself. I loved the idea of community service because it enlightened my heart, but my true calling was the medical field, such as volunteering at the hospital to help for my education and future, and just because I loved it in general. The idea of volunteering in the hospital came up from hospital series such as Chicago Med. I believed I could be Dr. Natalie Manning and Nurse Maggie Lockwood as they both inspired me about what the qualities of humanity mean, as they both worked side by side having different roles but both helping to support patients recovery. I had to navigate finding a volunteering opportunity in high school because of my age it did not align with me wanting to volunteer at the hospital. So basically I overcame it by finding another place to volunteer such as the Oregon Food Bank. It's a special place that helps countless families, it's a change of an Ethiopian African American young girl understanding what nursing is and how it is started from community service.

Hi my name is Salihat Abdalla, the nursing industry interests me as a career choice because it is a career where you can give back and help countless patients recover. It is not a field where there is only one department you give your whole self to; instead, you give your care to every department. It is a place where you show love and care to patients and treat them with safety and respect. My goals for a successful career are to be a full time student and learn as much as possible to help my future patients have the best care and safety. During my senior year of high school, we got to go to clinicals and do patient-centered care. One patient said to me that I would be a good nurse because my goal is to be respectful, slow paced, and truly understand the patient instead of rushing them. I count this as a meaningful personal accomplishment that helped prove I am on the right path. I also have past volunteer experience that helped shape me. I volunteered at local hospitals by stacking supplies, printing paper, and bringing water to patients. I also spent time volunteering at a veterans hospital. It fascinated me how when I met new patients there, I instantly felt like I am speaking with my own grandparents. It deeply upsets me if someone speaks down to an elderly patient or treats them like they are lying just because they are old. That experience taught me how important it is to protect the truth and dignity of older patients. My other volunteer experience was at a food bank. To me, working there is a lot like being a nurse because you are making sure families don’t face hunger or struggle. The food bank instilled an etiquette of care in my heart. Packing that food taught me that you never know what someone is going through in their life, so it is important to be kind to everyone and have good manners in your heart. In life, I have gone through many experiences, both good and bad. When I see a person treat me wrong, I try to understand it through empathy. I think about how that person might be having a bad day, so I choose to treat them softly, calmly, and respectfully. Finally, a personal health situation helped build my interest in nursing. I didn’t feel good one time and had to go to the hospital in an EMT ambulance. I was treated by the nurses in a respectful, safe manner. Because I am a girl in a religious faith, I wanted a female nurse to treat me. The staff actually listened to me, and I got treated by one. Carrying that experience with me makes me want to give that same exact comfort, safety, and respect to my future patients.

As the only person in my household who can navigate the American school system as an eldest child in the family, I grew up teaching myself skills such as figuring out how to do all subjects, including English, Mathematics, and Sciences (by watching YouTube videos). This fall I am going to attend nursing school at University of Portland, and that field requires a lot of studying and being a full time student to succeed in Nursing school. My family's hardworking background comes from making a living to support their family working as a Lyft driver and a wheelchair assistant. I have overcome challenges in school by taking 4 AP classes such as AP Pre calc, AP Lang, AP Gov, and AP Lit, and I finished with a 3.9 GPA. These classes require me to study so much (by watching youtube videos) as I am the only person in the house to help myself academically, because I am the future for myself and for my family. I stayed up late nights, finishing homework assignments, and studying for tests. Obstacles I have overcome was to learn a mindset of learning how to stand up for myself academically in college this upcoming fall as a freshman in collge, through speaking up for myself and my future. It taught me not to be a quitter but a person that seeks opportunities when it comes to me. I plan to use my education to be a kind, compassionate nurse that wants to help her community. Another obstacle I have overcome was trying to find a volunteering opportunity as I had to navigate it by myself. I loved the idea of community service because it enlightened my heart, but my true calling was the medical field, such as volunteering at the hospital to help for my education and future, and just because I loved it in general. The idea of volunteering in the hospital came up from hospital series such as Chicago Med. I believed I could be Dr. Natalie Manning and Nurse Maggie Lockwood as they both inspired me about what the qualities of humanity mean, as they both worked side by side having different roles but both helping to support patients recovery. I had to navigate finding a volunteering opportunity in high school because of my age it did not align with me wanting to volunteer at the hospital. So basically I overcame it by finding another place to volunteer such as the Oregon Food Bank. It's a special place that helps countless families, it's a change of an Ethiopian American young girl understanding what nursing is and how it is started from community service.

