To whom it may concern, My name is Selina Copaciu and I work as a caregiver for a healthcare service in Sacramento, California. I am also in the Army National Guard. The military has been a great stepping stone in achieving my greatest desire which is to become a registered nurse. I have a fierce desire to learn and the body has always fascinated me. We are made very intricately and I consider it to be my greatest challenge to learn, study and heal those in need. If you grant me this scholarship I will do my very best to use it in hopes of achieving this dream and making a difference in the world. My first exposure to the medical field took place in my senior year of high school. I joined a medical regional occupational program that allowed me to shadow and provide basic care to patients at Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville, Ca. I was able to follow a radiologic technologist and learn some of the basics concerning imaging, bones and fractures. I also had the opportunity to follow a nurse in pediatrics which proved most rewarding. I learned the basics concerning vitals, vaccinations and preventative care. Although I was young, I immediately had a appreciation for those who work in the hospital and it encouraged me to further my education in this direction. My next experience in the medical field would come from volunteer work at Kaiser Permanente in Roseville, Ca. I completed 95 hours of volunteer work and was forced to quit when COVID-19 broke out. I was given the opportunity to work in the emergency room caring for a variety of patients who came in to seek attention. This was by far the greatest experience I've ever had working and helping to heal people. I was able to help with basic care such as changing bedding, retrieving meals and handing out blankets. I was able to sit with patients and provide bedside care. I was also able to see various operations and imaging done on patients such as a ventilation/perfusion scan. Working as a volunteer taught me how to be selfless and encouraged me to strive even further in the medical field so I could come back and make a bigger difference as a nurse. My family is not an ordinary family. I am the oldest of nine children and my father is a first generation immigrant. I am the first to graduate college and to enter the army. I am married with two children and I have an obligation to my family to achieve my dream as an example that it can be done. My desire will not fade because sick people need help and someone needs to help them. I want to be that person. I want to make that change. My only barrier is the financial burden it will put on my family. Please consider me for your scholarship and I will use it to further my education and save peoples lives.