I am pursuing a career in nursing because of how great of an impact nurses have had on my life. The first time I can recall wanting to be a nurse was when my oldest brother had his first seizure. After six months of sporadic seizures, my brother was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of twenty. This news was frightening because epilepsy was not common in my family. Watching how the nurse comforted my mom by easily explaining the diagnosis to her level of understanding was highly admirable. I was fascinated by her combination of expert knowledge and gentle nature. One year later, my brother’s identical twin was also diagnosed with the same seizure disorder. This hit my family twice as hard as the first diagnosis, and put my mom in a state of panic. However, watching how the same exact nurse was able to care for both of my brothers while also making sure my mom was always informed on the latest updates was when I knew I wanted to be that comfort to patients and their loved ones in their time of need. I am genuinely motivated by the future of nursing, this is a career path that is always progressing. I am genuinely interested in the never ending learning that the field has to offer. Nursing, to me, is not just a job, it is a chance to comfort patients and their loved ones through the art of science based care. I want to be the type of person that my mom sought out just a few years ago. I have specifically chosen to pursue a career in pediatric nursing because I have been passionate about working with children since I was a teenager. I began babysitting and nannying for children of all ages once I started junior high and have kept this as my side hustle and passion project ever since, working with children all throughout middle school, high school and college. Working with children and being there to witness personal milestones in their development is so powerful to me. My passion for working with children continued when I was granted a volunteer/shadowing position at Hasbro Children's Hospital in their partial program. For five months I was fortunate to be under the wing of the head Registered Dietitian in the program. My responsibilities included logging the nutrient intake of patients with eating disorders, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. I also learned how to calculate and give replacement feedings for patients with eating disorders who did not consume their meals. Towards the end of my volunteer experience, I was sitting in on patient consults with parents, psychologists, physicians, nurses, and teachers. Lastly, a special project of mine included a database for the program which contained all of the diabetic exchanges for food options in the hospital’s kitchen. This volunteer experience taught me how each branch in the medical field is able to collaborate and be successful in the treatment of each patient. This experience made my dream much clearer that working with children was something I was not willing to give up any time soon.

I believe that the biggest problem facing the world right now is burnout amongst essential workers. The coronavirus has impacted how each and every one of us goes about our day to day lives. Essential workers, including health care workers, those who work in food and agriculture, and those in the services industry make up over 60% of the workforce in the United States. Last winter, the American Psychological Association reported that 54% of essential workers relied on unhealthy habits just to get through the pandemic. In addition, the APA also reported that an astounding 34% of essential workers received treatment from a mental health professional. Burnout can effect each individual differently. One who complains of burnout may feel tired, anxious, overwhelmed, unmotivated, stressed, depressed and hopeless from their jobs. Essential workers are exactly that, essential. But why is it that the most vital individuals in the workforce are commonly overworked, underpaid, under appreciated, and worked to their breaking point? Because such a large amount of individuals fall under this category, not enough people are talking about solutions to combat this national problem. Large corporations, such as hospitals need to find an adequate solution for nurses, doctors, and other health care employees so that they remain motivated to return to work. It shouldn't be this difficult to show appreciation and respect towards these heroic figures who not too long ago were at the front lines of a pandemic. Support is necessary now more than ever for employees to offer to their employers and it needs to be recognized that if an individual is feeling physically, mentally, or emotionally unwell, all need to be recognized in a similar manner.

To me, a great book isn't just a book you read cover to cover and immediately put on the shelf to collect dust for years to come. A great book is one that is read, reread, highlighted, indented, recommended and quoted frequently. It is one that has potential to change your perspective and way of life. To me, this book is Atomic Habits by James Clear. Atomic Habits has changed how I view my days and outlook on my future. This nonfiction piece goes into depth on the power of habit building. This practice can be utilized in all aspects of our daily lives including our career, academics, health and wellness, relationships, and many more. Personally, I have used a lot of the tips when I got back into running. The tip I utilized into my everyday life that I now suggest to others who seem to have a hard time sticking to a regimen is what Clear calls the Paper Clip Strategy of Visual Progress Measurements. For example, I wanted to get back into running but I wanted to start slow so I would stick to habit of going on small runs everyday. My ultimate goal was to run 2 miles a day for the entire month of March. On my desk I had two jars, one with 31 paper clips on the left and one jar with 0 paper clips on the right. Each day after my run I would place a paper clip in the right jar so I had a visual of my goal. Atomic Habits by James Clear has been on my desk since the week I bought it. I recommend this book to anyone who feels like their stuck and are unable to tackle a goal or dream that has been on their mind.

