What inspired me to continue my education was the realization that I wanted more for myself, for my son, and for the patients I serve. My healthcare journey began in ophthalmology, where I was drawn to the science of vision. However, I realized I wanted to care for people more holistically. Nursing offered me the chance to grow across specialties and impact lives in more meaningful ways. The path to becoming a nurse and now a DNP student has been filled with adversity. I was raised by extended family because one parent was incarcerated and the other abandoned me to return to Mexico and start a new family. That instability left deep marks on my childhood but also fueled my commitment to be a present, supportive, and reliable parent for my own son. Over the past few years, I’ve faced challenges that tested me emotionally and spiritually. I’ve served as a caregiver for multiple family members during their final months, sitting by their side as they passed. These moments deepened my calling for end-of-life care and reinforced my belief that every person deserves a dignified and compassionate transition. I also experienced a personal mental health crisis that required inpatient care. That stay was both humbling and healing. It gave me insight into the realities many patients face and strengthened my resolve to advocate for better mental health support in nursing and in life. Adding to the weight of grief, I lost three of my dogs in the past year—each one a source of emotional comfort. Through this season of personal loss and hardship, I’ve learned that healing, purpose, and caregiving are deeply connected. Despite it all, I’ve remained committed to my education. I became an LPN in 2021, earned my BSN in 2022, and began my DNP in 2024. I currently work as an ICU nurse and plan to continue practicing in the Oklahoma City Metro area, focusing on mental health, end-of-life care, and access for LGBTQ+ communities. These groups are closest to my heart because I’ve lived parts of their stories and have seen the gaps in care they face. Oklahoma is my home. I was born and raised here, mostly in Western Oklahoma before moving to the OKC area at age 18. I don’t always fit the “Bible Belt” mold, but my roots run deep, and this is where I want to give back. As a single mom, managing school, work, and parenting has required resilience, structure, and grace. I’ve had to miss important moments with my son, working shifts and completing coursework late into the night. But I always come back to my “why.” I want to show my son that no matter how difficult your circumstances, you can create your own future. I want him to see that struggle doesn’t define you—perseverance does. This scholarship would help ease the financial burdens that come with graduate education covering tuition and textbooks and reducing my need to work extra shifts. That time saved would allow me to be more present for my son and more focused on my training as a future leader in healthcare. With this degree, and your support, I will continue to grow into a leader who advocates, uplifts, and serves with compassion, clarity, and a deep love for the people of Oklahoma.

My name is Shawny Miramontes. I am a proud first-generation Mexican American, a single mother to a teenage son, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student specializing in acute care nursing. My path to this point has been shaped by hardship, resilience, and an unwavering desire to create a better life for my family while serving those in need through compassionate and dignified care. My educational journey began in ophthalmology. I was fascinated by the science of vision and initially planned to build a career in that field. However, I soon realized that I wanted to be more than a specialist—I wanted to provide whole-person care across all stages of life. That realization led me to nursing, a profession where I could explore diverse areas of healthcare while making a lasting impact. I earned my associate degree in science in 2018, became an LPN in 2021, and completed my RN/BSN in 2022. I currently work as an ICU nurse in a mixed medical unit, and I am now two semesters into my DNP program. My “aha” moment came early, during my time in ophthalmology. A patient came in during a hypertensive crisis. Despite their efforts to improve their health, they had sustained irreversible damage: ruptured retinal vessels and a cholesterol clot that left them blind. The experience was heartbreaking—but it also gave me clarity. I didn’t want to stand by and observe illness. I wanted to step in before it was too late. I wanted to educate, advocate, and walk beside patients during their most vulnerable moments. While my specialty is in acute care, I ultimately hope to transition into hospice nursing. My long-term goal is to ensure that every patient is afforded a peaceful and dignified end-of-life experience. Having cared for critically ill individuals who may never regain their voice, I understand the importance of advocacy, comfort, and presence at the end of life. Balancing the demands of graduate school and single motherhood has been incredibly challenging. There is no one thing that makes it hard—it’s the combination of time management, financial strain, and maintaining mental health. I’ve had to work both days and nights, often sacrificing time with my son that I will never get back. But I do it because I want to give him a better future. I want him to see that no matter how hard life gets, we can keep going. I want him to know that he can dream big—and achieve it. Receiving this scholarship would make a meaningful difference. It would reduce the financial burden that comes with student loans and tuition, giving me the ability to focus more on school and my clinical work, and less on how to make ends meet. It would not only help pave the way for my future but also ease the path for my son’s future—allowing me to be more present, more stable, and more able to support his own dreams. Nursing is not just my profession—it is my purpose. And with the support of this scholarship, I can continue building a life that honors that purpose, uplifts my son, and brings comfort to the patients and families who need it most.

