I’ve always imagined myself in the medical field. I played doctor and always took care of siblings. I’ve always watched nursing skills performed. Being the oldest of three kids, and eight grandchildren helped nurture my feelings of wanting to take care of others. I know I want to go to school for nursing. My aunt told me, “I see so much potential in you to join me in the medical field, and there’s not many people that look like us. I could really use your help.” This has motivated me to work towards my goal of becoming a nurse. I realized growing up, there were not many black people within the medical field. I want to be a part of the change because no one in my family blocked my goals. I want to inspire other children that may feel they can't do what they want because of gender or race. I want to encourage them the way my family encouraged me. My great grandmother and grandfather were the main source of encouragement for me. Even though my great grandmother and grandfather weren't in the medical field, they still inspired me. My great-grandmother lived with cancer and I didn't know until the year she passed. As I watched her slowly deteriorate, I knew I wanted to help take care of her when I watched how hospice cared for her. The gentle demeanor and kind words helped me feel better, even though their comforting words weren’t for me. I felt helpless since I wasn’t able to care for her like she cared for me. The only thing I could do was read to her and offer my presence. It was then I realized there were others out there sick like her, and I would do anything to help them. I want other families to feel comfortable and know their loved ones are being cared for. I want to be a great caregiver like those who cared for her. She solidified the starting point of motivating me to do real medical work, but my grandfather encouraged me to go to college and be the best nurse I can. My grandfather was very supportive of me going into the medical field. He was always helping me study and checked my progress throughout school. Suddenly, he started to get sick. Which was scary for me. He was in a way, the glue that held the family together. I always had hope that if I willed it, he would get better. Soon enough, I knew and he knew, that wasn’t going to happen. He wanted me to help care for him once he got sick. I would get him food and other small tasks, but sometimes all he would want was my presence. So, I would just sit with him and watch TV or we would just sit and talk. Then, the pandemic hit. We were placed on a stay-at-home order and I could no longer visit. He got so sick that he was admitted to the hospital. He could only have one person stay with him. I called him, for what I didn't know would be the last time. Before we hung up, he told me, “You have one of the brightest minds in this family. I know that you can go on to be one of the best.” That really motivated me to keep going and work hard because it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know I will make it through school, finding a job and being proud with my work.

I come from a family of nurses so I always imagined myself in the medical field. I played doctor and always took care of siblings. Being the oldest of three kids, and eight grandchildren helped nurture my feelings of wanting to take care of others. I know I want to go to school for nursing. My aunt told me, “I see so much potential in you to join me in the medical field, and there’s not many people that look like us. So, I could really use your help.” This has motivated me to work towards my goal of becoming a nurse. I realized growing up, there were not many black people within the medical field. I want to be a part of the change because no one in my family blocked my goals. I want to inspire other children that may feel they can't do what they want because of gender or race. I want to encourage them the way my family encouraged me. My great grandmother and grandfather were the main source of encouragement for me. Even though my great grandmother and grandfather weren't in the medical field, they still inspired me. My great-grandmother lived with cancer and I didn't know until the year she passed. As I watched her slowly deteriorate, I knew I wanted to help take care of her when I watched how hospice cared for her. The gentle demeanor and kind words helped me feel better, even though their comforting words weren’t for me. I felt helpless since I wasn’t able to care for her like she cared for me. The only thing I could do was read to her and offer my presence. It was then I realized there were others out there sick like her, and I would do anything to help them. I want other families to feel comfortable and know their loved ones are being cared for. I want to be a great caregiver like those who cared for her. She solidified the starting point of motivating me to do real medical work, but my grandfather encouraged me to go to college and be the best nurse I can. My grandfather was very supportive of me going into the medical field. He was always helping me study and checked my progress throughout school. Suddenly, he started to get sick. Which was scary for me. He was in a way, the glue that held the family together. I always had hope that if I willed it, he would get better. Soon enough, I knew and he knew, that wasn’t going to happen. He wanted me to help care for him once he got sick. I would get him food and other small tasks, but sometimes all he would want was my presence. So, I would just sit with him and watch TV or we would just sit and talk. Then, the pandemic hit. We were placed on a stay-at-home order and I could no longer visit. He got so sick that he was admitted to the hospital. He could only have one person stay with him. I called him, for what I didn't know would be the last time. Before we hung up, he told me, “You have one of the brightest minds in this family. I know that you can go on to be one of the best.” That really motivated me to keep going and work hard because it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know I will make it through school, finding a job and being proud with my work.

