“The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese.” ~ Spencer Johnson, Who Moved My Cheese? Life is not easy, it's oftentimes difficult, unpredictable and incomprehensible. Throughout my life experiences, I have come to realize that everything happens for a reason. I have learned to not allow my adversities paralyze me, but rather fuel my determination to achieve my life goals. Change can be hard but it is necessary for growth. It is safer to search in the maze (life) than to remain in a cheeseless situation. Here is how nursing found me. In fall 2021, I moved onto UTA’s campus to further my education as a full-time Pre-Med student and part-time pharmacy technician while also working on my personal healing. It was a time period set aside for me to self-reflect and evaluate what it was that I really wanted out of life and understanding my worth. To know your calling but not the process of getting there was chipping away at me each passing day. I had become so depressed pursuing Pre-med that I prayed a small prayer one faithful night for guidance. It was the very next morning in the Spring time of 2022, I had an epiphany as clear as day to change my degree from Pre-Med to Nursing. I thought the idea was insane and terrifying. That Pre-Med path I had chosen, the "cheese" I had grown accustomed to for nearly five years, was changed by one prayer overnight. I started to think “Why me?”, but I soon learned that the question should be “Why not me?”. If change was easy then everyone would be able to do it. Eventually I submitted to my newer and brighter path in becoming a Registered Nurse. My entire 2022 was dedicated towards my prerequisites for nursing school. I knew from then on that this was my true path, or so I thought. In August of 2022, I went through another trial in my life that almost tried to discourage me from pursuing nursing. Taking Anatomy and Physiology II is not the Goliath of this story but rather the instructor set in my path to shake up my faith. With dignity, I fought the good fight even though I wanted to throw in the towel. It devastated me that a C was all I had to show for it, even though I struggled, prayed and kept trying. My only thoughts from there was that I was not good enough for this path. My very last prerequisite, I received a C. Far from competitive is what I was told by a few schools but no one knew the battles behind it. That class awakened another character developmental process within me. I knew what I am capable of, I just had to believe in myself that I was chosen for this path and to keep up my faith. So, I retook Anatomy and Physiology right after taking it that summertime. I retained so much more knowledge the second time around and surpassed my previous grade with an A. Now, it's 2024 and I am a senior in nursing school who will be finishing a Bachelor's degree in Nursing next year in September. I am proud of myself for not allowing fear to hold me back from this beautiful journey. When you stop being afraid you feel good. I am thankful that I found my niche sooner and have the resilience to preserve. As Spencer Johnson would say, "Movement in new direction helps find new cheese", and pursing nursing is the best cheese I've ever discovered. Delicious!

My name is Stacie Biddle and I am finally a senior in nursing school. I pursed this career path because I too have a strong and compelling spirit to extend compassion and generosity to everyone I encounter. I can relate with Erich and Frieda's heart postures in their acts of selfless love and kindness. I too embody these characteristics, which is why I pursed this 7 year long journey of nursing. I can honestly proclaim that I indeed have embarked on a road far less traveled. Experiences that I have seen first handed and endured during my life. I would have it no other way. I was a caregiver at a very young age. I remember helping my mom the best I could with my dad because he hurt his back so early in life. It was at this point where my grandmother moved from Fort Worth to Texarkana to help raise my little sister and I while my mom was caring for my dad and going to nursing school. After a few years, my grandmother moved back to Fort Worth only to become ill soon after. She was diagnosed with vascular dementia. Therefore, my family and I returned the favor by moving in with her and becoming her primary caregivers for the next five years. Dementia is a disease that takes more than it will ever give. It was challenging to care for her because I didn't understand what dementia was. All I could see was the changes within her. In that period, I learned how to show a deeper level of patients, grace, kindness, selflessness, and most importantly, unconditional love. I loved her so much. She was always there for everyone, and she taught me what real love looks like. It was hard to watch my grandmother slowly decline throughout the years. It was even harder to know I could do nothing about it other than make her comfortable. In 2019, family flooded our home and emotions ran high when she slipped into a coma in her bed. In her final days on hospice, I whispered in her ear that being her caregiver has been an honorable experience and I hope I made her proud. Although there were many trying times when trying to balance school, work and personal life, it was nothing but faith, prayers, and compassion that helped strengthen me to be the absolute best granddaughter/caregiver to my grandmother. To this day, I thank her for the virtues she instilled into me, before her sickness. I have chosen to dedicate my life in showing such tender love and generosity to all I encounter, no matter the location. I am not rich, but my spirit is wealthy. My heart is a lyre that plays beautiful music whenever I move in love towards others. This burning passion of care exudes through me and has overflown into my career path. I am thankful I am in a career where I can be myself, showing compassion and love to all.

My name is Stacie Biddle and I am an African American nursing student entering into my senior year. Since grade school, I have always felt this calling onto my life to help people no matter their background, race, religion, gender or ethnicity. My God-given virtues of compassion, patience, love and kindness further guided me onto this path that has catapulted me into my purpose. In this marathon I refer to as 'life', I have always been fascinated with the healthcare field, so much so that I started off as a pharmacy technician as a stepping stone. Public health goes beyond merely responding to health crises such as epidemics, pandemics, and endemics. Nonprofit organizations and public government health agencies run programs aimed to protect social health, promote well-being and prevent diseases. The ethics of nursing is established upon four pillars: Beneficence (the duty to do good), non-maleficence (the duty to do no harm), Autonomy (respect for the patient's right to self-determination), and Justice (to treat ALL people equally and equitably). I have emphasized the word "all" because it has been used within limits in the healthcare field As a nursing student in clinicals, I am now exposed to one-on-one patient care. Participating on the frontline, rather than behind the scenes, has shifted my perspective on the healthcare industry, regarding the integrity of patient care. It has become evident to me that not every nurse embodies the characteristics needed to execute the four pillars of nursing. Delayed treatments, lack of advocacy and urgency, dismissal of patient's complaints, and insufficient vigilance and diligence were noted in certain populations during my clinical rotations. Although my status may say 'student', I operate in my role as a nurse. Meaning, I vow to protect, promote, and prevent illness and injuries by facilitating healing and alleviating suffering through my compassionate presence for ALL. This burning passion of care infused with fierceness has been my driving factor to bring about change in the healthcare industry. I am my patient's voice when they have none to advocate for themselves. I am their eyes to see the changes before it worsens. I am their ears to hear their complaints to make the best healing choices and to listen to their worries. I am their shoulder to lean on when life's burdens come crashing in like a tsunami. I am their chapel to serve as a glimmer of light in their darkest hours. I am their nursing student/pharmacy technician, who uses each milestone in life to bring change no matter my position or status. My hopes once I become a registered nurse is to join the nursing ethical committee as a chief nursing officer. I want to have a say on behalf of many to better the treatment and care for all. Having a rounded experience within the hospital setting and being a female minority who also have been in the hands of nursing care brings about a higher level of perspective that can leave a tremendous impact on the social disparities of care. If I am awarded this scholarship, consider it as an investment, not just in me but for millions of others wanting to be treated with dignity and respect in their most vulnerable time. Thank you for your time and consideration and I hope this entry finds you well. Sincerely, Stacie Biddle