One of the proudest moments of my life was giving birth to my son. That was until I realized that I was a single mother working as a host at a restaurant. I took stock of my life and the life I wanted for my son. I knew I needed to start a career, but I still had a long road ahead since I did not finish high school. Within a year, I obtained my diploma and my driver's license, but my pursuit into nursing had not come to fruition yet. Every step was leading me in the right direction. I started my career in eyecare which is where I eventually would find my passion. What started as just another job turned out to be the exact thing I needed. Optometry led me to nursing. Over time it was clear I was focusing more on the medical aspects of eyecare instead of the glasses or contact prescription which is what most optometry clinics focus on. I was focusing on how different disease processes affect the eyes, cause blindness, hemorrhages, vision changes, and even how medications affect the eyes. This is what I knew I had to learn. It took a few years of learning and building the courage, but I switched to ophthalmology. This change into a medical practice drew me even deeper into the disease processes and the medications to treat them. How every disease the patients had not only affected their eyes, but their entire bodies. I had to know more! This was the moment I knew I had found my passion! I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to learn about these diseases and how to care for people with them. I began my nursing career working on a blended unit in a hospital. I worked in the burn unit which held ICU, med surg, and step-down patients. This unit was a great place to learn about different types of patients and experience each acuity of patient. I learned so much about hemodynamics and how burns and wounds create a cascade of issues that can become critical very quickly. Learning more about the critical aspects in nursing enforced my drive to continue to help patients in every way I can. I feel that it is time for the next step in my career. I have now received both my associate and bachelor's degrees in nursing, and I am ready to continue learning. Becoming a nurse practitioner has been my next goal since I started nursing school. I want to be more knowledgeable about disease processes and how to treat them. I want to work to heal patients or aid in the transition in the next stages in their lives. I want to work with nurses and encourage them to pursue their goals. I hope that by pursuing this next step in my career I can continue serving my community. I hope to continue working in not for profit hospitals and providing the best care I can for those who need help. By being chosen for this scholarship I will be able to do that. This scholarship will aid in my ability to afford the DNP program that will allow me to gain the knowledge to be a great nurse practitioner, leader, and coworker to others who may pursue a similar path as I have. I will continue fighting for those who are less fortunate and need their voices to be heard. I will always be an advocate for my patients.

One of the proudest moments of my life was giving birth to my son. That was until I realized that I was a single mother working as a host at a restaurant. I took stock of my life and the life I wanted for my son. I knew I needed to start a career, but I still had a long road ahead since I did not finish high school. Within a year, I obtained my diploma and my driver's license, but my pursuit into nursing had not come to fruition yet. Every step was leading me in the right direction. I started my career in eyecare which is where I eventually would find my passion. What started as just another job turned out to be the exact thing I needed. Optometry led me to nursing. Over time it was clear I was focusing more on the medical aspects of eyecare instead of the glasses or contact prescription which is what most optometry clinics focus on. I was focusing on how different disease processes affect the eyes, cause blindness, hemorrhages, vision changes, and even how medications affect the eyes. This is what I knew I had to learn. It took a few years of learning and building the courage, but I switched to ophthalmology. This change into a medical practice drew me even deeper into the disease processes and the medications to treat them. How every disease the patients had not only affected their eyes, but their entire bodies. I had to know more! This was the moment I knew I had found my passion! I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to learn about these diseases and how to care for people with them. I started my college career while working full time and being a single mother. The classes were partially online and partially on campus. The ability to attend class online is the only way I was able to obtain all of my degrees. There were points my son had to go to class with me and sit in the corner of class or just outside the door which was extremely difficult, but I think it helped him to understand the hardwork it takes to achieve your dreams. I began my nursing career working on a blended unit in a hospital. I worked in the burn unit which held ICU, med surg, and step-down patients. This unit was a great place to learn about different types of patients and experience each acuity of patient. Learning more about the critical aspects in nursing enforced my drive to continue to help patients in every way I can. This scholarship will aid in my ability to afford the DNP program that will allow me to gain the knowledge to be a great nurse practitioner, leader, and coworker to others who may pursue a similar path as I have. I want to be more knowledgeable about disease processes and how to treat them. I want to work to heal patients or aid in the transition in the next stages in their lives. I want to work with nurses and encourage them to pursue their goals. By being chosen for this scholarship I will be able to do that. I want to show my son that no matter what you start out with you can achieve your dreams and goals. He will see the hard work I put into our life and this opportunity will allow me more financial freedom to help him pursue his dreams without taking on as much debt as I have had to along the way.

One of the proudest moments of my life was giving birth to my son. That was until I realized that I was a single mother working as a host at a restaurant. I took stock of my life and the life I wanted for my son. I knew I needed to start a career, but I still had a long road ahead since I did not finish high school. Within a year, I obtained my diploma and my driver's license, but my pursuit into nursing had not come to fruition yet. Every step was leading me in the right direction. I started my career in eyecare which is where I eventually would find my passion. What started as just another job turned out to be the exact thing I needed. Optometry led me to nursing. Over time it was clear I was focusing more on the medical aspects of eyecare instead of the glasses or contact prescription which is what most optometry clinics focus on. I was focusing on how different disease processes affect the eyes, cause blindness, hemorrhages, vision changes, and even how medications affect the eyes. This is what I knew I had to learn. It took a few years of learning and building the courage, but I switched to ophthalmology. This change into a medical practice drew me even deeper into the disease processes and the medications to treat them. How every disease the patients had not only affected their eyes, but their entire bodies. I had to know more! This was the moment I knew I had found my passion! I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to learn about these diseases and how to care for people with them. I began my nursing career working on a blended unit in a hospital. I worked in the burn unit which held ICU, med surg, and step-down patients. This unit was a great place to learn about different types of patients and experience each acuity of patient. I learned so much about hemodynamics and how burns and wounds create a cascade of issues that can become critical very quickly. Learning more about the critical aspects in nursing enforced my drive to continue to help patients in every way I can. I feel that it is time for the next step in my career. I have now received both my associate and bachelor's degrees in nursing, and I am ready to continue learning. Becoming a nurse practitioner has been my next goal since I started nursing school. I want to be more knowledgeable about disease processes and how to treat them. I want to work to heal patients or aid in the transition in the next stages in their lives. I want to work with nurses and encourage them to pursue their goals. By being granted this scholarship I would be able to do that. It would help me to pay for school which would allow me to gain the knowledge to be a great nurse practitioner, leader, and coworker to others who may pursue a similar path as I have.