During my junior year of high school, challenges were met no matter how much studying had to be done. It was a scenario of an assignment or a quiz that had to be done the educator’s way. So it started with me using resources online such as Khan Academy, Organic Chemistry, and YouTube videos of Pre-Calculus in hopes of understanding the topic. Consistent studying and the mindset of saying that if I am successful with Pre-Calc, I have the ability to help countless first-gen students be capable and determined to have an understanding of math. I especially struggled through that class. I did not have anyone at home who had the capability to help me with Pre-Calc assignments if I was stuck on them. So me having the thought that I can learn to do many things fed my mind day by day, in order to be a change maker in my Ethiopian Oromo community. I grew up in an immigrant household that worked day and night trying to make ends meet so we could live in a house and eat food. My dad worked as a Lyft driver to pay the mortgage of the house, and my mom works as a wheelchair assistant, working long hours to help people in the airport get to the places they want to go. I have four siblings, including me, and I am the oldest, trying to make barriers become no barriers again. I want to make sure I can be a good nurse who will help patients gain independence and have the capability to believe in themselves, just like I did when it came to Pre-Calc. I earned a 3 on the AP exam, which is something that shows if you believe in yourself, you can achieve it. I didn’t grow up in an upper-class household. I live in a normal household that works day and night to live, to pay the bills, and to take care of my brother who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I want to focus on that, and I do not want to take the salaries they make into my education. I don’t want them to worry because I want to succeed in college and make sure they don’t get tired anymore, and that they can visit their parents back in Ethiopia. My parents never got the chance to do that because they are stuck thinking: who is going to pay the monthly bills? Where is it going to come from? So, as a first-gen student, I am going to work hard to be a change maker and believe in myself to be successful. This scholarship will help me go to college and change the lives of my family positively.

I love to be a helping hand to anyone like voulnteering; I voulnteered in the Oregon Food bank to help families get food on the table most of time in my 4 years of highschool, I helped voulnteer in concession and selled tote bags to raise money for PROM, I helped do Henna for MSA so we can have fun activities, I voulnteered at Providence hospital to help one unit with stocking supplies so they can provide care for patients, in the summer I voulnteered in the Portland VA to help with Griatric Clinic it was fun because I got to talk to patients and help with getting supplies while also learning about certain conditions like learning about falls and how it affects patients, while I also helped in the mousqe to plan activities for the Youth. And theres more but I want to keep short. I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine because I want to do research and help find a cure for diseases or illnesses. My name is Salihat, which means good deeds, and this name pushes me to do good things that will help people. My brother has an illness called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and it makes him lose his strength easily. I remember him as a boy who used to walk and get excited to go on walks. Now, this illness prevents him from walking or getting things he really needs easily, but I still see him smile through the hardship and stay positive. I came across a mantra that says there is a cure for every disease; you just have to find it. That’s what pushed me to be passionate about pursuing medicine through a BSN, spending some time doing research to find cures, and other time providing patient centered care to understand my patients and learn from how they cope with illness. I am a high school senior ready to dedicate my time to pursuing my dreams of researching and finding a cure during my undergraduate studies. I want to focus on my education because I will be the first in my family to go to college and graduate with a BSN. This field excites me because it allows me to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of many other patients, while caring for them and learning about who they are. I want to understand their abilities so I can help them recover and truly listen while caring for them. My mom once told me that the smartest people are the ones who listen more and talk less; listening shows that you are present and eager to learn. That is the kind of person I want to be. I want to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of the patients I will care for. This scholarship would allow me to help patients like my brother by assisting to find more cures to other conditions as I continue my studies.

