My desire to enter the nursing field started at an early age. From watching my mother be a nurse and the interesting and funny stories she came home with to seeing the depiction of the healthcare field on television, my interest started to spark. The act of helping someone and making their day is something I love to do, why not do that daily? I started to take my interest in the healthcare field more seriously in high school. I knew that this was the time to prepare me for college and take advantage of all opportunities available. Taking medical related classes in high school and participating in HOSA (Future Health Professionals), a program designed to empower students who are interested in healthcare. Throughout this program, I was able to learn about “Stop the Bleed,” visited the shock trauma center, attended HOSA conferences, and helped repair wheelchairs. I felt inspired listening to current healthcare professionals speak about their career and how they got started in their specialties. PLTW (Project Lead the Way), was a STEM program I was in during my high school years. The program has given me a head start on different courses I am taking in my first year of college. When I thought about specialties, labor and delivery was the first thing I leaned towards. I wanted to be one of the nurses that provide support and comfort to families and their new additions to their family. With this, I wanted to work to lower the maternal mortality rate for Black women during childbirth. Many Black women have lost their lives due to systematic racism, neglect, and lack of access to care. I wanted to be the nurse that those victims unfortunately did not have. However, true crime has always been an interest of mine. I would research different specialties in nursing that involve criminal justice. That is when I came across forensic nursing and it caught my eye as a specialty that I could see myself in. When I watch documentaries about real stories, the process of investigations and solving the case is fascinating to me. I would imagine how healthcare professionals, specifically nurses, play a part in these stories. I have three years left in college and I still wonder what would fit best for me when I enter the nursing field. Would I want to be a travel nurse? Do I enjoy faster or slower paced jobs? There are so many different paths to choose from. Overall, I still have a long way to go, my journey is just beginning, it will surely be a fun ride, and I cannot wait until I see R.N next to my name.

My unique contribution I would give to the world is a non-profit organization called "Protect Your Mental Universe" which holds mental health group discussions in a small studio space every Monday and Friday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The organization would also allow private sessions available that are one-on-one. "Protect Your Mental Universe" is an organization that I would design specifically for BIPOC youth to have a safe space to discuss their mental health challenges. While designed for the youth, all ages are eligible to join. The space will provide calming music, snacks, group discussions, and a Saturday dance class with a mental health check-in at the end of class. Dance is how I express myself. I am able to disconnect from any problems I am going through and release my emotions. I want other BIPOC dancers in my community to have the studio space to do the same. To ensure that members of the group will have good resources during the week, rented self-help books from the local library and a list of crisis hotlines will be sent out to everyone.