I come from a family of nurses so I always imagined myself in the medical field. I played doctor and always took care of siblings. I’ve always watched nursing skills performed. Being the oldest of three kids, and eight grandchildren helped nurture my feelings of wanting to take care of others. I am proud to be a black female because I've had to work harder than most. I know that people of color have to work hard to get what they want. I know I want to go to school for nursing. My aunt told me once, “I see so much potential in you to join me in the medical field, and there’s not many people that look like me and you. So, I could really use your help.” This has motivated me to work towards my goal of becoming a nurse. I realized growing up, there were not many black people within the medical field. I want to be a part of the change because no one in my family blocked my goals. I want to inspire other children that may feel they can't do what they want because of gender or race. I want to encourage them the way my family encouraged me. My great grandmother and grandfather were the main source of encouragement for me. Even though my great grandmother and grandfather weren't in the medical field, they still inspired me. My great-grandmother lived with cancer and I didn't know until the year she passed. As I watched her slowly deteriorate, I knew I wanted to help take care of her when I watched how hospice cared for her. The gentle demeanor and kind words helped me feel better, even though their comforting words weren’t for me. I felt helpless since I wasn’t able to care for her like she cared for me. The only thing I could do was read to her and offer my presence. It was then I realized there were others out there sick like her, and I would do anything to help them. I want other families to feel comfortable and know their loved ones are being cared for. I want to be a great caregiver like those who cared for her. She solidified the starting point of motivating me to do real medical work, but my grandfather encouraged me to go to college and be the best nurse I can. My grandfather was very supportive of me going into the medical field. He was always helping me study and checked my progress throughout school. Suddenly, he started to get sick. Which was scary for me. He was in a way, the glue that held the family together. I always had hope that if I willed it, he would get better. Soon enough, I knew and he knew, that wasn’t going to happen. He wanted me to help care for him once he got sick. I would get him food and other small tasks, but sometimes all he would want was my presence. So, I would just sit with him and watch TV or we would just sit and talk. Then, the pandemic hit. We were placed on a stay-at-home order and I could no longer visit. He got so sick that he was admitted to the hospital. He could only have one person stay with him. I called him, for what I didn't know would be the last time. Before we hung up, he told me, “You have one of the brightest minds in this family. I know that you can go on to be one of the best.” That really motivated me to keep going and work hard because it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know I will make it through school, finding a job and being proud with my work.

I come from a family of nurses so I always imagined myself in the medical field. I played doctor and always took care of siblings. I’ve always watched nursing skills performed. Being the oldest of three kids, and eight grandchildren helped nurture my feelings of wanting to take care of others. I am proud to be a black female because I've had to work harder than most. I know that people of color have to work hard to get what they want. I know I want to go to school for nursing. I realized growing up, there were not many black people within the medical field. I want to be a part of the change because no one in my family blocked my goals. I want to inspire other children that may feel they can't do what they want because of gender or race. I want to encourage them the way my family encouraged me. My great grandmother and grandfather were the main source of encouragement for me. Even though my great grandmother and grandfather weren't in the medical field, they still inspired me. My great-grandmother lived with cancer and I didn't know until the year she passed. As I watched her slowly deteriorate, I knew I wanted to help take care of her when I watched how hospice cared for her. The gentle demeanor and kind words helped me feel better, even though their comforting words weren’t for me. I felt helpless since I wasn’t able to care for her like she cared for me. The only thing I could do was read to her and offer my presence. It was then I realized there were others out there sick like her, and I would do anything to help them. I want other families to feel comfortable and know their loved ones are being cared for. I want to be a great caregiver like those who cared for her. She solidified the starting point of motivating me to do real medical work, but my grandfather encouraged me to go to college and be the best nurse I can. My grandfather was very supportive of me going into the medical field. He was always helping me study and checked my progress throughout school. Suddenly, he started to get sick. Which was scary for me. He was in a way, the glue that held the family together. I always had hope that if I willed it, he would get better. Soon enough, I knew and he knew, that wasn’t going to happen. He wanted me to help care for him once he got sick. I would get him food and other small tasks, but sometimes all he would want was my presence. So, I would just sit with him and watch TV or we would just sit and talk. Then, the pandemic hit. We were placed on a stay-at-home order and I could no longer visit. He got so sick that he was admitted to the hospital. He could only have one person stay with him. I called him, for what I didn't know would be the last time. Before we hung up, he told me, “You have one of the brightest minds in this family. I know that you can go on to be one of the best.” That really motivated me to keep going and work hard because it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know I will make it through school, finding a job and being proud with my work.