One of the proudest moments of my life was giving birth to my son. That was until I realized that I was a single mother working as a host at a restaurant. I took stock of my life and the life I wanted for my son. I knew I needed to start a career, but I still had a long road ahead since I did not finish high school. Within a year, I obtained my diploma and my driver's license, but my pursuit into nursing had not come to fruition yet. Every step was leading me in the right direction. I started my career in eyecare which is where I eventually would find my passion. What started as just another job turned out to be the exact thing I needed. Optometry led me to nursing. Over time it was clear I was focusing more on the medical aspects of eyecare instead of the glasses or contact prescription which is what most optometry clinics focus on. I was focusing on how different disease processes affect the eyes, cause blindness, hemorrhages, vision changes, and even how medications affect the eyes. This is what I knew I had to learn. It took a few years of learning and building the courage, but I switched to ophthalmology. This change into a medical practice drew me even deeper into the disease processes and the medications to treat them. How every disease the patients had not only affected their eyes, but their entire bodies. I had to know more! This was the moment I knew I had found my passion! I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to learn about these diseases and how to care for people with them. I started my college career while working full time and being a single mother. The classes were partially online and partially on campus. The ability to attend class online is the only way I was able to obtain all of my degrees. Obtaining my associates degree, LPN, bachelors, and RN were all hybrid degrees. There were points my son had to go to class with me and sit in the corner of class or just outside the door which was extremely difficult, but I think it helped him to understand the hardwork it takes to achieve your dreams. I began my nursing career working on a blended unit in a hospital. I worked in the burn unit which held ICU, med surg, and step-down patients. This unit was a great place to learn about different types of patients and experience each acuity of patient. Learning more about the critical aspects in nursing enforced my drive to continue to help patients in every way I can. On this unit I have been able work three- twelve hour shifts a week leaving time to be a mom and student, but I feel that it is time for the next step in my career. This scholarship will aid in my ability to afford the DNP program that will allow me to gain the knowledge to be a great nurse practitioner, leader, and coworker to others who may pursue a similar path as I have. Becoming a nurse practitioner has been my next goal since I started nursing school. I want to be more knowledgeable about disease processes and how to treat them. I want to work to heal patients or aid in the transition in the next stages in their lives. I want to work with nurses and encourage them to pursue their goals. By being chosen for this scholarship I will be able to do that. I want to show my son that no matter what you start out with you can achieve your dreams and goals. He will see the hard work I put into our life and this opportunity will allow me more financial freedom to help him pursue his dreams without taking on as much debt as I have had to along the way.

One of the proudest moments of my life was giving birth to my son. That was until I realized that I was a single mother working as a host at a restaurant. I took stock of my life and the life I wanted for my son. I knew I needed to start a career, but I still had a long road ahead since I did not finish high school. Within a year, I obtained my diploma and my driver's license, but my pursuit into nursing had not come to fruition yet. Every step was leading me in the right direction. I started my career in eyecare which is where I eventually would find my passion. What started as just another job turned out to be the exact thing I needed. Optometry led me to nursing. Over time it was clear I was focusing more on the medical aspects of eyecare instead of the glasses or contact prescription which is what most optometry clinics focus on. I was focusing on how different disease processes affect the eyes, cause blindness, hemorrhages, vision changes, and even how medications affect the eyes. This is what I knew I had to learn. It took a few years of learning and building the courage, but I switched to ophthalmology. This change into a medical practice drew me even deeper into the disease processes and the medications to treat them. How every disease the patients had not only affected their eyes, but their entire bodies. I had to know more! This was the moment I knew I had found my passion! I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to learn about these diseases and how to care for people with them. I began my nursing career working on a blended unit in a hospital. I worked in the burn unit which held ICU, med surg, and step-down patients. This unit was a great place to learn about different types of patients and experience each acuity of patient. I learned so much about hemodynamics and how burns and wounds create a cascade of issues that can become critical very quickly. Learning more about the critical aspects in nursing enforced my drive to continue to help patients in every way I can. I feel that it is time for the next step in my career. I have now received both my associate and bachelor's degrees in nursing, and I am ready to continue learning. Becoming a nurse practitioner has been my next goal since I started nursing school. I want to be more knowledgeable about disease processes and how to treat them. I want to work to heal patients or aid in the transition in the next stages in their lives. I want to work with nurses and encourage them to pursue their goals. By being chosen for this scholarship I will be able to do that. This scholarship will aid in my ability to afford the DNP program that will allow me to gain the knowledge to be a great nurse practitioner, leader, and coworker to others who may pursue a similar path as I have.