I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine because I want to do research and help find a cure for diseases or illnesses. My name is Salihat, which means good deeds, and this name pushes me to do good things that will help people. My brother has an illness called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and it makes him lose his strength easily. I remember him as a boy who used to walk and get excited to go on walks. Now, this illness prevents him from walking or getting things he really needs easily, but I still see him smile through the hardship and stay positive. I came across a mantra that says there is a cure for every disease; you just have to find it. That’s what pushed me to be passionate about pursuing medicine through a BSN, spending some time doing research to find cures, and other time providing patient centered care to understand my patients and learn from how they cope with illness. I am a high school senior ready to dedicate my time to pursuing my dreams of researching and finding a cure during my undergraduate studies. I want to focus on my education because I will be the first in my family to go to college and graduate with a BSN. This field excites me because it allows me to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of many other patients, while caring for them and learning about who they are. I want to understand their abilities so I can help them recover and truly listen while caring for them. My mom once told me that the smartest people are the ones who listen more and talk less; listening shows that you are present and eager to learn. That is the kind of person I want to be. I want to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of the patients I will care for. In my sophmore year of highschool during personal growth and development, we got to learn about all sorts of diseases, I choose my brothers. It was an APA style research paper that helped me start my passion with research as a way to find a cure and educate myself in my brothers condition. It made me reflect on ways I can support him and be there for him. This scholarship would allow me to help patients like my brother by assisting to find more cures to other conditions as I continue my studies.

If I could start my own charity, I would start a tutoring program to help students get help with their homework and have the confidence to get ready for their tests because I was that student who did not have that opportunity. The charity would be called “I Can,” meaning that we can succeed and get an education, and it would be free. Tutoring centers for students, especially K–12 students are not held as important, but they are because they are the future of students doing well in their classes. Volunteers would help students with homework and study for tests, help kids build confidence within themselves, and it would be at a center for 3 hours one on one. I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine because I want to do research and help find a cure for diseases or illnesses. My name is Salihat, which means good deeds, and this name pushes me to do good things that will help people. My brother has an illness called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and it makes him lose his strength easily. I remember him as a boy who used to walk and get excited to go on walks. Now, this illness prevents him from walking or getting things he really needs easily, but I still see him smile through the hardship and stay positive. I came across a mantra that says there is a cure for every disease; you just have to find it. That’s what pushed me to be passionate about pursuing medicine through a BSN, spending some time doing research to find cures, and other time providing patient centered care to understand my patients and learn from how they cope with illness. I am a high school senior ready to dedicate my time to pursuing my dreams of researching and finding a cure during my undergraduate studies. I want to focus on my education because I will be the first in my family to go to college and graduate with a BSN. This field excites me because it allows me to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of many other patients, while caring for them and learning about who they are. I want to understand their abilities so I can help them recover and truly listen while caring for them. My mom once told me that the smartest people are the ones who listen more and talk less; listening shows that you are present and eager to learn. That is the kind of person I want to be. I want to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of the patients I will care for. In my sophmore year of highschool during personal growth and development, we got to learn about all sorts of diseases, I choose my brothers. It was an APA style research paper that helped me start my passion with research as a way to find a cure and educate myself in my brothers condition. It made me reflect on ways I can support him and be there for him. This scholarship would allow me to help patients like my brother by assisting to find more cures to other conditions as I continue my studies.