A fact that I was recently told that I still have not been able to get my head around is that over forty percent of college students are currently taking some form of psychotropic medication to cure a variety of illnesses such as depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and other mental or emotional health struggles. Some students are taking to nicotine, alcohol and excessive screen time to help cope with their high levels of stress, simply because it is quick, easy to access, and the most common form of relief amongst this age group. I believe a practical solution to help students with mental health is to incorporate a mandatory graduation requirement that incorporates healthy habits in a college student's daily schedule. As an individual who suffers with anxiety some of the healthiest ways to overcome obsessive thinking and nerves were by simply walking outside, cooking my favorite meals, yoga, meditation, writing, kickboxing, swimming, basically anything that got my mind off of school work and deadlines. This implication would be a 1-credit requirement that the student would be able to pick from a list of offerings to help ease their mind from the stresses of day-to-day college life. Most college students find it difficult to incorporate 30 to 60 minutes of their day to just one healthy habit because their mind is filled with to do lists. I believe that if this time is implemented into a students schedule and they are required to incorporate self care practices into their daily life, anxiety and depression rates would greatly decrease amongst college students.

If we were to go back in time and interview my seventeen year old self, she would have seemed confident but deep down she has no idea what she wanted to be after college, how to study for her college level courses, how to live with six other girls her age who were in the same position, and how she was going to maintain a part time job while being a full time student. Millions of students today can agree with this feeling. This constant anxiety has become so common that it's completely brushed to the side and is considered normal. Why is it that so many students are sleep deprived, binge eating, and cramming for exams just trying to memorize information until the exam is over? I will always be able to recall the feeling of being extremely drained and unmotivated at the end of my freshman year, a time that was supposed to be so fresh, new and liberating. If I were to change one thing about education, it would be to put a greater emphasis on the importance of mental health. Currently, over 17% of college students are on antidepressants. I believe it's now time to consider if prescriptions are the only way to cure this feeling we are all having at this age. Why is it at colleges of over fifteen thousand students, there are only about half a dozen free therapists for the entire campus? And why is it that students are waiting until their breaking point to seek help? If I were to start a fresh blue print of a college campus, it would be filled with free counseling where students are able to talk about their struggles about school, work, and personal life transitions in general. Students would be encouraged and constantly reminded to take more breaks, eat healthier, set limits with screen time and exposure to apps such as TikTok and Instagram, increasing activity level, not to be skinny but to release the endorphins our body builds up on such draining days. If I had been told these things as a seventeen year old, maybe I would have been able to consider my freshman year as the happiest time of my life.

Much like the rest of Rhode Islanders, I can't imagine leaving a state that has everything you need within a thirty minute drive. We as Rhode Islander’s have grown up in a community where everyone knows each other and will support each other through some of the toughest times. For this reason, Rhode Island has made such a lasting impact on where I plan to pursue my future career as a nurse. I am currently enrolled in UMASS Dartmouth’s Accelerated Nursing Program where I plan to obtain my second bachelor’s degree by December of 2023. Once I have completed this program, I have full intentions of moving back to Rhode Island and working as a registered nurse at Hasbro Children’s Hospital where I have previous volunteer experience in their partial program. My short term goal is to use my first few years as a new nurse to develop professionally and to lay a foundation for my future. To achieve this goal, I also plan to set aside at least three weekends each year for attending workshops and seminars to remain up to date in my practice. Lastly, a long term goal I have set for myself is to receive my Master’s Degree in Nursing at one of Rhode Island’s universities within five years of receiving my second bachelor’s. To achieve this goal, I will enroll in at least two courses each semester while working full time. I aspire to care for a community that has raised me and cheered for me throughout this entire process.