My name is Shawny Miramontes. I am a first-generation Mexican American on my father’s side, a single mother to a teenage son, and currently a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student specializing in acute care nursing. My journey into this field has been shaped by hardship, determination, and a deep commitment to caring for others—especially those who are most vulnerable. My early life was not easy. With my mother incarcerated during my childhood, I was raised by multiple family members, moving frequently and facing constant instability. Despite these challenges, I held on to the belief that I could create a better life for myself and my son. That belief has fueled every step of my educational and professional journey. I began college in 2018 with a focus on ophthalmology. I was fascinated by the eye and the science behind vision, but I quickly realized that I didn’t want to be limited to a single specialty. I wanted to work across various areas of health and make a more meaningful impact. That realization led me to nursing—a field where I could grow, connect, and truly make a difference. In 2021, I became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and started working in pediatric urgent care while continuing school. I earned my RN and completed my Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2022. I began working in a burn unit caring for patients across the continuum of acuity—from intensive care to those ready for discharge. I now work in a mixed medical ICU, where I provide care to some of the sickest patients and have developed critical thinking, leadership, and advocacy skills. My “aha” moment came during my time in ophthalmology, when I cared for a patient in hypertensive crisis who lost their vision due to a cholesterol clot in the optic nerve. Despite their efforts to improve their health, irreversible damage had occurred. That experience was heartbreaking and transformative—it made me realize I wanted to do more than observe illness. I wanted to step in, educate, advocate, and be a voice for patients when they need it most. Now, two semesters into my DNP program, I am committed to becoming an expert in acute care nursing. While I am not specializing in transcultural nursing, equitable and inclusive care is deeply important to me. I work in a Catholic hospital, where I often advocate for patients who may not conform to traditional expectations. I am proud to be a nurse who stands up for every patient—regardless of race, gender identity, beliefs, or background. Nursing has given me a voice, a purpose, and a future. I look forward to continuing my journey and making an even greater impact through advanced practice and compassionate leadership in acute care settings. I found out about this scholarship through the Bold.org website.

My name is Shawny Miramontes. I am a first-generation Mexican American on my father’s side, a single mother to a teenage son, and currently a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student specializing in acute care nursing. My journey into this field has been shaped by hardship, determination, and a deep commitment to caring for others—especially those who are most vulnerable. My early life was not easy. With my mother incarcerated during my childhood, I was raised by multiple family members, moving frequently and facing constant instability. Despite these challenges, I held on to the belief that I could create a better life for myself and my son. That belief has fueled every step of my educational and professional journey. I began college in 2018 with a focus on ophthalmology. I was fascinated by the eye and the science behind vision, but I quickly realized that I didn’t want to be limited to a single specialty. I wanted to work across various areas of health and make a more meaningful impact. That realization led me to nursing—a field where I could grow, connect, and truly make a difference. In 2021, I became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and started working in pediatric urgent care while continuing school. I earned my RN and completed my Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2022. I began working in a burn unit caring for patients across the continuum of acuity—from intensive care to those ready for discharge. I now work in a mixed medical ICU, where I provide care to some of the sickest patients and have developed critical thinking, leadership, and advocacy skills. My “aha” moment came during my time in ophthalmology, when I cared for a patient in hypertensive crisis who lost their vision due to a cholesterol clot in the optic nerve. Despite their efforts to improve their health, irreversible damage had occurred. That experience was heartbreaking and transformative—it made me realize I wanted to do more than observe illness. I wanted to step in, educate, advocate, and be a voice for patients when they need it most. Now, two semesters into my DNP program, I am committed to becoming an expert in acute care nursing. While I am not specializing in transcultural nursing, equitable and inclusive care is deeply important to me. I work in a Catholic hospital, where I often advocate for patients who may not conform to traditional expectations. I am proud to be a nurse who stands up for every patient—regardless of race, gender identity, beliefs, or background. Nursing has given me a voice, a purpose, and a future. I look forward to continuing my journey and making an even greater impact through advanced practice and compassionate leadership in acute care settings.