I love to be a helping hand to anyone like voulnteering; I voulnteered in the Oregon Food bank to help families get food on the table most of time in my 4 years of highschool, I helped voulnteer in concession and selled tote bags to raise money for PROM, I helped do Henna for MSA so we can have fun activities, I voulnteered at Providence hospital to help one unit with stocking supplies so they can provide care for patients, in the summer I voulnteered in the Portland VA to help with Griatric Clinic it was fun because I got to talk to patients and help with getting supplies while also learning about certain conditions like learning about falls and how it affects patients, while I also helped in the mousqe to plan activities for the Youth. And theres more but I want to keep short. I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine because I want to do research and help find a cure for diseases or illnesses. My name is Salihat, which means good deeds, and this name pushes me to do good things that will help people. My brother has an illness called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and it makes him lose his strength easily. I remember him as a boy who used to walk and get excited to go on walks. Now, this illness prevents him from walking or getting things he really needs easily, but I still see him smile through the hardship and stay positive. I came across a mantra that says there is a cure for every disease; you just have to find it. That’s what pushed me to be passionate about pursuing medicine through a BSN, spending some time doing research to find cures, and other time providing patient centered care to understand my patients and learn from how they cope with illness. I am a high school senior ready to dedicate my time to pursuing my dreams of researching and finding a cure during my undergraduate studies. I want to focus on my education because I will be the first in my family to go to college and graduate with a BSN. This field excites me because it allows me to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of many other patients, while caring for them and learning about who they are. I want to understand their abilities so I can help them recover and truly listen while caring for them. My mom once told me that the smartest people are the ones who listen more and talk less; listening shows that you are present and eager to learn. That is the kind of person I want to be. I want to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of the patients I will care for. In my sophmore year of highschool during personal growth and development, we got to learn about all sorts of diseases, I choose my brothers. It was an APA style research paper that helped me start my passion with research as a way to find a cure and educate myself in my brothers condition. It made me reflect on ways I can support him and be there for him. This scholarship would allow me to help patients like my brother by assisting to find more cures to other conditions as I continue my studies. After college I will work in the hospital as an RN to help patients and continue my reasearch and to find a cure and there could be graduate school coming after undergraduate.

I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine because I want to do research and help find a cure for diseases or illnesses. My name is Salihat, which means good deeds, and this name pushes me to do good things that will help people. My brother has an illness called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and it makes him lose his strength easily. I remember him as a boy who used to walk and get excited to go on walks. Now, this illness prevents him from walking or getting things he really needs easily, but I still see him smile through the hardship and stay positive. I came across a mantra that says there is a cure for every disease; you just have to find it. That’s what pushed me to be passionate about pursuing medicine through a BSN, spending some time doing research to find cures, and other time providing patient centered care to understand my patients and learn from how they cope with illness. I am a high school senior ready to dedicate my time to pursuing my dreams of researching and finding a cure during my undergraduate studies. I want to focus on my education because I will be the first in my family to go to college and graduate with a BSN. This field excites me because it allows me to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of many other patients, while caring for them and learning about who they are. I want to understand their abilities so I can help them recover and truly listen while caring for them. My mom once told me that the smartest people are the ones who listen more and talk less; listening shows that you are present and eager to learn. That is the kind of person I want to be. I want to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of the patients I will care for. In my sophmore year of highschool during personal growth and development, we got to learn about all sorts of diseases, I choose my brothers. It was an APA style research paper that helped me start my passion with research as a way to find a cure and educate myself in my brothers condition. It made me reflect on ways I can support him and be there for him. This scholarship would allow me to help patients like my brother by assisting to find more cures to other conditions as I continue my studies.

I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine because I want to do research and help find a cure for diseases or illnesses. My name is Salihat, which means good deeds, and this name pushes me to do good things that will help people. My brother has an illness called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and it makes him lose his strength easily. I remember him as a boy who used to walk and get excited to go on walks. Now, this illness prevents him from walking or getting things he really needs easily, but I still see him smile through the hardship and stay positive. I came across a mantra that says there is a cure for every disease; you just have to find it. That’s what pushed me to be passionate about pursuing medicine through a BSN, spending some time doing research to find cures, and other time providing patient centered care to understand my patients and learn from how they cope with illness. I am a high school senior ready to dedicate my time to pursuing my dreams of researching and finding a cure during my undergraduate studies. I want to focus on my education because I will be the first in my family to go to college and graduate with a BSN. This field excites me because it allows me to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of many other patients, while caring for them and learning about who they are. I want to understand their abilities so I can help them recover and truly listen while caring for them. My mom once told me that the smartest people are the ones who listen more and talk less; listening shows that you are present and eager to learn. That is the kind of person I want to be. I want to make a positive difference in my brother’s life and in the lives of the patients I will care for. In my sophmore year of highschool during personal growth and development, we got to learn about all sorts of diseases, I choose my brothers. It was an APA style research paper that helped me start my passion with research as a way to find a cure and educate myself in my brothers condition. It made me reflect on ways I can support him and be there for him. This scholarship would allow me to help patients like my brother by assisting to find more cures to other conditions as I continue my studies.