I love nature because its my favorite way to escape the claustrophobia of the indoors. I have always been one of those people who cured their nerves and anxiety by "getting some air" or "taking a quick walk outside". The outdoors is where the things I value most take place. The bike path I run on, the ocean I swim in, the grass I work on, all offer the same freeing headspace that helps me function. Every chance I have, I try to show some appreciation to nature. I live on a small island called Block Island and an artist in my neighborhood hides glass orbs throughout the island to get people to enjoy the simple pleasures and natural beauty of the island. Thousands of tourists visit each summer to press their luck in this treasure hunt, but I am lucky enough to hike every day in search of an orb. Even though I haven't been successful yet, I have collected over 50 grocery bags worth of litter during my hikes to reciprocate my appreciation towards the glass project. After my first quest trying to find an orb, I realized that I was going to be walking on these trails anyways, the least I could do is bring a bag with me to pick up any garbage I found along the way. In doing so, I have helped this island maintain its beauty and prevented wildlife from consuming any harmful litter. I want to be able to share my love for this beautiful island with the thousands who visit and cannot think of a better way of giving back.

It has taken me countless trials and errors to figure out what studying strategy lands the highest grades. I can confirm, repeatedly turning over flashcards does not help me retain any information. What I have discovered, in over eighteen years of schooling, is 15 minutes every single day goes a lot farther than a four hour cram session at the library the night before a big test. The first step to changing how you study is to change the system. The method I have currently been utilizing to develop a strong studying habit is what some call the paperclip method. I learned this habit from the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. On my desk I started with a glass jar of exactly 100 paperclips and placed an empty glass jar beside it. Every day, I have an alarm that goes off on my phone at exactly 6:00. When this alarm goes off, no matter what I am doing, I sit at my desk and write down three things I am not confident about in the material that I am learning. Then, I write down three things I am currently learning that I would be able to teach someone else. Then, returning to the three topics that need improvement, I will rewrite my notes only from that section on a piece of paper three times each and say it aloud three times after that. Once I am done with this 15 minute task, I take one of the paperclips in the jar and put it in the jar beside it. Once I have repeated this task for 100 days in a row, I reward myself with whatever I have my eye on. The best part is, by day 100 this habit is a part of my daily routine.

All of us have experienced generous acts in some way: whether that be having our coffee being paid for by the individual in front of us at the drive thru, donating cans of soup for a local food drive, or even just donating a couple vials of blood at a blood drive. Each of these examples seem fairly simplistic, but when you look at the bigger picture, generosity is what keeps a community functioning. When we participate in these generous acts, we are not expecting anything in return. In fact, most of the time, we personally will never meet the individual we are helping. We choose to participate in these acts because we believe that if we are in need of something, our community would reciprocate the favor when it is our time to receive, and vice versa. I am grateful to live in a community that when individuals are suffering, instead of keeping our heads down and waiting for the hard times to pass, we all gather and take action. A close family friend of mine recently suffered a brain injury that put him in the ICU for over four months. His family, already living paycheck to paycheck, couldn't wrap their heads around how they were going to pay the hospital bills while also coping with the long road to recovery for their son. My community hosted a handful of events where we were able to fundraise nearly $100,000 towards his recovery. His family is now able to focus on being there for their son while he regains his strength and abilities, without having to constantly worry about the financial burden of their hospital bill.

Over the past six months, my 84-year-old grandmother has been battling the long-term effects of the coronavirus. I have watched my grandmother, who was once independent, become reliant on a visiting nurse twice per week, my grandfather, and me, for nearly all of her daily routine. As I took the lead when the visiting nurse could not, it solidified my goal of becoming a nurse. I took a period of my life when I could have been sad and worried about my grandmother, and turned it into action. I could have run away from the fire and offered my sympathy towards my grandmother's illness. However, I have always had the tendency to run towards the fire because this is where I am most comfortable. I want to be a nurse because I want to take my knowledge and be a part of the reason someone gains their health and independence back, to hug their grandchildren again. I want to make a difference in the field of nursing by offering my value of compassion and leading it towards a better future.