My name is Shawny Miramontes. I am a single mother to a teenage son and a first-generation Mexican American on my father’s side. My early life was filled with adversity. With my mother incarcerated during my childhood, I spent time living with various family members, facing emotional and financial instability. These formative experiences were difficult, but they also instilled in me a deep sense of resilience and a powerful desire to create a better life for myself and my son. They taught me the importance of perseverance, compassion, and advocacy—qualities that led me to the nursing profession. My healthcare journey began in optometry and ophthalmology, where I first discovered my fascination with the human body and the healing process. This interest quickly evolved into a deeper calling, and I enrolled in college in 2018, earning an associate degree in science. I then pursued my LPN license, which allowed me to gain valuable hands-on experience in pediatric urgent care. This role deepened my desire to expand my knowledge and impact, and I continued on to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing while working. After earning my BSN, I began working as a burn nurse in a blended unit that served patients ranging from ICU-level critical care to those preparing for discharge. This environment exposed me to a wide spectrum of patient needs, building my confidence and clinical skills. I currently work in a mixed medical ICU, where I care for some of the most vulnerable patients—many of whom are sedated, intubated, or unable to advocate for themselves. In this role, I have found my voice. Nursing has given me the strength and purpose to stand up for my patients, especially in moments when they cannot speak for themselves. Today, I am two semesters into my Doctor of Nursing Practice program. I am passionate about transcultural nursing leadership and inclusive healthcare policy. I am also passionate about advocating for patients from diverse backgrounds, especially those who may not conform to traditional norms or are affected by bias in healthcare systems. Working in a Catholic hospital, I have encountered many such challenges, and I am committed to being a voice for patients who may otherwise be overlooked or misunderstood. Nursing is more than a career to me—it is a mission. I will continue to grow, lead, and fight for equitable care for all patients, regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, gender identity, or beliefs. I am proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m even more excited for the impact I will continue to make as I advance in this profession.

My name is Shawny Miramontes. I am a single mother to a teenage son and a first-generation Mexican American on my father’s side. My early life was filled with adversity. With my mother incarcerated during my childhood, I spent time living with various family members, facing emotional and financial instability. These formative experiences were difficult, but they also instilled in me a deep sense of resilience and a powerful desire to create a better life for myself and my son. They taught me the importance of perseverance, compassion, and advocacy—qualities that led me to the nursing profession. My healthcare journey began in optometry and ophthalmology, where I first discovered my fascination with the human body and the healing process. This interest quickly evolved into a deeper calling, and I enrolled in college in 2018, earning an associate degree in science. I then pursued my LPN license, which allowed me to gain valuable hands-on experience in pediatric urgent care. This role deepened my desire to expand my knowledge and impact, and I continued on to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing while working. After earning my BSN, I began working as a burn nurse in a blended unit that served patients ranging from ICU-level critical care to those preparing for discharge. This environment exposed me to a wide spectrum of patient needs, building my confidence and clinical skills. I currently work in a mixed medical ICU, where I care for some of the most vulnerable patients—many of whom are sedated, intubated, or unable to advocate for themselves. In this role, I have found my voice. Nursing has given me the strength and purpose to stand up for my patients, especially in moments when they cannot speak for themselves. Today, I am two semesters into my Doctor of Nursing Practice program. I am passionate about transcultural nursing and inclusive healthcare policy. I am also very passionate about advocating for patients from diverse backgrounds, especially those who may not conform to traditional norms or are affected by bias in healthcare systems. Working in a Catholic hospital, I have encountered many such challenges, and I am committed to being a voice for patients who may otherwise be overlooked or misunderstood. Nursing is more than a career to me—it is a mission. I will continue to grow, lead, and fight for equitable care for all patients, regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, gender identity, or beliefs. I am proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m even more excited for the impact I will continue to make as I advance in this profession.

My name is Shawny Miramontes. I am a single mother to a teenage son and a first-generation Mexican American on my father’s side. My early life was filled with adversity. With my mother incarcerated during my childhood, I spent time living with various family members, facing emotional and financial instability. These formative experiences were difficult, but they also instilled in me a deep sense of resilience and a powerful desire to create a better life for myself and my son. They taught me the importance of perseverance, compassion, and advocacy—qualities that led me to the nursing profession. My healthcare journey began in optometry and ophthalmology, where I first discovered my fascination with the human body and the healing process. This interest quickly evolved into a deeper calling, and I enrolled in college in 2018, earning an associate degree in science. I then pursued my LPN license, which allowed me to gain valuable hands-on experience in pediatric urgent care. This role deepened my desire to expand my knowledge and impact, and I continued on to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing while working. After earning my BSN, I began working as a burn nurse in a blended unit that served patients ranging from ICU-level critical care to those preparing for discharge. This environment exposed me to a wide spectrum of patient needs, building my confidence and clinical skills. I currently work in a mixed medical ICU, where I care for some of the most vulnerable patients—many of whom are sedated, intubated, or unable to advocate for themselves. In this role, I have found my voice. Nursing has given me the strength and purpose to stand up for my patients, especially in moments when they cannot speak for themselves. Today, I am two semesters into my Doctor of Nursing Practice program specializing in acute care. I am passionate about transcultural nursing and inclusive healthcare policy. I am passionate about advocating for patients from diverse backgrounds, especially those who may not conform to traditional norms or are affected by bias in healthcare systems. Working in a Catholic hospital, I have encountered many such challenges, and I am committed to being a voice for patients who may otherwise be overlooked or misunderstood. Nursing is more than a career to me—it is a mission. I will continue to grow, lead, and fight for equitable care for all patients, regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, gender identity, or beliefs. I am proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m even more excited for the impact I will continue to make as I advance in this profession.

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.