I flip the pages and see the girl in the apron, coffee steamer stains across her front. Sometimes, I feel like a kind of princess, not the fairy-tale kind, but one created in classrooms and kitchens, through late-night study sessions and the everyday responsibility of caring for my family. As the oldest, I’ve always carried more than my share. Like everyone else, I attend school, I work through Khan Academy lessons to improve my math skills at home, and I go to math tutoring after school and during lunch. But when I come home, I step into another role: cooking dinner, helping with homework, and translating paperwork and bills for my parents, a responsibility I’ve held since I was nine years old. My parents immigrated from Ethiopia and did not have the same educational opportunities I do. They still have dreams of attending college, but long work hours and night shifts make that dream impossible. I want to accomplish this for myself and for my parents. My motivation also comes from watching my younger brother live with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, an incurable disease that weakens his muscles and makes even simple tasks exhausting. What amazes me is the way he greets me every day with a smile. Even on days when climbing the stairs leaves him breathless, he finds a way to crack a joke or flash a grin that turns our kitchen into a lighter place. His happiness and optimism lift me. He is the real role model. He shows me that strength can come from the laughter and warmth you bring to others. From him, I’ve learned patience and resilience. He is one of the reasons I want to become a nurse: because genuine care comes from the heart, from love, and from the challenges we endure. During my sophomore year, I sat hunched over my laptop every night, the glow of the screen lighting up the bedroom as I scrolled through volunteer applications that ended with the same words: ‘Must be 18.’ I refused to give up. I kept trying, emailing, calling, and asking until I finally secured a chance to volunteer at the Veterans Hospital and then later at the Oregon Food Bank. Slipping into the scrubs for the first time, I felt the wrinkles of the scrubs under my fingers like a hard-earned victory. This taught me to be thankful for every opportunity that comes my way. For that, I say, “Alhamdulillah,” thank you, God. I’m not old enough yet to volunteer directly in hospitals, but that hasn’t stopped me from showing up. I continue volunteering at the Oregon Food Bank. Every day after school, I pack boxes of produce and canned goods for families facing hunger. It may not be a hospital, but it’s healing in its own way. Each box is a step toward my goal of entering the health field, a reminder that caring for others begins with meeting their most basic needs. I see it as my way of serving now, while preparing for the life I want to lead as a nurse. One day, nursing will no longer be just a dream I chase. It will be the reality I live. When I finally put on that nurse’s badge, I know I’ll carry my brother’s smile with me. It will be a reminder that true strength is found in joy, even in the most challenging moments.

I flip the pages and see the girl in the apron, coffee steamer stains across her front. Sometimes, I feel like a kind of princess, not the fairy-tale kind, but one created in classrooms and kitchens, through late-night study sessions and the everyday responsibility of caring for my family. As the oldest, I’ve always carried more than my share. Like everyone else, I attend school, I work through Khan Academy lessons to improve my math skills at home, and I go to math tutoring after school and during lunch. But when I come home, I step into another role: cooking dinner, helping with homework, and translating paperwork and bills for my parents, a responsibility I’ve held since I was nine years old. My parents immigrated from Ethiopia and did not have the same educational opportunities I do. They still have dreams of attending college, but long work hours and night shifts make that dream impossible. I want to accomplish this for myself and for my parents. My motivation also comes from watching my younger brother live with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, an incurable disease that weakens his muscles and makes even simple tasks exhausting. What amazes me is the way he greets me every day with a smile. Even on days when climbing the stairs leaves him breathless, he finds a way to crack a joke or flash a grin that turns our kitchen into a lighter place. His happiness and optimism lift me up. He is the real role model. He shows me that strength can come from the laughter and warmth you bring to others. From him, I’ve learned patience and resilience. He is one of the reasons I want to become a nurse: because genuine care comes from the heart, from love, and from the challenges we endure. During my sophomore year, I sat hunched over my laptop every night, the glow of the screen lighting up the bedroom as I scrolled through volunteer applications that ended with the same words: ‘Must be 18.’ I refused to give up. I kept trying, emailing, calling, and asking until I finally secured a chance to volunteer at the Veterans Hospital and then later at the Oregon Food Bank. Slipping into the scrubs for the first time, I felt the wrinkles of the scrubs under my fingers like a hard-earned victory. This taught me to be thankful for every opportunity that comes my way. For that, I say, “Alhamdulillah,” thank you, God. I’m not old enough yet to volunteer directly in hospitals, but that hasn’t stopped me from showing up. I continue volunteering at the Oregon Food Bank. Every day after school, I pack boxes of produce and canned goods for families facing hunger. It may not be a hospital, but it’s healing in its own way. Each box is a step toward my goal of entering the health field, a reminder that caring for others begins with meeting their most basic needs. I see it as my way of serving now, while preparing for the life I want to lead as a nurse. One day, nursing will no longer be just a dream I chase. It will be the reality I live. When I finally put on that nurse’s badge, I know I’ll carry my brother’s smile with me. It will be a reminder that true strength is found in joy, even in the most challenging moments.

Motivated and high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds deserve opportunities such as scholarships or grants to help pay for college. My name is Salihat Abdalla, and I am a senior majoring in nursing at Benson Polytechnic High School. I am a first-generation Ethiopian American to go to college. During school, it was not easy to access support when it came to math skills. But my push to do rigorous classes like AP precalc has grown my ambition to motivate myself to help kids who don't have the ability to access support. My parents don't come from the same educational background and never had the ability to finish their schooling. My mom and dad used to go to PCC, but having kids has put a stop to their educational path. My mom is a wheelchair assistant and my dad is a Lyft driver who is paying for the house mortgage, while also helping to support my brother, who has muscular dystrophy, and me and my other siblings to get picked up from school. After the COVID-19 pandemic, my brother lost his ability to talk and walk, requiring my parent to stop work early and help take care of my brother. My family had to put a lot of support towards him by making sure he can thrive at school by having support, making sure he goes to his appointments, making him food, feeding him and etc. I have always been independent when it comes to school because I don't have anyone to help me when I am stuck on assignments or need help, which pushed me to use my lunch time and after school to ask for help when it comes to assignments. I never quit when it came to rigorous subjects; I thrived because I wanted to give my parents the ability to retire when I finished school, so they would not worry about paying bills again. In my high school, I have participated in grant-making through Schnitzer care with my AVID and leadership class. By the end of this year, we will have raised $45,000. I also joined a lot of clubs like the National Honor Society, Black Student Union, the Muslim Student Association, the Health Occupation Student of America, the Impact Club, the Student Body Government, AVID, leadership, the Benson Auditorium technical Staff, 4 AP classes, and Anatomy and Physiology. Thank you for taking the time to read my writing and making this opportunity available to students seeking education. I appreciate it.

1. Personal Inspiration for Pursuing a Career in Nursing (270 words): The phrase “Whoever saves one life is saving all of humanity” from the Qur’an has always inspired me. It captures my deep desire to become a nurse to help save lives and improve the well-being of others. My name is Salihat Abdalla, and I am a first-generation Ethiopian-American. My journey toward nursing began at home, caring for my brother, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. He once walked and talked, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, he lost these abilities. Helping him with daily needs like feeding, changing, and hygiene became a significant responsibility. Despite his challenges, his energy and smile inspire me every day. Caring for him has taught me patience, compassion, and resilience, qualities I want to bring into my nursing career. Additionally, I recently lost my uncle, my biggest supporter outside my immediate family. He encouraged me from a young age to become a nurse so I could care for my loved ones as they grow older. His passing was deeply felt by my family and community, as he was always ready to help anyone in need. This loss strengthened my commitment to nursing and honoring his legacy by serving others with kindness and dedication. For me, nursing is more than a career. It is a calling rooted in faith, family, and a desire to bring hope and healing to those who need it most. 2. What “Human Touch” Means and Its Impact on Patient Care (380 words): To me, the phrase “human touch” means much more than physical contact. It represents the empathy and connection between caregivers and patients. Human touch is about recognizing the person behind the illness and showing care that goes beyond medical treatment. This is what I learn at school. Human Touch means to be a helping hand at home. I bring my all in trying to support my brother. Sometimes it's challenging because he can't verbally talk. Human touch is when I am patient with my brother, trying to understand what he needs, like if he needs his protein shake, wants the light on. One thing I do is I am in the nursing major at my school, so when I come home, he is my buddy, so I practice nursing skills on him, like the unit about making hospital beds. Human touch is getting people to participate with me and try to include them in activities like I do with my brother. The time when I was not old enough to volunteer directly in hospitals led me to find other areas to volunteer, such as the Oregon Food Bank, which is what human touch dignifies. It was when I stepped into my local food bank, packaging produce with groups of people. People dedicated to helping out the community. I learned a great deal from the Oregon Food Bank. It taught me the human touch when packaging food and produce. You do it out of love for your community because especially since not finding any healthcare area to volunteer in the Oregon food bank is a big deal. These small things will make a family's day happy when they are at the dinner table eating together. That is human touch, and it's felt through the heart because time is worthy, and being there, I used my time for a worthy cause; for that, I say I am grateful.

“Whoever saves one life is like saving all of humanity” (Qur’an 5:32). This resonates with me, as I want to be a nurse to help save lives and improve my patients’ well-being. My name is Salihat Abdalla; I am a first-generation Ethiopian-American student. As I begin my journey to becoming a nurse, I will work hard to help my parents economically. It's the least I can do for them, as they have worked very hard for me and my siblings so that we are safe and healthy. They’ve made sure I have similar experiences as children my age, like going to Sea World. They also support us in small ways, like making my favorite food. They both drop us off at school and make sure we’re invested in our education while providing a roof over our heads. My parents did not come to the U.S. with money. My dad worked in a car park, and my mom worked as a hotel cleaner. They both made sacrifices so my siblings and I could have a better life. Recently, I lost my uncle, who was my biggest supporter outside of my immediate family. When I was younger, he encouraged me to become a nurse so I could take care of my family as they grew older. His loss has been difficult for my family and me. My entire community was impacted by his death because he supported everyone and went above and beyond for others, even strangers. I applied and was accepted to Benson Polytechnic High School, where I am currently a Health Occupations student. I have an emphasis in nursing and have had clinical rotations, which have solidified my goal of pursuing a nursing degree. I’ve learned hands-on skills in my classes, which, paired with my empathy, will better the experiences of my future patients. My extracurriculars include Health Occupations Students of America, the basketball team, starting the Muslim Student Association, the National Honor Society, and Snitchzer Care, which supports nonprofit organizations. I interned with the MLK Dream Run, where I helped with the street team, social media, podcast, and phone banking. I’ve also volunteered at the Portland Veterans Hospital and have continuously volunteered at my mosque. I have been independently navigating the journey toward higher education without help from a family member. This means I’ve also been seeking support from college coordinators and mentors. My desire to become a nurse started at home, by helping my parents take care of my brother, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I look forward to helping families access healthcare regardless of whether they can afford it. I plan to advocate for the care of families who are not financially privileged. I also want to use my experience as a nurse to learn about people from different backgrounds because I am interested in learning about others. My degree will not only benefit me, but it will also benefit my family and community. I want to help my parents by giving back to them with what I gain from my education. They’ve shown me how to care for others, and I want to follow their example. I hope you will consider me as a candidate for this scholarship so that I can support my family, honor my uncle, and continue my journey toward becoming a nurse.